FAQ

• What do we do about pine needles and other dead material outside the five-foot noncombustible zone?
• Erosion Control BMPs and Defensible Space are both required, but how and when do I do both?

What do we do about pine needles and other dead material outside the five-foot noncombustible zone?
A: Rake ‘em in the spring and let ‘em fall in the fall. Spring raking. You must keep all pine needles and flammable vegetation clear within five-feet of your house or other structures. Outside of this area, clear flammable vegetation to about a 30-foot radius from structures. Local fire chiefs and erosion control experts are in complete agreement, you can leave some pine needles or other mulch covering bare soil areas to keep the soil healthy and save it from erosion. However, don’t let fresh pine needles build up or cover areas larger than 30 feet across. In between areas of pine needle or wood mulch, maintain a non-combustible space. Rake pine needles once in the spring and let them fall through the rest of the year. This works for defensible space and Lake Tahoe erosion control rules.

Erosion Control BMPs and Defensible Space are both required, but how and when do I do both?
A: Stormwater BMPs and Defensible Space work together and you can save time and money by combining the work. Best Management Practices (BMPs) are required to stabilize bare soil and create infiltration areas where rainwater is diverted before it runs off your property. Since the 1960s, Lake Tahoe has lost around 30 feet of its famous clarity because too much fine sediment is washed off our properties when it rains. BMPs for stormwater and erosion control are steps required by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) for everyone in the Tahoe Basin.