Forest Service issues plans to redevelop Tahoe campground

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Redevelopment plans for a popular Lake Tahoe campground and resort dating to the 1930s would eliminate parking along busy Highway 89 and cut the number of camp sites by nearly one-third, but offer year-round camping for the first time.

The U.S. Forest Service released an environmental assessment last week for the remodeling of the Camp Richardson Resort Campground. The service bought the lakefront resort about 2 miles west of South Lake Tahoe in 1965.

At an overall cost of about $8 million, the plans are intended to reduce water quality impacts and traffic congestion on the highway, upgrade campground and day-use facilities and improve parking over a total area of nearly 80 acres.

Daniel Cressy, the Forest Service unit’s landscape architect, said the goal is to reduce peak-season camping and encourage people to take advantage of the facilities during other times.