Home
News
LAKE TAHOE — Almost two years after the fire, Angora fire survivors will get one last voucher to help out their neighborhood.
Approximately 184 vouchers totaling $250,000 will be mailed out this week to those who have received building permits in the burn area, or who have applied for building permits, said Carrie Reiter, Community Dis-aster Resource Center administrative director.
The CDRC already has given out about $600,000 to Angora fire survivors, and this last round of vouchers will bring the total up to more than $850,000, Reiter said.
This also marks the end of the center, which will close its doors around the end of July, Reiter said.
Each voucher is worth $1,358.70 and is for revegetation, Reiter said. Those with building permits received vouchers because they would be able to care for the vegetation.
“This is their opportunity to buy trees and shrubs to help with the area’s environmental needs,” Reiter said. “It’s an environmental investment, and not just for aesthetics.”
Reiter said because the area lost its vegetation, the land is very wet, which is problematic for residents who are rebuilding. Replanting will help alleviate the water problem.
Those who receive vouchers can use them at one of two nurseries: Aspen Hollow or Tahoe Outdoor Living. With the vouchers, they also receive an additional $350 in added services, such as consultations from the nurseries.
The CDRC is encouraging Angora residents to use native vegetation for the best results, and for neighbors to work together to replant neighborhood forests, Reiter said.
Voluntary guidelines for revegetation for the area have already been prepared if residents choose to use them, said Susan Kocher, University of California natural resources advisor. The plans are included with the vouchers.
In January, Kocher and landscape architect Brett Long began meeting with residents interested in replanting the area. Some of the homeowners’ preferences included using fast-growing plants, large trees and establishing ground cover quickly.
Through these meetings, Kocher said Long came up with recommended vegetation plans for the different zones of the property. For example, in the defensible space zone, suggested plants include mountain ash, bitter cherry or mountain maple. In the noncombustible zone, blue flax or native lupine are recommended.
Long also created a neighborhood forest revegetation plan that residents can refer to if they want to work together to restore the forest. Kocher said if residents are interested, she’d be willing to help organize a neighborhood effort.
The vouchers do expire, Reiter said. Residents must take the vouchers to either nursery by July 6. Reiter said residents don’t need to use the voucher right away, they just need to open an account at one of the nurseries before that deadline. Recipients have until July 1, 2010 to use the account.
Approximately 184 vouchers totaling $250,000 will be mailed out this week to those who have received building permits in the burn area, or who have applied for building permits, said Carrie Reiter, Community Dis-aster Resource Center administrative director.
The CDRC already has given out about $600,000 to Angora fire survivors, and this last round of vouchers will bring the total up to more than $850,000, Reiter said.
This also marks the end of the center, which will close its doors around the end of July, Reiter said.
Each voucher is worth $1,358.70 and is for revegetation, Reiter said. Those with building permits received vouchers because they would be able to care for the vegetation.
“This is their opportunity to buy trees and shrubs to help with the area’s environmental needs,” Reiter said. “It’s an environmental investment, and not just for aesthetics.”
Reiter said because the area lost its vegetation, the land is very wet, which is problematic for residents who are rebuilding. Replanting will help alleviate the water problem.
Those who receive vouchers can use them at one of two nurseries: Aspen Hollow or Tahoe Outdoor Living. With the vouchers, they also receive an additional $350 in added services, such as consultations from the nurseries.
The CDRC is encouraging Angora residents to use native vegetation for the best results, and for neighbors to work together to replant neighborhood forests, Reiter said.
Voluntary guidelines for revegetation for the area have already been prepared if residents choose to use them, said Susan Kocher, University of California natural resources advisor. The plans are included with the vouchers.
In January, Kocher and landscape architect Brett Long began meeting with residents interested in replanting the area. Some of the homeowners’ preferences included using fast-growing plants, large trees and establishing ground cover quickly.
Through these meetings, Kocher said Long came up with recommended vegetation plans for the different zones of the property. For example, in the defensible space zone, suggested plants include mountain ash, bitter cherry or mountain maple. In the noncombustible zone, blue flax or native lupine are recommended.
Long also created a neighborhood forest revegetation plan that residents can refer to if they want to work together to restore the forest. Kocher said if residents are interested, she’d be willing to help organize a neighborhood effort.
The vouchers do expire, Reiter said. Residents must take the vouchers to either nursery by July 6. Reiter said residents don’t need to use the voucher right away, they just need to open an account at one of the nurseries before that deadline. Recipients have until July 1, 2010 to use the account.
