Public comment sought on ‘Bonanza’ site

A meadow that was in the opening shot of the long-running television show “Bonanza” is the subject of a water quality and erosion control grant at Lake Tahoe’s Marla Bay.

Television viewers received an eyeful of Bourne Meadows with Lake Tahoe in the background every week as they watched the Cartwright clan ride their horses toward the camera.

Public comment is being sought on an application for funding a water quality and erosion control grant at Marla Bay at Lake Tahoe.

Work on fixing drainage through Marla Bay and PineWild has been underway for eight years, according to the Nevada Division of State Lands.

Under the proposal, runoff from projects upstream from Bourne Meadows has overwhelmed a small basin built in PineWild in 1971.

The basin is unsuited to treat runoff from either the project or from upstream, including Highway 50 and Zephyr Heights.

A property owner on Bourne Meadow and McFaul Creek is willing tow work with the state and Douglas County to correct the problem. Under the proposal, an infiltration basin would treat runoff within the 98-acre watershed, retrofit the existing drainage and restore a portion of the meadow and creek to improve groundwater recharge.

The proposed work would cost $700,000, most of which would come from Nevada Tahoe bonds and the Nevada Department of Transportation. The EPA would provide $100,000 and local funds would pay $25,000.

The public comment period will end 5 p.m. April 5 and all comments must be received by that time. Submit comments to Chris LaCasse at chris.lacasse@lands.nv.gov