Tahoe Management Unit pauses Christmas tree permit program

A shortage of trees near safe parking areas and forest health and fuels reduction has prompted the U.S. Forest Service to pause the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit’s Christmas tree permit program this winter.

“Over the last two decades, most legal and safe areas to park during snow removal conditions have been cleared of suitable trees or are currently being treated for forest health and fuels reduction projects,” officials said.

“The temporary pause will allow ongoing forest health and fuels reduction projects to be completed in some areas where Christmas tree cutting was permitted in the past and give saplings time to grow large enough in other locations to support a Christmas tree program in the future,” said Vegetation Management Staff Officer Victor Lyon.

Christmas trees will continue to be available on the Eldorado, Humbodt-Toiyabe and Tahoe national forests, as well as BLM lands in Nevada.

In support of Every Kid Outdoors Program, the Tahoe unit will continue to offer one free Christmas tree permit to fourth-grade students who present a valid EKO Pass. Students must be present to receive their permit and present when cutting the tree. Visit the EKO website for more information and to obtain a pass.

“Given our commitment to supporting the EKO program and the limited number of permits requested, we will find an appropriate location to continue to allow free tree cutting permits for fourth-grade students,” Lyon said.

The Christmas tree permit program began more 20 years ago to offer families a traditional holiday experience while improving forest health by removing small diameter ladder fuels from the forest. Since the program began, an average of 2,500 permits have been sold each year.