FIREWISE USA RECOGNITION PROGRAM “WILDFIRE ACTION PLAN”

2024-2026

Community Description:

Tahoe Keys is a planned community that was designed in the 1960s. It is bordered on one side by the shores of Lake Tahoe, by Pope Marsh and Truckee Marsh on 2 sides, and by Lake Tallac on one side. There are 2 “Villages” that are adjacent to Tahoe Keys and are part of the Homeowners Association. They contain 17 and 18 houses respectively.

The main portion of the community consists of 335 townhomes and 1090 single family dwellings. Within the community is a homeowner’s association pavilion, 1 indoor pool facility, 1 outdoor pool facility with a pavilion and restrooms, 3 water well structures, 1 pump house, 2 tennis court areas, 1 pickleball court area, 1 basketball court, 1 beach volleyball area, and 1 children’s playground area. The community comprises 740 acres including 11 miles (140 acres) of waterways, some of which connect to Lake Tahoe. There are 16 vacant lots privately owned by members, 48 vacant lots owned by the TKPOA (Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association), and 82 parcels owned by the TKPOA that are used as common areas or spaces for common facilities such as tennis courts, pickleball courts, wells, pools, basketball courts, playgrounds and offices. Tahoe Keys has a general manager that is employed by FirstService Residential services, an elected Board of Directors and committees that are concerned with water quality, architectural control, finance, and townhome projects. The community also has its own water company and gets its water from 3 wells located within the community. The community employs maintenance, waterways, office, and security staff. About 40% of the homes are lived in by yearround residents. The other 60% are second homes used as vacation homes by their owners.

This proposed Firewise USA community Wildfire Action Plan was developed through input received during the spring, summer and fall of 2023 Firewise Assessment. The goal of the Plan is to develop a strategy to incrementally outreach, educate, and implement efforts to make Tahoe Keys more fire resilient. During the year of 2023 the community is applying for Firewise USA certification to establish the Tahoe Keys neighborhood as a Firewise USA community. There has been initial outreach to the community through email blasts and articles in the Keys Breeze informing the community members about the steps needed to become a Firewise community and the benefits of becoming a Firewise community.

During this time, a Firewise Committee was formed which has been accepted by the TKPOA Board of Directors. A meeting has occurred with Kim George, Fire Chief of the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and 2 meetings occurred with Michelle McClean of the Tahoe Resource Conservation Project. Based on the calculation of 1436 structures in the community, risk assessments were performed on 300 structures which is greater than the 20% required by the Firewise Community organization. Also during this time, the 3 year plan was developed.