In this age of discord, it is a rare thing to see discordant members of Congress agree on anything. However, Lake Tahoe and the will to preserve its unique beauty have succeeded in bringing people together from both sides of the political aisle and both sides of the Nevada / California state line. The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2009 will continue work started by the original act passed in 2000 and add some additional features. The spending plan calls for $415 over the next eight years.

All four U.S. Senators from Nevada and California are behind the bill - Harry Reid, D-Nev., John Ensign, R-Nev., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. In the House of Representatives, the bill was introduced by Dean Heller, R-Carson City, with the support of Shelley Berkley, D-Las Vegas, Dina Titus, D-Henderson, and Tom McClintock, R-Calif. If you are keeping score, the entire Nevada Congressional delegation supports the legislation.

The money will provide funding for outreach and education, plus these major programs...

• Stormwater management & watershed restoration - $72 million
• Priority restoration projects - $136 million
• Forest fuels reduction - $136 million
• Invasive species abatement (Asian clams, quagga & zebra mussels, etc.) - $20.5 million
• Reintroduction of Lahontan cutthroat trout - $20 million
• Science & research - $30 million

Sources: North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, Reno Gazette-Journal.

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Skiers and snowboarders, adults and kids, come to the UNR Ski & Board Swap to score discount ski gear and clothing for the upcoming snow season. According to the swap website, we're talking serious discounts, like 30% to 70%. You'll find both new and used items, including alpine and nordic ski gear, snowboarding equipment, and a variety of apparel for the slopes. The money you save may be needed for those pricey lift tickets at Reno / Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Even if you're not a skier, you may find equipment to enhance a day at one of our nearby snow play areas.

The UNR Ski Swap is the weekend of November 13, 14, and 15. Swapping will be at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center Exhibit Hall, 1350 N. Wells Ave. in Reno. Parking is free. Hours are 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Friday admission is $12 for adults, $6 for children 6 to 12, and free for kids 5 and under. Saturday and Sunday admission is $7 for adults, $4 for children 6 to 12, and free for kids 5 and under. Get a $2 discount on Saturday and Sunday by bringing a non-perishable food item to donate to the Food Bank. If you really want to get first crack at stuff, $25 will get you in at 5 p.m. on Friday, an hour ahead of the rush. 20% of all sales go to support the UNR ski team. For more information, call (775) 825-6555.

If you've got gear to sell, get details on how this works on the UNR Ski & Board Swap Sell Your Stuff page or call Jessie Turner at (775) 825-6555.

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Reno's Veterans Day Parade is on Wednesday, November 11. The parade route is along S. Virginia Street in downtown Reno, starting at Court Street at 11 a.m. and running north to 5th Street. Along the way, the parade will stop on the Virginia Street bridge to drop a wreath into the Truckee River in memory of the fallen men and women of our Armed Forces. The parade will include veterans groups, high school marching bands, civic organizations, and patriotic citizens.

No Fees for Vets on Veterans Day - Veterans and active duty military personnel, along with their families, will pay no recreation-related fees when they visit federal recreation lands on Veterans Day. The fee waiver always applies on November 11, even if the official observance of the holiday is on a different day. This program started in 2006 and applies to lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service.

In the Reno / Tahoe area, numerous public lands are available under the program. To learn more, visit the Nevada Bureau of Land Management, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, the Tahoe National Forest, and the Nevada Fish & Wildlife Office.

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Truckee Meadows Trails is a new guide to some 68 pathways throughout the Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County region. Each listing provides a trail description, including length and difficulty, allowed uses, trailhead amenities, trail map, and how to get there. It tells you whether or not dogs are allowed and about leash requirements. Whatever you are looking for in a local trail - easy walking, dog walking, hiking, biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, or snowshoeing - you'll find it in this excellent little book. It is divided into five sections, making trails near you easy to find - Eastern Sierra, Virginia Range / Truckee Meadows, Pah Rah / Sparks, Peavine / Northwest, Truckee River.

Your free copy of Truckee Meadows Trails is available at the Washoe County Regional Parks & Open Space office, 2601 Plumas Street in Reno, from the Scheels store, and at most every park facility in the area. You can also download a copy from the Washoe County website.

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