- Where is Johnson Meadow?
The Tahoe RCD plays a critical role in addressing the most important natural resource concerns and opportunities in the basin, from preventing and eradicating aquatic invasive species from the lake, to helping communities mitigate the risk of fire. The mission of the Tahoe RCD is to promote the conservation, stewardship and knowledge of the Lake Tahoe Region’s natural resources by providing leadership and innovative environmental services to all stakeholders. The Tahoe RCD is a flexible and adaptable organization that can serve as a link between public and private interests related to this property. Additionally, the Tahoe RCD has extensive experience in natural resource management and will ensure that this unique property with sensitive habitat is properly restored and managed for generations to enjoy.
Tahoe RCD is committed to working with a variety of stakeholders in the restoration planning process to ensure that future plans address social and ecological topics such as community outreach and stewardship, riparian habitat restoration, wildlife conservation, water quality improvement, public access, and reducing environmental hazards. Restoration of the river and associated habitats will focus on restoring natural hydrologic processes throughout the meadow and coordinating these projects with the work being conducted on adjacent river reaches of the UTR.
Acquisition of undeveloped, environmentally sensitive land (meadows, creeks and streams, highly erosive soils, and steep topography) ensures that they are protected from future development and helps to mitigate the negative impacts of development on Lake Tahoe’s watersheds. These undeveloped lands reduce the amount of future impervious surfaces within Lake Tahoe’s watersheds and can therefore continue to provide the natural hydrologic function of undeveloped riparian and forested areas. In addition, these areas can slow the flow of water from adjoining impervious surfaces and provide opportunities for construction of critical erosion control structures.
Undeveloped areas provide open space within urban settings, reducing and filtering the noise associated with everyday human activities, providing quieter, more enjoyable living conditions and recreational experiences. Additionally, these areas reduce the scenic and visual impacts of urbanization by providing riparian and forested areas that help screen and blend development into the natural surroundings. Neighborhoods with publicly owned land are more desirable to live in, and often have a corresponding positive impact on property values.
- Why must encroachments be resolved?
- How are encroachments resolved?
- What is the dog leash policy on Johnson Meadow?
- Any animal other than working animals shall be confined by the owner or his or her agent on a leash of not more than ten feet in length during any time the animal is removed from an enclosed private lot or enclosed private place.
- Each female dog in heat (i.e., season) will be confined in an enclosed area in such a manner that the female dog cannot come in contact with another animal except for a planned breeding.
- No person shall bring or allow any animal into a county owned or leased public building or within 50 feet of the entrances thereto, excepting County Animal Control facilities, with the exception of seeing-eye dogs in the company of blind persons. This section shall also not apply to any animal used by law enforcement agencies of the County, State or Federal government while in the performance of their official duties, to include police dogs.
- At large. Any person may take up and deliver to the Animal Control Officer any animal at large on public property or upon the person’s private property. The Animal Control Officer shall hold and dispose of the animal in the same manner as though the animal had been found at large and impounded by the Animal Control Officer.
- An owner or keeper of a dog who willfully suffers it to go at large, or keeps it without ordinary care, and the animal while at large off the owner’s or keeper’s property bites a person, engages in behavior that requires a person to take defensive action to prevent physical injury, or which inflicts injury, kills, or otherwise causes injury to any domestic animal, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon conviction the owner or keeper must keep the dog involved in the incident which resulted in the conviction in compliance with the requirements of Section 6.12.050. Upon conviction of a violation of this section, the court may order any other conditions to protect public safety including destruction of the dog. Upon conviction of a violation of this section, the court shall order restitution to the investigating agency for the cost of investigation, impound and holding of the dog and to the victim for the treatment of injuries or other damages.
(Code 1997, § 6.12.070; Ord. 3446, § 4(part), 1984; Ord. No. 3692, § 10, 1987; Ord. No. 4608, 9-17-2002)
If a loose dog is acting strange, is aggressive or has bitten someone, call El Dorado County Animal Services (530) 573-7925, or after hours, call the Sheriff’s Dispatch at (530) 621-6600.
Our Priorities for Johnson Meadow
The board and staff of Tahoe RCD are committed to restoring, stewarding, and managing the iconic Johnson Meadow property in ways that:
- Provide ecosystem and watershed protection benefits through preservation, management, and future restoration of meadow, riparian, aquatic, and upland habitats, connectivity to other public lands, and for compatible public uses that are consistent with wildlife habitat preservation and protection of sensitive biological resources.
- Align with Tahoe RCD’s mission, goals, and restoration priorities.
- Align with other plans that benefit the overall Upper Truckee watershed.
- Recognize and incorporate the community’s desired outcomes.
- Provide appropriate opportunities for learning and connectivity for the surrounding community.
- Encourage the community to take pride in and steward this special place.
- Prioritize education over regulation.
- Are flexible and adaptive, allowing for continuous learning and innovation.
View our full Johnson Meadow Planning Approach developed along with our strategic planning process in March 2018.

