While our recent weather has seemed more like summer than fall, don’t forget that winter is just around the corner. I’m Matt Randall, Deputy Director of Public Works, and I oversee our Roads Division. Our team is gearing up for the snowy months ahead and we want to make sure you’re prepared as well.

When the snow hits our mountains, it’s our job to clear county roads. In an average snowstorm, we’ll have about 250 miles to clear, but that can be as many as 600 miles in a low, cold storm – it’s one of the biggest, and hardest, snow-removal operations in the state.

In any storm, it’s our goals to plow every road that needs it at least once every 24 hours, twice if we can. Our crews keep going 24 hours a day, until the storm’s over and every road is clear.

But here’s where your help comes in.

During the winter months, our snow plows work diligently to clear roads and ensure safe passage for all residents. While we strive to minimize the impact on private property, snow berms—accumulations of snow left behind at the front of driveways—are an unavoidable byproduct of efficient snow removal. It is important to understand that these snow berms are the responsibility of property owners to clear.

As our teams focuses on maintaining roadways, the removal of snow from individual driveways falls under private property maintenance. We recommend that residents be prepared to manage these berms, particularly after heavy snowfall, to ensure smooth access to their driveways.

Patience is Key:

Our Tahoe crews work as quickly as we can, but we know it may take a little time before we get all the roadways clear. We appreciate your patience, especially during heavy snowfall.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we prepare for the winter ahead. Stay safe and warm!

Our snowplow crews work hard to clear the roadways during a storm, ensuring emergency vehicles have the access they need and helping you get to where you need to be. WATCH THE VIDEO

Are you located in the Tahoe or Truckee region? Placer County is hiring for seasonal equipment operators as we gear up for the winter. We offer great benefits and an extra $1,000/month premium for working in Tahoe. APPLY TODAY

Placer County is finalizing negotiations to bring a unique public-private partnership – focusing on biochar production – to the Cabin Creek Biomass project at the Eastern Regional Landfill in North Lake Tahoe.

The Department of Public Works Environmental Engineering Division recently detailed this proposed partnership between the county and Biochar Now, a Denver-based company that specializes in heating woody biomass, including non-salvageable and non-marketable wood, in oxygen-free kilns to produce a highly marketable carbon-based product. READ MORE

The North Tahoe Public Utility District, the California Tahoe Conservancy and Placer County held a community open house this week to discuss the future of Secline Beach. These groups are asking local residents and visitors to share their thoughts to improve the beach and the user experience in Kings Beach. This project is funded by the TOT-TBID Dollars at Work program. TAKE THE SURVEY

The county's renewed efforts to ensure safe streets and appropriate parking has proven highly successful. Following numerous community meetings and program roll-out, our code enforcement team distributed over 1,300 citations since the start of July. A significant 16% of these were educational warnings, reflecting our balanced strategy of informing the public while ensuring compliance with parking regulations.

Learn more about our Parking Management Program on our website. SEE IT HERE