Lefrancois Engineering

10/23/2026

Grading season has officially ended in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Is your project ready for winter?

October 15 marked the end of TRPA's annual grading season, meaning most soil-disturbing work is now restricted until May 1.

But the end of grading season doesn't mean construction planning has to stop.

In our latest blog post, we break down what Tahoe property owners and contractors need to know about:

✅ Winterizing active construction sites
✅ Erosion control and TRPA compliance
✅ What construction work can continue through winter
✅ When grading season exceptions may apply
✅ Why now is the best time to start planning for spring

Planning ahead is especially important in Tahoe, where permitting, engineering, and contractor scheduling can take considerably longer than expected.

At Lefrancois Engineering, we help property owners navigate these challenges and keep projects moving forward.

🔗 Read the full article:
https://l-eng.com/blog/trpa-grading-season-ends-october-15-what-tahoe-property-owners-need-to-know/

09/16/2026

We’re grateful for the opportunity to support the City of South Lake Tahoe and its Public Works Department during a recent period of transition.

Lefrancois Engineering provided on-call City Engineer support across a wide range of public works, stormwater, transportation, development review, facility, and capital improvement projects -- from drainage and road rehabilitation to bicycle routes, recreation facilities, and shoreline improvements.

As part of the greater Tahoe community, we’re proud to bring our local engineering and regulatory experience to projects that help improve the places where we live and work.

Read more at:
https://l-eng.com/blog/supporting-the-city-of-south-lake-tahoe-local-engineering-for-public-works-and-infrastructure/

09/02/2026

We celebrated the completion of the Incline Skate Park expansion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday.
🙌
Massive shoutout to Washoe County, Spohn Ranch, IVGID staff and Trustees, TRPA, Lefrancois Engineering, Exline & Co., and our entire skate community for bringing this vision to life.

Come check out the new features and see the improvements for yourself! 🛹

09/01/2026

Lefrancois Engineering is proud to sponsor Concerts at Commons Beach, a beloved Tahoe City tradition celebrating 21 years of free live music in 2026. As longtime members of the Tahoe community, we're honored to support an event that brings families, friends and neighbors together for summer evenings of music, connection and fun beside Lake Tahoe.

Head to l-eng.com for Tahoe engineering insights, practical advice, and local know-how from over 20 years of experience in the Tahoe, Truckee, and Reno area.

Photos: Clare Foster Photography

08/20/2026

What better way to arrive at the 30th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit than by bike? 🚲🏔️

Michael Lefrancois, Principal Engineer at Lefrancois Engineering, rode the beautiful East Shore Tahoe Trail from Incline Village to Sand Harbor and back, enjoying incredible lake views along the way.

It was the perfect start to a day focused on protecting Lake Tahoe, strengthening our communities, and creating a more sustainable future for the Basin. We are proud to be part of the conversation and the community working to preserve this extraordinary place. 🌊

Learn more at https://tahoesummit.org/

07/07/2026

We're proud to have partnered with legendary skate park designers and builders Spohn Ranch Skateparks to help create a place that will serve the Incline community for decades. While the skating gets the attention, it's rewarding knowing the engineering beneath it will keep the park performing through Tahoe's snow, runoff, and freeze-thaw cycles for years to come. For Mike, our owner and Principal Engineer, helping bring the Incline Village Skate Park to life means quality memories skating with his son.

Have you checked out the new park yet? We'd love to hear what you think!

06/15/2026

As a primary entrance to North Lake Tahoe, the Gateway Roundabout serves as much more than a transportation feature. It is the community’s first impression, a landmark that reflects the natural beauty of the region, and a symbol of what can be accomplished through collaboration between public agencies, local organizations, businesses, and community members.

Lefrancois Engineering is proud to serve as the Prime Consultant and Project Manager for this important community project.

Pooling water, eroding soil, or a cracking driveway? Learn five spring snowmelt warning signs Truckee homeowners shouldn't ignore -- and when to call an engineer.

04/20/2026

Spring in Truckee brings longer days and a welcome break from winter, but it also reveals how well your property handles water. As snow thaws, runoff exposes grading and drainage issues that can quickly turn into costly repairs.

At Lefrancois Engineering, we help homeowners across Truckee and the Tahoe Basin tackle runoff, erosion, retaining walls, permitting, and snowmelt challenges. Here are five signs your property may need attention this spring. 👇

Pooling water, eroding soil, or a cracking driveway? Learn five spring snowmelt warning signs Truckee homeowners shouldn't ignore -- and when to call an engineer.

04/01/2026

Building in Truckee comes with a unique set of challenges. The terrain is steep, snowpack is heavy, and protecting the Truckee River watershed is always part of the equation. Every project has to work with the mountains, not against them. The Boulders development is a great example of how thoughtful civil engineering helps make building in this environment possible.

Read more:

Building in Truckee requires more than great architecture — it requires thoughtful planning of drainage, grading, and infrastructure. A civil engineer must design projects that work with Sierra terrain, deep winter snowpack, and strict environmental protections surrounding the Truckee River waters...