|
advocate
|
educate
|
collaborate
|
|
Keep Tahoe Blue Advocacy Updates
|
|
As the voice for Lake Tahoe, we advocate for stronger environmental protections to Keep Tahoe Blue. We're excited to share these updates on projects and policy changes at Tahoe. Together, we can protect Lake Tahoe, now and for future generations.
|
|
Testing transportation solutions at Tahoe
|
|
What is it? As you can see in our new video, the League to Save Lake Tahoe is teaming with Chariot to find out if microtransit can help address Tahoe's decades-old traffic problems.
Where is it in the process? We are partway through a 90-day pilot program, which will run until October 9.
Is there a role for you? Absolutely yes; we need you to try the service and tell us about your experience. Each Chariot vehicle has on-board GPS, and data from the pilot program will help improve transportation planning at Tahoe.
|
|
Martis Valley West update
|
|
What is it? The Martis Valley West project is a massive and controversial development proposal on Brockway Summit that threatens Lake Tahoe.
Where is it in the process? In May, the League and its partners—Mountain Area Preservation and Sierra Watch—filed a notice of appeal in California’s Third District Court of Appeals seeking adequate environmental protection for Lake Tahoe from the proposed project. Earlier this year, Placer County Superior Court issued an order to vacate and set aside Placer County’s 2016 approvals of the project.
What is the League’s position?
OPPOSE
.
The League objects to the projects’s unmitigated threats to Lake Tahoe’s clarity, and along with its partners is seeking to have California law enforced to protect the Lake’s ecology.
|
|
What is it? The proposed Shoreline Plan is intended to provide key guidance around the future construction of structures for boating access—such as boat ramps, piers, buoys, marinas, boat lifts, boat houses and slips—as well as policies related to non-motorized boating on Lake Tahoe and the management of aquatic invasive species.
Where is it in the process? The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has released the Lake Tahoe Shoreline Plan Public Draft Environmental Impact Statement and is reviewing the public comments it has received.
What is the League’s position?
WORK IN PROGRESS
.
The League is generally supportive of the EIS’s preferred alternative, but we have expressed a few concerns in our comment letter,
which is available online here.
|
|
What is it? The Tahoe Transportation District, in cooperation with federal highway officials, are moving ahead with plans to replace the historic Fanny Bridge in Tahoe City.
Where is it in the process? Construction is underway this year, with plans for a new Truckee River Bridge and three new traffic circles.
What is the League’s position?
SUPPORT
.
The League was instrumental in ensuring the project and its visioning were translated effectively into policy for the Placer County Area Plan. We support the project's goal to make the Fanny Bridge area more pedestrian friendly.
|
|
Threshold Update Initiative
|
|
What is it? The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is collaborating with the Tahoe Science Advisory Council to apply a systematic approach to assessing and updating Tahoe’s regional environmental standards, known as Thresholds. The intent is to make sure they address the top priorities for protecting Lake Tahoe, that they are actually measurable and meaningful, and to eliminate redundancies, inconsistencies and conflicts. TRPA created over 170 Thresholds as part of Tahoe’s 1980 Regional Plan. Such a large number of standards proved too many to be reasonably monitored, and some have become outdated.
Where is it in the process? The working group for the Threshold update met for the first time in March 2018 to identify and remove redundant Thresholds, reducing the total number to 151 thresholds without making any substantive policy changes. The group will continue work in 2018 to evaluate Thresholds for common vegetation, stream environment zone restoration targets, recreation and vehicle miles traveled. This total process of updating all 170 original threshold standards will take many years to complete but is long overdue.
What is the League’s position?
WORK IN PROGRESS
.
The League participates in the stakeholder working group and supports this process. Our goal is to ensure overall environmental protections are maintained or strengthened, but that the Threshold standards become simpler for regulators to administer and monitor and less complicated for members of the public to understand and follow.
|
|
Incline-to-Sand Harbor bike path update
|
|
What is it? The Nevada Department of Transportation is constructing a shared-use path to connect Incline Village to Sand Harbor. The three-mile path will provide a means for people to visit one of Lake Tahoe's most scenic destinations without a car. During construction, NDOT will also install infrastructure to reduce stormwater pollution dumping into Lake Tahoe from Highway 28.
Where is it in the process? Construction for the project is nearly halfway done. Depending on weather, NDOT anticipates completion of its work later this year or in 2019.
What is the League’s position?
SUPPORT
.
Providing people with more safe and convenient routes to walk or ride bicycles makes it easier to reduce pollution associated with auto traffic. This effort is also part of a larger plan to build a bike route that circles all of Lake Tahoe.
|
|
Development Rights Strategic Initiative
|
|
What is it? This initiative is intended to revamp Tahoe’s development rights system, which governs the types and amount of development that can happen in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Tahoe officials enacted the current development rights system to remedy decades of unchecked 20th century development at Tahoe. Development had destroyed some of the Tahoe Basin’s most sensitive lands, including many of the marshes and wetlands that acted as the Lake’s most effective natural pollution filters. The Development Rights Strategic Initiative aims to improve the current system by accelerating the removal of old, environmentally-harmful development from sensitive lands and replacing it with environmentally-beneficial redevelopment in existing urbanized areas.
Where is it in the process? The working group has met seven times, and has nearly completed a process intended to produce environmentally-neutral code changes. These changes leave the overall cap on development at Tahoe unchanged, but would allow developers to convert any one of the three types of development rights—units for commercial floor area, tourist accommodation units and residential units—to one of the other types. Under the changes, it would also be easier to transfer development rights geographically within the Lake Tahoe Basin. The TRPA governing board will need to review and approve the final changes, subject to a public decision-making process.
What is the League’s position?
WORK IN PROGRESS
.
As a supporter of the 2012 Regional Plan Update—and as a supporter of environmental improvements at Lake Tahoe being driven by private redevelopment—the League is optimistic this initiative can help accelerate environmentally-beneficial redevelopment at Lake Tahoe.
|
|
Funding for Lake Tahoe restoration
|
|
Lake Tahoe Restoration Act and California’s Proposition 68
What is it? In 2016, following years of advocacy by the League, Congress passed the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2016, authorizing $415 million over seven years for projects to restore and protect Lake Tahoe. In June, 2018, California residents voted to pass Proposition 68, approving a $4 billion investment to protect the state’s unique natural resources, including Lake Tahoe, and provide protections from the growing threat of climate change.
Where is it in the process? Congress must still approve the funding authorized by the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act. So far, it has fallen short in that regard, releasing a small fraction of the funding that is available. Passage of Proposition 68 will send $27 million in state funds to support restoration projects at Lake Tahoe, with additional funds available in the years ahead.
What is the League’s position?
SUPPORT
.
The League will continue to lead advocacy in Washington, Sacramento and Carson City to ensure that funds are appropriated to meet Lake Tahoe’s urgent needs. Through our role in key Lake Tahoe oversight committees, we’ll ensure funds from both the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act and Prop 68 are spent efficiently to maximize the benefits for the Lake’s health.
|
|
Upper Truckee Marsh Restoration
|
|
What is it? The Upper Truckee Marsh, located where the Upper Truckee River enters Lake Tahoe on its south shore, was once part of the largest wetland marsh in the Sierra Nevada. Construction of the Tahoe Keys and Lake Tahoe Airport destroyed half of the marsh, which had acted as Lake Tahoe’s largest natural pollution filter. State and federal agencies are on the cusp of extensive efforts to restore the remaining area of the marsh to a state where it will once again serve as a natural filter for Lake Tahoe.
Where is it in the process? Work on the project will begin within the next two years. As part of the preparation, volunteers with the League’s Eyes on the Lake program will survey the Upper Truckee River to map an infestation of aquatic invasive plants to prevent them from spreading into the rest of the marsh during the restoration.
What is the League’s position?
SUPPORT
.
The League strongly supports the restoration of the Upper Truckee Marsh. Because it will restore the ecological functions of the vast wetland area, the project will provide pollution filtration for the largest tributary into Lake Tahoe. The project has the potential to be Tahoe’s most beneficial restoration project to date.
|
|
US 50/South Shore Community Revitalization Project
|
|
What is it? The Tahoe Transportation District is proposing a
realignment of Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe to the south of the casino corridor, with corresponding changes to the original highway alignment to improve infrastructure for people walking and biking.
Where is it in the process? TTD will release the final environmental analysis later this year.
What is the League’s position?
WORK IN PROGRESS
.
The League has not taken a final position on the project, but advocates that it should include transit pilot projects and a parking management strategy to ensure minimal need for paved surfaces and reductions in car trips.
|
|
What is it? Squaw Valley Real Estate, LLC. has proposed overhauling the base of Squaw Valley Ski Resort. The project would add over 800 hotel, condo and townhome units and would construct up to 300,000 square feet of commercial development.
Where is it in the process? Placer County approved the proposal in 2016. Environmental advocates challenged the approval in court. A judge heard oral arguments on May 24 and will announce a decision within 90 days. Any decision will likely be appealed, so this could be a lengthy process.
What is the League’s position?
OPPOSE
.
|
|
U.S. Highway 50 from the South Tahoe "Y" Intersection to Trout Creek Bridge
|
|
What is it? Caltrans is leading a major overhaul of U.S. Highway 50 between the South Tahoe "Y" intersection and Trout Creek. The project will install new stormwater management infrastructure to reduce fine sediment pollution and other stormwater runoff pollution, which is good for Lake Tahoe. The final project will include new sidewalks and bicycle lanes on each side of Highway 50.
Where is it in the process? The project kicked off in 2017, and will be completed in 2019.
What is the League’s position?
SUPPORT
.
The League supports projects such as this, which will reduce pollution that degrades Lake Tahoe's clarity and will provide people safer and more convenient ways to walk and ride bicycles instead of driving.
|
|
A fresh new look for our members!
|
|
Get the new membership sticker redesigned for 2018.
|
|
|
Clarity photo by Dylan Silver, tahoeclarity.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|