Keep Tahoe Blue Advocacy Update |
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Our advocacy and policy experts keep a watchful eye on projects and plans that may impact the health and clarity of Lake Tahoe.
We engage, collaborate and speak on behalf of the Lake to ensure we Keep Tahoe Blue. Here are some projects we're working on now.
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Photo: Stuart Rankin, Flickr CC |
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California’s Tahoe Caucus |
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What is it? In mid July, members of the League to Save Lake Tahoe’s policy team – Darcie Goodman Collins and Laura Patten – convened the first meeting of the Tahoe Caucus, an informal group of California state lawmakers who represent or want to play an active role in supporting the Tahoe region.
Tahoe is a large, diverse and dynamic place, represented by numerous legislators. By creating a forum to foster collaboration and coordination across overlapping legislative districts, the League aims to share our policy objectives, establish common goals, and recruit support from our elected representatives, regardless of their party affiliation.
The first meeting of the Tahoe Caucus was well attended, signifying Tahoe’s importance to its state representatives. The groups’ co-chairs, Senators Brian Dahle and John Laird, were in attendance, along with Assemblymembers Frank Bigelow and Kevin Mullin, and more than a dozen staffers from other legislative offices.
Where is it in the process? The Tahoe Caucus will meet two to three times per year, with each meeting focusing on a different set of topics and priorities.
What’s next? The focus of discussion at the first Caucus meeting was the Lake Tahoe Basin Forest Action Plan, a novel model for forest management and wildfire prevention in the state, with implementation just beginning. Caucus members kicked off their work by discussing the plan with a panel of experts, including Joanne Marchetta, Executive Director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency; David Fournier, Acting Deputy Forest Supervisor for the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit; and Forest Schafer, Director of the Natural Resources Division for the California Tahoe Conservancy.
The insights taken from the meeting will be shared with other regions around the state to help inform how they implement their own programs to manage fuels and wildfire risk.
What is the League’s position? SUPPORT
As coordinator and moderator for the Tahoe Caucus, the League strongly supports a collaborative approach to shaping and passing policies that protect and strengthen Lake Tahoe. We look forward to working with our elected representatives, their staffs and other partners to advance a legislative agenda to Keep Tahoe Blue.
More information:
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Combating Plastic Pollution |
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Photo: Alison Toy, UC Davis TERC |
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What is it? On June 30, a staff member from the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) shared an alarming Instagram story showing thousands of tiny polystyrene (a.k.a. expanded plastic foam, or Styrofoam) beads blanketing Moon Dune beach on Tahoe’s north shore. The source of the pollution was a pool float toy that had burst a seam after being used in Lake Tahoe. Upon hearing the news, the League quickly reached out to our network of volunteers and allies in the area, as did others. Within 24 hours, the spill was cleaned up thanks to a collaborative, fast acting #TahoeBlueGooder community. The North Tahoe Business Association, California State Parks, Placer County and the California Tahoe Conservancy were integral to the rapid response.
Polystyrene microbeads, as well as plastic glitter that can be found inside other flotation toys, pose a significant risk to the Tahoe environment. Plastics don’t break down naturally, are extremely difficult to clean up, and can harm wildlife and the Lake’s delicate ecology. These types of products should only be used in pools where they can be contained and removed if spilled, not in the natural environment.
Where is it in the process? Even as the Moon Dune spill response was underway, and in the weeks since, the League’s policy team pressed the float toy manufacturer – Big Joe/Comfort Research – for changes to prevent future pollution. We’re happy to report that the theme of fast action continues on this front.
The manufacturer has already improved packaging by adding hangtags to the offending product (as the product is not boxed or bagged), which clearly states for potential consumers that the toys should not be used outside of the pool to prevent environmental harm. On websites where the product is available for sale, “for pool use only” language is also being added , though some retailers are lagging. Please reach out to Amazon to request that they update the product listings on their site. Big Joe/Comfort Research deserves recognition for working with the League and taking immediate action. There is still a long way to go to protect Lake Tahoe from pollution, but this recent experience is a step in the right direction.
What’s next? The League will continue to pursue sellers and manufacturers to change the way products are labeled to prevent plastic pollution at Lake Tahoe. For example, we are also educating local retailers about the potential risk from these products, and urging them to take the products off their shelves. Several local retailers, including Tahoe Pool Service and Cox Family Stores, have agreed to not restock the risky items. This process is likely to take some time, but the League will continue working for results.
What is the League’s position? SUPPORT
The League strongly supports the use of direct advocacy to Keep Tahoe Blue because it has a proven record of results. We similarly stand behind collaborative and coordinated efforts across the public, private and nonprofit sectors to protect and preserve Lake Tahoe. We will continue to use all the tools in our toolkit – advocacy, community engagement, and innovation – to combat the threat from pollution.
More information:
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Supporting Independent Tahoe Science |
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What is it? Science is the foundation for all Lake Tahoe conservation. Science also guides how tens of millions of dollars are spent on the Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, along with a range of other efforts, including the League’s own priorities.
The Lake’s future is at stake, so it’s vital that the science being used is accurate, unbiased, and peer reviewed. With those criteria in mind, the League helped design, draft and champion a piece of California legislation that created and funded the Tahoe Science Advisory Council – a neutral, third-party scientific body that provides and interprets unbiased scientific information to land managers to help them care for the Tahoe Basin.
The "Council" is a group of scientists from Nevada, California and federal institutions who partner with resource management agencies and governments to advise and coordinate research and monitoring. Together, the group’s members represent leadership, management, research and preservation efforts for a place they all share a desire to protect – Lake Tahoe.
Where is it in the process? The Bi-State Council was created in 2015. Their work has provided valued peer review on important topics for Tahoe, including aquatic invasive species, sustainable recreation, vehicle miles traveled (a way to measure transportation impacts) and the most recent Lake Tahoe Clarity Report.
What’s next? The Council’s latest work focuses on analyzing seasonal trends in Lake Tahoe’s water clarity, evaluating the Lake Tahoe Clarity Model and exploring ecological processes and their impact on Lake clarity. The Council’s next task is to take what it has learned, enhance it, and share it through collaboration with Lake Tahoe Basin land managers and decision makers. Working together, scientists and land managers – such as the U.S. Forest Service, Nevada State Parks, California State Parks and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency – will make knowledge sharing easier, grow our understanding of what drives Lake clarity loss, and open the door for coordinated action to improve Lake clarity.
What is the League’s position? SUPPORT
Since 1957, science has been the League’s guiding light. We support the pursuit of unbiased, independent scientific inquiry to better understand Lake Tahoe, the threats it faces and the efficacy of efforts to protect it. The Council provides that for Tahoe.
With sound science and collaboration, the League, our partners and collaborators have been able to shape policy and regulations, secure funding for environmental improvements and engage tens of thousands of Tahoe-lovers to join us to Keep Tahoe Blue.
More information:
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Federal Funding for Tahoe |
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Photo: Thomas Guignard, Flickr CC
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What is it? In 1997, President Clinton and Vice President Gore made a very important visit to Tahoe, fulfilling a multi-year effort by the League to bring federal attention – and dollars – to address Tahoe’s environmental challenges. Their visit, and the national and international attention that came with them, shined a light on Tahoe’s beauty and the threats it faces. Our advocacy, planning and coordination for the first annual Lake Tahoe Presidential Summit resulted in more than news headlines. The event also built momentum that led to the passage of the 2000 Lake Tahoe Restoration Act and $300 million in funding for Tahoe environmental projects.
In 2016, President Obama signed legislation that included the second Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (LTRA), which authorized $415 million for habitat restoration, research, and aquatic invasive species and wildfire prevention at Lake Tahoe. The passage of that bill signaled a renewed, collaborative commitment to protect and restore the Basin’s unique natural environment. However, a majority of the funds made available by the 2016 LTRA have not yet been allocated, or delivered, to Tahoe.
Where is it in the process? On the eve of the 25th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit, we’re pleased to share that the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill that allocates more than $25 million in funding for Tahoe under the 2016 Lake Tahoe Restoration Act – an increase of nearly $10 million over last year’s allocation. The much-needed dollars will support environmental restoration and infrastructure work that brings about 1,700 jobs to the Lake Tahoe Basin every year.
What’s next? The bill has cleared the House and awaits consideration and approval by the Senate, and then a signature from President Biden. The victory in the House is one important step in a long process. It’s also not the only effort bringing needed funding for environmental protection and habitat restoration programs to Tahoe.
In May of this year, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Rep. Mark Amodei of Nevada introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to extend the authorization of the 2016 Lake Tahoe Restoration Act. The legislation is a critical pathway to expand the positive impacts that the Lake Tahoe Restoration Acts of 2000 and 2016 have delivered to Tahoe’s environment and community – specifically by keeping the pipeline open for hundreds of millions of authorized but unallocated dollars to flow to Tahoe. These funds will help finish crucial environmental work, and help make Tahoe resilient in the face of unprecedented impacts from climate change, including catastrophic wildfire.
On Thursday, August 19, federal and state lawmakers will convene for the 25th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit, a tradition started with the first Summit in 1997. The event is the perfect opportunity to discuss the successes and challenges of the past year, and to reaffirm a collective commitment to Keep Tahoe Blue. You can tune in for the livestream of the event.
What is the League’s position? SUPPORT
For decades, the League has been a strong advocate and vocal champion for channeling federal funding to Tahoe. As a member of the Tahoe Partnership, along with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and Tahoe Chamber, we make numerous trips to Washington D.C. each year to lobby for Tahoe and ensure money makes it to projects on the ground. We will continue to urge our federal delegation to use new and trusted paths to ensure Tahoe gets the support it needs. We’d like to thank our elected officials for their commitment to Keep Tahoe Blue: Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla of California; Representatives John Garamendi and Tom McClintock of California, and Mark Amodei, Susie Lee, Dina Titus and Steven Horsford of Nevada.
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North Shore Microtransit Pilot Project |
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Photo: Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit |
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What is it? On June 24, Placer County and the Incline Village-Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau launched a free, on-demand, door-to-door shuttle service in areas on Tahoe’s north and west shores. Through Labor Day, the TART Connect smartphone app can be used to request a rideshare van between 8:00 am and midnight in three service areas: Kings Beach, Tahoe City to Sugar Pine, and Crystal Bay-Incline Village. The pilot project for this “microtransit” service is just like Uber or Lyft – they pick up within 15 minutes or less and go anywhere within the service area – but with shared rides, larger capacity vehicles and no cost to you.
The pilot program’s first six weeks have been even more successful than anticipated, with nearly 30,000 rides taken thus far, or more than 600 riders per day. The public’s embrace of TART Connect is a signal that microtransit can be an effective tool in breaking Tahoe’s dependence on the private automobile, alleviating traffic, and keeping harmful, traffic-induced pollution out of the Lake.
Where is it in the process? Due to the pilot program’s success, Placer County has allocated additional funding to extend the service through the coming winter season, and to expand it to reach all Placer County communities at Tahoe.
What’s next? TART Connect summer shuttles will continue to run until Labor Day. After a break during the fall, they will pick back up with expanded winter service in December and continue through April 2022.
What is the League’s position? SUPPORT
The League was the first to test on-demand microtransit shuttles in Tahoe back in 2017. We’re excited to see this transportation option pick up steam after the Mountaineer microtransit service has been running successfully in Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows since the winter of 2018. The League will continue to support alternative, Lake-friendly options to get to and around Tahoe, so harmful stormwater pollution from our overused roadways and tailpipe emissions cannot impact Tahoe’s famed water clarity.
More information:
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Squaw Valley Development Lawsuit |
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Photo: ray_explores, Flickr CC
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What is it? In late July, a California appellate court heard arguments from environmental lawyers hoping to stop a planned residential development at Squaw Valley, as well as from the resort’s own lawyers looking to move the project forward. Attorneys representing Sierra Watch argued for the invalidation of a pair of 2018 district court decisions that upheld Placer County’s approval of a plan to build 850 condo and hotel units in a series of high-rise buildings in what is now a parking lot at Squaw Valley. Sierra Watch’s lawyers argued that the lower court’s decisions should be thrown out because Placer County violated a public records law, and because the project’s environmental impact report intentionally failed to analyze or mitigate the project’s potential impacts to Lake Tahoe from added traffic.
This is not the only legal challenge against a proposed development on the grounds it would create transportation-related impacts for Lake Tahoe. In 2016, the League joined Sierra Watch and Mountain Area Preservation in challenging Placer County’s approval of Martis Valley West – a proposed 760-unit residential development with an additional 6.6 acres of businesses located on a ridgeline overlooking Lake Tahoe and the Martis Valley, immediately adjacent to the Tahoe Basin. The League’s argument against the Martis project is very similar to the one against Squaw Valley: whether a project is inside or outside the Tahoe Basin, its impacts must be appropriately studied, analyzed, mitigated or the project must be changed to ensure Lake Tahoe’s environment is not negatively impacted.
Where is it in the process? The Squaw development plan was first proposed in 2012 and was formally approved by Placer County in 2016. Sierra Watch filed suit after the approval, and a Placer County judge ruled that the County handled the project’s approval appropriately. Sierra Watch appealed, leading to the most recent hearing.
The Martis Valley West project was also approved by Placer County in 2016. The League and others then challenged the ruling in court. In 2018, a Placer County Court ruling halted the Martis project, but not based on its likely impacts to the Lake. The League, Mountain Area Preservation and Sierra Watch filed an appeal to ensure the project addressed those potential effects.
What’s next? In the Squaw Valley case, the three-judge panel intends to issue a decision on the appeal by mid October. That decision may give an indication of how the Martis Valley lawsuit could be decided, given that the two cases share a similar legal basis of avoiding detrimental impacts to Lake Tahoe.
In the Martis Valley West case, a court date to decide the final fate of the project has yet to be scheduled.
What is the League’s position? OPPOSE
Whether a project is inside or outside the Tahoe Basin, it must be responsible for its impacts on Lake Tahoe. The League is opposed to environmental review processes and projects that ignore their responsibility to protect Lake Tahoe.
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WE'VE GOT OUR EYES ON IT:
Upcoming Projects and Programs
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The League is involved with all important issues in Tahoe from start to finish. Here’s a list of early-stage projects, programs and initiatives we’re keeping an eye on.
Tahoe Trail Feasibility Study
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The State Route 89 Corridor Plan includes the extension of the Tahoe Trail, a pedestrian and bike path, down the west shore. The upcoming feasibility study will look at alignments (routes) to extend the southern end of the trail from Meeks Bay to Emerald Bay.
Highway 50 East Corridor Plan
- Planning to improve this stretch of roadway from the casino core in Stateline to Spooner Summit is on the horizon. Some potential project elements that may be studied included safety improvements, enhanced bike and pedestrian access, implementation of Best Management Practices (BMP’s), stormwater improvements and potentially eliminating roadside parking.
Review of Stormwater Discharge Permits
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The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board is renewing the Tahoe stormwater permit for all California counties in the Basin. The League is seeking to implement a limit – a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) – on trash within this renewal to comply with California rules and regulations, and to reduce trash “hot spots” in Tahoe.
Enforcement of Anti-Litter Rules
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Litter harms wildlife, degrades Tahoe’s scenic beauty, and if not collected, will eventually move downhill to the Basin’s lowest point – Lake Tahoe. The League has successfully advocated for local bans on plastic bags, polystyrene, to-go utensils, plastic straws and smoking to address litter before it ends up in the environment. As we continue to pursue these types of local and statewide ordinances, we now turn toward making sure the laws we’ve helped put in place are enforced.
Parking Improvements
- Illegal parking endangers people, leads to overuse of sensitive recreation areas and increases erosion that harms Tahoe’s water clarity. There are over a dozen governments and agencies with varying oversight and enforcement responsibilities in Tahoe, making a coordinated effort difficult. The League is working with a region-wide stakeholder group and many local agencies to identify and implement solutions.
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2- 4pm|Thursday, August 19
Zoom
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Attend this training to help tackle the invasive species threat at Tahoe. Learn how to identify native and invasive aquatic plants, report your observations, and assist the League in quickly putting new infestations in check.
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9am - 1pm|Thursday, August 26
Summit Lake, Truckee
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Join our team of volunteer citizen scientists to search for aquatic invasive species in Truckee. Every infestation we can detect and control is one fewer threat to the beautiful lakes, rivers and streams in the Tahoe-Truckee region.
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Every year, hundreds of Tahoe lovers join us on Labor Day to clean up Tahoe's beaches for one of the League's largest annual events. It's a date our team looks forward to, and we'd love for you to join us.
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Which lake will we leave for future generations? |
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Our efforts to Keep Tahoe Blue depend on the generosity of our members and supporters. Thank you for donating to protect Lake Tahoe. |
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