Our WorkThe League to Save Lake Tahoe is dedicated to protecting the environmental quality, scenic beauty, and low-impact recreational opportunities of the Lake Tahoe Basin. We have three primary program areas: Advocacy & Monitoring, Legislative Advocacy and Outreach & Education. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Advocacy & MonitoringAlthough the League has made great strides throughout the years ensuring sensitive land is preserved and urban boundaries are not extended, development pressures continue to escalate in the Tahoe Basin. The League acts as the primary watchdog for Lake Tahoe's environment and closely monitors the work of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, and other management and regulatory agencies in the Basin. Our current advocacy priorities include:Regional Plan Update Homewood Mountain Resort City of South Lake Tahoe General Plan Shorezone North Shore Biomass Plant Lake Tahoe Water Quality - Total Maximum Daily Load Upper Truckee River Restoration and Golf Course Reconfiguration Lake Tahoe Boulevard lane reduction Sierra Colina/Burke Creek Threats of Aquatic Invasive Species Preventing pesticide use in Lake Tahoe Heavenly Mountain Resort’s Proposed 2010 Capital Projects Boulder Bay _____________________________________________________________________________________ Regional Plan UpdateThe Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is currently developing a new regional plan for the Lake Tahoe Basin. The League is concerned that the recently proposed Regional Plan Alternatives are not focused on environmental threshold attainment and maintenance, but instead are focused on development objectives and intense urbanization of the Basin. These alternatives propose increases in height, density, and population that will negatively impact mandated environmental goals. Read more about the regional plan update, including League advocacy comments, op-eds and news articles. Homewood Mountain ResortHomewood Mountain Resort wants to build an all-season resort with 349 residential and hotel units along Highway 89, a two-lane road that already experiences significant summertime traffic gridlock. During snowy conditions, this highway is frequently closed just south of Homewood, leaving only one available travel route through already-congested Tahoe City.The project will include a 77-foot-tall lodge, and add 25,000 square feet of commercial space for a retail village. The League is still awaiting accurate figures on coverage, but early estimates are that the project will increase Homewood's overall development footprint - called "hard coverage" - by an astounding 25 acres. To their credit, for water quality purposes, the developers have been restoring compacted soil to a healthier state throughout the ski resort. We await the results of the environmental review but continue to be concerned that this major development project will permanently transform the West Shore. Read the League's October 2008 scoping comments on the Homewood project. Read the League's April 2011 comments on the Homewood DEIS Related news: Homewood public hearings scheduled for February News release: Homewood project threatens Lake Tahoe City of South Lake Tahoe General PlanThe League has a number of concerns about the City of South Lake Tahoe general plan update. Primarily, we have noted that the general plan update should follow and be informed by the TRPA regional plan update, instead of being drafted prior to the regional plan. In addition, the League is concerned with the city's proposal to expand airport services, increase coverage and traffic, and allow buildings up to six stories high in town centers. Read the League's August 2011 first amended complaint. Read the League's June 2011 complaint. Read the League's April 2011 comments on the FEIR.Read the League's April 2011 letter to the city on general plan fact finding. Read the League's March 2011 comments on the Final Environmental Impact Report. Read the League's November 2010 comments on the general plan DEIR. Read the League's November 2010 legal analysis of the plan's obligations under the California Environmental Quality Act. Read the League's October 2009 scoping comments on the general plan. League April 2011 opinion piece: Column: City wants high density development - at what cost? ShorezoneA federal district court judge in September 2010 overturned a plan to allow new piers, boat ramps, buoys and other boat facilities along the lake's shoreline. The judge’s decision was not just about piers and buoys, but about TRPA’s obligation to achieve and maintain Tahoe’s unique environmental goals. The decision will affect all new development plans by requiring regulators to find that such plans not only cause no significant environmental harm, but actually benefit the lake.
Read the judge’s 66-page decision from September 2010. Read the League’s press release on the September 2010 shorezone decision. Read the judge's November 2010 order denying TRPA's motion to amend the decision. Read the League's press release on the November 2010 order. Read news coverage of the decision.Read Frequently Asked Questions about the shorezone case. Read the League's statement on the Public Trust Easement.
North Shore Biomass PlantPlacer County had proposed a biomass plant at Kings Beach until June 2011 when decision makers realized community opposition was too great. The League joined the community in their concern that the plant would create unacceptable environmental degradation, including air pollution that would exacerbate violations of TRPA and State of California ozone standards. The League was also concerned with air and water pollution associated with the increased trips by large vehicles hauling biomass.Read our August 2010 comments on the biomass plant.
Reducing pollution to Lake Tahoe — Total Maximum Daily LoadDespite pressure to weaken this landmark long-term water quality plan, the League in 2010 successfully advocated to keep strong protections for Lake Tahoe in the TMDL, which was approved in November, 2010, by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. The League will continue work at the EPA level to seek improvements. The TMDL identifies sources of pollution to Lake Tahoe, and places a maximum limit on each source in order to restore water quality. Read the League and Sierra Club's joint March 2011 letter to the State Water Resources Control Board regarding Tahoe's TMDL.
Upper Truckee River Restoration and Golf Course ReconfigurationThe California Tahoe Conservancy and California State Parks are planning to restore the Upper Truckee River and reconfigure the Lake Tahoe Golf Course on Highway 50 between Meyers and South Lake Tahoe. The preferred option, Alternative 2, proposes moving the golf course to 45 acres of previously undeveloped forested land. The League prefers Alternative 3, the option that restores the river, but preserves the raw and undeveloped land. The League supports the restoration of stream environment zones as well as the protection of raw undeveloped sensitive lands and forested uplands. These ecosystems provide important water quality benefits, ecological functions, and wildlife habitat. After thoroughly reviewing the different alternatives and their associated impacts, the League is strongly in support of Alternative 3 River Ecosystem Restoration with Reduced-Play Golf Course. Alternative 3 provides the best opportunity to restore the Upper Truckee River, while simultaneously conserving valuable forested and sensitive land. Read the League's October 2010 comments on Lake Tahoe Golf Course reconfiguration.
Lake Tahoe Boulevard Lane ReductionThe Lake Tahoe Boulevard lane reduction project represents a perfect opportunity to reduce pavement on a wetland area, which will help restore Lake Tahoe's clarity. The League believes Alternative 5 accomplishes the most for Lake Tahoe.Read the League's May 2011 comment letter supporting Alternative 5. Sierra Colina/Burke CreekIn June 2009, the TRPA Governing Board approved a new 50 unit residential subdivision called Sierra Colina Village on previously undeveloped land beside Burke Creek in the Stateline/Kingsbury area. This approval represented the first time in nearly 40 years that the agency has permitted a new residential subdivision without counting its road coverage against the overall coverage limitations for the project. The League and numerous other organizations and residents expressed concern, and the League initiated litigation challenging the exemption of the new subdivision’s road from coverage limitations.
Read the League's court complaint. Threats of Aquatic Invasive SpeciesThe destructive Quagga and Zebra mussels have recently infested 17 different lakes and reservoirs in California and Nevada. Lake Tahoe is seriously at risk. While the League considers the establishment of TRPA’s Aquatic Invasive Species Program an important step in the right direction, we are concerned that the program is not stringent enough. Read more about how you can help prevent the spread of these invasives to Lake Tahoe.
Preventing pesticide use in Lake TahoeWater regulators want to loosen rules at Lake Tahoe to allow for the use of pesticides and other chemicals. The League remains concerned with the detrimental, cumulative, and long-term impacts associated with pesticide use in water. Lake Tahoe has special designation as an Outstanding National Resource Water, which affords the Lake a strict non-degradation standard. Read the League's April 2011 comments on the presticide proposal.Heavenly Mountain Resort’s Proposed 2010 Capital ProjectsHeavenly Mountain Resort is proposing the relocation of the Umbrella Bar, the construction of a new lodge and safety hazard reductions on California Trail. These projects should conform with the approved Heavenly Master Plan. Discrepancies in coverage need to be addressed and potential impacts to soil, vegetation and water quality must be avoided or properly mitigated.Read the League's January 2010 comments on the Heavenly capital projects.
Boulder BayIn April, 2011, the TRPA Governing Board approved Boulder Bay, a project to give the Tahoe Biltmore hotel-casino on the North Shore a "facelift" by tripling the number of rooms to 275, adding 59 condos and 158 parking spaces, and erecting at least eight buildings between 45 and 75 feet tall that defied TRPA height limits. The project will expand facilities that include restaurants, meeting rooms and a wellness center by 40,000 square feet, a 50 percent increase. Overall, compared to the Biltmore, the project's floor area will almost quadruple to 465,000 square feet. Furthermore, the project's expansion is made possible by the developer purchasing hotel rooms on the South Shore and transferring those development rights to the North Shore. If the project moves forward as planned, the North Shore will see the scale of development that is now mostly limited to the South Shore casino corridor. This is one of the largest developments proposed in decades for the North Shore. Furthermore, the traffic analysis defies logic by concluding that such expansion will not increase traffic.Boulder Bay is simply too big. The expansion will worsen traffic, pollute the air and degrade scenery. Read the League's February 2010 comments on Boulder Bay's DEIS. Read the League's March 2011 comments on the Boulder Bay FEIS. Related stories: Effort to redevelop historic Tahoe Biltmore wins approval (April 2011) News release: Boulder Bay project allows more urbanization at Tahoe (March 2011) November TRPA Governing Board meeting cancelled (Nov 2010) Boulder Bay delay: Hearing on North Tahoe redevelopment postponed again (Dec 2010)
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Legislative AdvocacyThe League plays a leading role in advocating for adequate and appropriate public investment in restoration projects included in the Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program. The EIP was established in 1997 as a coordinated effort designed to protect and restore Lake Tahoe’s natural resources. The program includes a list of erosion control, land acquisition, watershed, and forest ecosystem restoration projects. The League views the funding of this program, and the identification of priority projects, as key components in saving Lake Tahoe. Since the development of the EIP, the League has strongly supported and promoted the program. It is estimated the total cost of the ten-year program is over $1 billion, and the League works diligently with our private sector partners and land management agencies to assure necessary funding for EIP projects – and to assure that such funding is spent as wisely and efficiently as possible. When the EIP was developed, it was determined that projects would be funded by state, federal, and local revenue sources and the League has worked to promote the program at each level.
SB271 of the 2011 Nevada Legislative SessionIn June, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed into law SB271, a bill that withdraws the state from the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact in 2015 unless California and Congress agree to certain demands. The bill attempts to change the voting structure of the TRPA governing board in a way that will make it easier to approve development, and weaken environmental standards and regulations. SB271 passed in the final 15 minutes of the 2011 Nevada Legislative Session, despite much opposition from a broad coalition of conservation groups and scientists. The legislation undermines the movement to protect Lake Tahoe at a time when environmental threats like invasive species and climate change are greater than ever before. The League will be working with stakeholders and decisions makers in both California and Nevada to ensure that bi-state cooperation continues at the Lake. Read the League's comments on SB271.
Lake Tahoe Restoration ActThe League to Save Lake Tahoe successfully promoted the inclusion of language in the proposed reauthorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act to commit the local unit of the forest service to the achievement of Lake Tahoe’s environmental standards, to withdraw the area from new mining claims, and to enhance protections for water quality and soils in the implementation of forest projects. The League does not agree with every policy choice made in the reauthorization, which changes the balance of responsibilities among federal, state, and other entities at Lake Tahoe, and we are concerned that watershed restoration is not given sufficient priority in the bill. Nevertheless, we strongly support the reauthorization, which is needed to support the local economy and public safety as well as to help assure continued funding for environmental improvements. Southern Nevada Public Lands Management ActThe Tahoe Amendment to the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act has dramatically changed the outlook for funding the federal portion of the Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program. The Tahoe Amendment, which was sponsored by Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, allows for a small portion of funding generated by federal land sales in southern Nevada to be used for Tahoe restoration projects. Over $37 million per year is available through SNPLMA, but the funding is not guaranteed. The League strongly supported the Tahoe Amendment through its development and now works hard to ensure funding continues.Federal Advisory CommitteeAs a member of the Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee, the League works to ensure that federal funding is allocated to projects and programs that directly improve the environment in the Tahoe Basin. The LTFAC was established under President Clinton to advise the federal government on Tahoe’s priorities, and the League's participation greatly strengthens the recommendations of the local community group by assuring decision makers that regional environmental activists will support them.State and Local EffortsThe League works diligently with California, Nevada, and local governments to assure their continued support of the EIP. The League advocates before the California and Nevada Legislatures, asking lawmakers to support Tahoe’s restoration through funding of their natural resource agencies and of the EIP. In addition, we are working with local representatives and community leaders to develop consensus on a regional revenue source.Senate Concurrent Resolution 13 (SCR 13)California's SCR 13 passed the state legislature in 2009. The resolution, authored by Senate President Pro tem Darrell Steinberg, creates a joint legislative committee to oversee California's active role in the budgetary and policy matters related to the protection of Lake Tahoe. The creation of the Joint Committee provides us all with the assurance that the state of California, through hands-on involvement by the state legislature, will follow through with its commitment to protect the clarity and health of Lake Tahoe. The League was a strong supporter of the bill and we are thrilled about its passage. Thanks to all of you who submitted comments throughout the legislative process.
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