Presidential forum

The 1997 Presidential Forum was a momentous occasion for Lake Tahoe.  The League helped to organize the event, which included visits from President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.  The Forum brought Lake Tahoe, its environmental challenges, and potential solutions before a wide audience of federal, state, and local officials. 

In addition, the Forum resulted in an Executive Order signed by President Clinton which pledged to bring together various federal agencies to protect the “extraordinary natural, recreational, and ecological resources in the Lake Tahoe Region.”  The Order stressed cooperation between federal agencies as well as among California and Nevada governments, the Washoe Tribe, and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

The Forum also included meetings and signed agreements between state officials, indicating a commitment to continue working together in the efforts to protect Lake Tahoe.  The governors of California and Nevada signed a Memorandum of Understanding which spelled out a number of ways in which each state would commit to protecting Lake Tahoe.  An important element of the MOU is that the states pledged to support the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Environmental Improvement Program. 

The Forum was an important starting point for increased state and federal support for Lake Tahoe.   Click here to read about the League’s current efforts to assure continued support for Lake Tahoe through the Environmental Improvement Program.