The following list is an archive of the League's projects and associated comment letters. For information on our current campaigns, go to our Projects page.
2008-2009 Projects and Comment Letters
Transportation
In early 2009, the TRPA solicited public input on the state and future of Tahoe’s public transit system. The League attended two public meetings in which participants discussed the existing public transit infrastructure as well as recommendations for how to make Tahoe’s public transit viable for the future. The League continues to stress the importance of quantifying improvements or additions to the existing transit system with environmental net benefits that contribute to the attainment and maintenance of TRPA’s mandated environmental threshold goals, and benefits that reduce dependency on the private automobile in the Basin. Click here to learn more.
The League also submitted comments in 2008 on an updated Regional Transportation Plan for Lake Tahoe. Click here to read our July 2008 comment letter and here to read our August 2008 letter outlining additional concerns.
City of South Lake Tahoe General Plan - updated October 2009.
The City of South Lake Tahoe is updating its General Plan and the League has a number of concerns. 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. Additionally the League is concerned with the City's proposal to expand airport services and allow buildings up to six stories high in town centers.
Click here to download our comment letter.
Urban Boundary Extensions -- Kings Beach Community Plan - updated July 2009.
The League has become concerned about the Basin-wide implications that seemingly minor Community Plan boundary line realignments can have. Please click on this link to read the League’s statement on the Kings Beach Community Plan Realignment Amendment that was approved by the TRPA Governing Board on July 22nd, 2009.
Camp Richardson Resort -updated April 2009.
The US Forest Service is proposing a campground “retrofit” project for the Camp Richardson Resort campground that will include not only BMPs, but an increase in the number of large (pull through) RV hookup sites over what currently exists on the site. In addition, the Forest Service is proposing to reduce the overall number of non-hookup (tent-sites) in the campground. The project is also proposing to develop large RV hookup sites in areas that are currently open space, and remove approximately 950 trees, including old growth specimens in the campground area. The League has numerous concerns and questions for the Forest Service on this project. To read about the League’s comments and concerns with Camp Richardson Resort Campground Project please click here.
Baldwin Grazing - updated March 2009.
The League is supportive of the US Forest Service’s proposed project to eliminate grazing from the Baldwin Allotment in order to protect sensitive habitats and water quality. The grazing allotment is approximately 200 acres on the lakeside portion of the Tallac Creek Watershed and includes wetland and riparian habitat both important to wildlife, including the willow flycatcher. The beach pasture of the grazing allotment is even adjacent to a known Tahoe Yellow Crest population, which is listed as endangered by both the state of California and Nevada. In addition to the erosion impacts of grazing in sensitive habitats, the area has been out of compliance with Lahontan Water Control Board water quality standards for fecal coli-form. Click here to read the League’s March 2009 comment letter.
Homewood Mtn. Resort - updated October 2008
Homewood Mountain Resort, under the TRPA’s Community Enhancement Program (CEP) proposes a large tourist accommodation resort (up to 185 tourist accommodation units and 126 residential units).
Click here to read our Scoping Comments.
Aspen Community Restoration Project - updated October 2008
Click here to read the League's comments on the USFS's proposal for restoring aspen stands within the Tahoe Basin.
Boulder Bay - updated September 2008
The League's concerns with the proposed Boulder Bay project in Crystal Bay, Nevada include: density increase, transportation issues, lack of substantial environmental benefits, Tourist Accommodation Unit transfers, inaccuracies within the Notice of Preparation, and the removal of large trees.
Click here to read our Scoping Comments
NPDES Permit - updated August 2008
The Lahontan Water Board has proposed to reissue the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, when three co-permittees (City of South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County, and Placer County) under the current 2005 permit still have not met the requirements for stormwater discharge.
Click here to read our comments to the Water Board
TRPA's 5-Year Strategic Plan - updated August 2008
The League to Save Lake Tahoe has a number of concerns that the newest TRPA Five-Year Strategic Plan does not place enough emphasis on the environmental thresholds.
Click here for our June 24, 2008 comment letter
Click here for our August 12, 2008 letter
Total Maximum Daily Load Program - updated August 2008
The League has expressed concerns that although the intention of the proposed TMDL is to improve water clarity, opportunities exist within the implementation process to negatively impact water quality and other environmental thresholds.
Click here to read our Scoping Comments
Sierra Nevada yellow legged frog - updated August 2008
The League supports a USFS proposal to re-colonize the endangered Sierra Nevada yellow legged frog to seven alpine lakes within the Desolation Wilderness.
Click here to read our comment letter
Synthetic Turf - updated August 2008
The League has concerns that TRPA's proposed turf amendments may allow for unintended opportunities to occur in which soft coverage will be converted to hard coverage.
Click here to read our letter to the TRPA
Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement Project - updated August 2008
The League supports Placer County's proposed three-lane roadway alternative for the area through Kings Beach on the north shore of Lake Tahoe.
Click here to learn more about our position.
Eagle Falls Viaduct Project - updated June 2008
Concerns over Caltrans' Environmental Improvement Project include lack of emphasis on road maintenance and monitoring and maintenance of storm water treatments.
Click here to read our comments.
Meeks Meadow Washoe Restoration Project - updated June 2008
This pilot project is designed to enhance the meadow ecosystem of Meeks Bay in cooperation with the Washoe Tribe. The League has recommended additions to the project design in the areas of fish and wildlife, water quality maintenance and improvement, and soils.
Click here to read our comments
Tahoe Fire Commission - updated May 2008
As a result of the terrible Angora Fire, the Governors of California and Nevada created a Tahoe Fire Commission to make recommendations for reducing the fire threat to life, property, and the environment in the Tahoe Basin. The League closely followed the proceedings of the Commission and provided input for their recommendations. The Commission recently issued their report to the Governors.
Cumulative Impacts of Development on the North Shore - updated March 2008
Responding to proposals for widespread development on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, the League conducted an analysis of the extensive cumulative impacts associated with all the projects in a three mile section of the Tahoe Vista, Kings Beach and Crystal Bay communities. This comment letter was prepared in March, 2008 with the best available data at that time.
1997-2007
TRPA Threshold Update (2007)
TRPA is planning to make changes to its nine environmental thresholds. Changes to the thresholds will be one of the most consequential actions of the TRPA in the past 20 years. In May 2007, the League submitted extensive comments (as part of a group of conservation advocates) on the Environmental Assessment of proposed changes. Click here to read our comments.
Presidential Forum
The 1997 Presidential Forum at Lake Tahoe, attended by President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, brought national attention to the “Jewel of the Sierra” and the efforts to Keep Tahoe Blue. In the summer of 2007, the League co-sponsored the 10th anniversary Forum event. The special event was also attended by former President Clinton as well as Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator John Ensign, and many other influential dignitaries and officials.
Lake Tahoe Airport
In October 2006, the League released a Draft Airport Impacts Report which examines a range of community and environmental impacts associated with the airport in South Lake Tahoe.
Click here to download the full report (1.5 MB pdf).
Click here to downlaod the Executive Summary (420 KB pdf).
Click here to download the Air Quality Appendix (154 KB pdf).
Martis Valley -
Find out about how the League has helped to protect Lake Tahoe and Martis Valley from the impacts of poorly planned development.
Scenic Ordinances
The League works diligently to protect Lake Tahoe’s scenic shoreline as new development ordinances were debated in 2002.
Forest Projects
The League has reviewed many forest health projects and fire danger reduction policies. Click on the link above to read about a few of the most significant projects in the last few years.
Cattle Grazing in Meiss Meadows
In 2002, the League successfully encouraged the U.S. Forest Service to ban cattle grazing in this sensitive meadow. It was the first time that grazing has been banned based on water quality violations.
Jet Skis
The League led a campaign to ban polluting two-stroke watercraft engines from Lake Tahoe in the late 1990’s. A ban on such engines was enacted by the TRPA in 1999. Read more about our campaign and why it was such an important effort. |
