Laura Patten
Laura applies the best available science to shape effective policies and guide advocacy campaigns that restore the health of the Lake Tahoe Basin. She is responsible for advancing the League’s efforts to improve management and control of aquatic invasive species, and build Tahoe’s natural resilience to climate change through mitigation, adaptation and by implementing projects to restore streams, meadows and other sensitive lands in the Tahoe Basin.
Laura brings over a decade of experience in water conservation, environmental planning, policy, and science-based management to the League from her past work with nonprofits, government agencies, and in consulting. Prior to joining the League’s staff, she directed the water and land conservation programs at the Walker Basin Conservancy, provided natural resource planning support to federal agencies across the west while working at Environmental Management and Planning Solutions Inc., and worked for the National Park Service at Yosemite National Park. Laura obtained her Master of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School and her B.A. in Economics from Oberlin College. She joined the League’s staff in 2021.
When not working, Laura spends much of her time enjoying backcountry skiing, climbing, backpacking, biking, and everything the Sierra Nevada has to offer.