Apr 17, 2025
By Julie Regan
Lake Tahoe is leading the charge into Spring for all of us. Budding trees, songbirds, and warm days are bursting forth just in time for the 55th celebration of Earth Day next Tuesday. Started in 1970, the annual event is a touchstone for conservation, sustainability, and harmony between the natural and human environments. These are the principles on which the states of Nevada and California founded the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), also marking 55 years this year.
It was a courageous move. In the 1950s and ‘60s, Tahoe was undergoing an enormous building boom. Plans for freeways and a city the size of San Francisco encircling the lake were on the table. Fortunately, it was also a time when environmental science was beginning to drive public policy. Studies on the clarity of Lake Tahoe’s water by UC Davis’ Dr. Charles Goldman warned state leaders that pollution and environmental damage were bringing Lake Tahoe to a tipping point. High levels of nutrients and widespread erosion were clouding the lake with algae and suspended sediment.
In the same era as the first Earth Day and the passage of fundamental federal legislation like the Clean Water, Air, and Endangered Species Acts, Nevada and California signed a unique Bi-State Compact creating the first planning agency of its kind in the nation. The research of Dr. Goldman and others formed the scientific basis for TRPA’s groundbreaking environmental standards and conservation programs.
Tahoe’s unique challenges and complexities continue to require innovative solutions, some of which provide a model for areas facing similar issues. TRPA’s 1999 prohibition of high-polluting marine engines in Lake Tahoe reduced fuel compounds in the lake to near undetectable levels. Environmental studies that supported the prohibition shaped similar regulations at other lakes and pre-empted a shift in the boating and jet ski industries to cleaner engines.
Similarly, the Lake Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program is providing a national model for aquatic invasive species prevention. The broad support for the inspection program allowed TRPA to quickly pivot last month to begin requiring mandatory decontaminations for all visiting boats to increase protection against the invasive golden mussel recently discovered in the Central Valley of California.
Lake Tahoe has become a model for other areas fighting to protect natural resources, confront climate change, and support communities. The Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program is often upheld as one of the most successful landscape conservation programs in the nation. Through it, more than 80 organizations have added 200 miles of bike paths, treated nearly 100,000 acres of forest for hazardous fuels, and removed aquatic invasive species from more than 480 acres of lake bottom.
Today, Lake Tahoe is facing new pressures and emerging threats. Rising temperatures, the threat of catastrophic wildfire, and extreme weather swings – from severe drought to atmospheric rivers – are testing the environmental progress we have made as a region. Lake Tahoe is also not immune to the global challenges around tourism. Lake Tahoe’s outdoor recreation opportunities and expanses of public land are as much of a draw to travelers and people in surrounding regions as they are for full- and part-time residents. Traffic congestion, full recreation areas, and the shortage of affordable housing are affecting the environment and the Tahoe experience.
These are complex problems that may look as daunting to us as the issues Lake Tahoe leaders in the 1960s faced. Over the past 55 years, partnership, collaboration, and well-informed public policy have led to some of Lake Tahoe’s greatest accomplishments. I believe that no challenge is insurmountable and that the courage to lead lies in each of us.
As we all get out and enjoy the glorious spring weather, I hope you consider the difference each of us can make and how the simplest actions can inspire others. Find an Earth Day event or follow the daily Earth Week challenges at takecaretahoe.org/earthweek.
Julie Regan is Executive Director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
Mar 20, 2025
By Julie Regan
Lake Tahoe’s geologic history underscores the ecological and cultural significance of this incredible place. Recent research shows that Lake Tahoe first took shape more than 2.3 million years ago, making it the oldest lake in North America and the third oldest waterbody in the world. We also recognize the importance of the native Washoe people, who have served as the original and current stewards for 10,000 years. Today, we continue this legacy of stewardship through science-based environmental protections.
Last month, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) released a comprehensive, four-year report on Lake Tahoe’s environmental health. The peer-reviewed report highlights significant progress throughout the Lake Tahoe Region in preserving this national treasure and outlines critical challenges where continued collaboration and action are needed. This draft Threshold Evaluation Report marks our eighth assessment, covering 140 standards across ten categories, including water and air quality, transportation, wildlife, forest health, and more.
During the four-year reporting period, nearly 80 percent of environmental standards assessed were in attainment. Notably, TRPA and our partners surpassed a landmark goal to restore or enhance 1,100 acres of Lake Tahoe’s wetlands. For more than 40 years, partners in the basin have pursued this goal, underscoring our commitment to revitalizing wetland areas damaged by past development.
These accomplishments are a testament to the collaborative work of more than 80 organizations and citizens alike participating in the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP). Since 1997, the EIP has been instrumental in accelerating threshold attainment through public and private investments in projects such as stormwater infiltration, wetland restoration, defensible space, forest fuel reduction, and biking and walking paths that enhance environmental conditions and provide lasting community benefits.
In addition to our progress, the evaluation highlights several challenges. The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires within and around the Tahoe Basin impacted air quality standards for short periods. In 2021, over 1.5 million acres burned across the Sierra Nevada, with wildfires like the Caldor and Tamarack Fires introducing heavy smoke and ash into the watershed. While not every air quality standard can be managed from inside the Tahoe Basin, the Caldor Fire also tested our collaborative forest management and defensible space strategies, which made a difference for firefighters and helped save Lake Tahoe. In this new era of extreme weather and megafires, we must continue to strengthen regional coordination of forest resilience and community wildfire protection projects.
In the lake itself, the discovery of invasive New Zealand mudsnails in 2023 poses a new threat to our ecosystem. Researchers are reporting an alarming increase in Lake Tahoe’s temperature, which can make invasive species even more difficult to control, emphasizing the need for enhanced monitoring and preventive measures.
Another critical factor in preserving our environment is how we move around the basin. Regional transportation partners met our new standards to reduce vehicle use during the reporting period, but we recognize that to further reduce reliance on our cars the region’s transportation system needs continued investment. Local governments are already working together to reduce congestion and protect air and water quality. In 2022, the free LakeLink microtransit service launched on the South Shore, filling a key gap in the transit system. Together with TART Connect on the North Shore, microtransit has provided 1.4 million riders with free, on-demand service. Combined with traditional transit, local investment reached nearly $8.5 million last year, the highest level of transit funding in the basin’s history.
While we have seen substantial strides in the basin, this work is far from complete. Emerging challenges, such as the effects of extreme weather on lake clarity and the threat of invasive species, require innovative solutions, new research, and sustained partnerships to address them head-on. Over the coming months, TRPA will be collecting public and partner input on the draft Threshold Evaluation Report, and will present a final report and recommended actions to the TRPA Governing Board in June. The threshold evaluation summary, underlying data, and a feedback survey are available at thresholds.laketahoeinfo.org.
The recent findings on Lake Tahoe’s true age lend some perspective to this work. Rather than diminishing our shared progress in the basin, the knowledge underscores the significance of each step forward. We look forward to working with everyone to continue protecting and restoring this spectacular place for generations to come.
Julie Regan is Executive Director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
Feb 21, 2025
By Julie Regan
It’s been a very light winter in the Tahoe Basin. While our backs may be grateful for relatively little shoveling, the dismal snowpack serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges ahead. For decades, scientists have warned that rising temperatures will bring more extreme weather—punctuated by severe storms and prolonged droughts. These conditions not only strain our water resources but also lead to increased tree mortality and heightened wildfire risk. Living in the forest means accepting that it’s not a question of if the next wildfire will come, but when.
As City of South Lake Tahoe Fire Chief Jim Drennan recently said, the wildfires in and around Los Angeles are a stark reminder that fire season is now a year-round reality. For those of us in Tahoe, the Caldor and Angora fires remain vivid and painful memories. We know the fear of evacuation, the anxiety of waiting for news, and the overwhelming relief when loved ones are safe. Our hearts go out to the thousands of families in Southern California who have lost homes, faced evacuations, and now endure the long road of recovery. We also extend gratitude to the countless first responders—including local Tahoe crews—who worked tirelessly in dangerous conditions to protect lives and property.
Tahoe’s Longstanding Investments in Forest Health
The question on many minds is: what are we doing to protect Tahoe’s communities and forests? Fortunately, the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP), launched nearly three decades ago, has made Tahoe a leader in forest health and wildfire resilience.
Following the 2007 Angora Wildfire, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) helped form the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team to improve coordination, accelerate forest fuel reduction projects, and streamline defensible space for homeowners. This collaborative, multi-jurisdictional approach has delivered remarkable progress. Since 2008, partners have treated more than 72,000 acres of forest for fuel reduction and completed more than 75,000 defensible space inspections. Every USDA Forest Service and state-owned neighborhood conservation lot in the Tahoe Basin has received initial fuel reduction treatments.
Preparing Communities and Enhancing Evacuation Planning
Partners have also significantly advanced evacuation planning. Last fall, the Tahoe Basin fire chiefs released the Lake Tahoe Regional Evacuation Plan, a living document designed to provide critical evacuation information and improve preparedness. TRPA has fought to secure $1.7 million in federal funding to enhance regional evacuation planning and upgrade communications and transportation infrastructure during emergencies.
At the neighborhood level, the Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is empowering residents to prepare for wildfire. Led by the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, this network now includes 84 neighborhoods, a more than 50 percent increase from 2023. These efforts are helping residents take an active role in safeguarding their homes and communities.
Infrastructure improvements are also playing a vital role. Robust water systems are essential for firefighting, and TRPA is working with the Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership to accelerate the installation of resilient water infrastructure. Since 2009, this bi-state collaboration has leveraged over $20 million in federal funding to complete $52 million in critical projects, including fire hydrants, storage tanks, waterline upgrades, and emergency generators.
Private property owners are stepping up as well. Last month, the TRPA Governing Board approved amendments to the Homewood Mountain Resort Master Plan that encourage reinvestment in the historic Lake Tahoe ski resort while ensuring Homewood will continue to be open to the public. Now Homewood is investing in forest health through a 250-acre fuel reduction project. It is also finalizing an agreement with the North Tahoe Fire Protection District to expand fire services and improve wildfire evacuation.
Building A Resilient Future for Tahoe
While the challenges ahead are daunting, Tahoe is meeting them head-on. Through the Environmental Improvement Program, TRPA and our partners are advancing projects that strengthen the region’s resilience to extreme weather events. I encourage you to explore the new Climate Resilience Dashboard for a clear picture of progress across 14 key resilience categories, such as forest health, wildfire risk, and community preparedness.
Next week, the Governing Board will preview the draft 2023 Threshold Evaluation Report. This peer-reviewed scientific report summarizes regional progress on 140 standards across 10 threshold categories, such as water quality, transportation, vegetation, and more. The draft report studies long-term trends and decades of monitoring to evaluate how well the TRPA Regional Plan is meeting environmental goals. One standout is the effect catastrophic wildfires have had on certain thresholds. In addition to short-term impacts to air quality, scientists observed that algae productivity in the lake spikes when the basin is covered in dangerous smoke levels. Interestingly, prescribed burning does not seem to have the same impacts on these thresholds. We will be hosting public meetings and incorporating feedback over the coming months before bringing the final report and recommended actions to the Governing Board in June.
As we look to the future, the stakes for Lake Tahoe have never been higher. But neither has our resolve. Together, we can protect this incredible place we call home and pass on a healthier, more resilient Tahoe to future generations.
Julie Regan is Executive Director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
Jan 17, 2025
By Hayley Williamson
TRPA Governing Board Chair Hayley Williamson
As an avid hiker and Lake Tahoe resident, one of my favorite views of the lake is from the top of Mount Tallac. From this vantage, Lake Tahoe impressively expands below granite ledges and alpine forests cradle the cobalt-blue waters that spread into the horizon.
I never tire of explaining to my kids and friends that Lake Tahoe is so deep its waters extend well below the elevation of the Carson Valley floor—a vertical marvel of more than 1,600 feet. My commitment to protecting this unique region runs just as deep, and it’s an honor to serve as the new chair of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board.
TRPA has been at the forefront of preserving Lake Tahoe’s iconic beauty and vibrant communities for more than five decades. By maintaining overall caps on new development and leading restoration through the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP), TRPA has catalyzed more than 800 projects that protect Lake Tahoe by restoring meadows and streams, building bike paths, and reducing stormwater pollution. Without these efforts, the views from Mount Tallac might look starkly different today.
Imagine if the Tahoe Rim Trail had instead been built as the multi-lane freeway originally planned to encircle the lake. Or if Lake Tahoe’s shores were now home to a city the size of San Francisco with a population of 750,000. Lake clarity and ecological health would have been compromised long ago.
The founding of TRPA in 1969 was a visionary act of collaboration. California and Nevada came together to establish a Bi-State Compact ratified by Congress with a singular purpose: protecting Lake Tahoe while supporting its communities. Lawmakers ensured this mission would endure by creating a 15-member Governing Board that reflects the diverse jurisdictions and stakeholders of the Tahoe Basin. As unpaid volunteers, we bring dedication and thoughtful discussion to every policy decision, working alongside TRPA’s experienced staff to preserve Lake Tahoe for this and future generations.
Looking Ahead to 2025
One of TRPA’s biggest priorities for the coming year is to advance the housing and sustainability goals of the Lake Tahoe Regional Plan. TRPA launched the Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin project to make housing more accessible while improving environmental protections. The agency is bringing community members and partners together in a multi-year project to incentivize the type of housing our communities need while incorporating vital environmental improvements. The Cultivating Community, Conserving the Basin project is an opportunity to build the region’s capacity to deliver more affordable and workforce housing and to create lasting connections between community members and agencies.
Our board also has several critical decisions on the horizon. Next week, we will consider the much-anticipated application to amend the 2011 Homewood Master Plan. Homewood Mountain Resort holds deep cultural significance for the Lake Tahoe community, and TRPA staff has engaged extensively with all stakeholders to ensure transparency to amend the plan originally approved 14 years ago.
Transparency is also central to TRPA’s ongoing evaluation of whether we’re meeting Tahoe’s environmental goals, known as thresholds. Every four years, TRPA conducts a comprehensive review of the region’s environmental conditions. In 2019, 79 percent of these thresholds—covering areas such as air quality, water quality, and soil health—were in attainment. Since then, TRPA has strengthened protections, such as raising standards for rehabilitating sensitive stream environment zones, to further safeguard the lake. This year, staff will present updates from the latest Threshold Evaluation, offering a science-driven roadmap for continued progress.
Additionally, the agency is updating the Regional Transportation Plan this year. The plan is a visionary blueprint for improving Tahoe’s transportation system through 2050 that aims to increase safety, reduce congestion, and preserve Tahoe’s environment while creating a more connected, sustainable future for residents and visitors alike.
At the same time, TRPA remains committed to confronting ongoing challenges accelerated by climate change. Extreme droughts and storms continue to impact the transportation network and visitation patterns. Warming lake waters are increasingly susceptible to algae growth, aquatic invasive species, and reduced lake clarity. And longer catastrophic wildfire seasons are a threat this region knows all too well.
TRPA and partners are continuing to increase our region’s resilience to these impacts. Last year, the agency facilitated a $1.7-million federal PROTECT grant to help fire and emergency management agencies coordinate evacuation planning and address wildfire and extreme weather vulnerabilities in our transportation and communication infrastructure.
Collaboration is Key
From the summit of Mount Tallac, you can’t see the state and jurisdictional boundaries that crisscross the Tahoe Basin. That view reinforces what five years on the TRPA Governing Board has taught me: working together is essential—just as it was when TRPA was founded. As chair, I commit to respectfully facilitating discussions that allow us to collectively advance the restoration and protection of this incredible place.
Lake Tahoe’s future depends on our ability to collaborate, and I’m confident we can meet the challenges ahead.
-Hayley Williamson is TRPA Governing Board Chair and Nevada At-Large Board Member.
Dec 13, 2024
By Cindy Gustafson
This December marks a significant milestone for the Lake Tahoe Region. Fifty-five years ago this month, a unique interstate compact between the states of California and Nevada became law, creating the nation’s first bi-state environmental planning agency. I have had the honor of serving on the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board for more than four years, and as Board Chair for the last two. As an elected Placer County Supervisor, it has been my pleasure to represent not only Placer County in this role, but to also take part in TRPA’s legacy of protecting the lake that has been my home for more than 40 years.
The signing of the Bi-State Tahoe Regional Planning Compact began a lasting partnership among local governing bodies, federal, state and Tribal entities, and the public. The creation of TRPA launched a decades-long transformation of this region into a place where communities can thrive in harmony with the incredible natural resources Lake Tahoe has to offer. Although the bi-state partnership is now more than half a century old, progress is showing no signs of slowing and this year has been a remarkable one.
We saw the historic reauthorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act by Congress this year, which extends Tahoe’s access to more than $300 million in federal support for restoration projects under the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program. Other large grants brought new funding to help complete the East Shore Trail from Sand Harbor to Spooner Summit, support the aquatic invasive species watercraft inspection program, and help law enforcement and fire agencies coordinate regional evacuation plans and address the vulnerability of emergency response infrastructure.
In March, the California Tahoe Conservancy announced a landmark acquisition of 31 acres of meadow and marsh along on the Upper Truckee River in South Lake Tahoe. The Conservancy plans to remove multiple 1970s-era buildings from the property to restore wetland habitat, improve lake clarity, and increase public access. TRPA provided nearly $3.5 million toward the acquisition in permit mitigation fees reserved for exactly this kind of project.
TRPA also underscored its commitment to Lake Tahoe’s workers by successfully defending new affordable housing policies that were challenged in court. The swift end of the litigation allowed a range of incentives to come forward that will lower the cost for private landowners to build much-needed affordable and workforce housing in the region. With those changes, we could see more projects come forward like the 248-unit Sugar Pine Village affordable housing project in South Lake Tahoe that opened its first 68 units this fall to great fanfare.
The fight to protect Lake Tahoe from aquatic invasive species got several big boosts this year. Positive results were recorded from the Taylor-Tallac marsh aquatic invasive weed control project on the South Shore as well as the completion of the three-year Tahoe Keys Control Methods Test. The watercraft inspection program also secured a site for a permanent watercraft inspection station site at the southern gateway to the Tahoe Basin in Meyers, Calif.
In the critical area of transportation, TRPA broke new ground with adoption of the Vision Zero safety strategy that seeks to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries in the Lake Tahoe Region. Fare-free transit and microtransit services have grown steadily as well. The TART microtransit service on North Shore celebrated its 1-millionth ride this year, and on South Shore, Lake Link microtransit and Tahoe Transportation District buses both expanded their service areas to connect more of the community to recreation, work, and essential services with free transportation.
Much has been accomplished under the collaborative framework pioneered by our two states, but we know there is much more to do and TRPA is forging ahead. Lake Tahoe deserves our unwavering dedication to its protection and restoration.
I want to thank my fellow TRPA Governing Board members for their service to Lake Tahoe and for consistently providing thoughtful and varied viewpoints. The states were intentional in structuring the 15-member board with local, state, and federal representatives. Lake Tahoe’s importance goes beyond the lines on a map or the interests of only a few. I hope we all continue to work together in keeping with the spirit of partnership and collaboration established 55 years ago.
I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and continued progress for Lake Tahoe in the coming year.
Cindy Gustafson is Chair of the TRPA Governing Board and District 5 Supervisor for Placer County.
Nov 16, 2024
By Julie Regan
As we head into the holidays, the annual season of reflection has a new twist this year with the results of national and local elections still reverberating. No matter where you landed on various races, one constant continues to shine through – Lake Tahoe transcends politics or any single election cycle. It’s important during divisive times to lean into what unites us at Tahoe – a love for the lake, our communities, and the passion to protect this special place.
Thanksgiving is around the corner, so let’s begin with serious gratitude for the volunteer poll workers and officials who stepped up to protect the integrity of our elections and expertly managed our local polling locations. We can never take for granted this dedication to democracy.
In case you were focusing on other results, I wanted to make sure you saw that California voters approved a climate bond, Proposition 4, which will direct $10 billion into environmentally beneficial projects. Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program partners including the California Tahoe Conservancy could receive upwards of $50 million to support critical forest thinning and climate resilience projects as well as parks and outdoor recreation access. Forty percent of the bond money will be directed to disadvantaged communities, which complements our affordable housing and transportation equity initiatives.
During every election cycle, paths of opportunity are opened by transition and change. Since the governors of two very different states reached across the lake nearly 55 years ago to sign a groundbreaking bi-state compact, the mission to protect Lake Tahoe has transcended differences. That spirit of collaboration and partnership continues to connect organizations, communities, and people here and across the nation. Since it was first held in 1997, the annual Lake Tahoe Summit has brought together U.S. Presidents, members of congress, international ambassadors, and state, Tribal, and local leaders to strengthen the shared sense of stewardship that resonates through us all.
The recent passage of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act Reauthorization embodies the Team Tahoe spirit of collaboration. Since 2016, this key piece of legislation has provided more than $110 million in federal support for Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program projects. Those funds have leveraged more than $500 million in state, local, and private sector investments in projects to reduce forest fuels, prevent and control aquatic invasive species, and restore streams and wetlands. The Environmental Improvement Program has become one of the most successful restoration programs in the nation in part because of the bi-state, bi-partisan, and bi-cameral support that has been a hallmark of the program.
Our shared stewardship becomes clear when we stop to reflect on each contribution. Watercraft inspectors protecting the lake from aquatic invasive species, homeowners implementing water quality and defensible space measures, street sweepers taking fine sediment and other pollutants off our roads, and underground utility crews replacing aging sewer lines and upgrading water supply lines for fire suppression are connected by their care for the lake.
We can be especially grateful for the fire crews, forestry workers, and Washoe Tribal members who are working to improve the safety and health of Lake Tahoe’s forests. Prescribed fire operations throughout the Tahoe Basin this year have helped land managers catch up on a backlog of burn piles and enhance earlier fuel reduction projects with low-intensity fires to manage brush and downed trees. The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California are also working with environmental partners to reintroduce cultural burning practices in tandem with modern land management techniques. An interagency training with Tribal members this Fall at Lake Tahoe provided a unique opportunity to share practices to protect the natural resources that hold deep cultural importance for the Washoe people.
As a fresh dusting of snow brushes the mountain tops of our treasured basin, I’m reminded how fortunate we are to live, work, and play in such an amazing place. When it comes to Lake Tahoe, we truly are all for one and one for all.
Julie Regan is Executive Director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
