News
Sports
KINGS BEACH, Calif. — The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board on Wednesday recommended a plan of how to spend $2.5 billion over the next 10 years in six key areas to improve Lake Tahoe's environment.
The Environmental Improvement Program Update, which the board recommended, is a “framework for the next 10 years of environmental improvement,” said TRPA Executive Director Joanne Marchetta at Wednesday's meeting at the North Tahoe Conference Center.
The update focuses on six areas of improvement:
• Watersheds, Habitat & Water Quality
• Forest Management
• Air Quality & Transportation
• Recreation & Science Resources
• Applied Science
• Program Support
While the first EIP proposed in 1997 focused heavily on specific projects, TRPA is trying to take a more programmatic approach to the next 10 years, said Julie Regan, Communications and Legislative Affairs chief.
“We all have a passion for the lake and share a heartfelt desire to leave it in better shape than when we found it,” Regan said. “This is not a regulatory program. This is a restoration program.”
So far the Tahoe Interagency Executive Steering Committee, which consists of executives from TRPA, the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, California Tahoe Conservancy, Nevada Division of State Lands and local governments unanimously approved the EIP update earlier in July.
TRPA has already identified funding for about $700 million, and now is looking to fund the other $1.8 billion, which will come from a combination of federal, state, local and private monies.
The programmatic approach will allow TRPA to track progress more efficiently, Regan said.
“The ability to track and report on our performance is a very important element of the update,” she said. “We want to be transparent and accountable with the funds we receive. A programmatic approach gives us the ability to do that.”
The Environmental Improvement Program Update, which the board recommended, is a “framework for the next 10 years of environmental improvement,” said TRPA Executive Director Joanne Marchetta at Wednesday's meeting at the North Tahoe Conference Center.
The update focuses on six areas of improvement:
• Watersheds, Habitat & Water Quality
• Forest Management
• Air Quality & Transportation
• Recreation & Science Resources
• Applied Science
• Program Support
While the first EIP proposed in 1997 focused heavily on specific projects, TRPA is trying to take a more programmatic approach to the next 10 years, said Julie Regan, Communications and Legislative Affairs chief.
“We all have a passion for the lake and share a heartfelt desire to leave it in better shape than when we found it,” Regan said. “This is not a regulatory program. This is a restoration program.”
So far the Tahoe Interagency Executive Steering Committee, which consists of executives from TRPA, the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, California Tahoe Conservancy, Nevada Division of State Lands and local governments unanimously approved the EIP update earlier in July.
TRPA has already identified funding for about $700 million, and now is looking to fund the other $1.8 billion, which will come from a combination of federal, state, local and private monies.
The programmatic approach will allow TRPA to track progress more efficiently, Regan said.
“The ability to track and report on our performance is a very important element of the update,” she said. “We want to be transparent and accountable with the funds we receive. A programmatic approach gives us the ability to do that.”
Read more:
To read more about how the funding breaks down: tahoebonanza.com/eipfundingTo read the Environmental Improvement Program update: trpa.org/documents/packets/gb_packets/2009_gb_packets/EIP_Update_Pub_%2071509.pdf
