Dear Friends:

We are forever grateful to the firefighters, emergency responders, utility workers, law enforcement, forest managers, and all others who helped protect our Tahoe communities from the destruction of the Caldor Fire.

We look forward to your continued feedback and support, and encourage you to contact us with any additional ideas or questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Cascade to Meeks Bay Trail

A public webinar was held on 10/25 to seek public input on a feasibility study that will examine the constructability of the segment of the West Shore Tahoe Trail (bike/pedestrian) from Cascade Lake to Meeks Bay, dubbed the Cascade to Meeks Trail. During the webinar, project leaders explained the purpose and proposed approach to the study.

Planners noted that the routes presented during the meeting are still at the “30,000 foot level” and are asking for the public to comment on the information (including the proposed approach to evaluate feasibility as well as feedback or suggestions on the routes) by November 15. Comments and questions can be sent to:

Melanie Sloan, TRPA
(775) 589-5208
msloan@trpa.gov

Meeting materials, maps, and the recorded webinar are available here. Final study recommendations are anticipated in summer 2022. For more information and to opt-in to receive future communication about the West Shore Tahoe Trail and the Trail Feasibility Study, www.westshoretahoetrail.com.

Meeks Bay Resort Restoration Project

The Project Development Team and consultants continue to work on the environmental analysis needed to prepare the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report (DEIS/DEIR). The document is now planned to be released for public review in early February 2022. A Stakeholder Forum meeting will be held shortly after the release of the DEIS/DEIR. Project leaders note the feedback received at the past Forum meetings and public workshops has been extremely helpful in both formulating the project alternatives evaluated in the DEIS/DEIR and in identifying the concerns and topics for review. Information from previous meetings and other materials can be accessed here.

Tahoe Keys Aquatic Invasive Plans Treatment Proposal

Earlier this fall, the Lahontan Water Board released draft permitting documents to support the use of herbicides to address the aquatic invasive plants (AIP) in the Tahoe Keys Lagoons. Lake Tahoe’s special designation as an Outstanding National Resource Water (ONRW) prohibits the use of herbicides unless there are no feasible alternatives. However, there are alternatives that do not require the use of chemicals. In fact, one of the alternatives evaluated in the draft environmental impact report is based solely on non-chemical options and is identified as the Environmentally Superior Alternative, yet the Water Board is proposing approval of the chemical-based option. FOWS is concerned about the precedent such an approval could set for the rest of the lake, and has submitted a letter expressing support for the extensive comments submitted by the Sierra Club, Tahoe Area Group. Click here for more information.

Village at Squaw Valley

As reported in our last newsletter, Sierra Watch (and all who love Tahoe) were dealt a sweeping victory when California’s Third District Court of Appeals sided with Sierra Watch in their litigation against the massive Village at Squaw Valley Specific Plan (Village) development project (view Press Release). In late September, the Court improved on this victory by granting Sierra Watch’s request for partial publication of the August decision.

“Establishing our recent victory as citable law helps protect Tahoe from harmful development proposals,” says Tom Mooers, Executive Director of Sierra Watch, “And it’s another great example of how we work to stand up for our mountain values.”

While the TRPA regulates development within the Basin under more strict standards than other jurisdictions, projects just outside of the Basin are not subject to TRPA approval. Village developers had argued that there was no need to review potential impacts to the Basin because the project “did not propose development in the Tahoe Basin” - even though the project would add more than 1,000 new daily car trips to our roads. Thankfully, the Court disagreed and publication of the decision puts the county and future developers on notice that impacts to Tahoe must be addressed.

White Wolf Subdivision (Alpine Meadows)

Publication of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed White Wolf Subdivision is expected “in coming months.” In the meantime, Sierra Watch has kept a close eye on the project, including recently publishing a Strategic Assessment of the project. In addition, community members have continued to voice their concerns. We will keep you updated regarding the release of the DEIR and public comment period.