In the News

Spotlight on the California Tahoe Conservancy
date posted: September 9 2003

By John Cobourn, Water Resource Specialist;
Heather Segale, Environmental Education Coordinator; University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

There are many organizations that are working to help protect and restore Tahoe’s natural environment. Some of these organizations are in the news (sometimes in the “hot seat”) and some operate more behind the scenes. Last month we took a look at the Forest Service projects that are helping to preserve and protect our forest lands. This month, we are highlighting another organization that is instrumental in protecting environmentally sensitive lands in the Tahoe area.

The California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) is an independent State agency within the Resources Agency of the State of California. The Conservancy is not a regulatory agency, but rather was established to develop and implement programs through the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands that could otherwise be urbanized. These lands are then restored to improve water quality in Lake Tahoe, preserve the scenic beauty and recreational opportunities of the region, provide public access, preserve wildlife habitat areas, and manage lands to protect the natural environment.

Since 1985, the Conservancy has authorized the expenditure of over $240 million for its programs. Specifically, CTC has acquired over 5,700 parcels (or more than 7,000 acres of land) and has implemented more than 525 significant site improvements and management projects. By acquiring environmentally sensitive land, such as lands with very steep slopes that contribute to soil erosion or wetland areas that can filter the water heading toward Lake Tahoe, CTC is able to help offset or mitigate the effects of development. The CTC programs support the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP), one of the most comprehensive water quality preservation and restoration programs in the country. CTC improvement projects include planning and/or construction of more than 165 miles of roadway drainage facilities, revegetation of more than 145 acres, and restoration of more than 380 acres of damaged wetlands and meadows. Examples of these projects include the Cold Creek Restoration Project and the Trout Creek Wildlife Enhancement and Stream Restoration Project (in partnership with the City of South Lake Tahoe), and the Upper Truckee River Wetland Restoration Project.

In addition to land acquisition and site improvement projects, CTC also works to increase public access and recreation opportunities for visitors to the lake. The Basin experiences up to 23 million visitor days of use (about six times the use of Yosemite) with up to 200,000 people visiting on a busy summer weekend. Visitors and residents alike are drawn to the shores of Lake Tahoe, however, only about a third of the Lake’s shoreline is in public ownership. Since 1985, CTC has improved access to over 480 acres of land and enhanced access to the lake on over 3 miles of lake and beach frontage, contributing to the creation of 48 miles of hiking, biking and cross-country skiing trails. Public access projects have included the Kings Beach Recreation Enhancement project and a partnership with the Tahoe City Public Utility District on Lakeside Bike Trail Project.

Another main program area for the CTC is wildlife enhancement and wetland restoration. Lake Tahoe provides wildlife habitat areas for over 300 species of fish and wildlife including the Bald Eagle, Peregrine falcon and Lahontan cutthroat trout. In fact, the Basin provides habitat for more than 25 endangered, threatened or special interest species. However, the process of urbanization has drastically reduced key wildlife habitat and wildlife populations in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Specifically, development has reduced marshlands by 75 percent, meadowlands by 50 percent, and riparian habitat by 35 percent. More than 80 miles of the Basin’s streams and rivers have been degraded. CTC authorized wildlife enhancement projects include protection of stream habitat in Cold, Taylor, Ward, Angora, General, and Blackwood Creeks, and in the Upper Truckee River; installation of Bald eagle perches and osprey nesting platforms; and preservation of forest, meadow, and stream habitat which provide needed corridors for traveling wildlife.

Recognizing that the long-term success of the program depends on public understanding and support, the Conservancy is working to foster better awareness of Tahoe's wildlife resources, by providing informational signing, shelter displays, self-guided nature trails and wildlife viewing platforms are made an integral part of projects and of the wildlife program as a whole.
Here are some things you can do to help the CTC, and other similar agencies, to protect, preserve, enhance, and restore the natural resources in the Tahoe Basin. When visiting highly sensitive areas such as wetlands, take great care not to disturb the plants and wildlife, or cause erosion, by staying on existing trails on the edges of these sites. Wetlands are some of the most sensitive ecosystems on the planet, and up to 85 percent of all wildlife species utilize wetlands during part or all of their lives. Because these sites are so sensitive, keep your dogs (where allowed) on a leash at all times and pick-up after your pet. Dogs running in a wetland meadow can cause serious problems for the wildlife by killing, injuring, or causing stress. Take dogs to less sensitive areas, such as upland forests, to let them romp and play. Finally, participate in the public process by providing your input early during the planning, design, and environmental review phase of projects. Inform yourselves about nearby CTC projects by attending public meetings and letting your voice be heard.

If you would like more information about the CTC programs or projects, please visit http://www.tahoecons.ca.gov/.

Watch for “The Lake Tahoe Report” on KOLO-TV News Channel 8 Tuesdays at 5 p.m. to learn more. Next week, learn about restoration activities, Tahoe Forest Stewardship Day and how to get involved. “The Lake Tahoe Report” is a collaborative effort of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Education Coalition, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, UC Davis and the USDA Forest Service. For more information, contact Heather Segale, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, (775) 832-4138, or logon to www.lteec.org or www.unce.unr.edu.