History
Alarm for Lake Tahoe was first raised in the 1960s when the clarity of Tahoe's cobalt blue waters began receding as more and more fine sediment from stormwater began clouding the famously-clear waters. The 1987 Regional Plan was successful at stopping runaway growth, setting standards for new development and protecting sensitive areas. It wasn't until an ambitious restoration program for Lake Tahoe initiated in 1997 that significant progress in repairing past ecologic damage began. Called the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP), the projects to restore lands and roadways are credited by the bi-state agency for halting the decline of clarity. However, where one could see down into Lake Tahoe's depths an incredible 100 feet in the 1960s, researchers today measure the average clarity at around 70 feet. Key to reducing pollutants still entering the Lake is focusing on revitalization and reinvestment of aging town centers and encouraging homeowners to upgrade their properties.
Specialties
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency cooperatively leads the effort to preserve, restore and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe region now and in the future.