Lake Tahoe Sustainability Action Plan wins national award

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s (TRPA) Lake Tahoe Sustainability Action Plan is being recognized this month with a National Planning Achievement Award for Environmental Planning from the American Planning Association.

The Sustainability Action Plan is one of 12 plans nationwide that will be recognized with planning excellence awards during the American Planning Association’s National Planning Conference on Monday.

“This award shows Lake Tahoe is leading the way in planning to improve sustainability and adapt to climate change. The Sustainability Action Plan is the blueprint to do that collaboratively here at Lake Tahoe and also offers a model for other communities and regions,” said Joanne S. Marchetta, Executive Director of TRPA.

TRPA created the Sustainability Action Plan collaboratively with many partners, including El Dorado and Placer counties, City of South Lake Tahoe, California Tahoe Conservancy, and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and Sierra Nevada Alliance. A grant from the California Strategic Growth Council paid for creation of the plan, which included implementation steps for residents, businesses, visitors, schools, and governments to re-balance the Lake Tahoe Region’s environment, economy, and community health while also confronting the impacts of climate change.

“Creating a resilient and sustainable Lake Tahoe Region will only be successful if we partner with local jurisdictions, public land owners, private interests, and the community at large. The Sustainability Action Plan sets the foundation and framework for the region to start planning for an uncertain future in a collaborative fashion,” said Karin Edwards, Sustainable Communities Program Manager at TRPA.

Honey Walters, Principal at Ascent Environmental, which helped create the Lake Tahoe Sustainability Action Plan, said the plan was unique in providing a tool kit to meet greenhouse gas reduction goals as well as recommendations for adapting to the Earth’s changing climate, “thus serving as a template for future planning across the globe.”

The Lake Tahoe Sustainability Collaborative was a vital partner in creating the Sustainability Action Plan and represented a broad array of individuals and organizations working to improve the long-term resiliency of the Lake Tahoe Region.

“We appreciated the opportunity for a ‘bottom up’ participation in crafting the Lake Tahoe Sustainability Action Plan, which addresses vital ecosystem preservation strategies while also offering a comprehensive approach to community and economic vitality. We are equally enthusiastic about seeing the plan implemented with broad participation and community engagement,” said Michael Ward, of the Lake Tahoe Sustainability Collaborative.

More information about the Lake Tahoe Sustainability Action Plan and steps community members can take to improve the Lake Tahoe Region’s sustainability is available online at http://laketahoesustainablecommunitiesprogram.org/sustainability-action-plan/.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency leads the cooperative effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region, while improving local communities, and people’s interactions with our irreplaceable environment. For additional information, contact Tom Lotshaw, Public Information Officer, at 775-589-5278.