Opinion: Expanding vision will save Lake Tahoe
Publisher’s note: The TRPA sent this guest column to media in the Bay Area. This ran Aug. 25, 2010, in the San Jose Mercury News.
By Joanne Marchetta
Because it is one of the world’s most beloved natural settings, people come from all over the planet just to catch a glimpse of Lake Tahoe. Residents of the Bay Area, however, are fortunate to have it right in their backyard. To these more frequent visitors, Lake Tahoe’s beauty may seem a constant: Crest Echo Summit, and there it is, in all of its cobalt blue glory, the perfect getaway.
From a distance, the lake may appear as spectacular as ever. But Lake Tahoe is locked in an epic battle for its future. Decisions we make over the next 18 months as we develop an updated plan for Tahoe’s future will determine whether its communities, economy and environment thrive. If current initiatives are not successful, the pristine Lake Tahoe we envision for future generations could be lost.
Joanne Marchetta at the Aug. 17 environmental Summit. Photo/Kathryn Reed
At the 14th annual Lake Summit last week, the core discussion among elected officials, policymakers and other stakeholders was that the economy and the environment at Lake Tahoe are inextricably linked. By expanding our vision, we see that careful economic development can boost environmental conditions.
The story of how we landed here has 40 years of history. In the late 1960s, uncontrolled growth threatened the Lake Tahoe Basin. Tahoe’s legendary water clarity fell into decline as streams, meadows and wetlands were paved over. There was talk of building a metropolis the size of San Francisco and of erecting a bridge across the mouth of Emerald Bay.
Joanne Marchetta is executive director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
TRPA cares only for themselves. You’ve done nothing but create more jobs for yourself. More rules, more complaints. Yes the economy has been destroyed by you. The link needs to be broken in my opinion.
AMEN………………………….
I am glad that we seem to finally have TRPA leadership that understands the need to balance a healthy economy with continued health in our environment. The TRPA in the past had been blind to the need for growth , and placed many burdens on the locals. It seems like that attitude is changing at the TRPA. There is a need to streamline growth; particularly when it is done in a way that benefits our Lake on all levels.This TRPA promotes green growth and development, and I say “yeah”!
Nothing CHANGED AT THE TRPA,SAME SMART ALECKS WHEN YOU ASK A QUESTION,CAN NEAVER MAKE A DIRECT STATEMENTS WITHOUT CROSSING THE LINES OF TOO MANY OTHER UNDER CURERENTS OF LAWS THAT MAKES A BANDAID A MAJOR SURGERY ON ANYTHING YOU TRY FIX OR IMPROVE,MAP THE CHANGE YOU TALK ABOUT STILL IN THE TOILET.
Don’t worry Joanne you got a job for life, then you big fat government pension to tide you over. As the leader of the TRPAZI you have done more to erode democracy and private property rights (the basis for any democracy) than any four demagogues right or left.
Got any stats to back up your statements such as “one of the worlds most beloved natural settings)? You left out the famed clarity, heck just ask anyone in Texas, Maine, or Wyoming about that fame.
When are you going to join the crusade to return San Francisco, Los Angeles, even San Jose to their beautiful pristine condition before the multitudes came. Oh yeah, Diane Feinstein and Barbara might not like that.
By the way, do you ever answer your emails? I guess you are to busy “saving the lake.”