Michael Donahoe leaves environmental legacy

It is a sad time for the Sierra Club – Michael Donahoe, the most energetic, focused, passionate and caring man I’ve known, who provided more than 10 years of leadership to the TASC, has left us for that place out there graced with a perfectly clear deep blue lake surrounded by unspoiled forested mountains.

Michael cared for the lake as few do.

He helped launch the TASC along with Shannon Raborn and Heidi Hill Drum and proceeded to work hard to protect the lake and the shoreline, expand the TASC, faithfully manned the TASC booth at the farmer’s market in South Lake Tahoe from its inception – rallying people to the cause of protecting the shores and the lake from the TRPA’s expansion plan.

When TRPA didn’t listen, Michael led us into the shorezone lawsuit against the TRPA, which TASC won.

He worked hard, built relationships with deciders, and strongly opposed a big subdivision near Kingsbury, but the TRPA stacked the hearing schedule, limited testimony from Michael’s famous hydrology expert and approved the project. Even after what was a major blow, Michael soldiered on, giving his support and encouragement and advice to all of us, always urging us to work to protect the lake that he and we love.

I have a large hole in me that will take some time to heal. I will miss Michael’s advice and support as the TASC continues his work to protect the natural resources of the Tahoe basin that we all love.

I’ll look for Michael’s spirit on our mountain trails and think about the time we were all granted to experience such a talented and positive man who had a very large following. I think of Michael and his circles of friends, from the nude beach friends to the poker group friends, from an annual large family domino tournament, to a drumming circle, to Burning Man.

Michael did it all, with love and great humor.

Michael is irreplaceable.

— Laurel Ames