The popularity of the Lake Tahoe Basin has created an altered
watershed. The positive economic effects of popularity
are shadowed by conditions that stress Lake Tahoe water resources.
Planning land use to accommodate economic growth and vitality
ensures that protective measures are taken to maintain a healthy
watershed. Everything we do to the land in the Lake Tahoe Basin
can positively or adversely affect lake water clarity. This
means that activities occurring on the land, such as applying
fertilizers and pesticides, have a high potential to affect
the Lake´s water quality. Sixty-three streams flow into
Lake Tahoe and are the invisible threads that connect the Lake
to us and our homes. Everything we use or produce in the
watershed -- sewage, fertilizers, pesticides, motor oil, and
animal wastes -- can be carried into Lake Tahoe.
Land use corresponds to the socio-economic description of areas used for
residential, industrial or commercial, farming or forestry,
and recreational or conservation purposes. In order to better
understand concepts of land use and land cover, and how they
relate to the Lake Tahoe Basin, there are three important terms
to know:
- Land cover addresses
the physical characteristics or make up of the earth´s surface and describes
whether land is comprised of vegetation, water, desert, ice, or human activities
such as buildings, mines, and roads.
- Land use addresses
the main activity occurring on the covered land. It is often an activity
dictated by humans. For example, a forest might be used for logging
or recreation and tourism. In this example, the land uses are logging
and recreation and tourism. The land cover is forest.
- Land capability
is also referred to as land suitability and addresses
the type and extent of land development, if any, appropriate
for a particular land area. Land capability analysis identifies
soil type and slope of the land to determine the extent of land
use. Land capability is an important topic in the Lake
Tahoe Basin as it determines where new development can occur
and to what extent. Since the late 1970's, regulatory
agencies in the Tahoe Region, including the Tahoe Regional Planning
Agency (TRPA), have used the land capability classification
system known as the "Bailey system" to determine whether
owners of vacant parcels may obtain building permits for new
residences or businesses. The Bailey system was replaced in
vacant residential parcels with an alternate concept known as
the Individual Parcel Evaluation System (IPES).
Situations complicate the link between land use and land cover. Contrary
to land cover, land use is difficult to observe. For example,
it is often difficult to decide if grasslands are used or not
for agricultural purposes. Distinctions between land use and
land cover and their definition have impacts on the development
of classification systems, data collection and information systems
in general. Interests in land use and land cover result from
their direct relationship to productivity of the land, diversity
of plant and animal species, and biochemical and hydrological
cycles. Land cover is continually molded and transformed by
land use due to human cultural, social, and economic activities.
As society shifted from a rural to an urban society, public
land regulation became important especially to city governments
trying to control industry, commerce, and housing within its
boundaries. By the 1970s, concerns about the environment and
historic preservation led to further regulation. Today, federal,
state, and local governments regulate growth and development
through statutory law.
Human impacts, such as run-off from buildings and roads
and erosion from recreation trails and ski resorts, can seriously
harm Lake Tahoe´s legendary cobalt-blue water clarity and cause
water quality deterioration. Land use measures being taken
to protect Lake Tahoe water quality are regulations and programs
that include:
Environmental Thresholds Carrying Capacities set environmental goals
and standards for the Lake Tahoe Basin and indirectly define
the capacity of the Region to accommodate additional land development.
Land development may negatively affect attainment of an environmental
thresholds. Special efforts, such as mitigation measures, must
be taken to reduce impacts.
The Regional Plan Goals and Policies presents the overall approach
to meeting the Thresholds. A key component of the Plan
is the land use element. The land use element of the Plan
identifies the fundamental philosophies directing land use and
development in the Lake Tahoe Basin. It addresses topics
like suitable development locations; maintenance of the environmental,
social, physical, and economic well-being of the Region; and
coordination with local, state, and federal requirements.
The Land Use Element of the Lake Tahoe Regional Plan includes
the following Subelements: land use, housing, noise, natural
hazards, air quality, water quality, and community design.
The Land Use subelements intend to establish land use goals
and policies that will ensure the desired equilibrium and attain
and maintain the environmental thresholds within a specific
time schedule.
A number of regulations are needed
to implement and enforce policies identified in the Plan.
The Regulatory Code compiles all of the laws and ordinances
needed to implement the Goals and Policies. Related to
the Code are Plan Area Statements and Community Plans.
Plan Area Statements provide a description of land use for particular
areas in the Basin. The Lake Tahoe Region is divided into
more than 175 separate Plan Areas. For each Plan Area,
a “statement” is made as to how that particular area should
be regulated to achieve environmental and land use objectives.
Community plans are similar to Plan Area Statements, but focus
on specific areas where humans dwell.
