Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA)

In the late 1960´s, governors and lawmakers of California and Nevada developed The Lake Tahoe Compact  to create a regional planning agency to oversee development at Lake Tahoe. In 1969, the United States Congress ratified the agreement and created the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). In 1987 the TRPA Governing Board adopted the 1987 Regional Plan giving TRPA the authority to adopt environmental quality standards, termed thresholds, and enforce ordinances designed to achieve the thresholds.

Although the Tahoe Integrated Information Management System (TIIMS) is not a product of any one agency, TRPA has filled the crucial role of leading its development. TRPA has participated in all aspects of the TIIMS Program, and helped to fund various aspects including the requirements analysis, prototype, and metadata database. TRPA has also provided initial computer server space for housing the preliminary components of TIIMS, such as the metadata database. In addition to providing technical and administrative expertise, various TRPA personnel are members of the Project Team (PT) and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

In upholding their mission statement, TRPA “leads the cooperative effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region.”

TRPA collects a wide range of information including: transportation information, such as vehicle miles traveled and mass transit ridership; a wide range of GIS data, such as vegetation and road layers; air quality information, such as wind, temperature and aerosol data; planning information, such as roadway data, an inventory of scenic resources and scenic quality ratings; information on Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development and implementation; and sensitive and endangered species data.

U.S. Forest Service

The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was established in 1905 to manage public lands in national forests and grasslands. The Forest Service also provides technical and financial assistance to state and private forestry agencies while conducting forestry research. The Forest Service is dedicated to “caring for the land and serving people,” through five main activities: protection and management of National Forest System Lands; forestry research; community assistance and cooperation to help protect and manage non-Federal lands; maintain an effective workforce that reflects the full range of diversity of the American people; and assist in policy formulation and U.S. support coordination for the protection of the world´s forest resources. In addition to preserving land through the acquisition of sensitive urban lots, the Forest Service also provides financial support to local jurisdictions for erosion control efforts.

The Forest Service serves as a lead agency for the TIIMS Program. It is one of several key agencies that have provided financial support for various aspects of TIIMS development, including the requirements analysis, prototype, and the metadata database. In addition, the Forest Service is represented on both the PT and TAC.

The Forest Service´s Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) outlines the Agency´s goals to attain for different resource areas. The plan is scheduled to be revised beginning October 2003 for fiscal year 2004 that includes an initiative to develop core GIS layers. The Forest Service collects information ranging from maps of trails and roads to restoration efforts and vegetation data. Much of this information, including photos, will be housed in the National Resource Information System (NRIS).

Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (Lahontan)

Lahontan is one of nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards under the California State Resources Control Board. The State Board is responsible for setting policy and implementing state and federal water laws and regulations. The Regional Boards then adopt Water Quality Control Plans (known as Basin Plans) in accordance with State policy. Lahontan has the responsibility of protecting water quality within the Lahontan Region, which extends from the southern Oregon State border to California State´s northern Mojave Desert. Lahontan is a lead agency in the effort to develop Lake Tahoe´s Total Maximum Daily Loads.

Lahontan collects a wide range of water quality data ranging from ambient, stormwater and monitoring data to permitting and enforcement information. Lahontan is currently developing the System for Water Information Management (SWIM) to ensure that Nonpoint Source (NPS) monitoring program data are integrated into a comprehensive, user-friendly water quality database system. The ultimate goal of SWIM is an on-line accessible database of real-time monitoring results. TIIMS will provide a gateway to access Lahontan´s information as well as provide a forum for interagency review.

Lahontan participates as a lead agency for the TIIMS Program. Lahontan has also provided financial support for the requirements analysis, prototype, and metadata database. Several Lahontan personnel provide ongoing support for TIIMS on the PT and TAC.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

The USGS mission is to “describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.” The USGS, created by an act of Congress in 1879, is an independent agency that “collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides scientific understanding about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems.”

USGS collects and maintains a wide range of water quality, GIS, and other geological data. One USGS initiative is the development of the National Map – a seamless, continuously maintained, and nationally consistent set of online, public domain, geographic based information. USGS has decided to include the Lake Tahoe Region as a pilot site in this ambitious project. USGS is cooperating in the TIIMS effort, and providing the National Map Project information for inclusion in the TIIMS system. Predominantly consisting of GIS information, the pilot will serve as the geographic foundation of TIIMS.

Additionally, USGS participated in the requirements analysis and is represented on both the PT and TAC.

Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP)

NDEP is a division of the State of Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. NDEP is tasked with several initiatives: to protect the State´s natural resources through permitting, regulatory enforcement, monitoring, pollution prevention, and remediation; to address quality of life issues caused by increases in population, tourism, and industry by implementing programs to limit pollution; to maintain and improve the quality of surface and groundwater resources; to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations; and to provide education about compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

Water quality protection is carried out by the Bureau of Water Quality Planning (BWQP) and the Bureau of Water Pollution Control (BWPC). The BWQP is collaborating with Lahontan in the development of a Lake Tahoe Basin Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) that will be adopted by both state environmental agencies; conducts water quality monitoring in Nevada Tahoe streams; and provides funding for EIP projects as well as TMDL related research and monitoring projects. The BWPC is responsible for administering the stormwater permit program.

NDEP serves as a lead agency for TIIMS, and provided start-up money in the form of a grant for the initial TIIMS feasibility study. NDEP participated in the requirements analysis, and continues to provide support for TIIMS through representation on both the PT and TAC.

California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC)

Created in 1984, CTC´s mission is to “preserve, protect, restore, enhance and sustain the unique and significant natural resources and recreational opportunities of the Lake Tahoe Basin.” The CTC was established to “develop and implement programs through acquisitions and site improvements to improve water quality in Lake Tahoe, preserve the scenic beauty and recreational opportunities of the region, provide public access, preserve wildlife habitat areas, and manage and restore lands to protect the natural environment.”

CTC collects a wide range of information related to its ongoing initiatives including monitoring data, planning data, and funding information through involvement in several Lake Tahoe Basin initiatives, such as working with Lahontan and other agencies in the development and implementation of TMDLs, several BMP projects, and the Forest Habitation Enhancement Program.

CTC is a TIIMS stakeholder that participated in the requirements analysis, and continues to provide support for TIIMS through representation on the TAC.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

EPA was created in 1970 “to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment - air, water, and land - upon which life depends.” The EPA leads the nation in environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. EPA develops and enforces environmental regulations, and sets national standards for environmental programs. EPA is currently participating in the effort to develop a Lake Tahoe Basin TMDL, and is mandated with the final say in approving it. EPA also is involved in many other Lake Tahoe Basin issues, such as the Pathway 2007 implementation, and provides a full-time coordinator to the Lake Tahoe Basin that is co-located with TRPA.

EPA collects and analyzes a wide range of environmental data including data for the development of TMDLs. EPA is committed to producing high quality data and making this data accessible to the general public, which correlates with the goal of TIIMS.

EPA is a TIIMS stakeholder that participated in the requirements analysis, and continues to provide support for TIIMS through representation on both the PT and TAC.

City of South Lake Tahoe (CSLT)

CSLT provides public services to citizens such as abandoned vehicle abatement, building inspection, building permits, engineering, facilities maintenance, motor pool, nuisance abatement, planning, snow removal, and street maintenance.

Information is collected and used on a project basis ranging from land use to stream environment zone (SEZ) restoration, to traffic improvements and campground activity. CSLT is a TIIMS stakeholder and participated in the requirements analysis.

Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT)

NDOT was established in 1917 with the mission to “efficiently plan, design, construct and maintain a safe and effective transportation system for Nevada´s travelers taking into consideration the environment, economic and social needs and intermodal transportation opportunities.”

NDOT collects information about all transportation related activities including sand, salt and snow-removal activities; road/weather information; and maintenance data.

NDOT is a TIIMS stakeholder that participated in the requirements analysis, and is represented on the TAC. TIIMS will be the repository for NDOT´s adaptive management program.

Desert Research Institute (DRI)

DRI, based out of the University and Community College System of Nevada, conducts $27 million in environmental research every year. DRI is committed to the application of their “scientific understanding to the effective management of all the State´s natural resources while meeting needs for economic diversification and science-based educational opportunities.”

DRI´s primary focus is Lake Tahoe, and they have several ongoing initiatives including evaluating BMP effectiveness as well as participating in the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process. DRI also collects data for smaller projects related to various Tahoe Regional Planning Compact Thresholds. Projects address fisheries, soil, air quality, pine martin tracking, spatial analysis, and global climate change.

DRI is a TIIMS stakeholder that participated in the requirements analysis, and is represented on the TAC.

Tahoe Research Group (TRG)

TRG at UC Davis conducts research focusing on “basic scientific understanding of ecological processes in high mountain aquatic environments.” In recent years, this focus has expanded to watershed and lake management.

TRG is involved in numerous projects within the Lake Tahoe Basin and collects a wide range of data including: runoff, nutrient, wetland, stormwater, sediment, bioassay and fish spawning data.

TRG is a TIIMS stakeholder that participated in the requirements analysis, and is represented on both the PT and the TAC.

Lake Tahoe Environmental Education Coalition (LTEEC)

LTEEC is sponsored by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and the University of California Cooperative Extension. LTEEC´s mission is “to assist many different groups and educational organizations in working together to educate the public about how to prevent pollution of Lake Tahoe.”

LTEEC is involved with many educational outreach programs and uses citizens to collect certain types of data. TIIMS will provide LTEEC with access to geographically based data for GIS programs as well as provide a repository for their citizen monitoring data.

LTEEC is a TIIMS stakeholder that participated in the requirements analysis, and is represented on both the PT and the TAC.

Lake Tahoe Resource Conservation District (TRCD)

The mission of TRCD is to “promote the conservation and improvement of the Lake Tahoe Basin´s soil, water and related natural resources, by providing leadership, information, programs and technical assistance to all land managers, owners, organizations and residents.”

TRCD uses information to produce various tools for the Lake Tahoe Basin including landscape guides, parcel maps, and soil maps.

TRCD is a TIIMS stakeholder that participated in the requirements analysis.

Nevada Tahoe Conservation District (NTCD)

NTCD provides “services to individual landowners and coordinates with other public and private agencies for the protection and orderly development of the State´s renewable resources.”

NTCD is a TIIMS stakeholder that participated in the requirements analysis.

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

The mission of NRCS is to provide “leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.” For almost 70 years, NRCS has assisted private landowners with natural resource conservation, and has provided technical assistance to lawmakers.

NRCS is a TIIMS stakeholder that participated in the requirements analysis.

California State Parks

The mission of California State Parks is “to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state´s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation.”

California State Parks is responsible for overseeing State Park lands that lie within the Lake Tahoe Basin. As such, they maintain the lands and provide educational information to park visitors. California State Parks also maintains a number of GIS layers for State Park lands.

California State Parks is a TIIMS stakeholder that participated in the requirements analysis.

California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

Caltrans “strives to be the highest performing transportation agency in the country.” In keeping with it´s mission, Caltrans is committed to the goals of safety, reliability, performance, flexibility, and productivity.

Caltrans is involved in numerous transportation related projects within the Lake Tahoe Basin and collects and maintains a wide range of data including: environmental studies related to transportation projects; aerial photos to assess land use; maps of Basin transportation networks; and locations of noteworthy landmarks including monuments.

Caltrans is a TIIMS stakeholder that participated in the requirements analysis, and is represented on the TAC.

Nevada Division of State Lands (NDSL)

NDSL “provides land and land use planning services to the State, its agencies and its people.” It also administers other special programs and provides staff assistance to other agencies. NDSL is the lead agency for the EIP program in Nevada, creating a statute for it in 1999. NDSL also provided full funding for the EIP program in Nevada.

NDSL is a TIIMS stakeholder that participated in the requirements analysis, and is represented on the TAC.

The California Air Resources Board (ARB)

The mission of ARB, is “to promote and protect public health, welfare and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of the air pollutants while recognizing and considering the effects on the economy of the state.”

ARB collects a myriad of air quality and monitoring data including real-time pollutant values and ambient air quality data as well as vehicle emissions data. ARB is currently assisting in the development of a Lake Tahoe Basin Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL).