Lake Tahoe - A Uniquely Protected Environment
What makes Lake Tahoe different from other ski destinations? Simply put, it's the lake. Lake Tahoe's natural surroundings, features and depth put in line with some of the top tier lakes of the world such as Crater Lake in Oregon and Lake Baikal in Siberia, and its water is as pristine as that found in Yosemite. With that in mind, protecting the clarity and beauty of Lake Tahoe and ensuring its surrounding environs are protected is a priority for Ski Lake Tahoe.
The Ski Lake Tahoe resorts' commitment to the environment is a powerful one. As part of an industry that depends on weather systems, the resorts are facing environmental concerns and making significant changes to reduce their footprint and improve the ecosystem of their surroundings. As a destination, Lake Tahoe area resorts and organizations have been working hard to reduce its impact by restoring the pristine Lake, keeping forests healthy, enhancing transportation and recreation, and protecting fish and wildlife.
Lake Tahoe's Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) covers what is needed to preserve the Lake - one of the largest and deepest in the world. Since the 1960s, however, the Lake has lost an average of one foot of water clarity per year due to man-made developments. That's why Tahoe -area businesses and the regional government have put $1 billion into planning for improvement projects to benefit the lake's ecosystem.
Accomplishments
A few of the many accomplishments Lake Tahoe advocates are doing to reduce its footprint include:
- Lake Tahoe's EIP is a public-private partnership that rivals some of the largest collaborative restoration initiatives in the United States. This program is ahead of any ‘destination' in the country.
- The destination has improved over 13,000 acres for wildlife habitat;
- Restored more than 739 acres of wetlands;
- Treated storm water runoff from 26 miles of state highways;
- Achieved a 20 percent reduction in vehicle traffic near Stateline, Nevada since 2001 because of transit-oriented redevelopment;
- Replaced 18 vehicles in the public transit fleet with clean-burning vehicles
- Limited new development, including a 1.5:1 room reduction for new buildings (meaning for every new room constructed, 1.5 old rooms have to be removed).
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