The North Tahoe Community Alliance was part of an unprecedented group of Lake Tahoe destination management, land management, non-profit organizations and public entities working on the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, which launched in 2023.
The plan outlines a comprehensive framework and sets in motion action priorities to better manage outdoor recreation and tourism and ensure the sustainability and preservation of an iconic natural treasure and its local community.
Some of the specific actions that have been taken by the NTCA include:
- The opening of a new Visitor Information Center in Kings Beach to serve as a connection between visitors and the local business community, including a new educational component in collaboration with the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. Additional interactive educational exhibits were also added to the Visitor Information Center in Tahoe City.
- Shifting our mission from previously serving as a Destination Marketing Organization to becoming a Destination Management Organization focused on reinvesting tourism revenue into tangible solutions to benefit the natural environment and the community.
- Proactively marketing to visitors and residents about how they can Make A Clear Difference with their actions by following six tenants of stewardship based on the principles of Leave No Trace.
- Funding for the Lake Tahoe Ambassador program, the Lake Tahoe Water Trail, and Take Care Tahoe programming to educate visitors about how to travel responsibly in North Lake Tahoe.
- Funding for the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition to establish more bike valets around North Lake Tahoe, thereby making it more convenient for everyone to bike instead of drive.
- The traditional fireworks celebrations in North Lake Tahoe have been upgraded to spectacular drone shows that light up the night sky on July 4th and Labor Day in a responsible way. Drone shows have less impact on the environment, reduce the risk of wildfire, and are better for people, pets, and wildlife who are adversely affected by the noise of pyrotechnics.
- Giving special consideration to event producers applying for funding if they have an environmental impact strategy in place.
Throughout the summer and particularly over the busy July 4 holiday, our Destination Stewardship Council partners achieved success in efforts to better manage human impacts on the region, specifically at popular beaches and on trails. We have also collectively begun to make progress on access and inclusion initiatives.
Recent actions supporting the Destination Stewardship Plan by our partners include:
- Sand Harbor parking reservations.
- The requirement of bear canisters and bear-resistant containers by backpackers .
- Management efforts to improve the July 4 experience lake-wide including more infrastructure, services, efforts to address litter, and enforcement of parking management programs.
- Roll-out portable ADA pathways were installed at Patton Beach in Carnelian Bay to provide access to Lake Tahoe for people with disabilities and anyone who has difficulty making their way from parking lot to water. ADA-compatible ramps also exist at Meeks Bay and Nevada Beach.
- Construction will begin this fall to create accessibility ramps to more than half a mile of boardwalks in the Tahoe Meadows off Mt Rose Highway.
Background
The Destination Stewardship Plan is the result of an extensive stakeholder engagement and community visioning process that began in 2022 after the community experienced challenges initially brought on by the pandemic. The plan’s vision and actions were developed in collaboration with 17 regional organizations and participation of over 3,000 residents, visitors, and businesses through surveys, interviews, and workshops.
The Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan establishes a shared vision for the region’s recreation and tourism system: A cherished place, welcoming to all, where people, communities, and nature benefit from a thriving tourism and outdoor recreation economy.
The plan identifies 32 actions across four strategic pillars:
- Foster a tourism economy that gives back
- Turn a shared vision into shared action
- Advance a culture of caring for the greater Lake Tahoe region
- Improve the Tahoe experience for all
North Lake Tahoe, an active partner in the collaborative development of the Basin-wide Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, is activating the plan’s vision and actions in its efforts to better manage outdoor recreation and tourism. The robust plan’s goals also include ensuring the sustainability and preservation of an iconic natural treasure and our local community.
