Why Sustainability is Important to the Tahoe Region

Sustainability is the integration of viable systems which will function effectively in our common future to produce a healthy economy, environmental integrity, and human well being. Sustainability assumes that activities can be continued indefinitely into the future, or that they meet a strategic need which will lead to another more sustainable activity.

The environment of the Tahoe region is extraordinarily beautiful and fragile. With a visibility to a depth of over 70 feet, Lake Tahoe is one of the clearest lakes in the world.

This clarity has been a focal point for planning and environmental regulation, making Lake Tahoe one of the most studied and regulated regions of the world. In spite of exceptional effort, the lake clarity has continued to decline, although there appears to be evidence that the rate of loss has slowed.

The Tahoe region economy is based on tourism, and the economy has been sluggish for a number of years. Redevelopment and strategic alliances have focused on upgrading the tourist product and infrastructure. Developing a unified, regional approach with organizations like TTREC and TCSF is now creating a "whole which is greater than the sum of the parts." Together, these efforts have created a foundation for both new physical infrastructure and a collaborative approach to creating a desired future.

With a focus on integrating these elements, sustainability provides a conceptual framework which recognizes issues of value to people in the Tahoe region. It does not assume that one must be traded off to achieve another, but rather acknowledges the interrelationships of our economy, our well being and our environment as necessary perspectives on the future we want to live.