To enable assessment of Regional Plan effectiveness, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Code of Ordinances, Subsection 16.8.2, requires a cumulative account of units of use, resource utilization, and threshold attainment and maintenance.
The cumulative accounting includes the following items:
The Lake Tahoe Info Parcel Tracker and other electronic tracking systems and databases have improved the analysis and tracking of development rights, specifically the tracking of existing and banked development. TRPA worked with local jurisdictions to further improve this tracking, including integrating reports from County Tax Assessors offices, and local jurisdiction Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and permitting departments to improve the accounting and reporting of development rights data.
TRPA has dedicated staff resources to the digitization of legacy TRPA permitting records, and with dedicated funding from Nevada over the past three years, TRPA has scanned tens of thousands of records that also contributed to improved tracking. As a result, TRPA identified units not previously counted as existing or banked in prior analyses of regional development. These changes have been incorporated into the data presented throughout this chapter and the Threshold Evaluation as a whole.
The Regional Plan establishes units of use for specific types of development (residential, tourist accommodation, commercial, and recreation). Units of use are rights that allow the development of specific project types. Allocations of new or additional units are required to be made by TRPA and local jurisdictions. Metering development is a growth management mechanism consistent with progress toward attaining and maintaining environmental thresholds. Table 1 summarizes the current inventory of existing units of use in the Region, estimated banked units, remaining allocations, and total development potential for residential units, commercial floor area, and tourist accommodation units. Detailed tables for each type of unit of use follow.
Table 1 provides an accounting through December 31, 2023. The existing, on-the-ground development in the Lake Tahoe Region is 92.5 percent built-out for residential development, 88.1 percent built-out for commercial floor area, and 88.0 percent built-out for tourist accommodation units. Approximately 6 percent of the Regional residential units, 7 percent of commercial floor area, and 3 percent of tourist accommodation development potential remain to be allocated from TRPA incentive pools and local jurisdictions’ development right pools. The remaining balances include previously existing development rights that have been removed, restored, and banked for future use onsite or for conversions or transfers.
The Regional Plan provides for the banking of several types of legally existing development for use or conversion onsite or for transfer to another parcel. “Banking” describes the recording of a particular amount of previously existing development with TRPA that is available for use. Only development legally existing on October 15, 1986, or permitted by TRPA after October 15, 1986, is eligible to be banked. To be banked, legally existing development must first be field verified, subsequently removed, and the site restored in accordance with a restoration plan approved by TRPA. The following types of legally existing development are eligible for banking:
The Lake Tahoe Info Parcel Tracker provides transparency into the regional accounting of banked development rights. Banked development rights as of December 31, 2023 are summarized in Table 2 below.
Banking is a leading indicator of future development potential, as it is the required first step in transferring or converting development rights. Because the 2012 Regional Plan provides incentives to relocate development from sensitive and remote areas into town centers, analysis of banked development rights can provide valuable insight into potential future development. For example, more than 16,700 square feet of CFA, 94 potential residential units and 40 residential units, 44 TAUs and nearly 584,000 square feet of associated coverage have been banked and removed from stream environment zones. More than 89,500 square feet of banked CFA, 78 TAUs, 212 previously existing residential units and 293 potential residential units, and 1.46 million square feet of associated coverage has been banked and removed from remote areas.
Much of the urban development at Lake Tahoe was constructed in the 1950s and 1960s to support the gaming industry and Winter Olympics. Approximately 75 percent of marshes and 50 percent of meadows were developed before the need to protect these areas was well understood. Today, urban development makes up approximately 10 percent of the land use in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The 1987 Regional Plan adopted the development rights system to cap the total amount of development potential and ensure the pace of development aligns with environmental capacity. The transferable development rights program supports beneficial redevelopment in the Tahoe Region. Today, most redevelopment and new development in the Region relies on transfers of development from one property to another.
Tables 3 and 4 below summarize the transfers TRPA approved between 2013 and 2023. More than 137,000 square feet of coverage, 89 residential units, and 109 tourist units have been removed and transferred from stream environment zones to less-sensitive areas. In addition, more than 169,000 square feet of coverage, almost 16,800 square feet of commercial floor area, 33 tourist accommodation units, and 47 residential units have been transferred from remote areas into town centers and the walkable areas near centers.
Development right conversions using environmentally neutral exchange rates provide property owners flexibility and encourage redevelopment while maintaining the overall cap on development potential in the Tahoe Region. The conversion ratio is 600 CFA to 2 TAUs to 2 single-family residential units to 3 multi-family residential units.
While conversion between different types of development rights is relatively new, a clear trend can be seen from the conversions: a shift from commercial (TAUs and CFA) to residential development. Since 2018, 157 residential units have been created throughout the region, while TAUs have been reduced by 65 and CFA reduced by more than 30,500 square feet (Table 5).
As of December 31, 2023, there were 48,891 existing residential units and 512 previously existing residential units have been banked for future use (Table 6).
TRPA regulates the rate and timing of new residential growth by issuing a limited number of residential allocations each year to local jurisdictions. The 2012 Regional Plan amendments authorized 2,600 new residential allocations to be released through 2032, with a yearly allocation of 130 units to be released based on achievement of environmental and permit compliance performance measures. Since 2012, TRPA has released 1,558 residential allocations to local jurisdictions, of which 52 percent have been subsequently assigned to new residential development projects. TRPA has also placed 129 residential allocations into the TRPA Incentive Pool, for the sensitive lot retirement program.
Approximately five percent of the existing residential units are located in town centers within the Region (Table 7) and 72 percent of existing residential units are on non-sensitive lands. Nine percent of residential units are located in stream environment zones.
Table 8 shows the annual numbers of residential allocations provided to local jurisdictions between 2009 and 2024. Table 9 shows the number of residential allocations remaining for assignment to projects as of December 31, 2023. There were 848 unused residential allocations in the jurisdiction pools and 112 residential allocations in the TRPA incentive pool, for a total of 960 residential allocations available (Table 9). Most of the jurisdictions have allocations remaining from the last couple of years, and the 2024 allocations were released to jurisdictions in April 2023 and were made immediately available at that time. As reported above, there are 1,030 residential allocations from the 2012 Regional Plan Update that are currently held by TRPA for future distribution on an annual basis.
Residential Bonus Units (RBU) are special development rights under the Regional Plan that are awarded by TRPA as an incentive. Under Code chapter 52, TRPA may award RBUs to encourage affordable, moderate, and achievable housing, for the onsite removal and retirement of excess coverage in Town Centers, or for the transfer of existing or potential development from sensitive or remote areas into Town Centers.
The 1987 Regional Plan created 1,400 RBUs and an additional 600 RBUs were added in 2012 for use only in Town Centers. As of December 31, 2023, there were 1,445 RBUs remaining (Table 10). 291 RBUs have been permitted to projects that are under construction—including the first phase of the Sugar Pine Village project and the Lake Tahoe Community College dormitory—and permitted to projects that have not been started. An additional 262 units have been reserved for proposed projects that have not yet been permitted. This leaves 892 RBUs that have not been reserved or permitted to projects as of December 31, 2023.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are smaller residential units—sometimes referred to as secondary dwellings, mother-in-law, or granny units—that share the lot of a larger, primary residence. Examples include a detached guesthouse or a garage with an apartment above. ADUs have many benefits: they are an affordable type of home to construct because they are built on land that is already owned, they provide an income source to homeowners, they are typically less costly to construct than new multifamily developments, and provide a flexible living option for individuals, family members, couples, or seniors. Because of these benefits, jurisdictions around the country have looked to ADUs as one solution to increase the supply of workforce and affordable housing.
The TRPA Governing Board approved Code modifications in 2021 permitting ADUs on all California residential parcels, subject to local jurisdiction rules and regulations. In Nevada, ADUs are only allowed on parcels larger than one acre.
As of December 31, 2023, TRPA has issued permits for 38 ADUs, three were constructed, and 13 were under construction.
TRPA regulates commercial structures in the Tahoe Region by issuing commercial floor area (CFA) and tourist accommodation units (TAUs) to local jurisdictions in accordance with Sections 50.6 and 50.7 of the TRPA Code.
CFA is based on the square footage within the outer wall of a commercial building, not including stairwells and airshafts. Accessory features such as parking areas, driveways, outside stairways, and walkways are not included in the calculation of CFA. CFA is allocated by TRPA through the Regional Plan and local jurisdictions primarily through an adopted area plan or community plan.
As of December 31, 2023, approximately 6.48 million square feet of CFA, or 88 percent of the maximum development potential, had been built, and 344,000 square feet of CFA had been banked for future use (Table 11).
Approximately 64 percent of the existing CFA is in town centers within the Region (Table 12) and 68 percent of existing CFA is on non-sensitive lands. Seventeen percent of CFA is in stream environment zones, mostly commercial properties along the shores of Lake Tahoe.
Local jurisdictions allocate CFA to projects based on the availability of CFA in adopted community plan and area plan pools. Additionally, TRPA holds bonus pools of CFA for projects that result in significant environmental improvements, such as Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) projects and community enhancement projects.
Table 13 summarizes CFA allocations from local jurisdictions from 2011 through 2023. The City of South Lake Tahoe allocated CFA from its pools for the recent Bijou Marketplace (Whole Foods)/Bijou Park Creek Watershed redevelopment project near Ski Run and for mixed-use development in the Tahoe Valley and Tourist Core Area Plans. CFA allocations in Washoe County included the Bowl Incline remodel and expansion project and redevelopment in the eastern portions of the county.
Numerous commercial projects have been permitted in recent years using banked, converted, and transferred development rights, rather than allocations. These projects are not considered in Table 13 but are accounted for in the existing development reported in Tables 11 and 12.
Tourist Accommodation Units are defined as units with one or more bedrooms and with or without cooking facilities that are primarily designed to be rented by the day or week and occupied on a temporary basis. TAU bonus units provide incentives for projects that remove units from sensitive lands, relocate existing units to town centers, or for the removal and retirement of excess coverage.
As of December 31, 2023 (Table 14), there are 11,039 existing TAUs within the Region (including approximately 2,229 private guest rooms associated with Casino properties in Douglas County; and approximately 707 private guest rooms associated with Casino properties in Washoe County), 88 percent of the maximum development potential for tourist units. In addition, 1,170 previously existing TAUs have been removed, restored, and banked for future use, conversion, or transfer. The banked TAU figures include units that have been transferred to permitted projects which are not yet constructed, including the approved Tahoe City Lodge project. The approved Waldorf Astoria Lake Tahoe (formerly Boulder Bay) project will receive an allocation of 31 TAUs from Washoe County and an allocation of 40 units from the TRPA Incentive Pool for TAU bonus units (previously the Community Enhancement Program Pool). The Homewood Mountain Resort project is approved to receive 50 TAU bonus units from TRPA. Any unused bonus units, or units that no longer qualify for these incentives will be returned to the pool for redistribution to future projects.
Approximately 81 percent of the existing TAUs are in town centers within the Region (Table 15) and 75 percent of existing TAUs are on non-sensitive lands. Fifteen percent of TAUs are in stream environment zones, mostly hotel/resort properties along the shores of Lake Tahoe. Just over half of the Region’s TAUs are located in the City of South Lake Tahoe, and 80 percent of TAUs are on the South Shore (including the City of South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County, and Douglas County).
The Regional Plan establishes the rate and distribution of new recreation facilities in the Region using PAOT, or “people at one time,” a measure of recreation capacity for a developed recreation. PAOTs are issued and assigned to three categories of facilities: summer day use, winter day use, and overnight use.
The TRPA Code of Ordinances section 50.9 establishes maximum allowances for these categories: 6,114 PAOT in overnight facilities, 6,761 PAOT in summer day-use facilities, and 12,400 PAOT in winter day-use facilities. To date, approximately 31% of the available PAOT have been assigned and 69% remain unused.
During the evaluation period, TRPA allocated 211 summer day-use PAOT to the City of South Lake Tahoe for the new recreation and aquatics center that is currently under construction at the 56-acre site, and 310 summer day-use PAOT were assigned to Edgewood Lodge for a public swimming beach. Table 16 shows PAOT allocations and current balances for each PAOT category.
TRPA measures changes in highway traffic with vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and daily vehicle trip ends (DVTE). VMT represents the total miles traveled by vehicles during a given period within the Tahoe Region. In 2022, the most recent year for which Federal Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) traffic modeling data are available, there was an estimated 1,259,667 VMT in the Tahoe Region.
Trip ends are the total of all trips entering plus all trips exiting a project area during a given period; one daily vehicle trip end is counted each time a vehicle enters or exits a property. DVTE (Table 17)and VMT (Table 18) have fluctuated annually during the five-year reporting period. Both DVTE and VMT declined during the period. These declines were likely influenced by Covid-19 pandemic, and VMT in statewide in California has not returned to 2019 levels. Additionally, the Caldor Fire in 2021 and subsequent roadway impacts to Highway 50 caused reduced trips and VMT through that corridor in El Dorado County.
Impervious land coverage added between 2020-2023 is summarized in Table 19. New land coverage in this table was calculated using Water Quality Mitigation fee collection data for TRPA approved projects, including projects approved by local jurisdictions through delegation memorandums of understanding. Water Quality Mitigation fees are based on the amount of new land coverage added by a projects. Water Quality Mitigation Funds are then used for Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) projects that improve water quality in local jurisdictions. Examples of water quality projects include placing rock slope protection and planting vegetation along roadways to reduce erosion from barren slopes. Curb and gutters are also installed on main roadways to help control stormwater runoff and protect water quality.
More than $2.3 million in Water Quality Mitigation fees was collected during the period for the 33.8 acres (average of 8.5 acres/year) in new coverage in the Region. This figure does not account for reductions of land coverage for environmental restoration projects or excess land coverage mitigation.
New land coverage is different from “transferred” and “relocated” land coverage, which is not considered “new” in Chapter 90 of the Code of Ordinances and is not reflected in Table 19 for this reason. Similarly, Table 19 does not account for decreases in land coverage that have occurred due to coverage removal for banking purposes; nor does the table reflect decreases in land coverage that occurred pursuant to TRPA’s excess land coverage mitigation programs included in Chapter 30 of the Code of Ordinances.
As Table 19 indicates, the amount of new land coverage created from 2011 to 2023 is considerably lower than was added from 1991-2010. This decrease is likely related to the redevelopment of existing structures (which may not require new coverage), the overall economic conditions during the recent periods, and a decrease in developable vacant land in the Region as it approaches “build-out.”
Table 20 summarizes placement of impervious cover in the Tahoe Region using the Bailey (http://www.trpa.org/wp-content/uploads/Bailey-Land-Capability-Report.pdf) land capability classes. Land capability classes 1b and 2 are estimated to exceed allowable coverage limits while all other land capability classes are within the allowable levels. Eight acres of previously existing land coverage has been removed from stream environment zones lands since 2012 and nearly four acres of coverage has been removed from other sensitive land classes (including class 2) during this period.
Water rights in the Tahoe Region are controlled by the Truckee River Operating Agreement (TROA, http://www.troa.net/), which was signed on September 6, 2008, and went into effect in December 2015. The TROA formalizes, regulates, and monitors water rights and water use in the Tahoe Region, the Truckee River watershed, and the final outflow areas of Pyramid Lake and the Carson River in Nevada. The agreement mandates permanent water storage amounts, including enough water to cover emergency supplies and droughts.
The agreement limits total gross diversions for use within the basin in the State of California to 23,000 acre-feet per year, and total gross diversions for use within the basin in the State of Nevada shall not exceed 11,000 acre-feet per year.
The Tahoe Region has numerous public water systems, both large-scale and small-scale (i.e., less than 200 households) systems. In addition, there are many single-use intake lines along Lake Tahoe’s shoreline and wells. The large-scale water and wastewater treatment systems in the Tahoe Region are provided by public utility districts (PUDs) and general improvement districts (GIDs). On the California side of the Region, PUDs may acquire, construct, own, complete, use, and operate a variety of services, including water, electricity, recreational facilities, drainage facilities, street lighting, and fire protection. Similarly, Nevada GIDs oversee the development, maintenance, and use of public facilities such as water and sewer systems, streets and sidewalks, and parks and open space. Since 1968, all wastewater in the Tahoe Region has been treated and pumped out of the Region to avoid discharge into the lake. Districts are bound by service areas and directed through boards created by local governments.
The Tahoe Water Suppliers Association (TWSA, https://www.yourtahoeplace.com/public-works/water/source-water-protection), formed in 2002, consists of public water suppliers in the Tahoe Region that use Lake Tahoe as their source of drinking water. The 2023 TWSA Annual Report (https://www.yourtahoeplace.com/public-works/water/source-water-protection/documents-links) compiles water quality data and water utility activities for its members. It also provides an annual compilation of regional watershed activities such as research and pollution control programs.
In 2022-2023, TWSA suppliers provided approximately 22,750 service connections, supplying water to approximately 37,454 full-time residents. The average daily water flow for TWSA suppliers ranges from 142,294 gallons per day (gpd) to 3,082,000 gpd. Peak daily water flow ranges from 306,720 gpd to 5,150,000 gpd (TWSA, 2023).
Water demand in the Tahoe Region varies year to year due to changes in resident and/or visitor populations, length of summer growing seasons (for outdoor irrigation), and drought conditions (which can lead to local water restrictions imposed by local utility districts). Water conservation is encouraged by many Lake Tahoe water purveyors. The South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD), for example, provides a lawn turf buy-back program, water-efficient appliance rebates, leak detection assistance, and irrigation efficiency evaluations.
The Porter-Cologne Act in California, and an executive order by the Governor of Nevada dated January 27, 1971, prohibit discharges of domestic, municipal, or industrial wastewaters to Lake Tahoe, its tributaries, groundwater, or the portion of the Truckee River within the Tahoe Region. As a result, Tahoe Region wastewater is generally treated and discharged to locations outside of the Region in one of the following four sewer export systems:
Exceptions may be granted to discharges under alternative plans (for wastewater disposal authorized by state law and approved by a state agency with appropriate jurisdiction). TRPA may also approve sewage holding tanks or other no-discharge systems in accordance with Subparagraph 60.1.3.C of the TRPA Code of Ordinances as a temporary measure, or as a permanent measure in remote public or private recreation sites, where a sewer system would create excessive adverse environmental impacts.
The California Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Region, has the authority to issue wastewater discharge waivers in the California portion of the Tahoe Region. In Nevada, this authority rests with the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP). Exceptions have been given to cabins in remote summer home tracts on the California side of the Region (including Upper and Lower Echo Lakes, Fallen Leaf Lake, Lily Lake, Glen Alpine, and Emerald Bay). Some summer homes are allowed to discharge “gray water” to leach field systems but are also required to contain and transport “black water” sewage to an approved sewer dump station for treatment in a sewer plant.
Five sewer treatment plants serve the Tahoe Region, each of which exports treated sewage into one of the four export lines noted above. Existing sewage capacity for these plants, including “reserved” capacity, is summarized in Table 21, below. As the table indicates, none of the five Tahoe sewer treatment plants are near total capacity. In discussions with sewer plant officials, all five sewer plants were originally designed for a much larger population than is planned for Lake Tahoe. Excess plant capacity is attributable to regional growth controls, localized population decreases, water conservation efforts, and public purchases of environmentally sensitive lands.
Subparagraph 16.8 of the TRPA Code of Ordinances requires reporting of the value of investments in water quality, air quality, transportation, coverage mitigation programs, and the area of stream environment zone (SEZ) restoration. Table 22 reports balances, contributions to, and expenditures from the various mitigation funds maintained for these purposes from 2019 through 2023.
Water Quality Mitigation Funds
The TRPA Water Quality Mitigation Fund provides local jurisdictions with funding to implement water quality improvements, erosion control or stream environment zone restoration projects. Water Quality Mitigation fees are required to be paid for any new land coverage that is created by development projects permitted by TRPA or designated partners.
From July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2023, the Water Quality Mitigation Fund received contributions and interest totaling more than $2.2 million, and TRPA allocated nearly $2.35 million (Table 22). Of the expenditures, 84 percent were invested in water quality treatments, including erosion control and source runoff improvements, and the implementation of best management practices on developed properties. Fifteen percent was allocated for bicycle and pedestrian improvements including curb and gutters, and operational support including street sweeper equipment purchases (Table 23).
Example projects constructed using Water Quality Mitigation Funds include the Wood Creek Water Quality Improvement Project in Incline Village and the Kings Beach Watershed Improvement Project.
From July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023, the Stream Zone Restoration Program received contributions and interest totaling more than $784,000. TRPA approved expenditures and obligations totaling nearly $684,000 during this period (Table 22). Fifty-nine percent of these funds were invested in stream environment zone restoration and erosion control, and 41 percent were invested in the implementation of best management practices on developed properties (Table 23).
Example projects constructed using SEZ Mitigation Funds include the Wood Creek Water Quality Improvement Project in Incline Village and the Meyers Stream Environment Zone/Erosion Control Project in El Dorado County.
Air Quality and Mobility Mitigation Funds
The TRPA Air Quality Mitigation Fund and Mobility Mitigation Funds offset the regional and cumulative traffic, vehicle miles traveled, and air quality impacts of development. The funds are distributed to local jurisdictions or the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) for expenditure consistent with the Regional Transportation Plan or 1992 Air Quality Plan, in accordance with Section 65.2.6 of the Code of Ordinances. The mitigation funds are often used to build bicycle trails, improve intersections, purchase and operate street sweepers, and enhance public transportation systems.
From July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023, the Air Quality Mitigation Fund and Mobility Mitigation Fund received contributions and interest totaling nearly $942 thousand. TRPA allocated Air Quality Mitigation and Mobility Mitigation Fund expenditures totaling $834 thousand during this period (Table 22). Of the funds, 66 percent was invested in pedestrian and bike trails supporting air quality improvements and enhanced recreation. Nineteen percent was invested in roadway improvements and 10 percent was invested in street sweepers and five percent was invested in transit services (Table 23).
Example projects constructed using Air Quality Mitigation Funds include the Tahoe Valley Stormwater and Greenbelt Improvement Project in the City of South Lake Tahoe, and the Class I shared use path between West San Bernardino Avenue and East San Bernardino Avenue in El Dorado County.
Operations and Maintenance Mitigation Fund
The TRPA Operations and Maintenance Fund funds the repair and maintenance of EIP projects, such as bike lane/path restriping or surface repairs, and water quality treatment facility maintenance. It also funds EIP project-related operations of either a one-time or limited duration, such as project effectiveness monitoring, project implementation management, and expanded transit operations. Up to 25 percent of the Air and Water Quality Mitigation Funds may be set aside for EIP project/program related administration, operations and maintenance, or effectiveness monitoring expenditures.
From July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2023, the Operations and Maintenance Fund received contributions and interest totaling more than $861,000. TRPA allocated Operations and Maintenance Fund expenditures totaling more than $451,000 during the period (Table 22). Of the funds, 84 percent was invested in the operation and maintenance of street sweepers, 9 percent was invested in erosion control and source runoff improvements, and 18 percent went to the implementation of best management practices on developed properties (Table 23).
Example projects funded using TRPA Operations and Maintenance Funds include the City of South Lake Tahoe Vactor Truck Replacement, Beowawie Road Slope Repair in Washoe County, and Streets and Roads Operations and Maintenance in Placer County.
Excess and Offsite Land Coverage Mitigation Fund
The TRPA Excess Land Coverage Mitigation Fund is established in Subsection 30.6 of the Code of Ordinances and is collected in lieu of on-site or off-site land coverage reductions for projects with excess land coverage. Excess land coverage is the amount of legally created land coverage existing within a project area that exceeds the area’s base allowable land coverage. Excess land coverage can be mitigated several ways: 1) through payment of an excess coverage mitigation fee; 2) by reducing land coverage onsite or offsite; or 3) by expanding the project area.
TRPA provides Excess and Offsite Land Coverage Mitigation Funds to land banks operated by the California Tahoe Conservancy (Conservancy) and Nevada Division of State Lands (NDSL) to reduce impervious cover. Land banks reduce coverage by purchasing and deed restricting vacant parcels with development potential, or purchasing covered properties and removing the coverage. Reducing land coverage has been demonstrated to improve water quality and habitat quality because it allows water to infiltrate the soil rather than flow directly into surface waters and allows for the re-establishment of native vegetation important for wildlife.
From July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2023, incoming contributions and interest for the Excess Land Coverage Mitigation Fund totaled more than $6.15 million, and more than $4 million was allocated from the account (Table 22).
Example projects funded through the Excess Land Coverage Mitigation Fund include the Sensitive Land Acquisitions from NDSL and the Conservancy’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Acquisition Program.
TRPA collects mitigation fees for projects approved by the agency or one of its partners in place of physical mitigation incorporated into approved projects. Priority for release of “in-lieu” mitigation funds is given to restoration projects or capital improvement needs listed in the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) in accordance with Chapter 15 of the TRPA Code of Ordinances. The types of projects that were allocated these funds between 2020 and 2023 are listed in Table 23 for each mitigation category.
Shorezone Mitigation Funds
Shorezone mitigation fees are used to fund research and restoration in the shorezone (Subparagraph 84.11, Code of Ordinances). Currently, there is approximately $118,000 in this fund.
Rental Car Mitigation Fund
The Rental Car Mitigation Program in Chapter 65.4 of the Code of Ordinances assists in achieving and maintaining air and water quality threshold standards. TRPA collects and transfers the funds to the Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) when it finds that the expenditure is consistent with the Regional Transportation Plan and Air Quality Plan (RTP-AQP 1992). TTD primarily uses these funds to support public transportation systems and TTD administration. Revenue and expenses for the TRPA Rental Car Mitigation Program from fiscal years 2020 to 2024 are summarized in Table 24. The net differences between revenues and expenses are related to the timing of the receipt of funds and subsequent distributions to TTD.