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Fair Share Distribution Of Recreation Capacity

The recreation element of the Regional Plan provides for the development, utilization, and management of the recreational resources of the Region. The recreation element contains goals and policies to ensure that recreational opportunities keep pace with public demand, that recreational facilities remain high on the development priority list, and that the quality of the outdoor recreational experience will be maintained. Recreational opportunities are highly valued by visitors and residents and these recreational resources are one of the major drivers of the regional economy. Factors that influence recreation are the availability of recreational opportunities, the number of visitors using recreation sites, the conditions of the environment and developed recreation facilities, and the ease of accessing recreation sites. The Environmental Improvement Program has a focus on recreation for public land acquisitions to increase recreation opportunities and increasing available access points to public land both in the backcountry and Lake Tahoe’s shoreline.

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Status

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The total number of public outdoor recreation facilities created and improved per year from 2009 through 2020. Facilities are considered improved when an action is taken to enhance an existing facility for the benefit of public recreational use. Improvements do not include routine maintenance. Source: Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program Indicators (https://www.laketahoeinfo.org/Indicator/Detail/29/Overview).

Evaluation Map

Recreation facilities and trails around Lake Tahoe.

2019 Evaluation

Status
Implemented
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Applicable Standard

R2) It shall be the policy of the TRPA Governing Body in development of the Regional Plan to establish and ensure a fair share of the total Basin capacity for outdoor recreation is available to the general public.

Key Points

  • From 2016 through 2019, 47 public recreation facilities were created or improved by Environmental Improvement Program partners.
  • The primary concern of the adopted policy in the 1980s was the continuing availability of recreation lands and sewer utility capacity. Willing seller land acquisition programs have substantially increased public land ownership in the Region, up from 70% in the 1970s to approximately 90% today.
  • Based on expected growth in visitation to the Region, emerging concerns are adequate transportation options to access recreation sites and maintaining quality recreation experiences as demand grows, concerns that may call for the Region to revisit recreation threshold goals.

Delivering and Measuring Success

EIP Action Priorities

  • Improve Public Recreation Facilities

    The EIP prioritizes upgrading facilities including trailheads, parking lots, rest areas, restrooms, and beach facilities to better handle visitation capacity and improve the visitor experience.

Example EIP Projects