Shoreline Initiatives
2015-2020 Strategic Initiative Summary Sheet
Strategic Plan Objective(s): Accelerate Threshold Attainment, Be a Leader in Sustainability, Use Best Science
Description/Background: Description: This initiative includes two distinct components that are based on a common planning baseline
(conditions and assumptions).
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The Shore Zone Plan and Code component will update the dated prohibition on new structures in fish habitat and policies governing
recreational boating access. If necessary due to continuing drought conditions, public safety and health-related access issues will be
addressed on an accelerated schedule.
The Nearshore Science and Aquatic Health component will enhance the understanding of the ecosystem dynamics of the nearshore and
explore potential policy changes, especially given alternative climate change scenarios. TRPA will work with the existing nearshore agency
and science working groups and the new Bi-State Science Advisory Council on nearshore science inquiries.
The Shore Zone Plan and Code Update is expected to move at a different pace and ahead of concurrent and ongoing work in Nearshore Science
and Aquatic Health. For planning purposes, baseline conditions and planning assumptions for the Shore Zone Code Update will be identified:
e.g., inventories of buoys, slips, lifts, ramps, piers; permit status of structures; boating projections; nearshore science known and unknown with
agreement on how to incorporate or address the unknowns in the baseline; assumptions regarding climate change scenarios (e.g., Bureau of
Reclamation Truckee Basin Study); vulnerability and climate change readiness assessment as needed from the Sustainability Action Plan; and
other relevant information.
Desired Outcomes: 1) Updated Shore Zone Policies and Code addressing structures that support boating access to Lake Tahoe 2) policies for
environmentally healthy nearshore with consideration of changing climate scenarios.
General Process/Approach: The approach and process will move ahead on two tracks, with known nearshore science integrated into the Shore
Zone Plan and Code analyses.
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The Shore Zone Plan and Code Update will start with a general scoping assessment and publicly transparent joint fact-finding for inputs to
baseline conditions and planning assumptions. This information will be used in a facilitated collaborative planning process, including
stakeholder working groups to advance planning recommendations, followed by appropriate environmental analysis that will result in
adopted Regional Plan and Code amendments. Throughout the collaborative planning process, stakeholder workgroups will develop and
advance recommendations on planning baseline information, issues, and policy options to the TRPA Regional Plan Implementation
Committee (RPIC), which will serve as a Shore Zone policy review committee. Non-consensus work group recommendations will be vetted
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and resolved by RPIC, and those recommendations advanced to the Governing Board for final decision. Periodic updates will be provided to
appropriate groups including the Advisory Planning Commission (APC) and Governing Board. As required by Compact and Code, the APC and
RPIC will review the final proposed Plan and Code amendments and make recommendations for final approval of those amendments to the
Governing.
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The already ongoing Nearshore Science and Aquatic Health component will proceed using the existing multi-agency and organization
working groups (Nearshore Agency Working Group and Nearshore Science Team) and be coordinated with the newly created Bi-State
Science Advisory Council. This work will involve further scientific investigation of the condition of the nearshore and development of key
policy recommendations for consideration.
Shore Zone Plans and Code
Nearshore
Aquatic
Health
Planning
Baseline
The planning baseline information for the
Shorezone Plan and Code update will be
determined largely through a publicly
transparent, collaborative, joint factfinding process and will use existing and
best available data sources. Use of expert
panels is anticipated to vet nearshore
science. Examples of baseline data and
planning assumptions include a current
inventory of buoys, slips, ramps, and piers
and related tabular and mapped
information; lake level baseline
assumptions under different climate
change scenarios; and a vulnerability and
climate change readiness assessment
which is being reviewed by an
independent third party and may be
integrated into this initiative.
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Summary of Approach to Shore Zone Plan and Code Update (i.e., updated policies for structures related to boating access):
I.
Establish Planning Foundations – facilitated joint fact-finding of conditions and assumptions
1. Planning Baselines (e.g., inventory of existing boating structures, lake level baseline assumptions)
2. Scope of the planning issues to be resolved
II. Set Policy Framework – using stakeholder working groups and RPIC as requested “Shorezone Review Committee”
1. Public Health & Safety Access - buoys and piers for Coast Guard, police, fire
2. Public/Commercial Boating Access (e.g., marinas)
3. Private Boating Access (private littoral parcels)
a. buoys/moorings
b. piers
III. Prepare Project Description -- Draft Detailed Code tracked to policy frameworks above
IV. Analyze Proposed Policy Framework and Alternatives -- EIS preparation, review, certification
In order to contain and control EIS costs, the start of the EIS will be deferred until all policy framework decisions have been recommended
and endorsed for approval and Code is drafted to implement those recommendations to assure a fixed and solid project description for
analysis.
V.
Final Approval: APC, RPIC, and GB recommendations, certification, and adoption
Team:
Brandy McMahon (Project Manager), Karin Edwards, GIS Analyst, Lucia Maloney, Dan Segan
Budget:
Total Budget
FY 2015/16
FY 2016/17
FY 2017/18
FY 2018/19
FY 2019/20
Total
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