tahoe talks

Lake Tahoe must improve its internal transportation systems before they can expect visitors to the region to get out of their cars and use different, and better, ways of getting around. That was the message during last week's Tahoe Talks presentation by Lake Tahoe transportation partners, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) and El Dorado County.

As the South Shore moves from an economy focused on casinos and gambling to one focused on recreation, new ideas are emerging on how to succeed and live in the area.

A panel of successful entrepreneurs will be on hand during the next Tahoe Talks, a monthly feature offered by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and their transportation arm, Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization (TMPO).

How do aquatic invasive plants and animals threaten the ecology and water quality of Lake Tahoe? Learn about steps you can take to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species during the next Tahoe Talks in the Aspen Room at Lake Tahoe Community College on Wednesday, June 15 from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Local experts will talk about why it’s important to inspect your boat, clean your recreational equipment and keep an eye out for aquatic invasive plants.

Speakers:

Zack Bradford, Natural Resources Manager, League to Save Lake Tahoe

In the next "Tahoe Talks" on Wednesday, May 18, learn about the number one threat to Lake Tahoe’s legendary clarity: stormwater pollution. Local experts will talk about projects around Lake Tahoe that are helping to keep pollution from entering the Lake and steps you can take every day to prevent things like trash, oil, fine sediment and nutrients from making their way to Lake Tahoe.

Speakers:

Moderator: Zack Bradford, Natural Resources Manager, League to Save Lake Tahoe
Russ Wigart, Stormwater Coordinator, El Dorado County

What does a Prosperous Tahoe look like? What does prosperity mean? How can we measure it? The Tahoe Prosperity Center (TPC) mission is uniting Tahoe's communities to strengthen regional prosperity. How do our governments, businesses and communities fit into that goal? What can we do to ensure Tahoe's residents are prosperous?

The popular "Tahoe Talks Brown Bag Lunch Series" will feature a panel discussion on transit options to trailheads, and how they can be improved upon.

This panel will discuss barriers to improving transit to trailheads and other dispersed recreation areas, new plans in the works, the role of technology in improving transit, and how different groups can work together to improve transit.

Speakers:

Mary Bennington, Executive Director, Tahoe Rim Trail

Carl Hasty, District Manager, Tahoe Transportation District

Our transportation systems are entering a period of accelerated change unlike anything we've seen since the invention of the internal combustion engine more than a century ago. We are in the early stages of a sweeping transformation in how we travel that is driven by the ongoing convergence of transportation and information technologies.

We face some big, daunting environmental restoration challenges here at Lake Tahoe. But helping our environment every day can be as simple as riding a bike, walking, or taking transit. And the hundreds of people who participated in the Tahoe Bike Challenge this June, including many of our employees at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, are showing how big of an impact our individual actions can have.

"You have to adapt to changes in life or you won't survive," John Rice told a crowd at Wednesday's 'Tahoe Talks' held at LTCC.

"Change is happening, clearly we're in a drought, whether it's here for short term, or long term, time will tell," said Rice, the VP and General Manager of Sierra-at-Tahoe. "The ski industry has the most to lose in a drought."

A Tahoe Talks Brown Bag Lunch Series recently launched offers a monthly forum for people to discuss and learn more about ways to strengthen communities, make towns safer for bicyclists and pedestrians, and help protect Lake Tahoe’s amazing natural resources.

Lunches are held monthly at Lake Tahoe Community College. They cover topics ranging from transportation to the economy and the environment, and offer a comfortable, low-key setting for people to discuss and learn about those issues. The events are free to the public.

There’s a lot to be learned by studying others’ successes. At the Tahoe Talks Brown Bag Lunch this February, a design engineer for the Federal Highway Administration discussed how modern roundabouts are being used to improve traffic and make roads safer for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians, as well as where they would make the most sense at Lake Tahoe.

More than 400 classic cars showed up for Hot August Nights 2013 at the Montbleu Resort Casino and Spa at South Shore Lake Tahoe recently. Among the cars were rare and seldom seen models like a 30 Cadillac Rosewood, a 1928 Ford model A reproduction, and a lot of customs and reproductions. Jack Durst of Fabulous Lake Tahoe talks to the owners about their passion for collecting and restoring vintage automobiles.