In 2015 the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) launched a Shoreline Plan to initiate guidelines for appropriate uses on the shores of Lake Tahoe. After years of planning on
October 24, 2018 the TRPA Governing Board approved a new Shoreline Plan for Lake Tahoe.
To insure the plan would succeed, the Shoreline Plan included input from a number of groups including the Tahoe Lakefront Association, The League to Save Lake Tahoe, Lahontan Water Quality Control Board, Nevada Division of State Lands, California State Lands Commission and the Lake Tahoe Marina Association.
The plan regulates and sets limits for new shoreline structures including new piers, buoys and public boat ramps. In addition the plan will create a framework for marinas to improve their facilities provided they incorporate environmental improvements into their project.
The Shoreline Plan will formulate new programs to safeguard boating activity and shoreline structures. The goal for these programs is to preserve the environment of Lake Tahoe including its pristine scenery and treasured recreation experiences at Lake Tahoe. The cost will be paid for from mooring registration fees, increased boater sticker fees and boat rental concession fees which will go into effect before the 2019 boating season.
The plan calls for stronger boater education with a new 600 foot no-wake zone, a complete no-wake zone for Emerald Bay and for a no-wake buffer zones around swimmers and paddlers.
There will be programs to enforce illegal buoys, enhanced monitoring for boat noise that exceed TRPA limits and also to help prevent the spread of harmful aquatic invasive species from either boats or shoreline structures.
To learn more please visit www.shorelineplan.org. You will find information about the new programs, permitting processes and phases, and fees. It will also describe the Shoreline Implementation Program Report that details how the plan will take effect in the coming months. You can also sign up for e-mail newsletters to alert you about upcoming implementation actions.
Highlights for New Piers & Moorings/Buoys:
Piers:
The Shoreline Plan will allow for a maximum of 10 new public piers and 128 new private piers. Up to 12 new private piers may be permitted every two years with any remaining balance rolling over to subsequent years. The Shoreline Plan prioritizes multiple-use private piers that serve two or more property owners. Of the 128 additional private piers, no more than 20 percent (25 piers)
may be single parcel piers.
New pier applications will be accepted by the TRPA starting June 1, 2019 until June 30, 2019. The TRPA will select 12 proposals for both Single-Parcel and Multiple Parcel piers. Selected applicants will then have 60 days to complete their application. Applications will be reviewed starting July 1, 2019 until July 16, 2019. If the TRPA receives more proposals for Single-Parcel piers than the allotment number for any given year, the TRPA will conduct a random drawing selecting the appropriate amount of Single-Parcel pier projects to move forward with review.
Please note the application may require a lot of information and planning to complete in a short amount of time. Utilizing a Land Use Planner who is familiar with TRPA rules may be wise to complete the application in a timely manner.
16-YEAR RELEASE SCHEDULE FOR NEW PRIVATE PIERS
| Implementation Years | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple-Parcel | Maximum New Piers | Multiple Parcel | Single Parcel |
| 2019-2020 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 2021-2022 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| 2023-2024 | 12 | 9 | 3 |
| 2025-2026 | 12 | 11 | 1 |
| 2027-2028 | 12 | 11 | 1 |
| 2029-2030 | 12 | 11 | 1 |
| 2031-2032 | 12 | 11 | 1 |
| 2033-2034 | 12 | 10 | 2 |
| Total | 96 | 78 | 18 |
Moorings:
The Shoreline Plan will require that all new and existing moorings on Lake Tahoe be permitted and registered. Moorings include buoys, boat lifts, and boat slips. There are currently an estimated 8,731 existing moorings on Lake Tahoe (including slips in the Tahoe Keys).
You can register your existing buoy provided the following criteria are met. (1) you already have a permit issued by California State Lands, the Nevada Division of State Lands or the Army Corps of Engineers. (2) You can provide clear existence that your buoy was in place prior to 1972. (3) You applied for a permit under the 2008 Shorezone Ordinance.
The TRPA will only authorize new moorings for permitting only after determining the status of existing moorings. This will likely take at least a year, so new mooring permits will probably not be issued until 2020 at the earliest. March 2020 will likely be the earliest date a lakefront owner can apply for a buoy permit. Over the 20-year life of the Shoreline Plan, up to 2,116 additional moorings could be distributed to the following pools:
1,486 for private littoral parcels and HOAs
330 for marinas
300 for public agencies
During the first 10 years the number of buoys permits will be allocated to 15% of the remaining buoys in any given year. Buoys not allocated in a given year will role over to the following year. Starting the 11th year the remaining boys could be released.
Buoy Release Schedule
| Program Year | 20 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 317 |
| 2021 | 270 |
| 2022 | 229 |
| 2023 | 195 |
| 2024 | 166 |
| 2025 | 141 |
| 2026 | 120 |
| 2027 | 102 |
If you need help with a Land Use Planner, feel free to contact Bill Leeder at Oliver Luxury Real Estate for recommendations on who may be a good Planner to interview. My e-mail address is bill@tahoerealty.com or I can be reached direct at 530-386-0598.
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