Sierra Colina Village
P. O. Box 129
Lake Tahoe, NV 89448

Planning for...
LEED* Green Certification
Energy Star Rating
Pedestrian & Bike Trails
All Fire Sprinklered Homes
Preserving Open Space
Moderate Income Homes

TRPA was designated as an area-wide regional planning agency under Section 208 of the Federal Clean Water Act in 1974. Under those auspices, TRPA has developed a Water Quality Management Plan (208 Plan) for the Lake Tahoe Region.  The 208 Plan identifies water quality problems that have contributed to the degradation of Lake Tahoe and sets forth a series of control measures, including land use restrictions, wetland protection and restoration, a BMP Handbook, and a Capital Improvements Program of remedial erosion and surface water runoff control projects. TRPA is required by the 1980 Compact to apply the strictest standards that apply to a jurisdiction, regardless of whether they are state, federal, or TRPA standards. These standards are reflected in TRPA’s Code of Ordinances (see Tables 4.7-2 and 4.7-3 of the DEIS). (See response to Comment 7-49, Sierra Colina Final EIS at page 2-115).

Implementation of water quality control programs in the Tahoe Basin is of necessity a bi-state, interagency effort between TRPA, the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board in California, and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection in Nevada. These agencies implement their respective water quality plans in a complementary manner, and entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in 1994 in order to increase their level of coordination. TRPA’s Compact directs the agency to attain and maintain federal, state, or local water quality standards, whichever are the strictest in the jurisdiction where those standards apply (see Section 4.7.1 of the DEIS at page 4.7-5).

The 208 Plan policies are incorporated into the Criteria of Significance against which the Sierra Colina project’s impacts are analyzed (see Section 4.7.3 of the DEIS at page 4.7-24 ). The proposed project and project alternatives are analyzed against the baseline conditions and the current established hydrology and water quality regulations as provided in Sections 4.7.1, 4.7.2  and 4.7.3 of the DEIS (See also response to Comment 7-7, Sierra Colina Final EIS at page 2-95).

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