The Nevada State Legislature has convened for its Interim Session, looking at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and the Marlette Lake Water System.
The newly established Legislative Committee for the Review and Oversight of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Marlette Lake Water System comprises six members from both the Assembly and the Senate, with the committee chaired by Senator Skip Daly, with Assemblywoman Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod as the Vice Chair. Other members include Senator Melanie Scheible, Senator Robin L. Titus, Assemblyman Rich DeLong, and Assemblywoman Angie Taylor.
The committee’s inaugural meeting on Tuesday, January 23, marked the first in a series of six sessions reviewing the budget, programs, activities, responsiveness, and accountability of TRPA and the Marlette Lake Water System. The first meeting in Carson City attracted considerable public interest, with attendees overflowing the committee room, necessitating an additional room to accommodate the enthusiastic crowd.
During the 30-minute public comment section, residents from the Tahoe area of Douglas County and Incline Village expressed their views on TRPA oversight, ranging from general support to calls for a reevaluation of TRPA’s focus. Despite being a recurrent oversight committee since 1985, the coming meetings will address the role, authority, and activities of TRPA concerning Lake Tahoe and the Marlette Lake Water System.
Following discussions on committee logistics, representatives made presentations on the organization’s history before addressing the TRPA’s organizational size and dual environmental and economic focus.
Representatives from the Division of State Lands and the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources also presented on the Environmental Improvement Program and related Nevada programs, explaining their role in overseeing the Lake Tahoe Basin and its various program areas, including recreation enhancement, forest health and restoration, water quality, and erosion.
A presentation on the Marlette Lake Water System followed, outlining its historical significance, purpose, and recent updates. The system, a Historic Landmark, provides water to Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City, Carson City, and Storey County and will see improvements that include upgrades to transmission lines and dam rehabilitation projects.
The meeting concluded with representatives from local counties and Carson City sharing their priorities and utilization of Marlette Lake and Lake Tahoe. The next hearing is scheduled for March 8, promising further insights into the oversight of these vital regional entities.
The Old Blog in the Desert 