HomeMy WebLinkAbout9678 - Preservation of Lake TahoeRESOLUTION NO. 9678
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF NEWPORT BEACH SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL
LEAGUE OF CITIES' RESOLUTION REGARDING THE
PRESERVATION OF LAKE TAHOE
WHEREAS, Lake Tahoe, located in both California and
Nevada, is a recreational, wilderness, and scenic area of
national importance; and
WHEREAS, Lake Tahoe is acclaimed as one of the world's most
unique mountain lakes with characteristics similar to only one
other lake in the world, and attracts more visitors per year than
any other recreation.area of national significance in America; and
WHEREAS, over seventy -one percent of the land in the
Lake Tahoe Basin is held in public ownership, meaning the Lake
Tahoe region belongs primarily to the people of the United
States of America as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the environmental quality of Lake Tahoe has
declined at an alarming rate over the past decade due to rapid
And almost uncontrollable urbanization which has caused federal
clean air quality standards to be violated frequently, water
clarity to be reduced by sixteen percent since 1970, and over
half the meadows in the Basin to be converted to urban use; and
WHEREAS, the deterioration of Lake Tahoe is predicted
to worsen dramatically because of the recent approval of four
major gambling casino projects which will double the current
population and subsequently multiply the threats to the fragile
environment of Lake Tahoe; and
WHEREAS, repeated attempts have been made by state,
regional and local government to manage the competing interests
at the Lake in the best interests of the Tahoe Basin, but all
have met with dismal failure and continued irreversible harm to
the area; and
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WHEREAS, the inabilility of these levels of government
to adequately protect and preserve the public's resources and
investment in Lake Tahoe leaves no other choice except to ask
for federal intervention in the management of the Lake Tahoe
Basin; and
WHEREAS, the creation of a Lake Tahoe National Recre-
ation Area, administered by the U. S. Department of Agriculture
through the U. S. Forest Service, could protect Lake Tahoe by
giving these agencies authority for management, planning,
acquisition and enforcement of zoning and environmental standards
in the Basin; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Phillip Burton of San Francisco,
California, and Congressman James Santini of Las Vegas, Nevada,
have suggested funding for acquisition of private, undeveloped
property and casino sites at Tahoe through federal land sales in
Las Vegas, Nevada - a method which would place more Tahoe acreage
in public use and protection without dipping into existing park
funds, as well as compensate property owners wishing to sell their
land; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the National League of
Cities to advocate preservation of our nation's most precious
resources and assure the citizens of our cities continued oppor-
tunity to experience the scenic majesty of our country's irre-
placeable natural beauty and heritage; and
WHEREAS, the National League of Cities has adopted a
similar resolution regarding the preservation of Lake Tahoe,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of
the City of Newport Beach that the City of Newport Beach supports
the National League of Cities in its support for legislation to
protect Lake Tahoe from further environmental harm through the
creation of a Lake Tahoe National Recreation Area; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the
City of Newport Beach endorses and advocates the concept of land
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acquisition as proposed by Congressmen Burton and Santini
in a sincere effort to preserve the protect Lake Tahoe for
generations to come.
%� ADOPTED this 12th day of November , 1979.
ATTEST:
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'City Clerk
CERTIFIED AS T'r'.. O ,10II'M
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CITY CLERK Of THE CITY OP N` 13"M
DATE.-._....-_ _.._. NOV .... 35 1979 ._...._�W.- __._...._..
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11/6/79