Riding the hybrid bandwagon: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency touts new fleet as a campaign to inform the public

Click to Enlarge Dan Thrift / Tahoe Daily Tribune / The TRPA recently added four hybrid cars to its employee fleet. Get News Feeds

Amanda Fehd, afehd@tahoedailytribune.com
August 25, 2006

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The agency that governs development at Tahoe has bolstered its vehicle fleet with four new hybrid technology cars and says it's walking the walk - not just talking the talk - to save Lake Tahoe's clarity.

Three Prius model Toyotas and one Ford Escape Hybrid arrived a few weeks ago at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency offices in Stateline.

"We know from recent science on lake clarity that car emissions and traffic have negative impacts on the lake's water clarity," said TRPA spokeswoman Julie Regan. "We believe it's important to demonstrate leadership in promoting clean technology."

The cars are emblazoned with decals promoting the agency's new Web site, www.conservationclearly.org, which Regan said will provide the general public with tips on how they can make a difference toward helping preserve Lake Tahoe's clarity.

The Web site will also highlight the $1 billion Environmental Improvement Program launched by President Clinton in 1997.

Many recognize the need to "Keep Tahoe Blue" - a slogan of the League to Save Lake Tahoe - but many don't know what they can do to help.

Reducing trips in cars, reducing fertilizer use, replacing a wood stove, paving a dirt driveway and incorporating native plants into landscaping are a few ways individuals can make a difference.

UC Davis recently released a report that indicates reducing pollutants by 30 percent could restore Lake Tahoe's clarity to 1960's levels, around 100 feet. It's recently come to light that air pollution plays a major role in declining clarity.