This site is a Web companion to the UC Davis documentary, "Lake Tahoe: Reservoir of History, Body of Hope."

Building Consensus

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After years of conflict and bitter litigation, economic and environmental interest groups—typically at odds with one another—have begun to realize the benefit of working together. The keystone to building consensus has been good scientific data. Early studies prompted the removal of all sewage and solid waste from the basin. Scientists have helped establish water-quality thresholds, air-quality thresholds and controls on dredging, and they have influenced the strict control of development. Says Ray Lacey of the California Tahoe Conservancy, "Tahoe as we see it today is not a study or a lesson in preservation: It's really an exercise in carrying capacity…in how we can include humans in a natural environment and sustain that for generations to come."

South Shore urban development

Explore the results of a political consensus on the quality of lake water.

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Who's working on building consensus:

Where to get more information on Tahoe environmental issues:

Introduction | Water Quality | Air Quality | Forest Health | Building Consensus

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