The goal of the collaborative, multi-stakeholder process is to ensure stakeholder concerns and perspectives are addressed and a project plan is implemented that is science-based, broadly supported, and effective at controlling aquatic weeds in the Tahoe Keys lagoons.
During the environmental analysis a group of committed stakeholders met regularly to collaboratively develop a process design for environmental review and stakeholder engagement. Read the Stakeholder Committee reports (links below) for more.
A collaborative group of stakeholders, scientists and analysts continues to meet during implementation of the Control Methods Test to discuss data collected and next steps. Click here for recent project reports and updates.
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS
TRPA, one of the lead agencies on this project, convened a core committee of stakeholders to select neutral facilitation services and an independent environmental consulting firm for the environmental analysis process. The selection team was composed of representatives from Lahontan Water Board, TKPOA, TRPA, Tahoe Water Suppliers Association, and The League to Save Lake Tahoe. The core team unanimously selected Zephyr Collaboration to provide facilitation services for the project, and TRC Solutions, Inc. to provide environmental consulting services.
As a first step in designing a collaborative process, an assessment of stakeholder interests, concerns and questions was completed by Zephyr Collaboration in October 2018. The Stakeholder Assessment Report summarizes various stakeholder interests and perspectives, and includes recommendations for a collaborative, transparent, inclusive stakeholder process to inform the Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIR/EIS) and decision makers in what has been described as one of the biggest environmental challenges facing Lake Tahoe.
Following the assessment, a Stakeholder Committee (SC) was established to collaboratively develop a process design for environmental review and stakeholder engagement. The collaborative process design addresses a wide range of topics from establishing a project inquiry process and milestones that correspond with the EIR/EIS analysis and permitting schedule, designing a transparent, collaborative process that includes broad stakeholder perspectives and concerns, inviting a broader Stakeholder Consultation Circle (SCC) and public to workshops at strategic milestones, and developing public outreach materials including a project website.
