Tahoe Regional Planning Agency votes for more piers at Tahoe

TAHOE CITY, Calif. - The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has voted unanimously to allow some additional piers at Lake Tahoe - if boat ramps are removed in efforts to improve fish habitats.

The amendment in the bistate agency's shore-zone ordinance, approved Wednesday, was based on studies showing that the ramps are more harmful to fish than piers.

The amendment provides a way around a ban on building piers in areas where fish lay eggs.

''We only have 17 boat ramps around the lake, so we only have 17 opportunities for (new) piers,'' said TRPA staffer Coleen Shade. ''It's a very narrow opportunity here.''

Incline Village, Nev., residents Todd and Janet Lowe plan to build a 150-foot pier at their lakefront house under terms of the new amendment.

Their proposal, which went before the board in July, showed that the existing shore-zone ordinance fell short when there was a net benefit to the environment.

With an amendment in place, the Lowes will bring back their proposal in 60 days, when the new rules become effective.

Exchanging boat piers for ramps will be good both for the lake and property owners, said attorney Greg Lien, who represents the Lowes.

''It gives people some incentive to take out the boat ramp and replace it with a pier which is much more environmentally acceptable,'' Lein said. The League to Save Lake Tahoe originally objected to bending the rules for the Lowes, saying the board shouldn't approve projects on a case-by-case basis.

Because the amendment changes the rules for all boat ramp operators, the League's Dave Roberts said he had no objection to the amendment.