Deukmejian Visits Tahoe, Tells Concern for Pollution

Gov. George Deukmejian toured the Lake Tahoe Basin on Friday and declared his support for land acquisition and erosion control programs designed to halt the pollution that endangers the lake’s clarity.

“We want to demonstrate our concern about what is happening in Lake Tahoe and to declare by this visit our strong support for maintaining the natural beauty of the area and the purity of the water in the lake,” Deukmejian said at an impromptu press conference overlooking Emerald Bay.

After viewing land threatened by development and observing the erosion problem, Deukmejian said he will back increased state spending to prevent continued siltation of the lake.

“I am willing to be supportive of whatever we need to have in order to deal with this problem,” the governor said.

Water Clarity Periled

Deukmejian’s statements Friday were his strongest statements as governor in support of curbing Tahoe’s development.

Three decades of development, which has disturbed the natural vegetation and soil of the Lake Tahoe Basin, is threatening the renowned clarity of its water. And sediment flowing into the lake has brought with it organisms and pollution that have fostered the growth of algae and reduced visibility in the lake by 15 inches a year.

The state, using bond money approved by voters in 1982, will soon begin purchasing 1,800 of the most environmentally sensitive land parcels to halt development and prevent further erosion.

“One of the main reasons for our being here today is to demonstrate our concern for maintaining the natural beauty of this area, to preserve it so that the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come here will be able to truly enjoy it and that we don’t despoil it,” the governor said.

‘Do Everything We Can’

Protecting the environment has never been a major part of Deukmejian’s political platform, a fact he readily acknowledged Friday. “I haven’t been in the forefront of some of the environmental organizations. But like all other citizens, I certainly think we have to do everything we can to try to ensure improvement of the quality of life to make sure our air and water are clean.”

Two years ago, Deukmejian was criticized by Democratic lawmakers for moving too slowly in spending the 1982 bond funds.

During his tour, Deukmejian also visited the 3-week-old headquarters of the Tahoe Conservancy, which will carry out the land acquisition program.

Dennis Machida, executive officer of the conservancy, told the governor that the agency has earmarked 6,500 parcels that should be acquired to prevent erosion.

The conservancy will have about $30 million to spend this year to acquire the first 1,800 parcels. To acquire all 6,500 environmentally sensitive lots would require $125 million, he estimated, $40 million more than the bond measure provided.

Later, Deukmejian noted that a federal acquisition program may contribute enough money to buy most of the threatened land. A more serious problem, he said, is stopping the erosion that has already begun.

Deukmejian said he is willing to consider spending state funds on restoration, replanting and other erosion control projects that are required.

On his tour, Deukmejian visited a steep parcel near the Heavenly Valley ski area, which is one of the sites being considered for acquisition.

The governor seemed impressed by the extent of the erosion that could result from development of such lots and observed, “To the uninitiated, you don’t think about it. You just drive by.”

Emerald Bay Lookout

Deukmejian noted that he had proposed spending $500,000 to expand the crowded parking lot and halt erosion on the trail that leads down to the lake shore. That money, however, was removed from the budget by the Democratic-controlled Legislature, he said.

Deukmejian left Emerald Bay to begin a summer vacation that will include spending several days at Lake Tahoe at the home of a friend, Press Secretary Larry Thomas said.

During his three-hour tour, he also visited a 777-acre parcel acquired by the state in December in settlement of a lawsuit.

The land, which is slated to become a state park, is considered valuable because 40% of the water that flows into Late Tahoe passes through the site’s marshes and meadows.

The previous owner of the property had planned to build several hundred condominiums on the land and sued the state when it blocked his project. To settle the suit, the state bought the property for $5.7 million.