As the influx of holiday visitors is upon us, there are reminders everywhere as to how beloved Tahoe still is. That remains to the reader to decide how good that can be or whether there can be too much of a good thing.

As the TRPA website proclaims “we are all here for the lake”. That’s easy to envision when you are stuck in traffic or lines at the grocery store. We wish for a Tahoe future with less congestion.

TRPA has a new Executive Director, Julie Regan, and we wish her the best and look forward to working with her and staff in fighting for the protection of Tahoe.

Julie has stated she is committed to “expanding partnerships and erasing imaginary divides between all who love the lake.” We wish that imaginary divides were true, but increasingly it seems there is real divide over the lakes’s future.

We wish for a future Tahoe that reinforces the values that have made it so beloved and special. At the top of the list is preservation of the lake’s rustic atmosphere. Big development generates big money, but has yet to bring proven big benefits to the lake. Blowing through limits on development does not seem to be the way.

Finally, we are thankful for the many people who love the lake and commit their time and resources to protecting it. The lake’s future increasingly depends on all of us being in the fight. We wish everyone the best.

Ann Nichols