Friends Of The West Shore

FRIENDS OF THE WEST SHORE (FOWS) IS A GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED TO HELP PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE CHARACTER, SCALE, ENVIRONMENT, AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WEST SHORE OF LAKE TAHOE. FOWS SERVES AS A RESOURCE TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND USES THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF THE RESIDENTS TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE WEST SHORE. PROGRAMS:ADVOCATING FOR APPROPRIATE REGIONAL AND LOCAL PLAN UPDATES AND PROJECTS:ONGOING TECHNICAL RESEARCH TO ASSESS THE IMPLICATIONS OF PROPOSALS, RECOMMEND ALTERNATIVES, AND SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY PROTECTIONS;EXTENSIVE WRITTEN AND VERBAL COMMENTS TO ADVOCATE BETTER PLANNING FOR THE WEST SHORE, AND REDUCE THE IMPACTS OF PROPOSED AND/OR APPROVED LARGE PROJECTS.PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION:ONGOING PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION (NEWSLETTERS, ALERTS, WEBSITE UPDATES, PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC WORKSHOPS, AND OVERSIGHT OF WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE);ASSISTING OTHER COMMUNITIES WITH GRASSROOTS OUTREACH;IMPLEMENTATION, GROWTH, AND REPORTING FOR THE TAHOE NEARSHORE DIPPERS; COORDINATION WITH OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS TO ESTABLISH A REGIONAL COALITION OF COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION INTERESTS AROUND THE LAKE TAHOE BASIN.NEW PROJECT TO PROTECT FORESTED RIDGELINES AROUND LAKE TAHOE FROM DEVELOPMENTACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND COMMENT ON PLANS AND PROJECTS THAT WILL IMPACT THE WEST SHORE OF LAKE TAHOE, INCLUDING THE SQUAW VALLEY RESORT EXPANSION, THE MARTIS VALLEY DEVELOPMENT, FANNY BRIDGE/SR 89 REALIGNMENT PROJECT, AND LOCAL PLACER COUNTY TAHOE BASIN AREA PLAN; EDUCATING WEST SHORE COMMUNITIES THROUGH HOA PRESENTATIONS, NEWSLETTERS AND MEDIA;ADDRESS AND RAISE COMMUNITY AWARENESS REGARDING PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS ON FORESTED NATURAL RIDGELINES ABOVE NORTH LAKE TAHOE;ASSISTING TAHOE CITY RESIDENTS IN COORDINATING AND HOSTING PUBLIC MEETINGS REGARDING THE PROPOSED NEW HIGHWAY BYPASS AND BRIDGE (FANNY BRIDGE PROJECT); DISCUSSING GRASSROOTS EXPERIENCES AND ADVICE WITH MEMBERS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES FACED WITH LARGE PLANS AND PROJECTS, INCLUDING ALPINE MEADOWS AND TAHOE CITY;USE OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO MONITOR LAKE TAHOES NEARSHORE CLARITY (TAHOE NEARSHORE DIPPERS)