Tahoe advisory panel endorses ban on personal watercraft

Friday, Jan. 10, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

A subcommittee of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency on Thursday voted 3-1 to recommend the ban of the machines that critics charge are too noisy and damaging to the lake's sensitive environment.

The matter is scheduled to go to the full, 14-member TRPA governing board on Jan. 22.

Casino mogul Steve Wynn, who serves as Nevada's at-large member on the board and owns a Lake Tahoe home, has been a vocal supporter of a ban.

"Lake Tahoe's being damaged severely," Wynn said. "It's a matter of conscience and legal obligation to do something about it."

Lake Tahoe residents are divided over the issue, and people who make a living selling, repairing or renting personal watercraft were angered by the panel's decision.

"I think it's definitely the way to go," said Robert Borja of South Lake Tahoe, Calif. "It's just getting to be too big of a problem."

Tahoe City, Calif., resident Paul Gerber, who frequently rides watercraft, objected. "It's our lake to use, too," he said.

Larie Trippet, owner of North Tahoe Motor Sports in Incline Village, said a ban likely would put him out of business.

"Every owner is against this recommendation, every businessman who has anything to do with personal watercraft is against it, and I would guess businesses in the tourist trade would be against it," Trippet said.

Others wondered if the proposed ban would lead to more sweeping restrictions, such as on using power boats.

"This is probably just a stepping stone," said South Lake Tahoe resident Bob Pederson.