About the Service

Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Lake Tahoe are required by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) to protect the lake’s water clarity and ecosystem. These practices capture and infiltrate stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces like roofs and driveways, reducing sediment and nutrient pollution that degrade Lake Tahoe’s famous clarity. BMPs also stabilize soil to prevent erosion and support fire defensible space, helping protect homes from wildfires.

Key BMPs include

• Rain gardens and gravel/drip lines to capture and infiltrate stormwater.
• Vegetating and mulching bare soils to reduce erosion.
• Paving dirt driveways and stabilizing steep slopes.
• Infiltration basins or gravel systems for stormwater treatment.