INCLINE VILLAGE — On Sept. 16, more than 80 environmental leaders and advocates from a variety of local organizations will take a first step toward realizing a sustainable future for the Lake Tahoe region by meeting as one congress, arriving by water ferry, kayak, bus, bike and electric cars. The action of the congress is to help realize the recently passed Prosperity Plan, destined to make Lake Tahoe a leader in geo-tourism, green technology and health.

Congress participants will brainstorm activities that motivate acts of conservation and become the cornerstone of Tahoe’s new “eco-onomy” and prosperity.

During the next 11 months workshops like these will seek to evolve geo-tourism along with green innovation from around the globe ready to showcase at a basin wide 2011 Lake Tahoe Sustainability Expo. The event is being hosted by Sustainable Tahoe, an emerging nonprofit looking to promote positive collaboration among existing organizations, agencies and commerce, to make the Prosperity Plan a reality.

“Lake Tahoe has emerged on the global stage as a model for watershed and lake stewardship,” said Charles Goldman, a retired professor of limnology who will be among the speakers at the 2010 Stewardship Congress. “What has already been accomplished through improved conservation efforts at Lake Tahoe and Lake Baikal in Russia continues to gain momentum as an example of effective resource conservation. This approach is a much better model for sustainable prosperity than the activities promoted during the last half of the century.”

Participating leaders will arrive by a variety of alternative transportation options provided by Sustainable Tahoe. that will take 80 cars off the road for one day.

For a list of participating organizations and information on the congress and Sustainable Tahoe, visit www.sustainable-tahoe.org.