Tahoe Chamber Advocates for Restoration and Enhancement of Lake Tahoe
Tahoe Chamber | October 27, 2021 | Chamber News • Community News
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As part of Tahoe Chamber’s work as a member of the Lake Tahoe Partnership, we advocate for federal legislation that helps fund the restoration and enhancement of Lake Tahoe. As part of our current efforts, we are supporting US Senate Bill 1583. Nevada U.S. Senator Catherine c is lead Senate sponsor of this bi-partisan bill, which if passed by Congress, would extend by ten years the authorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (LTRA).
The original LTRA was passed in 2000 and authorized $300 million as the federal share of first Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP). The current authorization, passed in 2016, authorized an additional $415 million over seven years. Not all of the funds authorized in that bill have been expended. The purpose of Senate Bill 1583 (S 1583) is to extend the LTRA’s authorization through September 30, 2034 so there is no interruption in the flow of funds for the federal government’s share of hazardous fuels reduction, forest health and watershed improvement projects, work to eradicate existing aquatic invasive species and prevent new infestations, and other Tahoe restoration and protection programs.
During a Senate Environment and Natural Resources Subcommittee hearing last week, Senator Cortez Masto asked Deputy Chief Christopher French to discuss the importance of further extending the LTRA.
Lake Tahoe is a treasure for countless Nevadans and people across the world. Yesterday I spoke with the @forestservice about the importance of my Lake Tahoe Restoration Act and why we need to protect the Lake and keep it healthy for generations to come. pic.twitter.com/XoYq1GCq71
— Senator Cortez Masto (@SenCortezMasto) October 20, 2021
The federal government is Tahoe’s largest landowner, so the expenditure of significant federal funds is appropriate to help preserve, enhance and protect the Lake for this and future generations. Through the unique partnership of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP), local, state, federal government agencies, private entities and businesses, scientists, and the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California collaborate to restore the environmental health of Lake Tahoe. For more information about the EIP, visit www.laketahoeinfo.org.