Congress reauthorizes Lake Tahoe Restoration Act

Lake Tahoe agencies on Tuesday applauded Congress for its passage of a bill to reauthorize the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, which is the cornerstone of federal investment in the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.

The approval extends existing funding authorizations for approximately $300 million to 2034 and continues federal support for priority projects to protect and restore Lake Tahoe. Since the improvement program was formed in 1997, public and private sector partners have completed more than 830 projects including wetland restoration, bike trails, forest fuel reduction, and aquatic invasive species prevention and control.

The federal commitment has helped leverage local, state, and private investments which together total more than $2.8 billion in environmental improvements.

Known as Team Tahoe, the program is a partnership of more than 80 public, tribal, and non-profit organizations.

“The Lake Tahoe Region is grateful to Congress for their leadership in passing this critical piece of legislation to continue the collaborative work to protect and restore Lake Tahoe,” Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Julie Regan said. “Extending the federal investment in the Environmental Improvement Program will leverage millions of dollars in state and local funding to implement the top priority projects for the lake and our communities.”

Deputy Forest Supervisor Rosalie Herrera of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, said the USDA has testified in support of the bill.

“These federal funds will continue to allow work with states, local governments, and other public and private entities to provide for fuel reduction, erosion control, reforestation, watershed restoration, and invasive plant projects on federal and nonfederal lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin,” she said.

Since the Act was authorized in 2016, $122 million in federal funds have supported program partners in treating 21,000 acres of forest to reduce wildfire risk, restoring 342 acres of wetlands to protect biodiversity and the lake’s clarity, and inspecting 51,000 boats for aquatic invasive species. These federal funds have been matched by $500 million in state, local, tribal, and private matching funds. Additionally, the EIP supports an average of 1,700 jobs a year and every $1 million in spending generates $1.6 million in economic output.

“In the thick of election season, the successful bipartisan effort to pass the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act is something the whole country can celebrate,” said League to Save Lake Tahoe CEO Dr. Darcie Goodman Collins. “In every conversation we have with lawmakers, we hear nothing but commitment to protect this national treasure. Working together is how we'll continue to Keep Tahoe Blue.”

Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry said she was grateful for the work.

“An enormous amount of work goes into preserving this pristine natural treasure enjoyed by so many. Our champions in Congress and the resources provided through the LTRA continue to inspire our generous donors to contribute to the long-term health of Lake Tahoe.”

The Restoration Act will address the biggest environmental challenges facing the lake, including water quality, forest health, and the harmful spread of aquatic invasive species.

The bill is sponsored by Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Laphonza Butler (D-CA) in the Senate and by Mark Amodei (R-NV), Kevin Kiley (R-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Susie Lee (D-NV), Steven Horsford (D-NV), and John Duarte (R-CA) in the House of Representatives. The bill was introduced in March 2023 with the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) as an original cosponsor.