Congress approves Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It takes a village, or in the case of Lake Tahoe, it takes "Team Tahoe" to get the funding needed to protect the Jewel of the Sierra. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives reauthorized the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (LTRA). Area lawmakers and a partnership of Lake Tahoe agencies all applauded the passage of what is known as the cornerstone of federal investment in the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP), one of the most comprehensive and successful conservation programs in the nation.

The Senate passed this bill in July, and it now goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

The approval extends existing funding authorizations for approximately $300 million to 2034 and continues federal support for priority EIP projects to protect and restore Lake Tahoe. Since the EIP 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 EIP 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.”

U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) co-sponsored the bill in the Senate.

The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act is bicameral and is cosponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Mark Amodei (R-Nev.-02), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-03), Dina Titus (D-Nev.- 01), Susie Lee (D-Nev.-03), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.-04), John Duarte (R-Calif.-13) and Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.-06). It will allow critical funding to support environmental protection and habitat restoration programs across the basin for the next ten years. This law has delivered millions in federal dollars to Lake Tahoe since the original law passed in 2000.

“I was thrilled to pass the reauthorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act through the Senate this summer, and today’s vote means this critical legislation is officially on its way to becoming law,” said Nevada Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud of our bipartisan work to deliver funding for vital programs that keep the lake clean, support local jobs, and support our tourism economy. It is an honor to help lead Team Tahoe and fight for the resources the basin needs to thrive.”

“This is great news for Tahoe and our country. I am grateful for the bipartisan support for this vital legislation to protect one of America’s greatest national treasures," said Rep. Kiley. "With House passage of my bill, this now goes to the President who has indicated he will sign It. The Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act reauthorizes $415 million in funding to reduce the threat of wildfire, as well as to combat invasive species, improve the water clarity of Lake Tahoe, and restore the environment and ecosystem in the Basin. I’d like to thank our Senate partners, especially Senator Cortez Masto, and all those in the Tahoe community who worked side by side to make this day possible. Together, we will keep Tahoe clean, blue, and accessible for future generations.”

“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 Dr. Darcie Goodman Collins, CEO of League to Save Lake Tahoe/Keep Tahoe Blue. “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.”

“We are thrilled about the extension of the LTRA, and are so grateful to the extraordinarily hard-working senators, congresspeople and staff members who represent us in Washington,” said Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry. “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.

Since LTRA was authorized in 2016, $122 million in federal funds have supported EIP 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.