Sen. Cortez Masto’s bill to help restore Lake Tahoe passes Senate

If signed into law by President Joe Biden, the bill would authorize federal officials to use $350 million in unallocated funds for Tahoe restoration projects. 

Legislation that would extend a program sending federal dollars to support the tourism economy around Lake Tahoe advanced out of the US Senate this week and will be further deliberated in the House, according to one Nevada lawmaker. 

Nevada Democratic US Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s office celebrated the passage of legislation she drafted to extend the authorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act for another 10 years. In a news release, she thanked colleagues including fellow Nevada Democrat Jacky Rosen, as well as California Democratic Sens. Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler for co-sponsoring the legislation. 

“Sustainability programs in Tahoe must be able to keep up their operations so we can continue to keep the lake clean and support our local communities — not just today, but for future generations,” Cortez Masto said in a statement. “That was the vision previous Senate leaders had for Lake Tahoe, and it is what I’ve been fighting for.” 

First passed in 2000, the law allows funding to support environmental protection and habitat restoration programs across the basin — with this iteration extending funding through 2034, according to Cortez Masto’s office. A House version of the bill is being carried by all four members of Nevada’s congressional delegation, in addition to Reps. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), John Duarte (R-Calif.), and Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.). 

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From 1997-2015, state and federal entities have contributed more than $1.7 billion to rehabilitate Lake Tahoe — including roughly $576 million from the federal government, according to a 2015 report to lawmakers. The nonprofit League to Save Lake Tahoe says that’s in addition to a $415 million authorization signed into law by former President Barack Obama in 2016 that’s providing funding to this day. 

The bill passed Wednesday would authorize federal officials to use $350 million in unallocated funds for Tahoe restoration projects. 

“Lake Tahoe is one of our state’s natural treasures and a driver of northern Nevada’s local economy,” Rosen said in a statement. “We’ve come a long way in protecting and preserving our beautiful lake and surrounding communities from the effects of climate change, and we must continue to build upon those efforts.”