Lake Tahoe's pristine mountain beauty has drawn and amazed people for centuries.  The lake is one of the largest and deepest in the nation and is known for the crystal clarity of its water.  The entire Lake Tahoe basin boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the Sierra Nevada.  It is one of the most beloved and truly special places on earth.

Sadly, Lake Tahoe is in a state of environmental emergency.

Lake Tahoe's famed crystalclear water has been muddied by erosion. It is common to see gasoline floating on the water's surface. The combination of pollution and sedimentation has reduced the lake's clarity by 30 feet in the last 27 years.

It is not just the lake that is in trouble.  Insect infestation and drought have killed more than onethird of the trees in the Lake Tahoe Forest and there is now a serious risk of a major forest fire.

Sediment and algae-causing phosphorus and nitrogen, all of which contaminate the water in the lake, continue to flow into Lake Tahoe from a variety of sources.  Destruction of wetlands, wet meadows and stream habitat has compromised Lake Tahoe's ability to cleanse itself of pollutants.

This precious place must be saved. And it can be saved, but we must act soon. On June 9, 1999, I introduced the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, along with Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, to lay the ground work for a publicprivate partnership that will provide $900 million to clean up and restore one of our nation's most treasured natural resources. Senators Richard Bryan of Nevada and Barbara Boxer of California have joined us as original cosponsors of the bill.

We cannot do this alone. We need the support of the public, the business community and elected officials. I want to encourage everyone who appreciates Lake Tahoe's natural splendor to ask your representatives in Washington, Sacramento and Carson City to get behind this project.

With your help and support, we can preserve this precious natural resource.

Lake Tahoe Restoration Act

Cleaning up Lake Tahoe and preserving the forests around the lake is going to take substantial effort on the part of federal, state and local governments and private industry.  The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has estimated the cost of restoring Lake Tahoe at $900 million over 10 years.

Lake Tahoe restoration is a public, private partnership effort to revitalize Lake Tahoe.  The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act would authorize $300 million in matching federal dollars to help address Lake Tahoe's environmental problems so future generations can enjoy this spectacular area. 

California has pledged $218 million and Nevada $82 million over 10 years to match the federal contribution proposed under the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act.  Both California and Nevada have begun funding their share of Lake Tahoe restoration. Local governments and businesses in Lake Tahoe have agreed to raise $300 million for this effort. 

This bill, which is now before the Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee, would enable the Forest Service to plan significant new environmental restoration activities at Lake Tahoe and authorize funds for this purpose. Specifically, it would:

• Designate federal lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin as a National Scenic Forest and Recreation Area.
• Require the Forest Service to develop an annual priority list of environmental restoration projects, and authorize $200 million over 10 years for the Forest Service to implement these projects on federal lands. This list would include projects that will improve water quality, forest health, soil conservation, air quality, and fish and wildlife habitat around Lake Tahoe.
• Authorize $100 million over 10 years in payments to local governments for erosion control activities on non-federal lands. These payments will help local governments conduct soil conservation and erosion mitigation projects; restore wetlands and stream environment zones; and plant native vegetation to filter out sediment and debris.

In developing the environmental restoration priority list, the Forest Service is required to use the best available science, and consider projects that local governments, businesses, and environmental groups have targeted as top priorities.  The Forest Service also must consult with local community leaders.  The bill also requires the Forest Service to give special attention on its priority list to four key activities: acquisition of environmentally sensitive land from willing sellers; erosion and sediment control; fire risk reduction, and traffic and parking management, including promotion of public transportation.

Nothing in this bill gives the Forest Service regulatory authority over private or non-federal land.

Senate Cosponsors

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada -- Helped to draft the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act and gave the bill his early support. He was also the driving force behind the 1997 Lake Tahoe Presidential Forum.

Senator Richard Bryan of Nevada -- Original cosponsor of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act.

Senator Barbara Boxer of California -- Original cosponsor of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act.

The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act has been endorsed by the following local governments and organizations:

El Dorado County
Lake County
Douglass County
Placer County
South Tahoe Public Utility District
Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance
Lake Tahoe Transportation and Water Quality Coalition
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
Tahoe-Douglass Chamber of Commerce
Sierra Club
National Parks and Conservation Association
California League of Conservation Voters
Tahoe Sierra Preservation Council
League to Save Lake Tahoe

How You Can Help

Write or call the following people to express your support for the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act:

Senator Frank Murkowski -- Chairman, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-6665
email@murkowski.senate.gov

Senator Jeff Bingaman -- Ranking Minority member of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
703 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202)224-1792
senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov

Senator Larry Craig -- Chairman of the Forest and Public Land Management Subcommittee of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee
520 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2752
larry_craig@craig.senate.gov

Representative John Doolittle -- Congressman representing California side of Lake Tahoe
1526 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-2511
doolittle@mail.house.gov

Representative James Gibbons -- Congressman representing Nevada side of Lake Tahoe
100 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-6155
mail.gibbons@mail.house.gov

Representative Don Young -- Chairman, House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee
2111 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5765
don.young@mail.house.gov

California Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-2841

Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn
Capitol Building
Carson City, NV 89701
(775) 6845670
governor@govmail.state.nv.us

For more information about Lake Tahoe please contact:

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
Carl Hasty
P.O. Box 1038
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448-1038
(775) 588-4547
www.ceres.ca.gov/trpa

Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance
Steve Teshara
P.O. Box 6749
Lake Tahoe, NV 89449
(775) 588-0382

League to Save Lake Tahoe
Rochelle Nason
955 Emerald Bay Road
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
(530) 541-5388
www.keeptahoeblue.com

California Tahoe Conservancy
Dennis Machida
2161 Lake Tahoe Blvd.
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96510
(530) 542-5584
www.tahoecons.ca.gov