| Issue Statements - Accomplishments |
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Preserving Lake Tahoe
The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act
Lake Tahoe’s pristine mountain beauty has drawn and amazed people for centuries. The Lake is one 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 and is one of the most beloved and truly special places on earth.
The Lake and surrounding basin, however, are threatened by pollution and drought. If action is not taken, the Lake could lose its famed clarity and the surrounding forests could be destroyed by fire.
To restore the Lake Tahoe Basin, in 1997, the federal government joined with California and Nevada and the Tahoe community, embarking on a 10-year clean-up effort. To date, over $1.288 billion has been spent to restore the Lake Tahoe Basin. As part of this partnership, Congress approved the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act in 2000, which I cosponsored. So far, this partnership has enabled more than 270 environmental projects and restoration activities to move forward all around the lake.
In 2003, we marked another milestone, when Senator Reid and I joined with Senator John Ensign, to establish an ongoing source of funding for our Tahoe restoration efforts. Proceeds from federal land sales in the Las Vegas area would be earmarked to fund the $30 million annual federal contribution to the restoration project. The federal government has pledged $450 million for this effort.
This funding represents a significant step toward cleaning up the basin. But we cannot do this alone. We need the support of the public, the business community and elected officials to help save the Lake. With your help and support, we can preserve this precious natural resource.
Clarity:
The Lake’s famed crystal-clear water has been muddied by erosion. As recently as 1968, it was still possible to see down 102 feet on a clear, calm day. However, pollution and sedimentation took their toll, and from 1968 to 2000, the Lake’s clarity declined steadily hitting an all-time low in 1997, when it was reduced to 64 feet.
The good news is that the lake’s clarity is improving. According to a recent UC Davis study, we’ve had several years since 2001 in which the clarity has consistently been better than the long-term trend would have predicted. In 2007, it was possible to see 70.2 feet and in 2008 the average clarity was 69.6 feet. These gains are fragile, but it’s an encouraging sign.
So, efforts must continue to ensure that Lake Tahoe retains its world-renowned clarity.
Risk of Wildfires:
Tahoe is about more than water. The majestic Sierra Nevada Forests, which include the Lake Tahoe Basin, represent some of the highest fire-risk areas in the country.
Climate change has made the Tahoe Basin hot and dry making the forest extremely vulnerable to catastrophic fire. And according to the U.S. Forest Service, the likelihood of a severe fire in the region only continues to grow each year.
This could permanently destroy the habitat of several already endangered species, including the red fox, willow flycatcher, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, and the yellow-legged frog. And it would most certainly increase sedimentation into the Lake, further reducing its clarity.
We have seen first-hand the effects of catastrophic wildfire in Lake Tahoe. The Angora Fire broke out on June 24, 2007, and was driven by high winds and low humidity. It burned 3,100 acres, destroyed 254 homes, and damaged 26 more. Over 3,000 people were evacuated.
That’s why it’s so important that we protect these forests and communities throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin from the threat of catastrophic fire.
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