Editorial: Future of Lake Tahoe is at stake

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2000 | 10:02 a.m.

One of the most important pieces of federal legislation for Nevadans this year is a bill that would set aside hundreds of millions of dollars to fund conservation measures to preserve Lake Tahoe. But since there are just a few weeks until Congress adjourns for the year, that means there is little time left to craft a package that can get the approval of both houses and President Clinton. Time is of the essence since scientists are warning that unless quick action is taken, the lake could be forever damaged.

Finding ways to protect the clarity and health of Lake Tahoe has been discussed for years, but it wasn't until Clinton and Vice President Al Gore visited the lake in 1997 for a daylong summit that momentum gathered to marshal funding for the lake. A $908 million plan, which would cover 10 years, would create erosion-control projects, close old logging roads, restore wetlands, pay for fire restoration and prevention, and purchase land to protect the lake from development.

This isn't a situation where California and Nevada have asked the federal government to foot the entire bill -- the federal government would provide just one-third of the costs. California will contribute $274 million, Nevada will provide $82 million and another $300 million will come from local governments and businesses near Lake Tahoe. The remainder of the costs, about $300 million, would come from the federal government. The national government should be involved since people from all over the world visit the lake, which receives 2.5 million visitors a year.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., last week told Sun reporter Benjamin Grove that Congress is likely to pass the funding for Lake Tahoe's preservation -- unless other senators try to attach spending measures for their own pet projects. Congress should reject decorating the Lake Tahoe bill with other amendments as if it were a Christmas tree, instead passing the legislation as it is. Lake Tahoe truly is a national treasure and should be treated as such by Congress.