Lake Tahoe activists lobby for federal funds

Benjamin Grove

Wednesday, May 2, 2001 | 10:14 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Like alpine wildflowers blooming in spring, Lake Tahoe activists have popped up again in the nation's capital to lobby for federal money for restoration efforts at the famed lake.

Rochelle Nason, director of the League to Save Lake Tahoe, was on Capitol Hill early this week to meet with Nevada and California lawmakers and Department of Interior officials for briefings on funding.

Activists have pressed for federal aid for years and a 1997 Lake Tahoe Summit featuring President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore focused national attention on the ailing lake, which straddles the Northern Nevada/California border.

A diverse group of interests have launched a $900 million effort to preserve dwindling lake clarity and protect the Tahoe forest basin. They secured money from state and local governments. Then last year, lawmakers approved a landmark bill that authorized Congress to contribute a federal share -- about $30 million a year for 10 years.

But President Bush has only included about $10 million in next year's budget. Nason said many of the key Interior officials have only been in their jobs a short time.

"It's always going to be a constant cycle of educating and rebuilding partnerships with the people who come and go within the government," Nason said. "But we are optimistic. The people we talk to do show an interest."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., a key lawmaker on environmental issues, vowed to fight for a larger federal share than $10 million. Congress has yet to wade through its arduous appropriating process for the next fiscal year. But there is plenty of money for worthy Tahoe projects, Reid said.

"I'm sure if you asked the rich people of America if they would be willing to spend 2 cents of their tax cut on Lake Tahoe they would say yes," Reid said.