Bill in Congress would fund projects at Lake Tahoe

The Interior Department spending bill includes $2 million for fire reduction projects. As much as another $700,000 could be used for soil erosion projects intended to improve the clarity of the lake.

Reps. John Doolittle, R-Calif., and Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said they were confident the money would remain in the bill when it is considered by the full House in the weeks ahead.

"The threat of wildfire surrounding Lake Tahoe poses what many believe is the single greatest environmental threat facing the lake today," Doolittle said in a statement from Washington on Thursday.

Forest Service officials estimate as much as 30 percent of the trees in the Tahoe Basin are dead or dying, or at risk of fire due to a massive infestation of bark beetles, the two congressmen said.

"The $2 million fire reduction project money is very necessary to increase the level of safety and awareness at Lake Tahoe and surrounding communities," Gibbons said.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and others plan to visit the lake on Saturday for a forum examining how many improvements have been made since last year's presidential forum focussed on the threats to the health of Lake Tahoe.

Federal, state and local officials intend to receive a progress report at a workshop celebrating the one-year anniversary of the forum, "Working Together to Preserve a National Treasure,"

President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, cabinet officers, U.S. senators and representatives came to Lake Tahoe last summer for the forum. Before the July 26, 1997 summit, three workshops were held, focusing on water quality, transportation and forest restoration, recreation and tourism.

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