California's governor finally signs Lake Tahoe water clarity pact

Wilson had held off on signing the document, saying he had concerns about the federal government's commitment to pay its fair share of a 10-year, $900 million program to restore the Sierra Nevada lake.

"My signing of this agreement reflects California's continuing commitment to Lake Tahoe's environmental improvement program," Wilson said Tuesday. "I am pleased to see that there have been significant responses to our call for a strategic level of investment to help save this world famous resource."

Wilson signed the pact while appearing before the Lake Tahoe Transportation and Water Quality Coalition, which includes business and environmental leaders.

The agreement calls for increased intergovernmental coordination, improved public-private partnerships and additional funding to reduce continuing environmental degradation.

In addition to California, the agreement was signed by Nevada, the Federal Interagency Partnership, the Washoe Tribe and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

Under the $900 million plan, California would contribute $275 million, Nevada's share was set at $82 million and the federal contribution was set at $297 million. The rest would come from local governments and private sources.

Nevada Gov. Bob Miller and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman signed the agreement at a ceremony last October. Wilson didn't attend.

Wilson also didn't go to a presidential summit on the future of the lake attended by President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore in July 1997.

During the October signing ceremony, Glickman said the federal government couldn't commit more than $51 million for Lake Tahoe over the next two years. But Glickman said the long-term restoration program should get widespread support in Congress during annual budget negotiations.

Lake Tahoe's water clarity has been diminishing because of erosion from development along its shores. The lake, 22 miles long and 12 miles wide, borders California and Nevada.

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