'Save Tahoe' bonds before Ways and Means

While a vote on AB285 hasn't been taken yet, Ways and Means Chairman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, says it's backed by both northern and southern Nevada lawmakers on the panel.

The bill is Nevada's response to the Tahoe Presidential Forum in June 1997 when federal, California and Nevada officials and the Washoe Tribe got together and spelled out a $906 million program to save the environment at Tahoe over the next 10 years.

The largest shares of that cost fall to the federal government, $296.8 million, and California, $274.6 million. Nevada's share is $82 million, some of which has already been provided by a $20 million bond issue approved by voters two years ago. In addition, $5.6 million has been found in other state money, including highway funds.

AB285 would provide the rest of that cash in the form of state bonds.

During a Ways and Means hearing Thursday on the bill, state Lands Division Administrator Pam Wilcox said projects range from erosion control and stream restoration to slope stabilization, bike paths and trail maintenance and forest protection and rehabilitation.

The bond program would be administered and the projects coordinated through Wilcox's office. It has support from the governor's office as well as the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, environmental groups and the Washoe tribe.

Since the summit, millions of dollars have been released for projects at Tahoe.

Deputy TRPA Director Jerry Wells said at one point money was coming in from some sources, including federal agencies, faster than TRPA could organize the projects to spend it.

In addition, California is expected to approve TRPA funding at record levels for the first time in years.

archive