Senators celebrate two-year anniversary of Lake Tahoe summit

"It is important every year to reconvene all the key partners in the Lake Tahoe Basin," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said.

Reid was the lead organizer of the original summit aimed at finding ways to reverse a dramatic decline in the clarity of the lake.

Local leaders have been trying to come up with money to pay for environmental restoration projects since Clinton and Vice President Al Gore visited Lake Tahoe in 1997.

Reid said this year's event will focus on a bill he and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., are sponsoring, which is intended to bring $300 million to Tahoe projects over the next 10 years.

It also will review the strong financial support the states of Nevada and California have given the effort to save Lake Tahoe, Reid said.

"The presidential forum at Lake Tahoe two years ago sparked a spirit of cooperation between all the different participants," Reid said.

"From the federal government, to state and local government, to business leaders, residents and environmental organizations, there has been a remarkable collaboration focusing on a common goal: to preserve and protect Lake Tahoe. But just as important as the actual forum is the need to gather together each year to see how far we have come and where we still need to go."

Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn and Feinstein have confirmed they will attend the Aug. 11 event. Reid said he hopes California Gov. Gray Davis and several other state and federal officials will attend as well.

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