More than $348 million worth of funds will be allocated to Nevada and California by the Department of the Interior (DOI) for conservation and safety projects in areas surrounding Lake Tahoe.
“Since 1998, sales of public land within the Las Vegas Valley have been funding projects that benefit communities and improve the overall quality of life for residents and visitors. This program makes a significant investment in supporting jobs and local economies throughout Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin,” Secretary Deb Haaland said in a press release.
The initiative, consisting of 62 projects, will target recreation areas, wildlife habitat conservation, hazardous fuels reduction, and wildfire prevention, among other efforts, the DOI site notes.
The funds covering the projects derived from a public land sale made through the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA). According to the DOI site, the SNPLMA has generated nearly $4 billion to develop public spaces in Nevada, the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin, and the portion of Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Arizona.
“These funds will improve recreation opportunities in rural and low-income communities, and contribute to the Biden-Harris administration’s America the Beautiful initiative’s goal to conserve at least 30% each of our lands and waters by the year 2030,” Haaland said.
