Conservancy Board awards $7 million in Proposition 1 grants

On Thursday, the California Tahoe Conservancy Board awarded more than $7 million for seven watershed restoration and forest health projects around the lake. Thirteen different applicants submitted 32 grant requests totaling $30 million, but with just $13,950,000 to give out, it was a very competitive process.

The money comes from Proposition 1, the $7.545 billion water bond approved overwhelmingly by California voters in November 2014. It was divided around the state to agencies like the Conservancy for water supply infrastructure projects.

They still have $6,300,000 to award in the future, and the City of South Lake Tahoe hopes to get a large portion of that ($4,000,000) for the Bijou Park Creek Watershed and SEZ Restoration Project. While the CTC Board did not approve the City's request, they have placed the project as one of three that might still get funding after further review.

The Bijou Project would include the demolition of the Knight's Inn on Highway 50, restore the sensitive stream zone it was built upon, as well as reduce the amount of sediment making its way into the lake by 8,000 pounds a year. Plans for the area include retention ponds, walking and biking areas with signage as well as some retail space.

The Board told the City that they will evaluate their project during the June 16 meeting, but the completion of the CEQA will not happen until fall. A completed CEQA was a request by the Board.

One large project that did get funding is the purchase of Johnson Meadow in South Lake Tahoe. It is the largest privately-owned meadow in the Lake Tahoe Basin and is located on the Upper Truckee River from Highway 50 by Grocery Outlet to the airport. Project proponents said this acquisition will give the public more access to open land and the river, guarantee no more cattle grazing along the river, and will connect all of the parcels the Conservancy already owns from the old Sunset Stables near the airport to the Upper Truckee Marsh at the shores of Lake Tahoe.

The Johnson Meadow Acquisition grant was requested by the Tahoe Resource Conservation District for $4,234,000.

The six other projects awarded the grants are all key elements of Tahoe’s Environmental Improvement Program (EIP), a collaborative interagency effort to restore and protect Tahoe’s natural and recreational treasures.

“These awards demonstrate California’s continuing commitment to the EIP
and the Lake Tahoe basin,” said Patrick Wright, the Conservancy’s
Executive Director. “They will help improve the clarity of the lake, the
health of our watersheds, and the quality and resiliency of our forests.”

The projects approved for funding include:

Lake Tahoe Invasive Plant Control Project, Tahoe Resource
Conservation District, $700,000: To remove aquatic invasive plants from
several marinas in the south shore.

Meeks Meadow Restoration, Washoe Tribe, $228,530: To support
planning related to restoring the ecological, hydrologic, and cultural
functions of Meeks Meadow.

Lake Tahoe West Collaborative: A Multi-Jurisdictional Landscape
Restoration Strategy, National Forest Foundation, $849,100: To develop
an interagency plan to restore and protect forest health and key watersheds
Emerald Bay to Tahoe City.

Lake Tahoe Basin Wildlife Protection and Water Quality Enhancement
Project, Lake Valley & North Tahoe Fire Protection Districts, $850,000: To
develop a plan to streamline permitting of forest health projects surrounding
Tahoe’s urban and residential communities.

Antone Meadows Dam Removal and Restoration, Burton Creek State Park,
California Department of State Parks, $149,938: For planning activities to restore
sections of Burton Creek and remove the Antone Meadows dam and related
infrastructure.

Tahoe Storm Water Resource Plan, Tahoe Resource Conservation District,
$150,000: To develop a comprehensive water quality plan to reduce and treat
runoff that degrades the lake’s clarity.