Padilla, Schiff, Cortez Masto, Rosen Introduce Legislation to Support Lake Tahoe Conservation Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to deliver more funding to protect the Lake Tahoe Basin with no new costs to taxpayers. Representative Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.-03) is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

The original Santini-Burton Act of 1980 has shaped the preservation of Lake Tahoe's shoreline and the surrounding area for the last 45 years. The law declared that the environmental quality of the Lake Tahoe Basin was being jeopardized by the overdevelopment of environmentally sensitive lands and that "the unique character of the Lake Tahoe Basin is of national significance deserving of further protection and management." The Santini-Burton Act also authorized the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to use funds for the purposes of preventing, controlling, or mitigating water pollution associated with USFS lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The California and Nevada Senators' Santini-Burton Modernization Act would allow USFS to use Santini-Burton Act funds to manage public lands in the Tahoe Basin, with an emphasis on protecting lake clarity, reducing wildfire risk, and addressing recreation impacts. The bill would also expand the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California's authority to manage lands in the Basin.

"Lake Tahoe is one of our nation's greatest natural landmarks, and we must work together across state and party lines to protect this environmental marvel from climate change, pollution, and overdevelopment," said Senator Padilla. "Our bipartisan, bicameral bill would keep Tahoe funds in Tahoe, repurposing existing funding streams to give our federal, state, local, and tribal partners in the Tahoe Basin more tools to address evolving long-term land management needs, including sustainable recreation and public access improvements."

"Lake Tahoe is one of the crown jewels for both California and Nevada, and we must work together to preserve its natural wonders for future generations. This legislation ensures we have the federal resources and funds to address the core priorities in keeping Tahoe blue: protecting water clarity and lake health, updating and improving recreation sites, and reducing wildfire risk," said Senator Schiff.

"The Lake Tahoe Basin's stunning blue waters and surrounding evergreen forests are beloved by Nevadans and visitors from around the world," said Senator Cortez Masto. "As stewards of this national treasure, it is our responsibility to ensure that state, local, and Tribal governments have the tools they need to preserve it for future generations."

"Lake Tahoe is a crown jewel of Nevada and the West, and we must do everything we can to preserve it for generations to come," said Senator Rosen. "We've made tremendous progress mitigating the impacts of pollution and invasive species, but we can, and we must do more. I'm proud to continue this legacy by supporting legislation to ensure our local, state, and Tribal communities have all the necessary resources to help preserve one of Nevada's most unique natural wonders for generations to come."

The Santini-Burton Modernization Act is endorsed by the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Keep Tahoe Blue, the Tahoe Fund, the California Tahoe Conservancy, the Nevada Division of State Lands, and local elected officials.

"Protecting Lake Tahoe is a responsibility we all share," said Representative Kiley. "As a strong supporter of public lands, I believe we must be good stewards of the places Americans cherish most. Building on our bipartisan success last Congress with the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act, this legislation ensures that funds originally intended to conserve the Tahoe Basin can be used effectively to manage these lands, reduce wildfire risk, and preserve public access for future generations. I'm proud to continue working in a bipartisan way to keep Tahoe healthy and thriving."

"On behalf of Team Tahoe, I want to thank our congressional delegation for continuing to advocate for Lake Tahoe," said Julie Regan, Executive Director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. "The original Santini-Burton Act and the proposed modernization exemplify the importance of federal investments at Tahoe to protect the lake's famed clarity and ensure the public can safely enjoy our abundant public lands."

"The Santini-Burton Modernization Act will help us write the next chapter of Tahoe's conservation success story. Drafted in true collaboration by and for Tahoe partners, this legislation will unlock essential funding to protect the lake and basin for future generations-without costing taxpayers a dime," said Keep Tahoe Blue CEO Darcie Goodman Collins, PhD. "I look forward to working with the bill's leads, Senator Cortez Masto and Congressman Kiley, on turning this proposal into law."

"The health of the land equals the health of the people. For many years we have been working to bring Washoe people back onto our homelands and become stewards of the land the way our ancestors have for thousands of years. Updating the Santini-Burton Act will be a huge step for all of us to create the safe and healthy forests we all need," said Serrell Smokey, Chairman of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.

Specifically, the Santini-Burton Modernization Act:

• Maintains the U.S. Forest Service's existing authority to facilitate land acquisitions in the Tahoe Basin;
• Designates the Washoe Tribe as an eligible entity to receive transfer of acquired land, a designation already afforded to state and local governments;
• Allows existing Santini-Burton Act funds to be used for land management needs, prioritizing sustainable recreation and mitigation of environmental degradation;
• Creates no new costs to taxpayers.

Senator Padilla has been a champion for Lake Tahoe in the U.S. Senate. In 2024, President Biden signed Padilla, Cortez Masto, and Rosen's bipartisan, bicameral Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act into law to allow the continuation of federal funds to maintain the environment, support local jobs, and strengthen the tourism economy at Lake Tahoe. Padilla hosted the 27th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit in 2023, convening a bipartisan, bi-state coalition of local, state, federal, tribal, and environmental leaders, where he emphasized the urgent need to extend the authorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act through 2034. In 2021, Padilla led the 25th Annual Tahoe Summit and launched the first virtual exhibit to highlight the pioneering conservation work of the Lake Tahoe Summit. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Padilla also secured provisions in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 to authorize U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works and ecosystem restoration activities in the Lake Tahoe Basin, including the planning, design, and construction of urban stormwater treatment facilities, watershed science, and environmental restoration.

Full text of the bill is available here.

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