Obama, Reid lead 20th annual Lake Tahoe preservation celebration

STATELINE — President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced $35 million in new funding to help preserve Lake Tahoe at the 20th annual summit that has focused national attention on the alpine lake.

He also announced a new strategy to boost private and philanthropic investment in conservation in the U.S. to $10 billion a year to combat climate change.

Obama, speaking from a stage at Harvey’s Outdoor Amphitheater at the south end of the lake, said the new strategy is aimed at leveraging innovation to boost private investment in America’s natural resources. The strategy focuses on promoting policies that reward flexibility and outcome-focused conservation, financing methods and technologies.

Obama was the keynote speaker at the 20th annual Lake Tahoe Summit, which began in 1997 with backing from U.S. Sen. Harry Reid. The first event at Incline Village 20 years ago featured President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.

Since then nearly $2 billion has been invested by federal, state and local agencies to protect the lake’s famed clarity, now at 73 feet and increasing from past years.

“It is a celebration of progress; it is a celebration of unity,” Reid said in introducing Obama.

Obama said climate change is in play at the lake, although it was out of view from the venue.

“Lake Tahoe’s average temperature is rising at its fastest rate ever, and its temperature is the warmest on record,” he said.

“The fact is that it is man-made,” Obama said of the warming climate. “And when we protect our lands, it helps us protect our climate for the future. It’s critical for our entire ecosystem.

“Just as this space is sacred to Native Americans, it should be sacred to all Americans,” he said.

A single wildfire could erase years of preservation efforts, he said.

Obama quoted a Washoe elder who said, “What happens to the land happens to the people.”

“I think about my two daughters; I think about Harry’s 19 grandchildren,” he said. “The future generations who deserve clear water and clean air that will sustain their bodies and sustain their souls. Jewels like Lake Tahoe. And it’s not going to happen without hard work. It sure is not going to happen if we pretend a snowball in winter means nothing is wrong.”

An enthusiastic crowd of more than 8,000 cheered the president and listened to the other featured speakers. Many appeared to be waiting primarily for a performance by Nevada’ own The Killers following the official remarks.

The Las Vegas band took the stage shortly after 3 p.m. and got the crowd dancing, bringing the event to a close with catchy tunes, including their rendition of “Home Means Nevada.”

Reid, who participated in his last summit as a U.S. senator from Nevada, said he wanted the event to be a celebration.

California Gov. Jerry Brown said the lake has inspired cooperation among politicians of all stripes.

“This is still a pristine wonder, and the human imagination is so encouraged and nourished by it that Republicans and Democrats actually work together to do good for Lake Tahoe,” he said.

Brown cited the Tesla gigafactory battery plant under construction east of Reno as an example of how the country can work to fight climate change.

Janice Schneider, assistant secretary for land and minerals management of the U.S. Department of the Interior, praised Reid for getting the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act passed in 1998. She noted that funding from the act, which raises money from the sale of federal lands in the Las Vegas area, has benefited Lake Tahoe.

The White House announced new solid financial commitments in addition to a plethora of other initiatives:

■ The Department of Interior announced $29.5 million for hazardous fuels reduction projects to improve forest health and protect life and property from the threat of catastrophic wildfires. The money will be used to remove standing dead and dying hazard trees along roads and in campgrounds.

■ The National Forest Foundation — working together with the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and local community partners — announced that it has raised over $4 million for forest health, sustainable recreation and creek restoration projects throughout the Truckeee River watershed.

■ The Environmental Protection Agency announced more than $230,000 in grant funding for infrastructure to manage and reduce storm-water runoff in the region.

■ The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced nearly $1 million for eight projects to prevent the spread of invasive zebra and quagga mussels to Lake Tahoe.

In a related announcement, the U.S. Department of energy announced two projects that will receive up to $29 million for geothermal energy research. The selected sites are Sandia National Laboratories’ candidate site in Fallon and the University of Utah’s candidate site in Milford, Utah.

The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015, which is making its way through the Senate, also would direct $415 million to be spent in the Tahoe Basin.

The effort to preserve the lake has been a joint effort since the first summit. The U.S. government has contributed $635 million; California, $759 million; Nevada, $124 million; local governments, $99 million; and private groups, $339 million.

Obama arrived at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport at about 12:25 p.m., meeting with Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve at the foot of the aircraft stairs. He was also greeted by Col. Karl B. Stark, commander of the 152 Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard.

He then shook hands and spoke with about 100 people gathered at the airport before boarding Marine One for the quick trip to the summit. The V22 Osprey touched down at a Lake Tahoe Airport in California just after 1 p.m.

He was expected to depart Lake Tahoe at about 3:30 p.m. en route to Honolulu.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3820. Follow @seanw801 on Twitter. Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3821. Follow @SandraChereb on Twitter.