TRPA funds water-air quality projects

NEWS RELEASE


For Release Immediately
December 28, 2007


TRPA FUNDS HELP TAHOE BASIN AIR AND WATER QUALITY;
$2.9 MILLION AUTHORIZED FOR USE BY LOCAL JURISDICTIONS IN 2007

Lake Tahoe, Stateline, NV - Water and air quality improvement projects around the Tahoe Basin will receive a nearly $3 million boost thanks to mitigation fund releases authorized by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency in 2007, the Agency said today.
More than $2.9 million in water quality and air quality
mitigation funds were earmarked for 15 Tahoe area environmental
improvement projects during the year, the Agency said.
Environmental mitigation funds are generated from fees paid by property owners to offset the impacts of their new development projects. The funds are then distributed to local jurisdictions by TRPA to help pay for larger-scale efforts to improve air and water quality.
Among projects slated to receive a portion of the $2.1 million in water quality funds and $821,000 in air quality funds authorized for release between May and November 2007 are planned road improvements to the U.S. Highway 50/State Route 89 South Y intersection in South Lake Tahoe and erosion control projects associated with the Angora Wildfire rehabilitation efforts in South Lake Tahoe.
"The property owners who help fund these projects through the
mitigation fees they pay are making an important contribution to Lake Tahoe," said TRPA Principal Planner Jeanne McNamara. "These funds are put to good use by the local jurisdictions to help in the overall effort to preserve and restore this special place."
The authorized funds are to be released to the local jurisdictions as each environmental improvement project moves forward according to conditions outlined by TRPA and agreed to by the local jurisdictions. The mitigation funds are often used to leverage even larger amounts of state and federal funds in order to carry out these important projects. The projects authorized to receive mitigation funds during 2007 are:

* Christmas Valley Erosion Control Project, El Dorado County; $100,000 in water quality mitigation funds authorized May 23.
* Echo View Erosion Control Project; El Dorado County; $50,000 in water quality mitigation funds authorized May 23.
* Rubicon Erosion Control Project, El Dorado County; $50,000 in water quality mitigation funds and $20,000 in stream environment zone restoration mitigation funds authorized May 23.
* Montgomery Estates Erosion Control Project, El Dorado County; $100,000 in water quality mitigation funds authorized May 23.
* Tahoe Pines Erosion Control Project, Placer County; $75,000 in previously released water quality mitigation funds authorized July 25.
* Beaver Street Erosion Control Project, Placer County; $62,000 in previously released water quality mitigation funds authorized July 25.
* Lake Tahoe Boulevard Basin Piping Project, City of South Lake Tahoe; $510,900 in water quality mitigation funds authorized September 26 as part of Angora Wildfire rehabilitation effort.
* Gardner Mountain Storm Drain Project, City of South Lake
Tahoe; $308,600 in water quality mitigation funds authorized September 26 as part of Angora Wildfire rehabilitation effort.
* Sediment removal project, City of South Lake Tahoe;
$27,329.08 in water quality mitigation funds authorized September 26 as part of Angora Wildfire rehabilitation effort.
* Kings Beach Water Quality Project, Placer County; $450,000 in water quality mitigation funds authorized September 26.
* Tahoe Pines Erosion Control Project, Placer County; $150,000 in water quality mitigation funds authorized September 26.
* Alternative fueling station/storage facilities project,
Placer County; $393,240 in air quality mitigation fees authorized September 26.
* Equipment purchase/maintenance, Placer County; $180,000 in water quality mitigation fees authorized September 26.
* Bijou Area Water Quality Project, City of South Lake Tahoe; $6,000 in water quality mitigation fund interest authorized October 24.
* South Y intersection transportation improvements at U.S. Hwy 50 and State Route 89, City of South Lake Tahoe; $428,000 in air quality mitigation funds authorized November 28.
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency cooperatively leads the effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region now and in the future. For additional information, call Dennis Oliver, 775-589-5235.

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