On March 16, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that it will commit more than $417 million for 47 projects dedicated to recreation renovation, wildlife habitat restoration, hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention, and other purposes throughout Nevada, and on the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Funding for the projects was generated through the sale of public lands under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA).
“Since 1998, public land sales in the Las Vegas Valley have funded projects that benefit communities and improve the overall quality of life for residents and visitors,” said Secretary Deb Haaland.
“Today’s investment continues that effort by supporting jobs and local economies, improving recreation opportunities in rural and low-income communities, and advancing Biden-Harris administration’s America the Beautiful initiative’s goal to conserve at least 30 percent each of our lands and waters by the year 2030,” she added.
Under SNPLMA, the Bureau of Land Management uses proceeds from land sales within a congressionally designated area in the Las Vegas Valley to fund restoration, conservation and public benefit projects across Nevada.
For instance, the Eastern Nevada Landscape Restoration Project won $12,066,350, and Environmentally Sensitive Land Acquisitions won $4,930,923.
Since its enactment, SNPLMA has generated more than $4 billion through 19 rounds, funding projects that benefit public places in Nevada, on the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin, and in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Funded projects have supported the development of parks, trails, and natural areas; public infrastructure; conservation initiatives; multi-species habitat conservation plans; acquisition of environmentally sensitive land; hazardous fuels reduction projects in the Spring Mountains, Carson Range, and at Lake Tahoe; landscape restoration projects in eastern Nevada; and environmental restoration at Lake Tahoe.
Additionally, five percent of the revenue generated under SNPLMA goes to the State of Nevada General Education Fund and 10 percent goes to the Southern Nevada Water Authority.
Entities receiving funds include Carson City, City of Henderson, City of Las Vegas, City of North Las Vegas, Clark County, Lincoln County, White Pine County, State of Nevada, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Photo of Lake Tahoe via Adobe Stock.