Giddy locals reacted to today's Chronicle front page story. Entitled"New help to save'Jewel of Sierra', the article, w/ byline Carolyn Lochhead, outlines recent Congressional efforts to improve water clarity and quality, and to improve the basin environment, to include reduction in fire fuels,ie. deadwood; reduce infestation of Asian clams, and a similar invasion of quagga and zebra mussels.
The bill was pushed through by California's own Babs Boxer, our fearless little chihuahua from San Francisco. With support from Sens. DiFi, Johnny Ensign from Nevada and majority leader, Sen. Harry(Don't Call Me Hank)Reid, the bill is certainly going forward, despite the recession and its snail-like recovery.
The article notes the vast sums already spent since 1968: State of Cal.:$612.mil;Nev.$87 mil.;local govs.$59mil;and private sector$250.mil. The Feds have spent $424. millions with$68 millions left. Lady DiFi noted that the North
lake Tahoe Resort Assoc. has committed to $250 millions in private contributions. This Senate bill joins a House bill introduced in November '09 sponsored by Rep. Dean Heller of Nevada. This bill allocates more than $310 millions to help restore wetlands, control erosion, and control storm runoff(?).
So, friends, the Mayor's Office expects to see lots of money being thrown to the lakeshore soon. Get out your biggest nets to grab some of this free government money. Why? It's money that they took from you in the first place!: your tax dollars, coming Home.
Isn't that nice of 'em?
Stay tuned as we watch these bills go through the torturous process of passage into law.
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