Southern Nevada District
| Contacts: | Contact: Doran Sanchez | , 775-861-6629 | ||
| JoLynn Worley | , 775-861-6515 |
Salazar, Reid, Abbey Approve $135 Million for Nevada and Lake Tahoe Projects
LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, NV -- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey today approved more than $135 million for a variety of restoration and improvement projects throughout Nevada and Lake Tahoe under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act
“I am pleased to commit more than $135 million for federal improvement projects throughout Nevada at Lake Tahoe,” Salazar said. “The Department of the Interior remains committed to working closely with our local, state and federal partners to protect and enhance these specials areas for the benefit of all who live in and visit Nevada.”
“I thank Secretary Salazar and BLM director Abbey for coming to Searchlight to announce the approval of 135 million dollars for vital projects all around Nevada,” Reid said. “Today’s announcement is a great example of our efforts to strengthen and diversify Nevada's economy.”
"Thanks to these funds, NV's lands and special areas will continue to be accessible to the public and be healthier for years to come," said Abbey.
The Round 10 expenditures under the Act include more than $79.9 million for a variety of restoration and improvement projects throughout Nevada in the following categories:
- Parks, Trails & Natural Areas - $10,239,022
- Capital Improvements - $8,246,129
- Conservation Initiatives - $7,655,107
- Environmentally Sensitive Land Acquisitions - $13,066,000
- Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Wildfire Prevention - $10,963,140
- Eastern Nevada Landscape Restoration Project - $1,931,721
- Lake Tahoe Restoration Projects - $27,891,285
The package also includes a $30 million set-aside for future Lake Tahoe projects, $10 million in a special account reserve for emergency or unexpected project expenditures, and more than $15.8 million for the previously approved Wetlands Park project in Clark County.
The expenditures are authorized through the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) of 1998 (as amended), which generates revenue from the sale of public lands identified for disposal in the Las Vegas valley. The funds facilitate a broad array of restoration and improvement projects at Lake Tahoe, in Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties, and to a limited extent Washoe County and Carson City.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Southern Nevada District 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive Las Vegas, NV 89130