Progress is being made toward restoring the clarity of Lake Tahoe, but the job’s not over yet. That was the message from keynote speaker former Vice President Al Gore at Monday's 17th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit.
The lake is now clear to a depth of about 75 feet, and Gore said if progress continues future generations will be thankful.
“If they come to the shores of Lake Tahoe and they see the water all the way down 75, or 100 feet, and they look at the majesty of the lake and see the clear skies," Gore said. "And they see communities in renewal and millions of new jobs being created in renewable energy.”
Gore was present at the first Tahoe summit when then-President Bill Clinton authorized more than $400 million for restoration projects. Senators from California and Nevada are supporting a renewal of that funding.
The two states are also in the process of renewing a bi-state agreement to manage the lake. Environmentalists are critical of the new operating agreement, saying it puts too much emphasis on development.
