FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Lake Tahoe, CA/NV — Monday, January 26, 2026: The Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership today celebrated the enactment of the Fiscal Year 2026 federal appropriations “minibus” funding package, marking a major milestone for Lake Tahoe’s wildfire resilience and emergency preparedness efforts.
Included in H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior & Environment Appropriations Act, 2026, this legislation provides more than $20 million in federal funding for long-standing Lake Tahoe Restoration Act (LTRA) priorities, including watershed protection, forest health, aquatic invasive species mitigation, water infrastructure improvements, and climate resilience projects that reduce wildfire risk and protect water quality.
For the first time, this legislation includes a specific line-item appropriation, totaling $2.125 million, to support Water Infrastructure/State Fire Capacity Grants in Lake Tahoe, recognizing the critical role of water infrastructure in helping build wildfire-resilient communities in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
“This is a major victory for Lake Tahoe communities,” said Bradley A. Johnson, P.E., General Manager of the North Tahoe Public Utility District and spokesperson for the Partnership. “A line- item for water infrastructure fire capacity grants sends a clear message that resilient water infrastructure is essential to wildfire preparedness and community protection in wildland-urban interface communities here in Lake Tahoe and throughout the West.”
Federal Leadership and Bipartisan Commitment
The Tahoe Water for Fire Partnership commends Tahoe’s congressional delegation (CA/NV) and their professional staff for working together to secure funding for projects and programs authorized by the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act.
The Partnership extends specific appreciation and thanks to Congressman Mark Amodei of Nevada for his longstanding leadership on this issue and unwavering commitment to Lake Tahoe. Congressman Amodei serves on the House Appropriations Committee and three of its subcommittees.
“As an appropriator, addressing Western priorities is always central to my work, and this funding supports efforts to enhance water quality and forest health, strengthen wildfire preparedness, and advance critical water infrastructure projects,” added Congressman Mark Amodei, of Nevada. “The investments I helped secure in this minibus build on the progress we have been making for years to improve the safety and infrastructure of Tahoe communities.”
A History of Advocacy and Action to Support Community Improvements
The Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership is a bi-state collaboration of Lake Tahoe Basin water agencies formed in response to the devastating structure losses during the 2007 Angora Fire.
Partnership agencies lead advocacy efforts to secure state and federal funding for water infrastructure for fire suppression improvements in the Lake Tahoe basin and beyond.
In 2021, the Caldor Fire advanced into the Lake Tahoe Basin, placing the community of South Lake Tahoe at extreme risk. A coordinated response before and during the fire demonstrated the region’s capacity to protect lives and property through a wildfire resilience strategy built on three pillars: (1) hazardous fuels reduction, (2) home hardening and community defensible space, and (3) the targeted installation of robust water infrastructure to support fire suppression efforts.
Since 2022, the Partnership has invested more than $8 million in congressionally appropriated funding, matched with over $18 million in local utility district capital funding, to support water infrastructure improvement projects in Tahoe City, Kings Beach, South Lake Tahoe, and Incline Village.
This effort has led to the installation and upsizing of over 8.1 miles (42,895 feet) of new watermain pipelines on both sides of the stateline, the installation of 56 new fire hydrants in neighborhoods around the lake; and several critical water system intertie connections and water storage enhancement projects.
These investments illustrate what’s possible when local water providers, fire agencies, and elected leaders align strategies to include water infrastructure, alongside forest fuels reduction and home hardening, to create safer neighborhoods and strengthen wildfire resilience in Western communities.
About the Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership
The Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership is a coalition of Lake Tahoe Basin water agencies working to modernize water infrastructure for wildfire suppression, community protection, and environmental resilience. The Partnership advocates for policy and infrastructure funding solutions to accelerate the installation of a resilient water infrastructure to address fire suppression needs in the Lake Tahoe basin. For more information about the Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership, visit https://tahoewaterforfire.org
