The California Tahoe Conservancy leads California's efforts to restore and enhance the natural and recreational resources of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Its mission encompasses supporting near-shore environmental programs and projects, managing aquatic invasive species, improving public access to sovereign land, and executing land acquisitions for conservation purposes.
The Science and Lake Improvement Account program, underpinned by SB 630 (2013), focuses on supporting environmental improvement activities around Lake Tahoe, with a yearly allocation of approximately $350,000. Its primary objectives include the management of aquatic invasive species and the enhancement of public access to sovereign land through planning, site improvement, reconstruction projects on public land, and land acquisitions from willing sellers. These grants serve as a critical tool for the Conservancy to achieve its mission and Strategic Plan, targeting a broad range of projects identified within the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP). The grant guidelines outline funding priorities, proposal evaluation considerations, and essential information for all grant submissions, steering the Conservancy's approach towards accountability and strategic environmental conservation.