Bill Overview
Title: Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act
Description: This bill reauthorizes through September 30, 2034, activities to restore Lake Tahoe and its surrounding basin. Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake on the border of California and Nevada.
Sponsors: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals impacted by Lake Tahoe restoration activities
Estimated Size: 3000000
- Lake Tahoe is located on the border of California and Nevada, indicating that residents of these states, especially those living in the proximity of Lake Tahoe, will be directly impacted by restoration activities.
- The restoration activities are likely to impact local businesses, particularly those related to tourism and recreation, due to environmental changes and improvements.
- Environmental improvements in Lake Tahoe could affect all individuals who visit the lake for tourism, recreation, or scientific research, thereby influencing a larger global audience.
- The environmental and ecological significance of Lake Tahoe suggests global implications, as restoration activities may set a precedent for other similar ecological projects around the world.
Reasoning
- Considering the geographic location and the target populations, it's crucial to include people from California and Nevada who could be directly impacted by the environmental restoration. These will include residents, local business owners, and tourists.
- Residents of other states may also be included as they might travel to Lake Tahoe for tourism or recreational purposes, though their direct impact might be limited.
- Since this is a substantial environmental project, individuals involved in ecological research may also be impacted due to potential improvements in the biodiversity of Lake Tahoe.
- It is important to include individuals who may see no direct impact to understand the policy's overall relevance within the US population.
Simulated Interviews
Tourism business owner (Truckee, California)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the restoration is much needed. Our business depends on the beauty of Lake Tahoe and anything that helps preserve it is beneficial.
- I am slightly concerned about any disruptions during the restoration work, but the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term inconveniences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 2 |
Environmental scientist (Reno, Nevada)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The restoration activities are crucial for preserving the lake's natural habitat.
- This policy provides an excellent opportunity for extensive ecological research and collaboration which could set benchmarks for future restoration projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired (South Lake Tahoe, California)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm delighted about the act; it's wonderful to see the government investing in maintaining the natural beauty of our environment.
- I hope that this will ensure our trails and recreational areas remain pristine for future generations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 3 |
Software engineer (San Francisco, California)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I visit Lake Tahoe a couple of times a year for recreation, so I'm glad to hear about efforts to restore and maintain the area.
- This policy doesn't directly impact my daily life, but I think it's a net positive for my vacation experiences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Local government official (Carson City, Nevada)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy aligns with our regional goals for sustainability and conservation.
- I foresee positive impacts on both the environment and our local economy, fostering tourism and community engagement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 3 |
Tourist (Sacramento, California)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the focus on preserving Lake Tahoe's ecosystem.
- While it doesn't affect us daily, it's great knowing our favorite vacation spot is being well maintained.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Environmental activist (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a model restoration effort for bodies of water nationwide. It can encourage similar conservation efforts across states.
- The policy emphasizes vital funding for sustainable practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Retired military (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I love that we're taking care of Lake Tahoe. It's one of my favorite spots for fishing.
- Even though I'm not there all year round, the news is reassuring and motivates my occasional visits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
College student (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is brilliant! The restoration will serve as a practical study example for my course.
- I might adjust my research focus to include the developments under this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired banker (New York, New York)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not directly impacted, but I'm glad to see environmental preservation is being prioritized.
- Perhaps more cities could take note and implement similar local policies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $25750000 (Low: $20750000, High: $30750000)
Year 3: $26498750 (Low: $21469375, High: $31499375)
Year 5: $27981156 (Low: $22984313, High: $32981156)
Year 10: $31328481 (Low: $26328481, High: $36328481)
Year 100: $116236926 (Low: $101236926, High: $131236926)
Key Considerations
- Historical funding for Lake Tahoe restoration projects suggests a trend that can be expected to continue.
- Collaborations between federal, local, and state governments will be crucial to maintaining restoration momentum and managing costs.
- Potential increases in tourism might require additional local infrastructure investment.