Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced that nearly $33 million dollars in grant funding is heading to Nevada to restore and protect Pyramid, Summit, and Walker Lakes. Senator Cortez Masto drafted legislation to extend the Desert Terminal Lakes Restoration program, which was set to expire in 2023, and worked with Senator Rosen to pass the provision into law in 2022.
“We must protect and preserve Nevada’s unique landscapes and lakes so that they are accessible for generations to come,” said Senator Cortez Masto, “This funding will support important conservation work being done by Nevada Tribes and the communities who rely on these vital water resources.”
“The Walker Basin is a beautiful natural ecosystem and home to diverse wildlife and lakes that we must protect,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to have helped secure this funding by extending the Desert Terminal Lakes program so that we can preserve the basin for future generations.”
Pyramid, Summit, and Walker Lakes are considered “terminal lakes” because they are isolated bodies of water that have no outlets, making them extremely vulnerable to disruptions and changes in water flows. This grant funding will support voluntary water acquisitions, community-based conservation efforts, and environmental stewardship programs in the Pyramid, Summit, and Walker Lake basins to help recover these unique ecosystems and benefit local fish and wildlife species, communities, and Tribes.
Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen have been a strong advocate for Nevada’s natural and cultural resources. They’ve passed critical legislation to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which protects public lands in Nevada and across the country. Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen have been vocal supporters of the Avi Kwa Me national monument in Southern Nevada and have both urged Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to support the creation of the Bahsahwahbee (or Swamp Cedars) National Monument in Eastern Nevada.
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