Nevada agencies, conservation groups press for funding from conserved Nevada bond program

State officials told a joint legislative subcommittee that four conservation bond programs will seek new sales this biennium to pay for drinking- and clean-water projects, Lake Tahoe environmental work, historic preservation grants and the Conserve Nevada open-grants program — and conservation groups urged lawmakers to fully fund the competitive grants pool.

"This was authorized in the 02/2019 statutes of Nevada," said Brandon Bishop, program manager for the Conserve Nevada program at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, describing the original authorization and the program's scope. Bishop said the four programs rely on state general-obligation bonds and listed biennial requests of $33.9 million for water infrastructure, $10.5 million for the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, $6 million for the Commission on Cultural Centers and Historic Preservation grant program, and $63.4 million for the Conserve Nevada program.

The subcommittee heard that Conserve Nevada grants leverage large amounts of outside funding: "Typically, for every dollar that the state spends, $15 is brought in on a project," Bishop said, describing the program's history of matching federal, local and private funds and the program's record of creating trails, conserving tens of thousands of acres and funding projects in every county.

Charlie Donohue, administrator for the Division of State Lands, described a change in the requested Lake Tahoe authority: he said he proposed amending a prior request from $19 million to $10.5 million after federal funds expected for a Van Sickle State Park project did not materialize.

In public comment, representatives of multiple conservation organizations and local partners urged the subcommittee to place more of the state's 2019-authorized Conserve Nevada bond authority into competitive grants rather than leaving the authority unspent. Jane Amone, Nevada external affairs director for The Nature Conservancy, described a past Truckee River restoration project funded in part by the original conservation bonds and urged the panel to support the governor's recommendation for grant funding. "We are very excited to see that $20,000,000 is allocated for the competitive grants program for the fiscal year 26/27 biennium," Amone said.

Other witnesses echoed that recommendation. "We strongly support the Conserve Nevada program as well and encourage you to fully fund it," Olivia Tanager of the Sierra Club's Toiyabe chapter said. Several speakers from Ducks Unlimited, the Tahoe Fund and regional water and trails groups described matching commitments and project readiness if the state funds the grants program.

Department staff said they will phase sales and coordinate schedules with the State Treasurer and the Board of Finance so projects can meet the Internal Revenue Service requirement that 85% of bond proceeds be spent within three years. Bishop said the department works with grantees to stage planning and construction, sometimes funding planning first so projects are ready when bond proceeds are available.

Conservation groups asked the Legislature to fully appropriate competitive grant dollars rather than leave authority on the books. Multiple public commenters documented matching funds and previous grant outcomes and said additional state grant dollars would unlock federal and private investments.

The subcommittee did not take a formal vote during the hearing; members and agency staff said they would continue coordination as budget deliberations proceed.