Bond Act: Proposition 84
Agency of Appropriation: California Tahoe Conservancy
Bond Statute: 75050(k)
Implementing Statute: Title 7.42 of the Government Code (Section 66905 et seq.)
- Front-end
- In-progress
- Follow-up (Audit)
Since 1997, with the execution of various agreements between the State of California and the State of Nevada, the Federal Government, and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), the California Tahoe Conservancy’s program activities have been undertaken in support of the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) for the Lake Tahoe Basin. The EIP represents a collaborative capital improvement approach toward meeting environmental and public access goals at Lake Tahoe, involving State, Federal and local government and the private sector. The State`s support of the EIP involves, in large part, continued funding for the planning and implementation of capital improvement projects consistent with the EIP adopted by TRPA.
Funding can be used for acquisition and improvement of land (directly by the Tahoe Conservancy or through grants) for the purposes of preserving and restoring the natural environment (especially water quality), providing public access and recreation opportunities, and preserving wildlife habitat. The Conservancy implements several programs which support the EIP, whose program guidelines have been developed and vetted through a public process resulting in adoption by the Conservancy Board.
Projects selected for funding under the Environmental Improvement Program for the Lake Tahoe Basin are required to spend grant funds according to the approved project scope and budget. A workplan is developed for projects. The workplan includes various reports and deliverables that must be provided and meetings that are to occur over the course of the project. This helps to ensure timely and effective project implementation. Before projects can proceed to construction, additional documentation must be provided to the California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) in accordance with agreement terms.
During the project design process, the CTC requires semi-annual progress reports for all projects in addition to the deliverables required by the workplan. CTC staff conducts site visits during construction for each project. Payment requests must be consistent with requirements outlined in agreements. Grantees must submit supporting documentation for each expense, with reimbursements approved only for eligible expenses pursuant to program guidelines and contained within the approved project budget. The CTC may also withhold up to ten percent of each payment request to be released upon project completion.
Projects funded via the Environmental Improvement Program for the Lake Tahoe Basin have monitoring requirements and receive a final report and close-out field visit conducted by the California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) at the time the project is complete and prior to releasing final grant funds. The purpose of the final report and close-out field visit is to ensure all project components were completed according to program guidelines and the terms of agreements, including project scope and budget. Projects must comply with all current laws and regulations that apply to the project and submit documents summarizing total project costs and all additional funding sources. All bond funded projects are subject to audits and grantees must maintain accounting records for three years following final payment. Source documents should include, but not limited to satisfactory financial accounts, documents, and records relating to the projects and must be available for audit by the CTC and the Bureau of State Audits.
In addition, the grantees must establish separate accounting records for each project and maintain their records sufficient to properly reflect the amount and disposition of all project funds, including State funds, interest earned, and any matching funds.
Projects within this Program: