Money paid to the federal government by energy companies drilling for oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf is helping Lake Tahoe area entities.

It was announced April 6 the national forest system received $41.6 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Regionally the money will go to:

• Eldorado Meadows, Eldorado National Forest: The $1.5 million will be used to leverage non-federal funds to consolidate a checkerboard pattern of land ownership in the Sierra Nevada.

• Sierra Nevada Inholdings, Tahoe and Eldorado National Forests: The $2 million leverages a large land donation to purchase areas threatened by development. Purchase will preserve an ancient petroglyph and conserve meadows, wetlands and streamside areas at the headwaters of the American and Yuba rivers.

• Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, multiple national forests: California, Oregon and Washington will collectively receive $1 million to protect key sections of the Pacific Crest Trail, stretching from Mexico to Canada, as well as migration corridors for wolves, grizzly bears, elk, deer, coyote and moose.

 — Lake Tahoe News staff report