28th annual Lake Tahoe Summit shows people care about the lake, the environment, and the future

LAKE TAHOE, Nev./Calif. - When discussing Lake Tahoe and its preservation for generations to come, it doesn't come from a blue lens or a red lens, but from the collaborative lens to do what is right.

That was evident during the 28th annual Lake Tahoe Summit at Round Hill Pines Resort on Wednesday as the public came together with agencies and government officials to discuss the strides made so far, and what still needs to be done.

The event's host, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, not only celebrated 28 years of people coming together around Lake Tahoe, but she also celebrated the 55th anniversary of the bistate impact that formed the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

"It was many people who care about the lake coming together," said Cortez Masto of TRPA.

She said people had the obligation to come together and find solutions to what Lake Tahoe was facing at the time: a four lane highway around the lake, a bring across the mouth of Emerald Bay, and widespread development on the slopes and shore in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

"As we look to the future, we honor the past, respect the present, and preserve the future for everyone," said Cortez Masto.

The attention given to Lake Tahoe since the first summit with then-President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore in 1997 has led to over $700 million earmarked in funding for Tahoe environmental projects, restoration, research, the fight against aquatic invasive species, and wildfire prevention. The reauthorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act has passed the Senate and should get to Congress this Fall.

The Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada was part of that first Summit, and the it was the first time the Washoe people were recognized as stewards of the land, according to the Tribe's Chairman Serrell Smokey who spoke during the summit.

Chairman Smokey highlighted the work the tribe has done with partners to reintroduce the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout to Lake Tahoe, the only native fish in the lake. The fish were large and plentiful and sustained the Native Americans until they were fished out with commercial fishing over 100 years ago. He also spoke of cultured fire, an element of the Washoe. They used fire for regrowth, getting nutrients into the land and used their ecological knowledge where fire was concerned.

"If we don't respect it [fire], it will go where it wants," said Chairman Smokey.

"Thank you to the Washoe for not only pulling a chair to the table, but for building the table," remarked U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler of California.

Congressman John Garamendi of California asked the audience to think about their place at Lake Tahoe. "Rededicate yourself to the extraordinary natural asset," he said.

"Things are changing rapidly - think beyond Tahoe, think of the challenges we humar are placing on a fragile environment, said Garamendi.

The Summit featured a Booth Fair with 50 booths filled by the Environmental Improvement Program partners, the most ever to participate in the annual event. Congressmen Kevin Kiley and Mark Amodei also gave remarks to the crowd and the youth of Generation Green and the Sierra Nevada Alliance ambassadors were honored.

The crowd favorite was keynote speaker, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. Look for his story next on South Tahoe Now.

Names of those in the photo above, left to right: U.S. Congressman John Garamendi, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen, U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler, U.S. Congressmen Kevin Kiley, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, and Washoe Tribe Chairman Serrll Smokey.