Washoe Tribe among delegation pledging continued protection at annual Lake Tahoe Summit

KINGS BEACH — The Washoe Tribe has called Da-ow-a-ga — or as we know it, Lake Tahoe — their home for centuries, and two members of the tribe were at the 27th annual Lake Tahoe Summit held Wednesday to share the importance of the lake to their people.

"Tahoe is not only beautiful for us, this is life, the heart of our people," explained Washoe Chairman Serrell Smokey. "The Earth and water gave us life."

Chairman Smokey said that after they were forced out of the Lake Tahoe Basin they are coming back to work together to not only acknowledge the Washoe land but to protect it.

"We can do more, we can do better," the chairman said.

The Summit, hosted by California Senator Alex Padilla, featured a dozen speakers who focused on doing just that with continued financial support for the efforts to keep the lake blue, and the forests healthy while helping those who call Tahoe home by supporting small businesses, and protecting jobs and housing.

The theme of the Summit was "Protecting Lake Tahoe: Sustainability and Stewardship in the Face of the Climate Crisis.” Each speaker expressed the importance of doing all that can be done locally and nationally through private and public partnerships to protect the lake.

Since the original summit hosted by California Senator Diane Feinstein and the late Nevada Senator Harry Reed, over $1B has been allocated through the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act in 2000 and 2016 for projects around Lake Tahoe to keep sediments from entering the lake, keep forests healthy, remove invasive species, along with other projects. In 2024 the Act is set to expire and the bi-partisan group speaking at the Summit all pledged their support to renew it.

"Protecting Lake Tahoe is a responsibility for all of us," said California Congressman Kevin Kiley.

The keynote speaker was House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi who has spent the last 36 years in Congress, 20 of them as the leader or speaker of the House of Representatives. To start, she shared some words from Senator Feinstein and her connection to the lake as a child in Lake Tahoe, as an adult at Lake Tahoe, and as a senator for Lake Tahoe.

“On the magnificent shores of Lake Tahoe, the Golden State and the Silver State, Democrats and Republicans, public, private and nonprofit sectors all come together as one Team Tahoe,” said Pelosi. “Nearly three decades ago, we launched an ambitious and effective initiative to restore and preserve this national treasure. Together, Team Tahoe will continue fighting to ensure that the Jewel of the Sierra can be enjoyed by all for generations to come.”
Padilla says that everyone here knows there is no 'someone else' to pick up, clean up, and do the things that need to be done for Tahoe. "We have to commit to preserving roads, and trails," he said.

“From the embers of the Caldor Fire to the snowpack from historic winter storms, Lake Tahoe knows personally the extraordinary weather whiplash that can tear through our state, all made worse by the climate crisis,” said Padilla. “I am proud of the work the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program is doing to protect the Tahoe Basin, set the standard for interstate environmental restoration, and draw hundreds of millions of dollars to the region. I look forward to passing the Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act and continuing to advocate for policies that renew America’s commitment to protecting our planet for our children’s generation and beyond.”

Culture & Language Resources Director of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California Herman Fillmore gave a blessing to the gathering on the shores of Lake Tahoe at Kings Beach.

"A long time ago there were no problems here," said Fillmore of Lake Tahoe. The miners and lumbermen of the 1800s used the forests of Lake Tahoe to supply wood for the silver mines of Virginia City, to build the homes there, and to stoke the steam engine fire. "Our forests and water are now sick today."

"We'll stand together for the future work, together, side by side, to work on forests and waters," continued Fillmore. "They will no longer be sick."

“The Tahoe Summit is an opportunity to celebrate the partnerships that are building forest resiliency, adapting to a changing climate, and achieving sustainable recreation across larger landscapes. The 2016 Lake Tahoe Restoration Act has been key to the success by enabling us to work with our partners to reduce risk to homes from wildfire, sustain livelihoods, and maintain renowned clear blue lake clarity,” said U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester Jennifer Eberlien.

“Today really highlighted the tremendous amount of people, work, and funding required to protect a place as special as Lake Tahoe. We are so grateful to our federal and state leaders for joining our local communities, governments, and non-profits in our tireless efforts to maintain the Lake's clarity, restore our forests to health, and ensure Tahoe remains a place for all to enjoy for generations to come,” said Tahoe Regional Planning Agency President/Placer Supervisor Cindy Gustafson.

U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who herself has hosted the Summit, thanked both Reed and Feinstein for starting the annual event.

"No matter our backgrounds and affiliations, we love Lake Tahoe and want to protect it," said Cortez Masto. “With climate change fueling wildfires and invasive species threatening the Lake, it will take all of us to keep Tahoe safe. I’ll always stand up for this community and the local economies it supports.”

The other U.S. Senator from Nevada, Jacky Rosen, asked everyone to close their eyes and focus on the sounds, the smells, and the feeling of being at Lake Tahoe. "The lake speaks for itself," she said, but it needs the help of "dedicated people at every level, every day."

In closing, Padilla told of his children spending time at the lake this week with Lake Tahoe Community College President Jeff DeFranco and his sons. He looked forward to his kids going back home to share their stories of Lake Tahoe, joining all of the others who continue to share their stories of their own Lake Tahoe experience.

More projects need to be completed and more commitment given to continue those stories for generations.