August 2026 Conservancy Newsletter

30th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit

The Conservancy joined with its EIP partners in celebrating the 30th annual Lake Tahoe Summit on August 19. Bringing together federal, Tribal, state, local, and private partners, the Summit marked decades of progress together under the EIP. In their remarks, the Congressional delegation touted federal legislation introduced earlier this year to support Lake Tahoe conservation efforts. The Santini-Burton Modernization Act would allow the U.S. Forest Service to use funds generated via the original 1980 Santini-Burton Act to manage public lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin, including efforts to protect lake clarity, reduce wildfire risk, and address recreation impacts. The bill would also expand authority for the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California to manage Basin lands.

In addition to remarks by Tribal and federal leaders, as well as climber and Lake Tahoe resident Tommy Caldwell, Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen honored Cale Pete, director of the Washoe Environmental Protection Department, with the inaugural Harry Reid Trailbazer Award. Under Pete’s leadership, the Washoe Tribe is wrapping up the conifer removal portion of the Máyala Wáta Restoration project on the west shore.

Photo of California Senator Adam Schiff visiting the California Tahoe Conservancy booth courtesy of Steven Wilson, Placer County. 

Conservancy Projects to Reduce Wildfire Risk, Improve Forest Health

The Conservancy’s forestry season remains in full swing, including the following work to reduce hazardous fuels and improve wildfire resilience for forests and communities.

Active Projects

• North Upper Truckee project – Includes 536 Conservancy and Forest Service open space lots in the North Upper Truckee Road neighborhood in El Dorado County.
• Placer County South project – Includes 400 Conservancy and Forest Service lots on the west shore, from the El Dorado County/Placer County line north to Tahoe City.
• Lyons Ranch project – Includes 33 acres of Conservancy land in El Dorado County near Lake Tahoe Airport, with support from the Washoe Tribal Conservation Corps, a resource crew of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.
• Sawmill Fuel Hazard Reduction Project – Includes 31 Conservancy and Forest Service lots in the Echo View Estates neighborhood and other areas near Sawmill Road and Incline Road in El Dorado County.
• Elks Club Forestry Project – Includes 321 Conservancy and 18 Forest Service open space lots in neighborhoods along Elks Club Drive and northeast of the intersection of Pioneer Road and U.S. Highway 50 in El Dorado County. (see image above and images below)
• Tahoe Mountain Project – Includes 26 Conservancy properties along and north of Tahoe Mountain Road in El Dorado County.
• Tahoma Urban project– In July, the Conservancy finished thinning trees and brush on almost 150 Conservancy, Forest Service, and El Dorado County properties. A contractor removed small-diameter trees, branches, and shrubs, and cut most larger trees and branches into firewood rounds, available for free collection by members of the public who have completed a free Conservancy fuelwood collection permit. On approximately six properties, the Conservancy had cut wood and debris piled for future burning.

Future

• North shore open space lots – Conservancy forestry aides are preparing public open space lots—including both Conservancy and Forest Service properties—between Tahoe City and the west side of Kings Beach for future fuel reduction and forest health treatments. As with most of the Basin’s open space lots, these public properties are scattered throughout neighborhoods in the wildland-urban interface, the area where the general forest meets communities.

Above and below: crew members from a Calaveras Healthy Impact Product Solutions (CHIPS) crew implementing the Elks Club Forestry Project on Conservancy and Forest Service open space lots in El Dorado County. The CHIPS Forestry mission is to empower disadvantaged communities, and in particular Native Americans, by fostering workforce development, preserving tribal ecological knowledge, and promoting sustainable forest stewardship.

Nevada State Parks Begins Construction at Van Sickle Bi-State Park

The Nevada Division of State Parks is temporarily limiting access to parts of the Nevada side of Van Sickle Bi-State Park, while construction advances on several park improvement projects. The California side of the park will remain open throughout the Nevada-side closure, which will likely continue through fall 2027. Learn more about the projects and see a map of the closure on the Nevada State Parks website.

The Conservancy and Nevada State Parks co-manage the 728-acre Van Sickle Bi-State Park, which offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and the historic Van Sickle ranch barn and cabins.