LAKE TAHOE SUMMIT

On 2026-07-16, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) delivered a floor speech titled "LAKE TAHOE SUMMIT" in the Senate.

LAKE TAHOE SUMMIT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 116 (Thursday, July 16, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S4136] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] LAKE TAHOE SUMMIT Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of Senator Cortez Masto, Senator Padilla, Senator Schiff, Congressman Kiley, and Congressman Amodei to celebrate an incredible milestone for Lake Tahoe, the crown jewel of Nevada and California. In 1997, Nevada Senator Harry Reid and California Senator Dianne Feinstein spearheaded the inaugural Lake Tahoe Summit. This event brought together Federal, State, regional, and local leaders, the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, scientists, environmental advocates, and economic interests to address the deteriorating clarity of Lake Tahoe's waters. It marked a defining moment in bipartisan collaboration to protect one of the Nation's most iconic and treasured landscapes, and this year, we are celebrating 30 years of that partnership. Lake Tahoe is an amazing natural wonder. It is the oldest freshwater, permanent lake in North America, and the third oldest in the world at 2.3 million years old. It is also the second deepest lake in the United States, plunging to a depth of 1,645 feet, with waters so clear that objects can be seen at depths exceeding 70 feet. The Wa;i.;iw (Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California) are the original stewards of Lake Tahoe, and the Lake continues to hold great significance as their ancestral, current, and future home. Straddling the border of California and Nevada in the Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe is a national treasure that we are all so proud to protect. Following the inaugural Tahoe Summit hosted by Senators Reid and Feinstein, the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, or EIP, was created to restore Lake Tahoe's water quality and strengthen the region's environment and economy for future generations. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and more than 80 partners collectively known as Team Tahoe have worked together to guide and implement the EIP; today, the EIP is one of the Nation's most successful conservation and restoration programs with more than 900 projects implemented across the areas of watersheds and water quality, aquatic invasive species, forest health, sustainable recreation and transportation, and science, stewardship, and accountability. Lake Tahoe is an irreplaceable natural, cultural, and economic treasure--a jewel of the Sierra--whose protection is both a solemn responsibility and a profound privilege. The 30th annual Lake Tahoe Summit will be a celebration of Lake Tahoe and the power of public- private partnerships that benefit the lake, economy, and community. The Tahoe Federal delegation, State and local officials, members of Team Tahoe, and the public will come together at this event to celebrate the progress made over the last 30 years and commit to solving the challenges of the next 30 years. I am so honored to be hosting this year's event that will recognize the incredible legacy of my dear friend Senator Reid, and I look forward to continuing that legacy with my fellow colleagues as we work to protect this special place. ____________________