ARTICLE
Five years ago on August 31, 2016, I attended the annual Lake Tahoe Summit on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. At the time, I was the Chair of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency board and a California Governor appointee. I was seated directly in front of the stage. This annual summit, which began in 1997, is an event to recognize the beauty of the Lake Tahoe Basin and the collaborative efforts made by the public, private and non-profit sectors to improve and protect the quality of the Lake’s fragile environment. It was a remarkably clear warm sunny summer day where President Barack Obama gave the keynote speech in front of 7,500 people gathered in the makeshift outdoor amphitheater behind the casinos on the Nevada side of the Lake.Five years ago on August 31, 2016, I attended the annual Lake Tahoe Summit on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. At the time, I was the Chair of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency board and a California Governor appointee. I was seated directly in front of the stage. It was his first visit to the Lake in the final months of his presidency. His prepared comments of humility for the beauty of the Lake Tahoe Basin began with words about how the native American people of the Tahoe area practiced environmental stewardship for the Lake’s crystal blue waters, and also acknowledged the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains that rim the Lake. He spoke of the soaring eagle above the Lake’s water. His words echoed in the outdoor amphitheater. The crowd delighted in the awesome moment as the President defined our mission today as the vision of the native Americans hundreds of years ago. Working together we can protect this Lake for future generations. Sadly, Mother Nature has hardened our path to combat climate change. One of the earlier speakers was from the University of Nevada, Desert Research Institute, Tim Brown, Phd., the director of the Climate Ecosystem Fire Application (CEFA). The CEFA program utilizes a modern computing laboratory for data analysis and scientific visualization supporting the applications products that are routinely produced for wildland fire management agencies. Dr. Brown noted the challenging work of his department to detect a fire’s starting point through micro camera technology throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin. These cameras can spot the fire and provide an early warning signal to hopefully prevent a wildfire. Now, five-plus years later with the alarming rate of wildfires throughout the western United States and what we are experiencing in California these last two years is unprecedented. In one word — scary. Last year we experienced the CZU complex fire in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties that destroyed 900 homes and buildings and displaced 1,200 people in the aftermath of the fires. Today, I am watching with caution as I read Facebook posts from my Tahoe friends and business associates as they evacuate the Tahoe Basin heading for safer ground not knowing if their homes will be saved. Again, a scary moment that is unfolding before our eyes through social media, local and national news outlets and personalized stories. The Lake Tahoe Basin is trapped between the Dixie Fire (the second largest fire in California’s history) which is burning just 60 miles northeast of the Lake. And now as of this writing the Caldor Fire is running up the Echo summit and down to the Basin into Christmas Valley and the Meyers region of South Lake Tahoe. Just southeast of the Caldor Fire is the Tamarack Fire that is burning towards the Lake Tahoe Basin as well. In 2018, I led a group of Santa Cruz County Chamber and community leaders on a Community Leadership Visit to Lake Tahoe so we could learn how that community addresses similar issues we face in our central coast region. Fundamentally, the challenges can only be turned to success through collaborative efforts by all parties. On the last morning of our 2 1/2 day visit to the Tahoe Basin, we went to the top of Heavenly Valley overlooking the beauty of the Lake below. As we listened to the General Manager describe the beauty of the Lake and how in July 2002 the Gondola fire at the summit nearly consumed the Heavenly Valley Lodge. The images of the past fire are real today as fire forecasting images show that the Caldor Fire is on a direct path towards Heavenly Valley and into the Minden and Carson Valley in Nevada. These are scary times for the enormity of the escalating fires throughout California. We must stand and be resilient to help our state endure the wildfires. If you know someone who is facing evacuation from the wildfires, please reach out to let them know you are here to help.
Five years ago on August 31, 2016, I attended the annual Lake Tahoe Summit on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. At the time, I was the Chair of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency board and a California Governor appointee. I was seated directly in front of the stage.
This annual summit, which began in 1997, is an event to recognize the beauty of the Lake Tahoe Basin and the collaborative efforts made by the public, private and non-profit sectors to improve and protect the quality of the Lake’s fragile environment. It was a remarkably clear warm sunny summer day where President Barack Obama gave the keynote speech in front of 7,500 people gathered in the makeshift outdoor amphitheater behind the casinos on the Nevada side of the Lake.Five years ago on August 31, 2016, I attended the annual Lake Tahoe Summit on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. At the time, I was the Chair of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency board and a California Governor appointee. I was seated directly in front of the stage.
It was his first visit to the Lake in the final months of his presidency. His prepared comments of humility for the beauty of the Lake Tahoe Basin began with words about how the native American people of the Tahoe area practiced environmental stewardship for the Lake’s crystal blue waters, and also acknowledged the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains that rim the Lake. He spoke of the soaring eagle above the Lake’s water. His words echoed in the outdoor amphitheater. The crowd delighted in the awesome moment as the President defined our mission today as the vision of the native Americans hundreds of years ago. Working together we can protect this Lake for future generations. Sadly, Mother Nature has hardened our path to combat climate change.
One of the earlier speakers was from the University of Nevada, Desert Research Institute, Tim Brown, Phd., the director of the Climate Ecosystem Fire Application (CEFA). The CEFA program utilizes a modern computing laboratory for data analysis and scientific visualization supporting the applications products that are routinely produced for wildland fire management agencies.
Dr. Brown noted the challenging work of his department to detect a fire’s starting point through micro camera technology throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin. These cameras can spot the fire and provide an early warning signal to hopefully prevent a wildfire. Now, five-plus years later with the alarming rate of wildfires throughout the western United States and what we are experiencing in California these last two years is unprecedented. In one word — scary. Last year we experienced the CZU complex fire in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties that destroyed 900 homes and buildings and displaced 1,200 people in the aftermath of the fires. Today, I am watching with caution as I read Facebook posts from my Tahoe friends and business associates as they evacuate the Tahoe Basin heading for safer ground not knowing if their homes will be saved. Again, a scary moment that is unfolding before our eyes through social media, local and national news outlets and personalized stories. The Lake Tahoe Basin is trapped between the Dixie Fire (the second largest fire in California’s history) which is burning just 60 miles northeast of the Lake. And now as of this writing the Caldor Fire is running up the Echo summit and down to the Basin into Christmas Valley and the Meyers region of South Lake Tahoe. Just southeast of the Caldor Fire is the Tamarack Fire that is burning towards the Lake Tahoe Basin as well.
In 2018, I led a group of Santa Cruz County Chamber and community leaders on a Community Leadership Visit to Lake Tahoe so we could learn how that community addresses similar issues we face in our central coast region. Fundamentally, the challenges can only be turned to success through collaborative efforts by all parties. On the last morning of our 2 1/2 day visit to the Tahoe Basin, we went to the top of Heavenly Valley overlooking the beauty of the Lake below. As we listened to the General Manager describe the beauty of the Lake and how in July 2002 the Gondola fire at the summit nearly consumed the Heavenly Valley Lodge.
The images of the past fire are real today as fire forecasting images show that the Caldor Fire is on a direct path towards Heavenly Valley and into the Minden and Carson Valley in Nevada.
These are scary times for the enormity of the escalating fires throughout California. We must stand and be resilient to help our state endure the wildfires. If you know someone who is facing evacuation from the wildfires, please reach out to let them know you are here to help.