INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – An ages old Wá∙šiw (Washoe) story outlines the journey of a large black and white flightless bird that carried a pouch of seeds. What the bird did with those seeds would go on to have important implications for the people and land. It’s a story tribe member Herman Fillmore shared in his discussion on how culturally significant stories relay data and observations through time at the Ethnobiology Conference that took place last month at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Tahoe Campus.
As the Tribe’s Culture and Language Resources Director, Fillmore has been working with elders and children to preserve and sustain the Washoe language, including through these stories.
The culturally significant story continues with the bird sharing the seeds with multiple species who were navigating survival amid the harsh conditions of ice and snow.
“For Washoe people, that’s a big cultural teaching,” Fillmore explained, “to care for others, to give them what you have, to take care of the whole, right?”
Pinyon pine nuts on a table during the Ethnobiology Conference on May 24. Katelyn Welsh / Tahoe Daily Tribune
But that wasn’t the end of the story. As the seeds got low, the bird decided to plant them for the future. The story conveys how those seeds then grew into the pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla) that grows throughout the Great Basin today.
“This is something that Washoe people, because of our presence in this place,” Fillmore explained, “saw come to fruition.”
The story doesn’t just emphasize morals and teachings of the Washoe culture, it has also encapsulated observations, experiences and data, preserving them over time.
It’s information that Fillmore has shared with researchers David Thomas and Constance Millar on a project that explores the expansion of pinyon pine by incorporating tribal oral histories and ecological knowledge.
“And so in this project,” Fillmore said, “it’s been a lot of fun to go through and to talk about the importance of our pine nuts, but even more so, to give credence to the idea of this being a direct observation by Washoe people 12,000 years ago, when Pinus monophylla entered the western edge of the Great Basin.”
This wasn’t the only example of how the Wá∙šiw language, legends and stories reflect data and observations passed down generation to generation, many times over.
Another story Fillmore shared exhibited data synonymous with research initiated in the late 1990s that theorizes a tsunami.
The Wá∙šiw story follows two brothers in an incident in which the younger brother invokes a large wave that came from the western shore to the south shore. The tsunami theory of the nineties hypothesizes a landslide trigger that started the tsunami near McKinney Bay between 10,000 – 20,000 years ago—on the western shore.
“The cool part here is this connection with place, this observation, the capturing of this story, and the relaying of this information, not just in a generation’s time,” Fillmore expressed, “but for potentially 15,000 years.”
The story also names sacred sites for the Wá∙šiw people, including magóyat (Incline Village), dawgašásiw wáťa (Cave Rock), dawgašásiw wáťa (Taylor Creek), and dewbeyúmuweɁ (the Truckee River leaving the lake).
Washoe Tribe Culture and Language Resources Director, Herman Fillmore, was this year’s opening speaker at the Ethnobiology Conference in May.20205.05.22.ethnobio-8567
Fillmore stated the importance in recognizing how the Washoe people integrated data and observation as an inherent and organic part of their culture.
“It wasn’t something that was talked about or sought after,” he said, “but something that was a baseline understanding.”
Fillmore delved into how the very language that tells the stories also reveals another innate perspective of the Washoe people—that of reciprocity for place.
This is demonstrated with the Wá∙šiw phrase that explains where someone is from. Rather than meaning “from this place,” Fillmore explained it means, “I am this place.”
“That this land is an extension of me and I’m an extension of place as well,” he added.
The Washoe language also displays a reverence for Lake Tahoe. One of the Tribe’s words for Lake Tahoe is dáɁaw. The direct translation means “the lake.” Its significance is reflected in the fact that other regional lakes have qualifiers in front of dáɁaw.
“And so I really like the idea of the reverence for this place. That when you refer to just a lake, everybody recognizes it as the Tahoe Basin,” Fillmore said. “Any of the other lakes you talk about, you might want to add something to it because it just doesn’t compare, right?”
Herman Fillmore writes Washoe words on a whiteboard at the Ethnobiology Conference on May 22.Katelyn Welsh / Tahoe Daily Tribune
Herman shared that much of the tribe’s work today in the Tahoe Basin has been elevating the concept of the lake as a person, to give it personhood, credence and protection.
The 46th Annual Conference of the Society of Ethnobiology took place May 21-24, discussing topics of the interdisciplinary study that delves into the relationships among peoples, plants and animals, as well as their environments.
LAKE TAHOE, Nev. / Calif. – The Senate is currently considering its version of the “Big Beautiful Bill” after the House passed the budgetary bill last month and it could have implications for treasured Tahoe landmarks.
The bill itself is a standard tool lawmakers use to balance the checkbook with components such as funding cuts, the activation or increase of energy resources (oil, timber, coal), and land leasing, but one component is relatively new—the sell off of public lands.
“Really never in our history has public lands and waters been something that was used as a budgetary item.”
That’s according to Katie Hawkins with Outdoor Alliance, who warns this could set a dangerous precedent.
“It sets the example that this can be done in the future,” Hawkins says. “If it does set the precedent that this can happen year over year, what does that mean?”
Last month, the House pulled a public land sale provision from their version of the bill after bipartisan outcry. It was to the relief of some, but that relief was short-lived after Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) added this public land sell-off amendment to the Senate’s version
What could this potential D.C. decision mean for the Tahoe region?
Some fear it could spell the sell-off of prized regions of Lake Tahoe and Truckee like the Inspiration Point lookout of Emerald Bay, areas surrounding Fallen Leaf Lake, and Kiva Beach, in addition to campgrounds around Boca Lake near the Truckee region, to name a few.
The new fence at Kiva Beach. Mike Peron / Tahoe Daily Tribune
That’s because these regions all fall on National Forest Service land, which the bill calls for the mandatory .5-.75% disposal of for the purpose of housing. It also calls for another .5-.75% of Bureau of Land Management land, which impacts the basin very little as there’s no BLM land here.
A majority of the region’s ski resorts lie within National Forest lands as well, including Heavenly, Kirkwood, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Mt. Rose and Alpine Meadows, raising questions of what could happen to the ski industry.
As proposed, the bill would allow “interested parties” to nominate tracts of land for potential purchase in the 11 eligible states, which includes California and Nevada.
Some worry this opens up America’s public lands to foreign interests.
It also directs the Secretary of the Interior to select and regularly roll out certain tracts of land for sale every 60 days at a price “not less than fair market value.”
It could all start happening within 60 days of enactment and continue until the Secretary meets the mandatory percentage, a total of between 2.02 and 3.04 million acres. The bill gives the Secretary five years to reach that mark.
“Once it’s gone, it’s gone,” Hawkins says. “We can’t get these lands back in the federal register or back in the hands of the American people.”
Eligible lands for disposal include any BLM or Forest Service land except those federally protected, subject to valid existing rights, or outside of the 11 eligible states. Federally protected areas include National Parks, National Trail Systems, National Recreation Areas, and Wilderness Areas.
According to the International Mountain Biking Association, most of our western mountain bike trails are on lands eligible for sale. An Outdoor Alliance analysis shows nearly 100,000 miles of trail are on land that would be eligible for sale. In Tahoe, that includes Corral Trail, Mr. Toad’s and portions of the Tahoe Rim Trail.
The Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) is engaged in discussions pushing back against the public land sell-off.
“We will continue working with our partners to ensure that our voices are heard in support of keeping public lands in public hands,” TAMBA executive director, Drew Bray says.
Some believe the impacts would ripple beyond recreation.
“It would be incredibly damaging to our economy in the Truckee/Tahoe region and the Sierra, which rely in part on tourism to our public lands,” David Polivy says, owner of Tahoe Mountain Sports.
Nevada County Commissioner Hardy Bullock says, “Communities like ours depend on easily accessible public lands as a major pillar of our economy, and are a reason so many of us call this place home. Selling them off to the highest bidder would see significant long-term negative consequences for conservation, diminished Native American rights and cultural heritage sites, and reduced or eliminated public access to our treasured outdoor resources.”
The Wilderness Society has created an interactive map (sources data from BLM, USFS, NPS, USGS, and the reconciliation bill text) revealing land eligible for sale with eligible Forest Service land in dark green and BLM land in orange across the 11 eligible western states. The Outdoor Alliance has also created a map revealing these regions.
Provided
“It’s alarming, to be honest,” Hawkins says.
“But also, too, this isn’t a vehicle to help address housing,” Hawkins continues.
The bill limits the land disposed to be solely used for the development of housing but goes on to state “or to address associated infrastructure to support local housing needs.” It also doesn’t specify what type of housing and could be anything from workforce housing to the wealthy elites’ next consecutive home.
Hawkins says, “The language is vague for a reason,” and adds, “It leaves a lot of ambiguity and opportunity for other people to advance their own interest and not the interest of the community or the people that care about public lands and waters.”
The bill does outline priorities the Secretary shall consider when selecting land for disposal. Those priority considerations are land that is nominated by states or local government, are adjacent to existing developed areas, and have access to existing infrastructure or are suitable for residential housing. However, Hawkins says these lands often don’t have the infrastructure to support housing.
The bill also says the Secretary shall consult the governor of the state regarding the suitability of the area for residential housing, each applicable local government, and the applicable tribe.
While the bill seemingly outlines these and other limitations, Hawkins explains it bypasses the ultimate safeguard—public input.
“Who gets to say how these lands are used? It’s not you or me,” Hawkins expresses. “It leaves it very open to interpretation and that’s what’s alarming.”
And although the bill directs the consultation with tribes, they are not given priority considerations to purchase land like states or local governments are.
In a mid-week update, republican leaders are tentatively planning for an initial procedural vote on the bill as soon as Wednesday and potentially a final vote shortly thereafter.
“There’s a real opportunity here for this to happen if we are not engaged,” Hawkins says and encourages the public to contact their members of Congress.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Regional stakeholders now have a bird’s eye perspective on where wildlife move in the Tahoe Basin and related road barriers after soaring above key locations in the early morning hours on Saturday, June 14.
A chill was in the air and the sun had barely risen when the first group of three boarded Centurion II, a six-seater plane—the ride made smoother thanks to Dramamine. The non-profit, EcoFlight, provided the plane and its pilot, Gary Kraft, manned the mission. EcoFlight utilizes their aircraft to provide aerial perspectives to strike up conversation, awareness and advocacy for land and water initiatives.
This mission covered five important areas in the Tahoe Basin in the span of an eye-opening half-hour flight. It brought into focus a macro-view of roads and developments that fragment wildlife habitat—exasperated by tourism—and create barriers to wildlife movement and survival.
These key areas, which would have taken hours to cover by vehicle, were identified through the Lake Tahoe Basin Connectivity Study, provided by Wildlands Network and Pathways for Wildlife with funding from the California Tahoe Conservancy.
The four-year study aims to identify where habitat linkages exist, what species rely on them, and how partners can enhance wildlife permeability on the landscape through infrastructure improvements such as new wildlife crossing structures, or improvements to existing bridges, culverts and underpasses.
“How can we make sure we’re not forgetting wildlife?” Wildlands Network’s California Program Director, Mari Galloway, said when it comes to development. Galloway and Gillian Roy, Wildlands Network’s California Program Coordinator, were the group’s tour guides, explaining specifics on each critical site throughout the flights.
The plane ride first went north-east from the South Tahoe Airport, flying over Stateline. As the sun beamed off the towering casinos, Spooner Summit came into view on Highway 50, the tour’s first key area.
Studies are just now getting underway on this Nevada portion of the highway, from Carson City to Lake Tahoe, but the section has already been identified within the Nevada Department of Transportation’s top priority areas for animal-road conflicts.
The high-speed road’s significance is also demonstrated by the fact that it is the only high-elevation north to south movement corridor on the eastern side of Lake Tahoe for wildlife. This region comprises the eastern limit of the Sierra Nevada range.
Modeling has also shown the area offers potential habitat suitable for the threatened wolverine, although it is unknown whether the species has utilized the area or would establish there. The Tahoe Rim Trail also passes through the summit road and may give reason for a multi-use crossing structure accomodating both humans and animals. However, the study will need to lend further insights as to the potential for that.
Centurion II then turned southwest, offering views of Emerald Bay. The study has identified the strip of Highway 89 from South Lake Tahoe and leading up to the landmark site as a wildlife-vehicle collision hotspot. The area has bridges and creeks that do not provide adequate banks for wildlife to cross, forcing them to instead directly cross the roadway.
Pilot Kraft then continued south, slanting east towards the expansive Hope Valley and flying over the next key study area, Luther Pass. Studies along this portion of Highway 89 have detected sensitive species, including the federally endangered Sierra Nevada red fox and U.S. Forest Service sensitive species, the American marten, as well as the regular movement of bears, deer, mountain lions and coyotes.
Galloway noted the correlation at Luther Pass between discovering sensitive species as distance increases from development. Improving failed culverts along this stretch could relieve wildlife-vehicle collisions.
A turn above Hope Valley placed the plane on a return path towards the airport, but touchdown didn’t occur before flying over the stretch of Highway 50 from south of Meyers to South Lake Tahoe and Pioneer Trail. These thoroughfares have seen bears, coyotes, porcupines, bobcats and deer crossings with a particularly high frequency on certain sections of Pioneer Trail. The study has located existing structures that can be upgraded to make wildlife movement safer and more effective in this region.
The connectivity study is now in its second year. It started in the South Lake Tahoe region with plans to cover west and north Tahoe in a staggered pattern. The west basin study has more recently gained momentum. Now, just midway through, the study has already churned out influential data from extensive tracking, roadkill, and camera surveys from experts, Ahíga Snyder and Tanya Diamond at Pathways for Wildlife. Read more about their work in the Tahoe Magazine article titled, Wildlife corridors: A new camera study paves the way for wildlife connectivity in Tahoe
The hard work, sometimes involving skiing to camera locations and early mornings for road kill surveys, has the goal of one day providing a full picture of wildlife movement in and through the Tahoe basin. This will offer insights on how Tahoe fits into the puzzle of Wildland Network’s overarching goal of connecting the entire Sierra Nevada range.
Connectivity improvements and structures have shown to reduce biodiversity loss, prevent local extinctions and reduce vehicle-wildlife collisions by more than 90%. It becomes all the more important as climate change sparks wildlife movement in order to find suitable habitat in response to extreme fires, droughts, and floods.
“The importance of protecting habitat linkages and increasing wildlife connectivity in the Tahoe basin cannot be overstated,” Roy said within a brief on the project.
