Lake Tahoe Santini-Burton Act Modernization Act: Conservation Plan or a Quiet Federal Land Power Grab?
By Dana Tibbitts
For more than four decades, the Santini-Burton Act has created one of the strongest conservation frameworks safeguarding Lake Tahoe’s lands and open spaces. Passed by Congress in 1980, the original Santini-Burton Act was intended to curb the overdevelopment of environmentally sensitive lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Its mandate was clear: acquire high-risk parcels and permanently remove them from the development pipeline.
However, Senate Bill S.3695 — the Santini-Burton Modernization Act of 2026, introduced by Democrat Senators Cortez Masto, Rosen, Padilla, and Schiff in January of this year — would substantially alter that protective framework.
The modernized bill redirects long-standing conservation constraints toward unlocking funds, expanding flexible management authority, and broadening Washoe tribal stewardship by designating the Washoe Tribe as a primary recipient of acquired lands.
While keeping its original name, the modernization bill completely redefines permissible uses of taxpayer funds and lands, shifting the program from a permanent land-acquisition safeguard toward broader bureaucratic management discretion across the Tahoe Basin.
When a law designed to prevent development pressure is rewritten to “modernize” and “manage” land rights — while introducing new transfer pathways without clearly defined long-term guardrails — the public has every reason to ask what, exactly, is being modernized.
Urgent Concern – TRPA Failure to Produce Tahoe Basin Wildfire Evacuation Analysis
This letter calls for TRPA to put a hold on all project approvals until a proper and complete evacuation study and evacuation scenario is approved for Lake Tahoe and a proper method for evaluating how a proposed project will directly impact evacuations has been established. Today, TRPA does NOT consider any evacuation impact presented by a proposed project when reviewing a project.
TRPA repeatedly states that it has no responsibility for evacuation planning and yet constantly pushes for new projects which greatly restrict roadway access during an evacuation – projects such as TRPA efforts to reduce Hwy 50 to two travel lanes from four travel lanes in order to add a bike/multi use path. Thus, TRPA is clearly grossly misleading the public when it says it has no influence over or responsibility for evacuations.
"Let Burn" Wildfire & Zephyr Cove Expansion
Tahoe East Shore Alliance, TESA, is a large and growing coalition of neighbors and residents along the east shore who represent a strong voice of leadership against overdevelopment, excessive tourism, and regional planning that is opposed to the voice of residents.
"The USFS decision to allow these fires to burn is criminal. We need to put these fires out immediately." Scott Lindgren, Tahoe-Douglas Fire Chief.
TESA continues to protect our magnificent Lake, forests and communities from ill-conceived plans by a few urban planners and unelected officials who aim to recreate the Tahoe basin in their own image. The future of our basin depends on residents who will stand up, speak up and hold the line on persistent over-development, over-tourism and overreach.
That’s how our East Shore community stopped the US 50 Road Diet and worked with Douglas County Board of Commissioners to pass Resolution 2024R-31, designating “the U.S. Highway 50 as a critical primary evacuation route for the Tahoe Township and the California side of South Lake Tahoe,” a win-win for everyone.
USFS Chief Moore's policy on allowing managed wildfires is outrageous, ill-conceived and probably illegal.
Nevertheless, wildfire risk in the Basin remains tantamount. Even with a 4-lane US 50, our evacuation challenges remain. We are pressing forward on all fronts to mitigate fire dangers in the Basin, especially since USFS Chief Randy Moore’ predicts “a very active fire season.”
The Chief’s “Burn Back Better” letter has caused a firestorm among firefighters and Forest Service veterans nationwide over policy that has incinerated nearly 30 million acres of forest lands over the last 5 years. TESA is working closely with the National Wildfire Institute and local Fire Chiefs to push back against dangerous “let burn” fire policy and practice.
Zephyr Expansion Debacle
USFS expansion of Zephyr Cove Resort is potential disaster.
Zephyr Shoals project puts zero limits on capacity for this already congested and chaotic recreation area, welcoming more out of control beach parties, brawls and July 4 celebrations that leave tons of garbage on our beach.
With USDA/Aramark in charge, what could go wrong?
The operator of Zephyr Cove Resort is one of the worst in the industry. Recently fired from its Crater Lake concession. Despite their horrendous safety record, USFS is contracting with Aramark to EXPAND its operation into Zephyr Shoals, some of the most pristine and gorgeous areas of the Lake.
Meanwhile, TRPA turns a blind eye to the garbage, violence and upheaval so they can bus in more tourists to overwhelm already over-taxed infrastructure.
The Zephyr Party Plan
How bad is it? Every day is 4th of July in Tahoe now
Issues that Impact us Daily
A Modest Citizen’s Guide to Compliance at Lake Tahoe
Notes from those who believed the rules applied to everyone Anyone who chooses to live at Lake Tahoe receives an education in regulation almost immediately. It usually begins with something small. A tree trimmed too aggressively. A shed placed a few feet out of bounds. A modest deck addition that exceeds allowable
Wildfire Series
License To Burn: Wildfire As the Ultimate Private-Public Partnership P1 This is a story of how public private partnerships, like those that proliferate around Lake Tahoe, are setting the world on fire. Literally. License to Burn: Wildfire as the Ultimate Public-Private Partnership / P2 These forest graveyards will never return to their
Why Tahoe evacuation could take more than 11 hours
➔ Independent Lake Tahoe Basin Wildfire Evacuation Analysis – View Analysis ➔ SanFrancisco Chronicle – Read Article
‘Eye-opener’: Schism between Tahoe residents, officials over wildfire evacuation
➔ SF Gate / The report reveals a schism between Tahoe residents and decision-makers over wildfire evacuation and development – Read Article
Better Idea? Trumpet Interchange
Design Considerations for US 50 / SR28 Trumpet Interchange by Robert W. Byren, TESA Tech Team We suggest that a “trumpet” interchange at the Spooner Summit interchange, with SR20 passing under US 50, may be a better alternative to the roundabout. It is technically feasible at this location and provides
When Roundabouts Are Counterproductive to Evacuation
In December 2023, Nevada State Governor Joe Lombardo directed the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to keep US 50 a four-lane thoroughfare from Stateline to Spooner Summit. This modified NDOT’s US 50 East Shore Corridor Management Plan, or CMP, regarding lane configuration. However, other aspects of the CMP remain unaffected,
