Tell Congress to Protect Lake Tahoe from Herbicide Spraying

Please Oppose Herbicide Use in the Tahoe Basin Caldor Fire Restoration Project

I am writing to urge you to provide oversight and intervention regarding the U.S. Forest Service’s plan to use herbicides as part of the Caldor Fire reforestation project in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin. Lake Tahoe is one of the nation’s most environmentally sensitive and treasured watersheds. The use of chemical herbicides in steep, post-fire landscapes raises serious concerns about runoff, water quality impacts, ecosystem health, recreation, and public transparency. While post-fire restoration is important, restoration efforts should prioritize methods that minimize risks to Tahoe’s streams, forests, wildlife, and communities. I urge you to: Request increased federal oversight of herbicide use in the Tahoe Basin Push for full public disclosure of planned spray locations, chemicals, and application timelines Support stronger no-spray buffers near waterways, trails, neighborhoods, and recreation areas Encourage the Forest Service to prioritize non-chemical restoration methods whenever feasible Ensure independent monitoring and public accountability measures are in place Lake Tahoe’s clarity and environmental integrity are too important to risk without the highest level of scrutiny and transparency. Thank you for your attention to this issue.