Nevada and California lawmakers convened at Valhalla Tahoe for the annual Tahoe Summit to discuss protecting and preserving the Tahoe Basin.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo (R) and U.S. Senators for Nevada Jacky Rosen (D) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D) were among the lawmakers that attended the conference.

Senator Rosen said it's crucial for Nevada and California to work together to preserve the lake. She added that their previous partnerships have led to great progress in different ventures around the lake.

"The Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program is one of the most successful programs and partnerships in the nation," Rosen said.

Rosen pointed out that 850 projects have been completed since the first Tahoe Summit conference back in 1997.

These projects include water clarity improvements, wildfire mitigation, preventing the spread of invasive species, and building hundreds of miles of public trails.

Governor Lombardo says the Siver State approved funding for improving lake clarity and park access during the recent 83rd Nevada Legislature.

Senator Cortez Masto raised concerns about cuts to funding for the U.S. Forest Service and how that will reduce firefighting resources near Tahoe.

Rosen, Cortez Masto, and Lombardo represented the Nevada side of the lake at the conference.

Democratic Senator Adam Schiff from California hosted the summit, and California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis (D) made her first appearance at the summit.

Notably, Governor Gavin Newsom (D) was unable to attend. In his place, Kounalakis says the State of California will not back down in terms of environmental protection.

She called upon voters to help them reach that goal.

"I also think that that's a really tough time in politics," Kounalakis said. "We are having some major differences about environmental protection."

Kounalakis says California will do whatever it can in terms of environmental protection, and highlighted the success of the Tahoe Summit since the first conference.

"Here we are 29 years later," Kounalakis said, "and we're doing a pretty good job at preserving and protecting Lake Tahoe.

Both of Nevada's senators pledged to do what they can to preserve the Tahoe Basin and called on Nevada voters to use their voices to help make it happen.

Nevada and California pledged to come together in a bipartisan way to protect and preserve Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Basin.