SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Last Saturday, joining with a national call to stand up for public lands, protestors from South Lake Tahoe to Carson City met at Lakeview Commons to show their support for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, recently fired employees, and all public lands. The protest garnered significant support despite the short timeframe in which it was organized.

The original nationwide day of action, called for by the group known as Resistance Rangers, encouraged protestors to organize on Saturday at the 433 national park sites throughout the United States in response to the firing of 1,000 National Park Service workers in February. An additional 2,000 U.S. Forest Service employees were also fired.

The layoffs, led by billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, were part of a plan to slash government funding—but have left parks and public lands floundering for support.

Kelly Bessem, who worked as a forest service technician in Desolation Wilderness, a hydrology technician for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, and is now California Stewardship Manager for the Winter Wildlands Alliance, was motivated to organize in the Tahoe area. She was a seasonal employee who was cut early and told she could not return.

“As we’ve been saying during this protest, over 75% of Tahoe Basin lands are managed by the U.S. Forest Service,” said Bessem. “The city of South Lake Tahoe is located between all these public lands and parks and I just thought there should be a protest here.”

Bessem had formed a group in her plan to organize at Lakeview Commons. And Tiffany Foo, who’d seen Resistance Rangers posts as well, connected with Bessem on Thursday to say she’d come protest with her. From there, the two contacted whoever they could, made social media posts, and spread the word—which amassed into around one hundred attendees come Saturday.

The protest centered at Lakeview Commons, with a sign-making table and a gathering near the edge of the road. Cars honked their support as they drove past.

Some protestors even drove up from Carson City and Reno, having heard about the event from their friends in the Forest Service. Tim Kosier, Carson City resident, volunteered with the forest service for a decade.

“These employees are really wonderful and dedicated people who have an expertise in their work. When they’re removed, there are negative impacts on not just tourism, but the environment,” Kosier said. “Not only that, but the education component for the outdoors is critical, especially for young people. The youth are our future. And if they don’t understand nature and the environment, they won’t take care of it.”

Resident of Fallen Leaf Lake Kelly Martin heard about the protest on Nextdoor. She spoke to the importance of the Forest Service, among other federal and state services, in the area. “The staffing and resources for the Forest Service are vital to the safety and importance of the environment and our neighborhoods,” said Martin. “But the protection of our neighbors expands beyond them too—there’s the elements of food safety and water safety, where we rely on federal services. These cuts are really negative.”

“People live here because of the lake, the mountains, and the forest. We’re all emotionally invested in the nature and beauty.” said Foo. “Everyone considers Tahoe their playground. But it’s also our responsibility to protect this place so people can continue to come and enjoy it.”

Eli Ramos is a reporter for Tahoe Daily Tribune. They are part of the 2024–26 cohort of California Local News Fellows through UC Berkeley.