Commitment to Conservation and Tribal Stewardship

The Natural Resources Department (NRD) is dedicated to supporting the Tribe’s mission ‘…to Promote Conservation, with Protection and Enhancement of Tribal Natural Resources’. We passionately work on diverse conservation initiatives and environmental protection programs and continually reinforce our commitment to Tribal sovereignty and stewardship of the environment.

Empowering Our Ecosystem through a collaborative effort: The Summit Lake Watershed Environmental Observation Network (SWEON)

A key initiative for conservancy and Tribal sovereignty is the Summit Lake Watershed Environmental Observatory Network (SWEON). The SWEON project is a collaborative effort between the NRD, the University of Nevada, Reno, the Nevada Seismological Lab, NSHE System Computing Services, the Tahoe Institute for Global Sustainability, and the Bureau of Land Management.

This dynamic project focuses on observing, collecting data, researching, and restoring the Summit Lake Reservation and its watershed. By establishing an advanced real-time monitoring network, SWEON will significantly enhance our ability to protect the vital habitats of the Lahontan cutthroat trout and other significant cultural species, strengthen creek and lake ecosystems, and support the Tribe’s cultural heritage and future sustainability.

The SWEON project integrates cutting-edge technology to streamline data collection and real-time analysis, empowering efficient resource management and reducing workload demands on Tribal staff. Through SWEON, we aim to foster ecological resilience, cultural vitality, and a thriving environment for generations to come.

Exploring Summit Lake Reservation: A Journey Through the SWEON Network