Lake Tahoe as long been known as the Jewel of the Sierra, and the purpose of this bi-state summit is to keep it that way for generations to come.
"We have a resource unlike anything on the planet...I grew up coming to 4-H camp, as a kid, visiting Sand Harbor and I want the kids to have the same experience that I did," says Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval.
But sometimes the environment and economy go hand-in-hand.
As the economy recovers, funding is much lower, meaning more help is needed from the private sector.
"I think that is where most of it is going to come from. We all understand that public money is going to be limited, so we have to be very sure that we're good stewards of the dollars that we have."
This is the first time the governors of both Nevada and California have come to the Lake Tahoe Summit in back-to-back years, and it's that cooperation between local, state, and federal officials, that has them feeling optimistic about the future.
"I was here 35 years ago. Things were much more different. The collaboration with the governor of Nevada and now with California, I think is the best I've ever seen it," says Gov. Brown.
One of the biggest issues facing the lake is invasive species.
Steps have been taken to prevent the quagga mussel from entering the lake, but for every native fish, there are two invasive fish.
That combined with erosion effects lake clarity -- which has improved by 4.5 feet since 2010.
"The middle clarity is starting to stabilize, although it could be driven by climate functions now. But the near-shore areas of the lake are really changing dramatically," says Dr. Sudeep Chandra of the University of Nevada.
This summer marks the fifth anniversary of the Angora Fire that destroyed 242 homes and 3,100 acres in South Tahoe.
Preventive measures are being made to avoid something like this again...as well as helping vegetation, wildlife, and air quality.
"I'm seeing progress and that's good news. That's good news but we're far from done. Bottom line is we're far from done and it's going to take renewed commitment and that's why we have these Tahoe days. That's why we have the Tahoe Summit," says Sen. Dean Heller.
Just last night, $150,000 was raised for the Tahoe Fund. That money will help with things like bike paths and watershed drainage.
