A huge thank you to the many that contributed to this tangible impact on the long term #sustainability of Lake Tahoe last year 🙏 We're excited to see this work through to completion in 2025 at Baldwin Beach!
What can you accomplish in a year? More than you may think. We entered last year mired in a multi-decade malaise regarding the presence of lead cables in one of the most beautiful bodies of #water in the world. While the right course seemed obvious, getting there proved less so over the years. The status was wrapped up in lawsuits, the process subject to a wide range of government jurisdictions, and certain environmental nonprofits we’d expect to display leadership navigating conflicts of interest or other priorities 🤹🏼 But there are always reasons “why not” It wasn’t until the #community came together and took collective action that the situation transformed. We launched with a singular goal: get the lead out. When we kicked off the Tahoe Lead Removal Project, we didn’t know “how” but we knew “what” and the stakes. That was enough 💧 If you’re willing to compromise on everything except the outcome, its incredible what can be achieved When it came down to it, what was left to languish in the water for generations, and fought over in courtrooms for years, took less than 2 weeks of work to actually complete removal. While that speaks to J.F. Brennan Company’s standard of excellence and the urgency of others, its also gives context to progress and what it actually takes to deliver impact ⛴️ How often is more time devoted to balancing narratives and serving self interest than doing the actual work? The more interesting question is perhaps what can be done when those efforts are instead focused on aligning stakeholders and engaging people positively, and productively, with a clear vision. We quickly dispelled many of the assumptions that seemed to impair progress, and found that perceived blockers were actually unlocks. The government agencies were advocates for the right course of action. The media was more interested in covering grassroots efforts than pointing fingers. The more people engaged, the more momentum we saw across the board. While we were ready to carry it out ourselves, in the end that didn’t prove necessary as the backdrop had shifted and the situation transformed by the broad, building consensus. What was a hopeful aspiration became a foregone conclusion 🔨 As learned from so many #startups over the years - get started. You might be surprised to the upside by what happens. Below we’re excited to share independent public verification of removal activities. This tangible positive impact for the long term #sustainability of Lake Tahoe is a shared achievement across so many stakeholders - and in the end that cohesion is what won the day. A huge thank you to everyone for all the support 🙏 Here's to a great 2025, who knows what we can make happen this year!