Project Execution Considerations

• On September 18, 2024, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) and Pacific Bell (AT&T) entered into a new consent decree to remove lead cables
• AT&T contractors quickly mobilized, and began executing the project in November 2024
• Based on what Tahoe Lead Removal Project (TLRP) observed during these activities, and verified after, we estimate 99% of the planned removal scope has been completed
• While this represents a significant accomplishment and we remain grateful to all stakeholders for delivering this outcome for the community, the fact remains that there is still work to be done
• All indications are that AT&T plans to finish the removal by the end of October

• Unfortunately, various media outlets and local organizations improperly characterized this project as “complete” and the lead cables “out of the water”

Sources: keeptahoeblue.org, SF Chronicle, USA Today, Tahoe Daily Tribune, South Tahoe Now, SF Gate.

TLRP Organizer Footage

August 8, 2025

• As communicated previously, we fully supported AT&T’s efforts to remove their legacy infrastructure and paused our plans to pursue independent removal as a community
• We remain supportive of AT&T’s planned activities this fall given their continued partnership with U.S. Forest Service throughout 2025
• Accordingly to legal representatives for CSPA, AT&T provided notification that the lead cables were removed before Thanksgiving 2024; given no publicly available filings in this lawsuit since January 2025, we are no longer relying on this form of accountability
• While disappointing that the public was mislead on the status of the project, we remain focused on the future and ensuring this important work is completed as permitted
• If for whatever reason the remaining portion previously authorized for removal is not executed on by March 2026, we will once again evaluate independent removal efforts

Source: Photos as taken by Tahoe Lead Removal Project Organizers.

Source: Photos as taken by Tahoe Lead Removal Project Organizers.

Source: Photos as taken by Tahoe Lead Removal Project Organizers.

Source: Photos as taken by Tahoe Lead Removal Project Organizers.

• During the course of November 2024, TLRP was only able to officially observe two days of removal activities, although multiple petition signers independently provided additional footage
• Over the ensuing 10 months, our organizers have visited three sites where lead cables were confirmed present
• This additional due diligence further validated the success of removal efforts as our documentation over previous years provides verifiable contrast
• Our additional visits also confirmed that a portion of the larger of the lead cables remains on Baldwin Beach
• This obviously runs counter to our initial expectations, public understanding, and the media reporting - there is a disconnect in what was communicated and what was actually completed

Source: Courtlistener CA Sportfishing Protection Alliance v. Pacific Bell Telephone Co. Complaint Document #33.

January 2024

December 2024

Source: Pictures on the left as taken underwater by Tahoe Lead Removal Project organizers. Map to the right sourced via Courtlistener CA Sportfishing Protection Alliance v. Pacific

Bell Telephone Co. Complaint Document #33.

January 2024

December 2024

Source: Pictures on the left as taken underwater by Tahoe Lead Removal Project organizers. Map to the right sourced via Courtlistener CA Sportfishing Protection Alliance v. Pacific

Bell Telephone Co. Complaint Document #33.

location of remaining lead cable on Baldwin Beach

• This non-intrusive survey identified the remaining portion of lead cable, which correlated with a protrusion in the water at the suspected location

Source: Blood Hound Underground Utility Locators, survey as conducted June 27, 2025.

• The remaining portion of the lead cable is located on the western end of Baldwin Beach, bisecting areas of consistent public recreation
• This site is inherently complex as it connects Tallac Creek to Lake Tahoe, and is a few dozen yards from a public parking lot

Source: Blood Hound Underground Utility Locators, survey as conducted June 27, 2025.

• Location consistent with publicly available TRPA permits as submitted by AT&T
• Comparing our footage to what was provided in the 2023 permits shows the dynamic nature of the water level and sands between Tallac Creek and Lake Tahoe

Source: Lake Tahoe Info Parcel Tracker. ERSP 2022-1690. AT&T Project A020LET 2022. Permit Drawings, as approved March 9, 2023.

• Survey personnel clearly marked the path of the lead cable on a temporary basis for the purpose of documentation

Source: Blood Hound Underground Utility Locators, survey as conducted June 27, 2025.

• TLRP organizers also documented this state across three separate site visits
• At the time, the remaining lead cable was completely submerged under the water in close proximity to the shoreline - with a gray capping

Source: Footage as documented by Tahoe Lead Removal Project organizers, June 27-29, 2025.

observed the lead cable sticking out of the water, as level of Lake Tahoe decreased during the summer

• Notably, algae was growing on the underwater portion, and the capping appeared black

Source: Footage as documented by Tahoe Lead Removal Project organizers, August 7, 2025.

• We were honored to have U.S. Forest Service invite us support the implementation of Tahoe Yellow Cress (TYC) mitigations ahead of the final removal from Baldwin Beach
• The current population of TYC is among the signature conservation achievements for the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond, and we were excited to play a role in this critical part of the project

Source: Calscape.org ; copyright © 2004 Steve Matson.

• Over a dozen individuals across multiple organizations participated in TYC surveying throughout Baldwin Beach and Tallac Creek
• The group identified numerous instances of TYC on the banks of Tallac Creek
• This yearly surveying the first week of fall occurs around Lake Tahoe, and is a key of the 2015 strategy established by the Tahoe Yellow Cress Adaptive Management Working Group

Source: Photos as taken by Tahoe Lead Removal Project Organizers during September 3, 2025 Tahoe Yellow Cress Survey as led by U.S. Forest Service.

Tahoe Yellow Cress

• This includes the area where the digging, capping, and covering will take place as authorized during the permitting process
• As such, no mitigation or transplanting of TYC required for the project to proceed
• Of note, there is a cluster of TYC east of the cable, so while the work crews will need to be cognizant - it will not interfere with their ability to execute the project

Inspection of cable path

Source: Photos as taken by Tahoe Lead Removal Project Organizers during September 3, 2025 Tahoe Yellow Cress Survey as led by U.S. Forest Service.

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TYC east of cable path

• As we move forward, we would formally request your support for our organizers to be present during the final activities removal on Baldwin Beach
• We appreciate that timing will be dynamic as it has in the past, and will operate on a “best efforts basis”, we simply ask for open communication and the opportunity
• Once complete, we’re hopeful the agencies can join the community in celebrating this landmark moment for the lake
• We’d also ask that the agencies independently verify the final work as completefor the public given what transpired over the past 10 months, as well as the financial conflicts of interest and lobbying efforts of other organizations involved “behind the scenes”
• We appreciate your partnership over the years, we are poised to finish the job!

Source: Photos as taken by Tahoe Lead Removal Project Organizers on September 3, 2025.