Holding the Line: An Urgent Public Update and Call to Unite
March 29, 2026|Opinion & Educational

"They saw the warnings. They chose the profits. Now it’s our turn to fight back. When profit comes before people, the truth demands accountability. Our children live with the consequences of decisions made behind closed doors."
 

By Jette Porrazzo, Editor-In-Chief, SSR4GC News Desk

To the residents, former residents, and families of Washoe Valley and Pleasant Valley, and surrounding communities, we have not issued a full public update since March 9, and a great deal has occurred since that time. It is now critical that we bring everyone up to speed, explain what has happened, what it means, and why immediate action is necessary.

Since our last update, the coalition has taken significant legal action to protect the region. Two lis pendens have now been successfully recorded with the county. This is not symbolic. This is formal legal notice that the properties at issue are tied to active litigation. Any transaction involving those properties must now account for the legal claims that have been asserted. This ensures that the matter cannot be ignored or bypassed while the case is pending and preserves the court’s ability to adjudicate the issues tied to the land.

As a result of these efforts, approximately 760 acres of Sierra Reflections and 371 acres of the St. James parcels have now been protected, totaling 1,131 acres. This outcome is the result of sustained effort, coordination, and the refusal of this community to remain silent.

This matter extends far beyond land use. The area at issue overlaps with and is impacted by the Carson River Mercury Superfund site, one of the most significant legacy contamination areas in the region. For decades, there have been concerns regarding exposure to methylmercury, mercury, arsenic and lead. These substances are well-documented neurotoxins and systemic contaminants known to affect brain development, nervous system function, cardiovascular health and immune response, particularly when exposure occurs during childhood and early development.

This issue is not confined to Washoe Valley alone. The coalition is now seeking information from individuals who lived within approximately a 10-mile radius of the Carson River Superfund site, including Washoe Valley, Pleasant Valley and areas impacted downstream through Steamboat Creek and into the Truckee River system, ultimately affecting Paiute lands. Water pathways do not recognize property boundaries, and contamination does not stop at jurisdictional lines.

We are specifically seeking individuals who grew up in Washoe Valley or Pleasant Valley between 1960 and 1990, or within the broader impacted region, who experienced early-onset health conditions. These include, but are not limited to, stroke before the age of 50 where there is no clear or typical underlying cause, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, neurological and nervous system disorders, nerve pain not attributable to physical injury, developmental conditions including autism spectrum disorders, autoimmune diseases, cancers diagnosed at a young age including metastatic cancers, early-onset cardiovascular disease, endocrine and reproductive disorders, organ dysfunction and chronic or unexplained diagnoses beginning in childhood or early adulthood. Particular attention is being given to individuals whose conditions have been described as idiopathic or not clearly attributable to common risk factors, lifestyle factors or injury.

This outreach is not about assigning causation or drawing premature conclusions. It is about identifying patterns, documenting lived experience and ensuring that those experiences are considered as part of a broader investigation into potential environmental exposure and long-term health outcomes. Individuals who have been told that there is no clear explanation for their condition may, in fact, represent a critical piece of a much larger picture.

The coalition is currently preparing amended filings for federal court, which must be submitted to the judge by April 20. While an extension may be requested, it cannot be assumed or relied upon. Individuals who believe they may be affected are strongly encouraged to come forward and join the coalition prior to April 20 in order to be considered during this phase of the case.

By joining the Stop Sierra Reflections for Good Coalition, individuals are not hiring an attorney, and the coalition does not provide legal representation. However, coalition membership authorizes the coalition to communicate with and seek legal counsel on behalf of its members in connection with these matters. This allows for the presentation of collective concerns to qualified attorneys, the evaluation of potential claims and the identification of individuals who may be appropriate participants in the case. Coalition members may be considered for inclusion as plaintiffs if appropriate and in consultation with counsel.

The case is currently under review by a national law firm led by a former federal prosecutor with experience in mass tort litigation and toxic environmental exposure cases. The firm is conducting a thorough evaluation of the facts and potential claims. If the firm proceeds, the case would be handled on a contingency basis, meaning there are no attorney’s fees unless the case is successful. No outcome is guaranteed and no representation is promised at this stage, but this review represents a significant step forward.

The coalition has built the foundation. Legal action has been taken. Over 1,100 acres have been protected. National-level legal review is underway. What is needed now are the voices and experiences of those who lived through this.

This is a defining moment. The opportunity to fully present this case depends on whether those affected come forward now. April 20 is the deadline to be considered in this phase. The choice is whether to come together and ensure that this matter is fully examined, or to allow the opportunity to pass.

This has never been about ego. It has always been about doing what is right and protecting the community when others would not. The door is open. The opportunity is here. Together, we unite, or we risk losing the fight.

We are specifically seeking individuals who grew up within the 89704, 89521 and 89511 zip codes from before 1960 through 1990, when the federal government designated the area as a Superfund site, and we are extending this call not only to current residents but to former residents and those who spent their childhood in Washoe Valley and Pleasant Valley during that time, including those who swam in the lake, consumed local fish and were exposed before the risks were widely understood. 

We are also calling on all aligned community groups, including the Washoe Valley Alliance, Stop SR and the Pleasant Valley Steamboat Homeowners Alliance, to come together now as one unified coalition, because the only way this will be addressed is through a coordinated, collective effort. The time is now. Those who wish to participate can visit the coalition website, review the membership declaration and responsibilities, and join. 

I also share this personally, as my own experience is part of what has driven this effort. I have suffered early-onset stroke, idiopathic intracranial hypertension and nervous system impairment consistent with toxic exposure, and I am one of five children in a high-achieving family where, after relocating to this area in 1980, significant health and developmental changes began to emerge. Heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic and lead do not simply pass through the body; they accumulate over time. We are looking for others who have experienced similar patterns to come forward, to be heard and to stand with us in this fight.

https://ssr4gc.org/news-desk/f/holding-the-line-an-urgent-public-update-and-call-to-unite

For more information or to join the coalition, visit www.ssr4gc.org/membership 

NV HQ at 615-710-9382 (call or text)

email; ssr4gc@gmail.com 

Jette Porrazzo is the Executive Director of the Stop Sierra Reflections for Good Coalition