About a half-hour north of Truckee, down a rough, dirt road, you will find Independence Lake. It has been described as a small version of what Lake Tahoe looked like 100 years ago, with very little development.  The Nature Conservancy is trying to keep it that way.  It paid $15 million for 2,300 acres around most of the lake, in 2010. 

"By buying the land, we could protect the habitat, the watershed of the lake," Chris Fichtel, Independence Lake Project Manager with the Nature Conservancy said.

Its goal is to conduct forest restoration, prevent aquatic invasive species, and maintain native fish populations.

"It has the full compliment of native fish that it always had, and in particular, it had one, the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout," Fichtel said. "This is only one of two lake populations of that trout remaining. The other is Summit Lake, Nevada."

The lake also provides a lot of recreation for people.  Josh and Bryan Cosby are from southern California, visiting Independence Lake because it is a lot less developed than other lakes in the area.

"You don't see this a lot," Josh Cosby said. "Especially, with not a lot of motor boats or not any developed buildings on the lake. Just nature."

"It's just an incredible day and you can see the reflections of the mountains and the trees, and it's almost like a painting or something, just incredible," Bryan Cosby said.

Anyone can visit Independence Lake, but there is no camping.  People cannot bring their own watercraft, but there are three small motor boats provided by the Nature Conservancy, every other week.  Kayaks are available every week.

"They're free," Fichtel said. "They're first-come, first-served and because there's only one access to the lake across our property, we can control that access."

"It's great just being able to fill out a little form, hop on the lake and just explore," Josh Cosby said.

High-profile vehicles are recommended to get to the lake, because the road can get rough, and it requires fording a small creek. 

"It's almost as if it's off-limits to the public, but anyone can come here," Bryan Cosby said.

Along with boating, many people go to Independence to hike and have picnics along the clear water.

"It was glassing over," Lauren Kelly, Truckee Resident said. "It was a great morning for a kayak ride. Now, it's starting to get a little bit windy and we're gonna go for a hike. It's nice and beautiful, peaceful, not a lot of people out here."

Fishing is also popular, and people can take their catch home, with the exception of the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.  Those are "catch and release" only.

Independence Lake is also a last-resort for the Truckee Meadows Water Authority.  The lake stores drought reserves, which can be released through a dam.

"That's an added benefit, is we're protecting water supply, the water quality for Reno and Sparks," Fichtel said.

Clearing the forest is another priority, which could make the area less vulnerable to wildland fires.  Those fires create ash that easily washes into the lake and can affect clarity and the shoreline.  The lake is two miles long and a half-mile wide, but it is important to the Nature Conservancy.

"This is an important resource for a number of reasons," Fichtel said. "Obviously, the water but also as a recreational resource and just a spectacular place to come."

Visitors do not have to pay an entrance fee but the Nature Conservancy does accept donations.  Other funding comes from grants.