The Tahoe Environmental Research Center at UC Davis has released its annual State of the Lake Report. It shows how long-term climate trends continue to affect Lake Tahoe in complex ways.
After monitoring conditions of Lake Tahoe, researchers say that one of the biggest highlights in the report is the clarity of the lake.
During last year's winter, the water was documented the 10th best clarity measurement in its history. However, in the summer of 2023, it contained the 5th worst clarity.
"This is in part because of the huge sentiment load that gets deposited in the lake during the spring runoff from the snow, during the 2023 snow year that was so big," said Alexander Forrest, associate professor at UC Davis.
According to the report the annual average water temperature was just under 42 degrees Fahrenheit which is well below the trend line. However, the surface water temp was over 52 degrees which is right on the long-term trend line showing continued summer warming.
By July 21st the lake reached its highest water level at 6,228 feet, less than one foot below the maximum legal limit. And in the late summer, normal evaporated loss took hold and it ended about one foot less.
With so many fires going on, Forrest tells us how smoke can impact the lake.
"The smoke that comes in carries particles," he said. "So basically, dropping particles from the air into the water which causes problems for clarity."
But he says these particles also carry nutrients such as nitrogen which can trigger more growth of the smaller organisms in the water such as phytoplankton. And they're still learning about the kind of impact that growth could have on the lake.
"There's not necessarily a good or bad thing, but the change represents change and we're trying to understand what that change is," he said.
Forrest says they're excited to be gathering this research with new technology such as environmental DNA to track aquatic invasive species.
"We also use autonomous robotics where we use under water gliders, underwater vehicles in order to quantify spatial differences and temporal differences," he said.
To read the full report you can click here.
