Tahoe, Are We There Yet?

Full of bad puns and dumb jokes for the new year!

By: Shreeya Indap​

​“And that’s why we’re here: To protect this pristine place. To keep these waters crystal clear. To keep the air as pure as the heavens. To keep alive Tahoe’s spirit.”

​President Obama, 20th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit

If you live in California, chances are you visited Lake Tahoe during this winter break to ski, snowboard, or hang out by the vast blue lake. It’s the perfect spot for an excursion, especially during the most wonderful time of the year. (Tis the ski-son to be jolly, falalalalalalalala.) And you might think that because of all the rain we’ve been getting here in California, all of climate change’s impact on Tahoe has been reversed. But want to know something not so wonderful? Lake Tahoe’s health has been and is still deteriorating, fast. ​

Unsplash, Zetong Li

First, the obvious. Climate change is heating up Tahoe as it is with the rest of the world, causing an increase in the lake’s temperature and evaporation. While 2016 reports haven’t come in yet, the lake’s volume-average temperature in 2015 increased 0.48 degrees Fahrenheit over 2014. While it may not seem like a lot, 0.48 degrees in terms of average temperatures of lakes is, well, A LOT. It destroys the home for the hundreds of plants and animals under the waters.

Second, snowfall has become less and less frequent in Tahoe. There’s snow way this is possible! There has been so much precipitation lately in California, you might think. However, only 6.5% of all the precipitation was snow last year, which was the lowest amount ever recorded.

Third, Lake Tahoe’s water quality has been declining, which means if you accidently drop your precious iPhone 7 and Airpods into the water, chances are you’re never going to see them again. Mark Twain once compared being on the lake to floating on air, but it’s highly unlikely he would say that today. Tahoe has lost about one-third of its world-renowned clarity since 1968. And, the average annual clarity was 73.1 feet in 2015, a 4.8-foot decrease from the previous year. This is primarily because of sediment erosion, in the lake and when our cars ride over dirt making small particles that cloud up the lake.

So when your kids or siblings annoy you on the car drive to Tahoe with the constant, “Are we there yet?”, block them out by thinking about what you can do to protect this winter wonderland. Here are our favorite tips:

• Never dump anything into the storm drains. The underground storm drain system leads directly to roadside ditches, streams and eventually to the lake.
• Conserve water, it is a limited resource.                            
• Do not litter: dispose of trash properly.
• ​Ride a bike, take public transportation, walk or carpool – Excessive automobile use degrades air quality and contributes to the decline in Tahoe’s clarity.
• Consider low-impact recreational opportunities like hiking, biking, kayaking, and cross-country skiing. ​
• ​Conserve energy and recycle.
• Volunteer for a program, organization, or effort to protect the Tahoe Basin.

​As you can see, we’re not there yet, as Lake Tahoe isn’t completely restored, but we’re getting there! Have a great 2017!

​P.S. (Maybe make it a New Year resolution to save Lake Tahoe!)

P.P.S (What do snowmen eat for lunch? Icebergers!)