Spotlight on Lake Tahoe

A selection of DRI's impactful research focused on the Lake Tahoe Basin

An image of a rocky beach at Lake Tahoe with clear, blue water

Projecting the Impacts of Climate Change for the Lake Tahoe Basin

The Lake Tahoe Basin is already feeling the effects of Earth’s changing climate, with impacts expected to grow in the coming years. Agencies and communities throughout the Basin are developing plans for adapting to these changes, but they need the most accurate and rigorous scientific projections possible in order to prepare. DRI scientist Michael Dettinger, Ph.D., conducted a thorough analysis of future trends and transformations in the Basin, including changes to average temperatures, heat waves, precipitation extremes, and snowmelt timing. This report was prepared for the California Tahoe Conservancy.

Graphs showing: (a) the predicted increase in air temperature, and (b) changes in precipitation over the Upper Truckee River Basin due to climate change.
Graphs showing: (a) the predicted increase in air temperature, and (b) changes in precipitation over the Upper Truckee River Basin due to climate change.

Ensemble of projected changes in (a) air temperatures and (b) precipitation totals, over the Upper Truckee River subbasin, as an example of the changes projected by eight climate models downscaled and run through the basin PRMS model. RCP 4.5 greenhouse-gas emissions are less than RCP 8.5 emissions, especially after mid 21st Century. Hachured horizontal bars in (a) indicate warming of 2-3ºF and 7-8F warmer than the 1971-2000 historical norm (dashed line). 

A close-up image of rocks on a Lake Tahoe beach with their reflections in the clear water
A close-up image of rocks on a Lake Tahoe beach with their reflections in the clear water

Measuring Microplastic Contamination in Tahoe’s Snow and Waters

Following decades of global plastic production, the accumulation of plastic debris is a growing environmental concern. DRI’s  Monica Arienzo , Ph.D., was the  first scientist  to identify microplastic contamination in Lake Tahoe, and she now serves on the Tahoe Science Advisory Council.  Her lab  is working to measure this type of pollution throughout the Lake Tahoe watershed, including the surrounding snow and downstream waters.

Researcher Monica Arienzo holding a large metal snow coring device filled with snow and smiling

Monica Arienzo sampling snow for microplastics analysis at the Central Sierra Snow Lab in April 2023.

As part of this effort, she is training graduate and undergraduate students in plastic pollution monitoring, engaging citizen scientists to collect water samples, and partnering with  DRI’s STEM education team  to produce  microplastics teaching kit s for middle school students.

Microplastics in the Lake Tahoe Basin

Large boulders on a Lake Tahoe beach with clear water and a blue sky
Large boulders on a Lake Tahoe beach with clear water and a blue sky

Building the Tools to Prepare for Lake Tahoe’s Future

Lake Tahoe is facing evolving risks to its ecosystems and tourism-based economy. With more than 40 years of scientific studies focused on the region, a collective effort to gather existing data is needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of existing challenges and future research needs. Led by  Christine Albano , Ph.D., a team of DRI and UNR scientists is creating a transparent and accessible database, the Tahoe Open Data Platform, to better utilize the insights of scientific and management efforts to protect the region. The team is also building a network of sensors throughout the Basin to monitor changes in climate and incorporating remote sensing to enhance early warning systems for fire risk and ecosystem health.

An image of Lake Tahoe with mountains in the background
An image of Lake Tahoe with mountains in the background

Informing Sustainable Tourism and Recreation in the Lake Tahoe Basin

Outdoor recreation is changing in the Tahoe Basin, with new activities growing in popularity and a renewed interest in getting outdoors. The Tahoe Science Advisory Council is studying ways to ensure that this growth can exist alongside goals for sustainability and ecosystem protection. DRI's Derek Kauneckis, Ph.D., authored two reports ( 1  and  2 ) to inform a scientific approach to monitoring outdoor recreation in the region. The reports identify trends in recreation to help anticipate needed improvements in infrastructure, and outline concerns for community well-being, the local economy, and the natural resources of the region. These reports will inform future studies on these topics.

Revealing the Microbiosphere of Lake Tahoe

Tiny organisms called picoplankton exist throughout fresh waterbodies; they are the microbial engines that drive ecosystem health. Despite their importance to transforming the nutrients and energy required for sustaining life in the lake, they are mostly unknown in Lake Tahoe’s waters. DRI’s  Alison Murray , Ph.D., is on a mission to describe the microbiome of the lake and compare current results with data collected twenty years ago, providing a window into the past – and a predictor of future change.

Supporting Spooner Meadow Restoration Efforts

Spooner Meadow, in Spooner Lake and Backcountry State Park, was the site of a historical sawmill built to support the Comstock mines. Damming and other human activities altered the hydrology and overall health of the meadow. The  Spooner Meadow Restoration Project  aims to restore this montane meadow ecosystem, but successful restoration requires clear goals. With funding from the Nevada Division of State Lands  Lake Tahoe License Plate Program ,  Amy Langston , Ph.D., is conducting three-years of monitoring to collect data on vegetation, soil, and hydrology to better understand the meadow’s ecological functions and processes, including benefits to water quality in North Canyon Creek. These baseline data will be used to inform restoration work and develop specific performance criteria.

Spooner Meadow in Spooner Lake and Backcountry State Park.

Evaluating Atmospheric River Risk in the Truckee River Watershed: ArkStorm Tahoe 2.0

 Christine Albano , Ph.D, and  Maureen McCarthy , Ph.D. are spearheading an effort to assess the risk of flooding from a hypothetical month-long sequence of atmospheric river storms in the Truckee River watershed. Using a simulation of  expected changes to storms under a warming climate , their team is analyzing the potential impacts to human communities and infrastructure. Their results will inform discussions with emergency responders, public utilities, and local businesses about ways to ensure a safer future for Lake Tahoe and downstream communities given increasing likelihoods of warmer winter storms and more severe floods due to climate change.

Engaging Community Members to Help Study Wildfires: Project Ashfall

DRI and UNR scientists are asking community members who observe ash from distant wildfires to submit photos to Project Ashfall, a research initiative powered by community observations. Project Ashfall uses photos of wildfire ash to improve radar analyses of smoke plumes, with the goal of shedding light on fire-generated weather and wildfire behavior. By contributing photos of wildfire ash, community members provide a snapshot of wildfire smoke plume properties— a missing puzzle piece for linking radar measurements with fire processes. Community members are encouraged to photograph wildfire ash and submit it to Project Ashfall using the Citizen Science Tahoe website.

An image of a dime on a car hood covered with wildfire ash

Example photo of wildfire ash with a dime for scale.

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Ensemble of projected changes in (a) air temperatures and (b) precipitation totals, over the Upper Truckee River subbasin, as an example of the changes projected by eight climate models downscaled and run through the basin PRMS model. RCP 4.5 greenhouse-gas emissions are less than RCP 8.5 emissions, especially after mid 21st Century. Hachured horizontal bars in (a) indicate warming of 2-3ºF and 7-8F warmer than the 1971-2000 historical norm (dashed line). 

Monica Arienzo sampling snow for microplastics analysis at the Central Sierra Snow Lab in April 2023.

Example photo of wildfire ash with a dime for scale.