Lake Tahoe is easily one of the most gorgeous sites along the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Whether you own a cabin in the area or take day trips to the area from your Carson City home, you love and treasure the area.
Unfortunately, Lake Tahoe currently faces several destructive threats. Unless those who care about the area act quickly, the lake won't be around for future generations to love, nurture and enjoy as you have.
Keep reading to learn more about the most dangerous issues facing Lake Tahoe today. With this extra knowledge, you'll be better equipped to do your part to protect this area you've grown to love.
1. NON-NATIVE AQUATIC SPECIES
Recreational boating is one of Lake Tahoe's main attractions. Unfortunately, your family members and friends may not be the only ones you take with you for a fun time on the lake. If you frequently boat in the area, sneaky, non-native mussels, clams and more can cling to the underside of your boat and hitchhike from lake to lake.
Unfortunately, these non-native species pose a huge risk to Lake Tahoe's ecosystem. Aquatic hitchhikers can destroy native plants and animals that are central to Lake Tahoe's ecological balance. They also contribute to algae blooms that destroy the lake's clarity and kill plants that need sunshine and oxygen to survive.
To keep non-native species out, always inspect your boat before you put it in the water. This rule applies to kayaks, canoes and other small vessels too. Perform an individual inspection if you own a smaller vessel, and participate in local boat inspections and decontaminations if you own a larger boat.
2. TREE-DESTROYING PESTS AND DISEASES
Lake Tahoe's trees are a crucial part of the wider Sierra Nevada forest. However, human expansion has removed many of the trees and disrupted the balance between native insects and the trees they keep in check.
For instance, native beetles like the mountain pine, red turpentine and fir engraver beetles burrow into trees and weaken or kill them - serving the important function of naturally thinning the forest to reduce fire risks. But human-caused fires, pesticides and forest destruction have thinned the number and strength of trees, rendering them more susceptible to beetles, bugs and diseases.
If you have trees in your backyard, take care of them. Trim them as needed and remove excess branches. Most importantly, create a defensible space around your home to prevent fires from spreading. Bear in mind that you may need a permit before you remove certain types of trees submit a tree removal application before you get to work removing trees from the forest.
3. STORMWATER
Lake Tahoe may be part of a beautiful mountain range, but it also has a high number of human inhabitants who live in urban spaces. When it rains or when snow melts in the area, the water runs through the roads and picks up dirt and debris along the way. The debris is then deposited in the lake itself. This polluted stormwater clouds the lake and harms aquatic species.
To reduce lake pollution, do your part to keep the land around your home clean. If you're constructing new property, ensure you and your building team follow stormwater best practices to keep polluted water out of the lake. Additionally, site surveys can also help you establish the parameters of and potential environmental and construction problems posed by new developments and remodels alike.
You might also consider joining or supporting a group like the Pipe Keepers to update Lake Tahoe's plumbing and infrastructure.
DO YOUR PART TO KEEP LAKE TAHOE CLEAN
Following the recommendations above and in our other blogs helps you do your part to protect Lake Tahoe so you can enjoy the land for years to come.
Planning new property developments? Working to create a defensible area around your home? Turn to Arnett & Associates, Inc. Get in touch anytime.
