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VI. Concluding Thoughts Lake Tahoe is a microcosm for the study of a fragile ecosystem under severe development pressure. The lake and its watershed has suffered extensive and continued environmental damage since the end of World War II. The Tahoe Research Group has helped mobilize public awareness and is now trying to discover the means to slow and eventually reverse the lake's deterioration. By piecing together an overall picture of the dynamics of the lake's chemistry, physics and biology, the TRG has been able to provide government agencies with the hard scientific data needed to develop planning, management and enforcement strategies which will prevent future degradation of the lake's famous clarity and protect the surrounding watershed and streams. Without this continued scientific effort, there is a real risk that Lake Tahoe will be irrevocably changed for future generations. Over the years, the TRG has worked extremely hard to educate the public and raise awareness over the future of Lake Tahoe. Therefore were particularly glad to see the New Year's wishes printed by the Tahoe World newspaper on December 26, 1996. Topping the list of headlines they wanted to see in 1997 was "Tahoe's clarity improving". We concur, and will continue to provide the scientific information needed to one day realize this goal (Figure 20). |
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Tahoe's Clarity improving New paver sidewalks look great PUDs ink ballfield solution Students lead state in SAT's New substation under construction Measure S passes by wide margin Voter turnout over 80 percent Sharp decline in DUI arrests | >||
| Figure 20. Community concern for degrading water quality. | ||
Photo Credits Figure 1 - Photography by C.E. Watching, with credits to the Nevada State Railroad Museum. Figure 3 - Historic photo taken in 1930 by Dr. Robert Orr, property of California Tahoe Conservancy. Tahoe Keys development photo taken in 1978 by Ray Lacey, California Tahoe Conservancy. These three photos appeared in Tahoe Case Study, Elliott-Fisk et al., Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project, Wildlands Resources Center report No. 40, University of California, Davis, March 1997. Figure 20 was published in the Tahoe World (Tahoe City, CA) on December 26, 1996. All other photographs and figures are products of the Tahoe Research Group. | ||
I. Introduction II. The Cause for Concern III.The Role of Research and Monitoring at Lake Tahoe IV. Scientific Information Required for Lake and Watershed Management V. Proposed New UC Davis Research & Educational Facility at Lake Tahoe VI. Concluding Thoughts | ||