From the site of a historic fish hatchery in Tahoe City, UC Davis scientists first alerted the world to an impending threat to Lake Tahoe. Their warning: unless immediate changes are made in the way the Tahoe basin is managed, the lake's quality will continue to deteriorate. The clear, cobalt blue waters, which have been enjoyed by generations of Californians and Nevadans as well as visitors from around the world, are in grave danger of irreparable damage. Tahoe's clarity not only makes it one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, it is a visible gauge of the health of the lake and surrounding ecosystem. The formerly pristine lake is suffering from over 40 years of urbanization, tourism and development. Pollutants from streams, the atmosphere and groundwater introduce high levels of nutrients to the lake water. Because of Tahoe's enormous depth and volume-and relatively limited inflow and outflow-these nutrients stay in the lake for decades and cause excessive algae growth, reducing the clarity of the water and consuming oxygen. Researchers estimate that if these trends continue, fish and other aquatic animals will eventually suffer and most of the lake's famous clarity will be gone in about 30 years-unless erosion is controlled, wetland habitats are restored and transportation policies are modified to reduce air pollution.
	The two examples below illustrate the environmental pressures on the Tahoe basin: 1. Sedimentation. Urbanization of the basin has eliminated 75% of its marshes, 50% of its meadows and 35% of its stream zone habitat-all crucial elements enabling the lake to cleanse and restore itself. Despite efforts by the California Tahoe Conservancy to restore a small portion of a former wetland along the south shore of the lake, the result has been a permanent and irretrievable loss of a crucial habitat. Without the filtering action of wetlands, sediment and nutrients from streams and runoff are directly deposited into the lake, contributing to the lake's decreasing clarity. 2. Air Pollution. There were approximately 23 million visitor days at Lake Tahoe in 1995. Many visitors drove their cars to and around the lake and use the fireplaces in their condominiums and cabins. Automobile emissions and wood burning have increased measurable levels of nitrogen, ozone, acid rain and other pollutants. In addition, nitrogen and chemical residues blow into the basin from outside sources. The infiltration of these air pollutants was vividly demonstrated when prized Tahoe lake trout were found to contain low levels of toxic organic compounds and deep water sediments showed elevated concentrations of mercury and lead - both directly attributable to their presence in the basin's air.
	The role of UC Davis researchers UC Davis researchers became aware of the decline in the lake's water quality in 1959 and established the Tahoe Research Group (TRG) to conduct research in limnology: the study of fresh water lakes and waterways. The TRG's founder and director, UC Davis professor of environmental studies Charles R. Goldman, has dedicated his life to studying Lake Tahoe and has won national and international awards for his work in the Tahoe basin. When Dr. Goldman and the TRG began explaining the threat to the lake, people listened. The Lake Tahoe basin is now a top priority for legislators, community leaders, scientists and the public who have come together with the common goal of preserving this fragile ecosystem. With the support of the National Science Foundation, the League to Save Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and many other organizations, the TRG has conducted pioneering research on the physics, chemistry and biology of Lake Tahoe. After analyzing their data, the TRG reached an important conclusion: there is still time to reverse the degradation at Lake Tahoe. But there is not much time left. The agencies and interest groups involved have identified a brief 10 to 12 year window of opportunity before irremediable damage is done. Now reliance on research and monitoring is more important than ever before. After a series of meetings in 1978, that were initiated by UC Davis and included state and federal agencies, it became apparent that, in addition to UC Davis' basic research program, a strong environmental monitoring program was necessary to meet the needs of the various agencies concerned with land-use planning and regulation. As a result of these discussions the Lake Tahoe Interagency Monitoring Program (LTIMP) was formally established in 1979 to collect and analyze water and air quality information necessary to support the extensive regulatory activities in the basin. The LTIMP consists of federal, state and local agencies with the directorship, held by Dr. John E. Reuter, residing in the TRG. This interrelationship between UC Davis' research and interagency monitoring is critical in the effort to contribute to the scientific understanding of environmental processes and management strategies in the Tahoe basin. The challenge Because of their commitment to Tahoe, widely divergent elements have rallied around a common agenda for the future of Tahoe. Under the auspices of the TRPA, federal and state agencies, along with private homeowners associations and business interests, have forged a new alliance. Their agenda strikes a balance between environmental and economic interests that will restore, manage and preserve a healthy basin ecosystem. The role of ongoing research, monitoring and remediation in this effort is crucial in the effort to restore the lake's health. Consistent and methodical assessment is the key to solving the present environmental problems and preventing them from recurring in the future. Objective data must be provided if policy makers are to develop and implement effective conservation strategies. The TRG has been working out of a building-formerly used as a fish hatchery-that was on loan from the Department of Fish and Game and is now owned by UC Davis. Built in the Old Tahoe style with scissor beams, river rocks and fir bark, the hatchery is a historic landmark, ideally suited to house an education and visitor center. The laboratory facilities, however, are badly out of date and lack the space and equipment needed for the scientific effort in restoration of the lake's water clarity and the health of the basin's ecosystem. UC Davis already has the support of the League to Save Lake Tahoe, a nonprofit public interest organization of approximately 4,000 concerned families. The League has been working on the preservation of the scenic beauty, environmental balance and recreational opportunities of the Lake Tahoe basin for over 30 years and has made a gift of $100,000 to develop the proposal for the new center. The Lake Tahoe Center for Environmental Research is an essential element in the complex solution system that all agree is necessary to save the lake.
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