Tahoe’s promising future
It’s sometimes hard to see the victories, but we need to celebrate them when we can. The West is suffering another stifling summer of heat in the midst of a 10-year drought. Smoke from not-to-distant fires blow into the Basin and the threat of a wildfire in Tahoe is ever present. Record-breaking floods are bringing destruction across many states. We are all feeling the effects of climate breakdown.
Amid these threats near and far, there is good news for our beloved Lake Tahoe. First, I’m excited by the information released in the annal State of the Lake Report. According to researchers, we should see a dramatic improvement in lake clarity in the next few years thanks to the decline of Mysis shrimp. While this gain in clarity may be temporary, it does signal something exciting – that our hard-working researchers at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center may have an answer to the riddle of lake clarity in the Mysis shrimp.
This small invasive creature – that was introduced intentionally by man – may be the primary culprit for declining lake clarity. Read my story “Short-term gains expected as Mysis declines” in this edition for a look at this complicated issue.
Upper Truckee Marsh
Second, the California Tahoe Conservancy is completing one of its largest projects this summer – restoration of the Upper Truckee River Marsh. Tim Hauserman recently kayaked the Upper Truckee River through the marsh into Lake Tahoe. The marsh was decimated with the construction of the Tahoe Keys and the Conservancy has been working to restore it. It’s a massive undertaking, that included filling in the man-made sailing lagoon. Read Tim’s story “Undoing a legacy of destruction” to learn more about the restoration work.
I highly recommend hiking the new Cove East Trail that was part of this project from the Keys to the lake’s shore to witness the project up close and fully appreciate its scale.
Third, I have to pay tribute to the lovely lupine sharing its brilliant purple hues against the shores of Lake Tahoe, at the reservoirs in Truckee and other nearby waterways. We admire and cherish her beauty, even if she only regales us with her full glory during drought conditions.
Please, slow down
While I celebrate the gains we are making, I must acknowledge the tragic death of Ray Elam, who worked with the Tahoe City Downtown Association, on which I am a board member and past president. Even if you never met Ray, you felt his presence every time you drove through Tahoe City.
For more than 10 years, Ray watered the flower baskets that hang on the town’s light poles in the summer. Ray was struck by a car from behind while watering the flowers on July 26. While the accident is still under investigation, his death should serve as a wake-up call to be mindful of pedestrians, cyclists, workers and other vehicles.
Please slow down. Please stop at crosswalks; please make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Take extra precautions in busy locations like town centers and near public beaches. Our main thoroughfares around the lake are state highways, but they are also how locals and visitors access public beaches, local parks, restaurants, and travel to and from work.
Be mindful of others. Be patient on your drive.
You can support Ray’s family through the “Raymond Elam Memorial Fundraiser” at gofund.me.
