The large stands of conifers we know today became well established around seven thousand years ago. Archeologists believe that the first people came to the lake at least 9, years ago, seasonally at first. Later, semi-permanent communities developed. The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California will tell you that it cannot be said when the first people came to the lake, as the Washoe have always been at Tahoe.
The origin of the name "Tahoe" has some controversy, however it is probably on the Washoe Tribe's term "Da ow ga" or simply "the lake. Unlike most bodies of water in North America, Lake Tahoe's water never flows into the ocean. Lake Tahoe also loses much of its water to evaporation; if the water that evaporates from the lake every 24 hours could be recovered, it would supply thedaily requirements of a city the size of Los Angeles.
Partly this is due to its size, but also to the action of energy. The great volume of water is constantly in a slow rolling motion, generated largely by the energy of sunlight. The waters of Tahoe are like a giant battery, absorbing and holding heat from solar energy during the day, and radiating it off at night. This causes water to circulate in flowing currents known as convections, preventing the lake from freezing.
The upper surface of the lake can store an amazing amount of solar energy. Deep in winter, it is not unusual for the morning air temperature at lake level to be noticeably warmer than the air in Carson City over 1, feet lower. The solar energy stored up by the lake is radiated off at night. Tahoe is one of the world's clearest lakes.
You can credit geology with much of the answer. The lake formed in a basin high in the Sierra, around 6, feet at lake level.
On average the elevation and average temperatures help inhibit the growth of algae, which gives most other lakes a greenish look. The steep geology and soil types forming the basin around the lake have developed into a natural filtering watershed system. Decomposed granite soil absorbs water, and helps filter out materials and sediments that would otherwise cloud the water. Over 10, years, plants and soils locked up much of the phosphorus and nitrogen, and stream banks stabilized into a delicate but highly effective watershed, creating famously clear lake waters.
In the s, lake waters were so clear, that objects feet below the surface could clearly be seen. Until recently, the pace of unregulated or unplanned development actions blocked or damaged the watershed and increased or concentrated erosion.
This disturbance altered the natural filtering ability of the basin, allowing phosphorus and nitrogen to wash out of soils and feed algae. Silts and air pollution have also been factors. Other federal, state and local actions are reducing erosion and runoff, designed to halt and reverse the trend. Primarily the U. Projects and programs also include habitat, fire management, and urban lot management.
Additionally the LTBMU provides and maintains high quality recreational opportunities for millions of visitors and residents annually. As such the Forest Service has the largest single role in ecosystem and watershed management and protection. Many common forest activities such as mining, grazing or timber harvesting are either not a part of LTBMU management or play a very small role. Since the lake is so dependent on all that happens around it, LTBMU programs manage the whole of the basin as a complete inter-dependent system.
The LTBMU is a unique inter-mix of forest and urban communities, presenting challenges and complexities few other National Forests experience.
Since its establishment in , the LTBMU has become a pioneer and leader in the science of forest and ecosystem management. Clarity is determined by measuring the water depth at which an 8-inch diameter white disk disappears from view. When official measurements began in , researchers could see a white disk submerged to a depth of But those measurements were an improvement from the lowest point at As light penetrates the Lake, water molecules absorb various colors. Fine particles and the exceptional clarity allow backscattering of the predominating light color toward the eye of an observer.
The center of the Lake can appear indigo, as blue light is absorbed further, leaving more visible violet light as the predominant light color.
In shallow areas, the water can appear emerald or turquoise in color since green is the predominant light color at shallow depths. In addition, under the right conditions, the Lake surface can reflect the adjacent mountains and the color of the sky. Lake Tahoe is over 2 million years old.
Tahoe is considered an ancient lake and is counted among the 20 oldest lakes in the world. Many, many years after the lake was formed and named, the large mountain at the north end of the lake erupted in a violent explosion. The lava flowed southward and traces of it can still be seen in folds on the lake bottom at the north end. The mountain itself is now known as Mount Pluto 2, meters 8, feet.
As a result, Tahoe became a hub of a thriving commerce between the silver mines of Virginia City and the Central Pacific Railroad out toward Truckee. This influx of jobs, people and money brought many good things with it, but also some less favorable. For the duration of the s and the Comstock era, Tahoe experienced large-scale deforestation. Business was booming, which brought in many different investors, and everyone wanted a piece of the pie. The quest for silver was not slowing down and copious amounts of timber were required to build mine shafts among hotels and other growing developments throughout the lake.
Between mining, stocks, real estate and other enticing new business opportunities, many average men were made into comfortable millionaires. In the midst of it all, this little hidden gem of a lake town had completely transformed from the undisturbed natural treasure it once was.
A new era was born, and many Californians were enjoying the flourishing economy, including Lake Tahoe. With the arrival of the transcontinental railroad in , the lake became a popular retreat for the wealthy from San Francisco, Sacramento, and Virginia City.
Hotels were needed to host this new clientele, and what we now know as the Tallac Historic Site was a key starting point. Lucky was known to enjoy gaming, hosting friends and throwing lavish parties, all the while traveling throughout California acquiring land as he went.
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