An Integrated Watershed Approach to Studying Ecosystem Health at Lake Tahoe, CA–NV

Lake Tahoe lies in the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountains at an elevation of 1898 m within both California and Nevada. The drainage area is 812 km² with a lake surface of 501 km², producing a ratio of only 1.6:1 (Figure 123.1). This ratio is much smaller than the 10:1 ratio found for typical watersheds. The lake is located in a montane-subalpine watershed dominated by coniferous vegetation and nutrient-poor soils. It is the world’s 11th deepest lake at approximately 505 m with a mean depth of 313 m. Its volume is 156 km³, with a hydraulic residence time of about 650 to 700 years, and is ice-free.