Tahoe: A Scientific Wonderland
August 1, 2025 | Member Submitted
Originally published in TRPA newsletter, 08/01/2025
Every four years, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) compiles the Threshold Evaluation Report, a science-based snapshot of the environmental health of the basin. Today, nearly 80 percent of environmental standards adopted more than 40 years ago are being met, and more than 90 percent are stable or improving. The science shows that Tahoe is on the right path—thanks to decades of collaborative, data-driven work.
Ten environmental threshold categories, ranging from water quality to wildlife, frame the region’s long-term environmental goals and standards. We measure the standards through science-based indicators and policy work. Together, they ensure Lake Tahoe stays protected for generations to come.
| Image: Field monitoring technician Sarah Newsome measures sediment in the Upper Truckee River. Years of monitoring data from TRPA, federal, state, and local agencies, research institutions, and community organizations are essential to tracking progress and informing policy decisions in the Tahoe Basin. Photo by: Beth Vollmer |