Lake Tahoe's clarity, a crucial measure of its ecological health, has remained relatively stable over the last twenty years, according to a new study from UC Davis. The average clarity in 2024 was recorded at 62.3 feet, slightly declining from the previous year. Scientists attribute seasonal variations to clearer winter waters and declining summer clarity, with numerous questions arising about the impact of warming temperatures, wildfire debris, and microplastics. This enduring clarity is significant for both environmentalists and the local economy reliant on tourism.
"We should celebrate the success that we've had that has slowed and possibly halted the declines in clarity," said Stephanie Hampton, director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.
"There are some clear trend lines... The lake is getting more clear in the winter. And less clear in the summer," Stéphanie Hampton noted, highlighting the complex dynamics affecting clarity.
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