Scientists have said climate change is to blame for Lake Tahoe being warmer than usual and cutting down on its clarity.
On the heels of a five-year drought, two-year warming trends have caused some to worry about the lake that is known for its clear blue waters. 2015 data showed that Tahoe’s average surface temperature had risen faster over the previous four years than any time on record and 15 times faster than the long-term warming rate over the past 50 years.
In 2016, the temperature was again at record levels. Annual average clarity for 2016 was about 4 feet worse than in 2015.