Lake Tahoe Is Deeper And Clearer

The water level at Lake Tahoe is high this summer with the surface of the lake having risen eight feet since the beginning of 2016.

This is all due to the snowy winters that followed years of drought. Melting snow has flown into the lake, raising the water level and increasing the clarity. 

"Lake Tahoe, which is of course renowned for its clarity, has gotten a lot clearer with all of this snow melt," according to Pacific Institute President Emeritus Peter Gleick. "The water quality has improved."

Related: What's Good For The Drought Can Be Bad For The Bay

Beaches have shrunk due to the deeper water. Erosion and flooding are a risk during years with abundant snowfall and rain, Gleick said. 

"We like wet years. We don't want extremely wet years and we don't want extremely dry years," said Gleick. "That's the risk of climate change —these extreme events. It would be nice if everything was sort of in between."

Reno and other parts of Nevada will benefit from the conditions this year, Gleick said.