Lake Tahoe is More Than a Beautiful Recreation Destination

Besides its value as a stunning visual spectacle and world-class recreation zone, Lake Tahoe is important to the Reno area in a more fundamental way. Via the Truckee River, it is the source of a major portion of our drinking water. In addition, it provides the sustained flows we all enjoy along the Truckee River at such places as Wingfield Park in Reno and the Whitewater Park at Rock Park in Sparks. On downstream, some of the water goes to support agriculture in the Fallon area and the remainder flows to its natural terminus in beautiful Pyramid Lake.

To suit human needs, the natural system has been modified in a number of ways. Lake Tahoe itself is used as a storage reservoir - the top six feet are actually above the natural rim and controlled by a dam at the start of the Truckee River, on the west shore in Tahoe City, CA. (The Truckee is Lake Tahoe's only outlet.). Before the river reaches Reno, it supplies five more lakes and reservoirs along the way - Donner Lake, Independence Lake, Prosser Creek Reservoir, Stampede Reservoir, and Boca Reservoir. These also enhance our region's recreational attributes.

Our water system is operated by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA). To help us understand how our whole water supply system fits together and works, they've created a very cool interactive Truckee River Flows & Storage website that's worth checking out.

If I have aroused your interest, consider a driving tour of the Lake Tahoe Basin. It's less than an hour from Reno via the Mt. Rose Highway to Incline Village on the north shore.

Source: Truckee Meadows Water Authority.

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