See “Underneath” Lake Tahoe Before It Changes Forever

Invasive quagga and zebra (freshwater) mussels, which are carried in on boat trailers and boats, as well as runoff and soil erosion from urban areas, are threatening the crystalline clarity of Lake Tahoe. The fast breeding mussels cause damage to the lake by clogging water pipes and intake valves and threatening native ecosystems. Building activity in the Tahoe area disturbs soils and adds to the natural runoff of clay.

For the past 10 years, Tahoe’s clarity has decreased by about a foot a year. The problem is beginning to slow down, but the deteriorating water quality is mostly affecting those who enjoy the beautiful (but cold) underwater depths of the largest alpine lake in the United States.

Before it gets any worse, see “underneath”  Lake Tahoe and go snorkeling or SCUBA diving in the summer and fall. To see the blue depths, most people will want to wear a wetsuit, but some days are warm enough to jump in with just a swimsuit. The water is as blue and clear as the Caribbean, but without the salt.

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Granted, there are no tropical fish or corals to be found in the lake’s depths but Tahoe’s underwater landscape does host an interesting mixture of multi-colored sand, rocks shaped like large animals, and shafts of sunlight cutting through the aqua blue. In late summer, you will see some rainbow trout, schools of minnows, and some large, aggressive signal crayfish (called “crawdads” by locals).

One of the best places on the lake to go snorkeling is Lake Tahoe State Park on the East Shore in Nevada. You can access the water from a series of trails that lead down to rocky beaches along the shore. The water can quickly get to several dozen feet deep here. For SCUBA diving, head just down the road to Sand Harbor. The parking lot and sandy beach make it easy for divers to carry their gear down to the water.

If you do have access to a boat, the next best places to go are Rubicon Point, one of the deepest, bluest places on the lake, and Emerald Bay, where you can explore the sunken barges on the east side of the bay. These wooden barges, towed by steamer ships to supply cargo to areas of the lake, were sunk during the early 1900s. Both barges can easily be explored by snorkelers and SCUBA divers alike.

While you are enjoying the underwater beauty of Lake Tahoe, take some time to pick up any trash or soda and beer cans that you spot on the bottom of the lake. The locals will appreciate it.

Part of a NileGuide Special Report: 25 Destinations to See Before They Change Forever.

Photo Courtesy of [Glenn Gould/Flickr]