Overview
The ecosystem of the Lake Tahoe Basin has been dramatically altered since European settlers began to settle around the lake in the middle of the last century. Human disturbances, including introduced species, fire suppression, past overgrazing and logging, urbanization, roads, intensive recreational use, and air pollution, have affected not only the clarity of the lake, but the forest's ability to maintain the function, diversity, and resiliency of its components.
The roots of the current problems in the ecosystem began during the Comstock Era, when the forest around Lake Tahoe was extensively clear-cut to support mining in Virginia City. The progressive deforestation between the 1860s and 1890s led to eventual replacement of many old growth, drought-and-fire resistant Jeffrey Pine trees with the moisture-demanding, fire-susceptible firs. Due to drought, lack of selective thinning, the exclusion of natural fires, and above average rainfall earlier in this century, Lake Tahoe's forest is now characterized by over-crowded, even-aged trees and dense undergrowth.
It may never be possible to fully recreate historic conditions for many ecosystem components in the Basin, because of the existing impacts of urbanization, roads, and recreational use. The purpose of this ecosystem restoration panel is to explore existing opportunities for improving forest health, bio-diversity, wildlife and fish habitat, as well as water quality. The panel will begin with an overview of the resource condition and trends, followed by brief discussions on forest ecosystem restoration, commercial timber harvesting, and collaborative approaches to restoration. The panel discussion will also provide insights on acquisition activities, wildlife, watershed protection and public perceptions and expectations. Key background points for this discussion are summarized below.
Forest Health
Overstocked forests at Lake Tahoe were hard hit by prolonged drought from 1987-1994. The 25-30% tree mortality in the forest has created a dangerous fire hazard. A catastrophic fire could threaten the basin's soil, water and wildlife habitat, as well as human lives and property. At the same time, extensive salvage operations could create water quality problems if appropriate erosion control and other management activities are not carefully implemented. To address the complicated forest health issue, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency created the Forest Health Consensus Group in 1992. The desired condition formulated by the group emphasizes habitat, scenic and watershed values of the forest, as well as fire hazard reduction. The ideal condition would be similar to that which existed prior to European settlement.
Santini-Burton Acquisitions
The Santini-Burton Act of December 23, 1980, authorizes and directs land acquisitions in the Lake Tahoe Basin. In passing the act, Congress declared that the environmental quality of the Lake Tahoe Basin was seriously jeopardized by over-development of sensitive lands, and that the unique character of the Lake Tahoe Basin is of national significance and deserving of further protection. To date the Forest Service has acquired for the public 3,482 parcels of land totaling 11,482 acres of land for ecosystem protection. Approximately 1,000 parcels of environmentally sensitive lands are currently eligible for Federal acquisition.
Aquatic Ecosystems
The Lake Tahoe Basin has approximately 300 miles of streams, 1600 surface acres of lakes (excluding Lake Tahoe), and 71 miles of shoreline around Lake Tahoe. The majority of these waters have been affected by the human activities of the past 130 years. Resource management agencies in the Basin have initiated numerous, integrated programs to inventory and conserve resources, restore water quality, and to reverse soil erosion. The major challenge today is to balance the desire to restore historic ecosystems with the reality of the urban impacts.
Wildlife
Wildlife habitat in the Lake Tahoe Basin has undergone significant transformation since the late 1870s, as a result of the Comstock logging and urbanization. Many native wildlife species no longer exist within the Basin or their density and distributions have been extensively modified. The wildlife management challenge is twofold: To determine how much of the Basin is still suitable for indigenous species and whether it's practical to try to re-establish those species which have disappeared. Today, more than 260 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish can be found at various times of the year in the Tahoe Region. Urban wildlife issues commonly include bear and coyote intrusions into neighborhoods, beaver damage to recreational facilities, maintaining habitat for bald eagles, osprey and goshawk, and ski area impacts on American Martins.