Opinion: Who owns the water from Lake Tahoe & Truckee River? Part I
Millions of people visit the Tahoe Sierra each year to enjoy and recreate on Lake Tahoe, Donner and Independence lakes, as well as the satellite reservoir system of Boca, Prosser and Stampede. All these storage basins are in California, but since the Truckee River system is part of Great Basin hydrology, none of the streamflow reaches the Pacific Ocean. I frequently get queries, especially during a drought, regarding our regional water management. It seems that few people realize that these reservoirs, including Lake Tahoe, are regulated primarily for Nevada interests.
-Written by Mark McLaughlin, freelance contributor.Related article:
- Tahoe Weekly: State of the Lake, climate changing impacts lake health