… Lake Tahoe is famous for its blueness. The growth and spread of algae is one reason blue lakes around the world can appear green in the summer. Algae form the base of many food webs, and most algae in Lake Tahoe, though sometimes unattractive, do not pose a health risk to people or animals. Harmful algal blooms are a different story. HABs can be mistaken for harmless types of algae that naturally occur in Tahoe and can be found clinging to rocks, washing up on beaches, and attached to the bottom of creek and river channels. HABs, however, pose a risk to public health and safety as they can produce toxins. The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) places a focus on algae and HABs in Tahoe’s waterbodies. They are not alone. The Tahoe Science Advisory Council (Science Council), and notably its member the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, study the presence, abundance, and distribution of Tahoe’s algae over time and how those characteristics are shifting with climate change.