This site is a Web companion to the UC Davis documentary, "Lake Tahoe: Reservoir of History, Body of Hope."

Forest Health

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The ecosystem most altered by human land use is the forest. Today's forest is a far different one than existed two centuries ago. It has been altered so much that scientists suspect its "biological integrity" -- a term that attempts to explain the overall health of the ecosystem -- has been compromised. Historically, more than half of the forests within the Tahoe basin would have been old growth. Today they comprise barely 5 percent.

Instead, the younger, predominantly fir forest is far denser than historic forests, and thus less drought-tolerant and more vulnerable to disease. Test plots at various locations around the basin show that 20 percent to 25 percent of Tahoe's forests are now dead or dying, subjecting the forest to the threat of catastrophic fires that burn hotter than before.

An ailing forest in the Lake Tahoe region

Explore the forest health issues of the Tahoe basin.

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Who's working on Tahoe's forests:

Where to get more information on forest ecology

Introduction | Water Quality | Air Quality | Forest Health | Building Consensus

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