For more than 60 years, the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center has led scientific research at Lake Tahoe, building one of the most comprehensive long-term datasets of lake data in the world. Our sustained in-lake measurements—combined with continuous, real-time monitoring systems—provide the high-quality data needed to understand current conditions and to model how the lake may change in the near term and over decades to come.
A defining strength of our program is the integration of engineering and biological expertise. By dovetailing advanced engineering tools with ecological science, we examine how physical processes—such as water movement, mixing, and temperature—shape biological communities and overall lake health. This systems-based approach allows us to better understand the interconnected nature of lake ecosystems and the forces that influence them.
Beyond the lake itself, our research extends across the watershed. Through forest conservation studies, actively involved in developing conservation and restoration strategies for native plant species, guided by a better understanding of how native plants evolve in response to selective pressures such as drought, pest outbreaks, invasive species, fire, and other disturbances. We are also expanding into land-based research focused on the health of native pollinators, recognizing their essential role in maintaining resilient landscapes.
Together, this integrated lake-to-land approach provides the science needed to protect Lake Tahoe and its surrounding watershed for generations to come.