In late February, when Tahoe was blanketed in white and locals were enjoying a decent snow sports season, Governor Schwarzenegger was in Sacramento declaring a drought-related state of emergency. Warning that the entire state was in ‘a crisis, just as severe as an earthquake or raging wildfire,’ his proclamation outlined specific water conservation and supply distribution measures for the California Department of Water Resources, and in a statement released with the proclamation, painted a dire picture about the drought’s effect on the already battered economy. ‘Agricultural revenue losses exceed $300 million to date and could exceed $2 billion in the coming season, with a total economic loss of nearly $3 billion in 2009,’ Schwarzenegger said. In early January, the US Department of Agriculture designated every county in Nevada and many in California as natural disaster areas due to drought.
In the months since, mandatory water restrictions have been imposed by 65 different local water agencies across the state, but locally, only the Tahoe City Public Utility District has even paid lip service to the drought. On June 23, the TCPUD passed the ‘Water Conservation and Drought Response Standards’ ordinance to preserve water resources, reduce the risk and severity of water shortages when drought or natural disaster occur and to establish a drought preparedness and response plan. It contains only voluntary measures for now.
As summer comes to a close and locals and visitors alike continue to enjoy the bounties of seemingly bottomless lakes, sparkling rivers and numerous reservoirs, one can’t help but wonder if Tahoe’s attitude toward water consumption and conservation is simply cavalier.
‘We are in a very unique situation up here,’ said Madonna Dunbar, executive director of the Tahoe Water Supplier’s Association, a regional partnership of water purveyors who rely on Lake Tahoe for drinking water supplies. ‘Our water purveyors have enough water rights to meet needs now and in the future and we have an abundant supply of water. When your water customers look out on Lake Tahoe every day, it’s pretty difficult to talk to them in any meaningful way about conservation.’
But Dunbar, whose office is located at the Incline Village General Improvement District and who oversees not only water programs but waste and recycling for IVGID as well, is a staunch advocate for conservation in all areas.
‘Our customers are metered and even though rates are still fairly low, water consumption is down about 20 percent this year,’ she said. ‘The economy is forcing people to conserve and that’s an upside…people are looking to save wherever they can.’
Dunbar explained that one of the most visible effects of drought can be measured by its impacts on wildlife. ‘Bear activity becomes much more pronounced in times of drought because their natural forage in the wild becomes greatly reduced. We are definitely seeing that here in Incline,’ she said.
Richard Anderson, Truckee Councilmember and publisher of California Fly Fisher magazine echoed Dunbar’s concerns about the drought’s impacts on wildlife and natural ecosystems. ‘When the level of Lake Tahoe drops to its natural rim, the main source of water for the Truckee River will be cut off,’ he said. ‘If flows in the river are extremely low during winter, there’s the chance that anchor ice might form, which can have an impact on fish and aquatic insect populations.’
Lake Tahoe’s water level is currently at 6,223.49 feet, less than half a foot above its 6,223 natural rim, so many are eagerly waiting to see what winter will bring to Tahoe, the rest of California, and parts of Nevada. The National Weather Service has confirmed that El Niño is in place and is predicting it will strengthen and persist throughout the coming winter, which means an exceptionally stormy season and increased precipitation across California. Others are predicting a very weak El Niño. With state reservoir levels expected to be, on average, 66 percent of normal by the end of 2009, and with many much lower than that, even a bountiful water year won’t come close to easing Nevada and California’s water crisis.
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