Âé¶¹´«Ã½AV

Our Commitment to Lake Tahoe

Through research, education, outreach and community leadership, the Âé¶¹´«Ã½AV is dedicated to the protection and preservation of Lake Tahoe.

Protecting and preserving Lake Tahoe – the gem of the Sierra – is central to the mission of the Âé¶¹´«Ã½AV at Lake Tahoe. We are dedicated to conserving Lake Tahoe, its watershed, and its recreationally-supported economy.

The University's efforts are aligned with the planning and implementation of the – a multisector effort implemented by governmental organizations, Lake Tahoe’s business community, scientific community and the Washoe Tribe. Research, education and outreach align closely with the bistate efforts of the of which the University is a member. In addition, our new Âé¶¹´«Ã½AV at Lake Tahoe location is proud to support world-class scientific and creative workshops that bring expertise and knowledge to the basin to help solve the pressing global to local issues of our time.

Training the future stewards of Lake Tahoe

We believe experiential education is one of the best ways to inspire sustained environmental stewardship.

Research to inform policy

Scientific knowledge has been a mainstay in guiding management actions in the Lake Tahoe basin. The University is a proud member of the , the bi-state organization for scientists and managers to discuss the pressing issues facing the Lake Tahoe basin related to forest health, invasive species, transportation, climate change, wildfires, and Lake Tahoe’s water quality. The Council is co-chaired by Professors Sudeep Chandra with Adrian Harpold serving as an institutional scientific member.

Explore research and creative activities

Meet our affiliated environmental sciences and sustainability faculty

Tahoe Summit 2023

The Âé¶¹´«Ã½AV at Lake Tahoe hosted the 2023 Tahoe Summit Luncheon, bringing together scientists, wildland firefighters, conservationists and tribal leaders to discuss challenges facing Lake Tahoe. 

Featured research: Microplastics in Lake Tahoe

Research published in the scientific journal, Nature, reveals high concentrations of microplastics in Lake Tahoe, with plastic debris from textiles frequently identified.

Read more about microplastics in Lake Tahoe

Featured research: Smoke over Lake Tahoe

University research supported by the League to Save Lake Tahoe aims to understand how the living and nonliving particles in Lake Tahoe are changing due to smoke in the Lake Tahoe Basin airshed, and what that means for Lake Tahoe’s clarity and ecology.

Read more about wildfire smoke impacts on Lake Tahoe

Âé¶¹´«Ã½AV at Lake Tahoe in the news

Aerial photo of fishing boats on the Mekong river.

What are rivers really worth? Âé¶¹´«Ã½AV and partners lead a global rethink of freshwater value

Local lessons from Lake Tahoe and the Truckee, Walker, and Colorado rivers inform new approaches to accounting for rivers’ economic, cultural, and ecological benefits

A phone showing virtual reality Lahontan Cutthroat Trout floating in the forest.

2025 Tahoe Co-Lab takes a deep dive into the ecology of the lake

Artists and scientists collaborate on an interactive exhibit, ‘Watershed,’ at the Âé¶¹´«Ã½AV at Lake Tahoe

Tahoe Tomfoolery is one of the exhibitions in the Prim Library building. An array of photos is shown framed on a hallway.

The depths of Tahoe’s photographical history

Professor Peter Goin's vast collection of images capture the essence, the stories and our relationship to the lake