Did California Drought Clear up Lake Tahoe?

Efforts to lower pollutants in Lake Tahoe are paying off. Clarity levels in 2014 have shown the biggest improvements in more than a decade.

"While these latest data are very reassuring, they should not be interpreted as victory in our joint restoration efforts," says Geoffrey Schladow. "Complete restoration is still decades away, and some of the greatest challenges still lie ahead of us." Squaw Valley Lodge / CC BY-SA 2.0

Efforts to lower pollutants in Lake Tahoe are paying off. Clarity levels in 2014 have shown the biggest improvements in more than a decade.

But a new study suggests the drought in California should get some credit, too. Reduced precipitation meant fewer contaminants flowed into the lake, particularly during the summer, when clarity levels were the highest recorded since 2002.