Lake Tahoe Basin Mgt Unit
 

Learning Center

The Learning Center contains educational information about the Lake Tahoe Basin. Follow the links on the left menu under the Learning Center for information on Nature & Science, History & Culture, Outdoor Safety & Ethics, Just for Kids and Parents & Teachers.

Follow the links below for interesting information about the Lake Tahoe Basin. How it was formed, information about the basin's complex and fragile environment, how trees were impacted by human settlement and the Big Tree Register, which documents the largest trees found in the basin.

 

2011 LTBMU Big Tree Register

This booklet documents the largest known tree for native species growing within the Lake Tahoe Basin. Since new trees may be found that are larger than the ones listed here, this booklet will be updated.  

 

Geology of the Lake Tahoe Basin

Although it is commonly believed that Lake Tahoe was formed by the collapse of a volcanic crater, the Basin was actually formed by the rise and fall of the landscape due to faulting.  

 

An Ecosystem in Transistion

A place like Lake Tahoe is a complex and fragile environment, not easily described, nor easily managed.  The many elements of this ecosystem, people, wildlife, trees and other plants, water, soil and insects, all must find a way to comfortably coexist.  The daunting task for everyone concerned about the welfare of Lake Tahoe, her forests and watersheds is to help create a hospitable environment in which nature can restore the damage wrought by humans over more than a century of neglect.  

 

Trees in Transition

With a terse pronouncement in the 1890s, the Territorial Enterprise, a Virginia City newspaper, summarized the reason for the destruction of Lake Tahoe's healthy forests.  Land-stripping was the standard practice of the 1860s to 1880s, as new settlers helped themselves to the seemingly limitless stands of pine trees here. The mature sugar, Jeffrey, and yellow pine trees were exactly what miners required in Virginia City to sustain their pursuit of rich silver veins.  Follow the link above for more information.