Famously blue Lake Tahoe is expected to fill to capacity this spring for the first time in five years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“The Lake Tahoe rise forecast predicts snowmelt will be sufficient to fill the lake this spring,” the USDA announced in its Nevada Water Supply Outlook Report May 1.
The largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe is nestled below the peaks of the Sierra Nevada, straddling California and Nevada.
The winter snowpack peaked above average this year thanks to strong precipitation in January, February, and March, the USDA reported. By May 1, snowpacks were measured above normal, reaching 184 percent of average, despite a dry April.
Soil moisture is also high and will help with runoff, the department said.
Last year’s late melting snow, helped by Hurricane Hilary’s mid-summer deluge, allowed the basin around the lake to measure above normal at the start of the 2024 water year. Water years run from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 of the following year.
The USDA expects streams across Nevada and the eastern Sierra to flow at near normal to well above normal through July.
Most key reservoirs in northern Nevada and the Sierra are also expected to fill this spring, even if the streams flow slightly less, the USDA said. Most of Nevada is drought free, except for a small portion of southern Nevada.
“In summary, water year 2024 is well on its way to receiving an A on its final report card,” the USDA reported.
