Lake Tahoe
Douglas County, NevadaView mapDirections
NDEP publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Tahoe. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Nuisance exotic species
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Tahoe in Douglas County, Nevada has water-quality measurements published by NDEP, shown here as reported. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 0.2 µg/L.
Lake Tahoe is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Douglas County, Nevada. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 5 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Lake Tahoe ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDEP, last sampled 2017-06-28. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lake Tahoe has 5 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Lake Tahoe on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Lake Tahoe is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch5 documented ramps
- Camping2 public campgrounds nearby
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Tahoe is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nuisance exotic species, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Tahoe is safe to swim in today is a call for the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Lake Tahoe
These are the measurements NDEP publishes for Lake Tahoe, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Chlorophyll-a 0.2 µg/L. TSI 14.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 0.2µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 14 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Lake Tahoe
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Recreation & Access
- El Dorado BeachPublic
- Lakeside MarinaPublic
- Lake Tahoe - Cave Rock (State Park)Public
- Lake Tahoe - Zephyr Cove MarinaPublic
- Lake Tahoe - BijouPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Lake Tahoe
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Tahoe
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Tahoe in Douglas County, Nevada — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Tahoe
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Tahoe → · more Nevada lake trips
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Fishing Lake Tahoe
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2013–2017).
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+0.01 µg/L/yr5 years
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Tahoe is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NV06-TB-08_00 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Tahoe
Where is Lake Tahoe?
- Lake Tahoe is a lake in Douglas County, Nevada. Its water-quality measurements are published by NDEP and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Tahoe?
- Lake Tahoe in Douglas County, Nevada has water-quality measurements published by NDEP, shown here as reported. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 0.2 µg/L.
Is Lake Tahoe safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Tahoe is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nuisance exotic species, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Tahoe?
- Lake Tahoe has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include El Dorado Beach, Lakeside Marina, Lake Tahoe - Cave Rock (State Park), Lake Tahoe - Zephyr Cove Marina, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Tahoe?
- Lake Tahoe has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Nevada's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Lake Tahoe?
- Lake Tahoe has 2 public campgrounds from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Zephyr Cove RV & Campground, Nevada Beach Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Lake Tahoe across LakeQuality
11.1 mi away · 65 ft
4 thermal springs within 11.7 mi, nearest Walleys Hot Springs
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Nevada's top lakes, each with its readings
Nevada's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other Lakes in Nevada
Oligotrophic Lakes in Nevada
Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2013–2017. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- California State Water Resources Control Board
CEDEN16 samples · 2013–2017
Analytical methods
- TERC AGP
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles