Lake Tahoe Has Risen 3″ in the Past 15 Days | Currently 4.7″ Above Natural Rim, Truckee River is Flowing

SnowBrains | | Post Tag for Industry NewsIndustry News
The Truckee River flowing from Lake Tahoe into the Truckee River yesterday at 19cfs yesterday afternoon. photo: snowbrains
The Truckee River flowing from Lake Tahoe into the Truckee River yesterday at 19cfs yesterday afternoon. photo: snowbrains
April 18th Truckee river flow at dam VS. May 3rd. photo: snowbrains
April 18th Truckee river flow at dam VS. May 3rd. photo: snowbrains

The natural rim of Lake Tahoe is 6,223 feet above sea level.  Lake Tahoe’s level as of yesterday is 6,223.17 feet.  This means that Tahoe is 0.39 feet (4.68″) above its natural rim.  On April 18th, 2016, Lake Tahoe was 1.44″ above its natural rim.  Tahoe has risen 3″ since April 18th.

This spring has been the first time Tahoe has been over its natural rim since June 2015.

We cruised down to Lake Tahoe’s outlet in Tahoe City yesterday to grab some photos of the Truckee River flowing and gather the data that the dam master posts on the dam.

Lake Tahoe info as of May 3rd, 2016. photo: snowbrains
Lake Tahoe info as of May 3rd, 2016. photo: snowbrains

Lake Tahoe on May 3rd, 2016 = 

  • 6,223.39′ above sea level
  • 0.39 above its natural rim 
  • Gates open in dam in Tahoe City = 1
  • Discharge into Truckee River = 19 cubic feet per second 
  • 397,538,220 gallons of water evaporate off Lake Tahoe every day
  • The average time a molecule of water spends in Lake Tahoe is 700 years
  • It takes 3 days at 200 cfs to get Lake Tahoe to lower 1/100 of a foot
  • Historic maximum 6231.17′ in 1907
  • Historic minimum 6220.26′ in 1992
  • Maximum capacity of Lake Tahoe = 40,000,000,000 gallons
  • 140″ of snowfall this winter in Tahoe City, CA

PHOTO TOUR:

Only 1 gate open right now. 19cfs = flow of Truckee river on May 3rd, 2016. photo: snowbrains
Only 1 gate open right now. 19cfs = flow of Truckee river on May 3rd, 2016. photo: snowbrains
Last year's lake level on this date was below natural rim. Snowfall totals for Tahoe City past 5 years. photo: snowbrains
Last year’s lake level on this date was below natural rim. Snowfall totals for Tahoe City past 5 years. photo: snowbrains
Huge trout under Fanny Bridge at the dam yesterday. photo: snowbrains
Huge trout under Fanny Bridge at the dam yesterday. photo: snowbrains
Historical Tahoe lake levels dating back to . photo: snowbrains
Historical Tahoe lake levels dating back to . photo: snowbrains
Close up of Tahoe historical and current lake Tahoe lake levels. photo: snowbrains
Close up of Tahoe historical and current lake Tahoe lake levels. photo: snowbrains
Lake Tahoe info as of May 3rd, 2016. photo: snowbrains
Lake Tahoe info as of May 3rd, 2016. photo: snowbrains
Surfer Steve surfing water about to be in the Truckee River at Squaw on Monday. photo: yimmers/snowbrains
Surfer Steve surfing water about to be in the Truckee River at Squaw on Monday. photo: yimmers/snowbrains
Posted by SnowBrains |

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