One would think that the return to Third Creek for the seasonal spawning study of the Lake Tahoe Rainbow trout is a joyous occasion. In part, because they grow faster, larger, live longer and generally have more eggs these Tahoe’s Rainbows are considered, “the healthiest Rainbow Trout west of the Rocky Mountains.” According to those who catch and eat them, these Rainbows are the tastiest of all.
They’re not “Native Rainbow,” as I was reminded 10 years ago, when I volunteered to help the study’s lead biologist. Since then I believe a new term, “Naturalized,” has replaced “invasive species”. As explained by another Tahoe biologist; “Like several other trout and the Kokanee in the lake, they’re here to stay, because we couldn’t do anything about them if we wanted too.” This new moniker removes them from the invasive-species conversation, and I’m all for that. Let’s see if we can get rid of the Gold Fish!
Here’s what darkens the returning season. Prior to each season’s spawn, for eleven years I and Friends of Third Creek have dawned our chest waders, and crawled over, around, and knee-walked chest deep beneath low-hanging branches to clear human carelessness from these creek’s spawning gravel flats. We all believe that we love Lake Tahoe, that’s why, besides the skiing, we’re here, but do we love it enough to care for it?
The Third Creek Rainbow trout study, began in 2015, and includes Incline and Third creeks below Highway 28. The list of items removed from these two creeks in 2016&17 was staggering. It seemed like, until then, no one had removed trash from them since the completion of their restoration by the Army Corps of Engineers in 2012. Of note, the craziest item removed was a fully intact white plastic deck chair. Jack and I hopelessly pulled and tugged until we hooked up ropes and a hoist to ratchet it from the quicksand. Jack was 67, I was 62; we took the rest of the day off. More prevalent then than now, other more dangerous items removed from both streams were rebar and broken plastic pipes. Bordering signs say, “Please keep out of the stream from March to June,” which I encourage, however, I still encourage children to enjoy the stream with the caveat that there may be broken bottles; the glass is impossible to see, but their caps are the snitches, both of which give stiches.
Year after year the amount of source-plastic we pull from the half-mile stretch of each creek is still alarmingly high and disgustingly representative of a community whose recreation disregards their plastics in the streams. IVGID’s employees care and I’m sure it’s near the top of their list. Chief Summers’ Fire Department is more informed about the positive aspects of leaving fallen trees in the stream. Fallen trees across the stream create natural dams resulting in spawning beds for the seven or more native and naturalized species that use Third Creek to build their Redds (nests in gravel). These natural dams increase water storage, and help clean the water as it percolates to bedrock, ultimately to the lake.
Alas, empty and full Dog-Poop bags, tennis balls, dog balls, golf balls, sandals, shoes , socks and plastic wrappers “mysteriously” end up in all of Tahoe’s creeks. All are regular seasonal contributors to the lake’s microplastic problem. See the photo of just 1/10th of the study’s area this year. Did I say, One Tenth? I meant it. Not seen in the photo are the commercial dog-toss balls that I gave to more responsible dog owners.
The good news is that in 2024, the study’s lead biologist captured and registered the first known Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT) to return to Third Creek. A seminal moment in the last eighty years, and the reason for the study of the Rainbow trout spawning in Nevada’s North Shore creeks. (To see this intrepid forerunner of cousins to come, go to Friendsofthirdcreek.com.) His arrival is wonderful in many ways: With years of prodding by the Nevada Department of Wildlife, for the last few years the US Fisheries has released young LCT into Nevada waters at Cave Rock and Sand Harbor. Those fish, none of which are breading size, follow their hearts along the lake’s natural gyre, counterclockwise toward Incline’s creeks. Most of these smaller fish, per Mackinaw gut investigations, feed the awaiting and voracious Lake Trout. Bearing up to fight the fearful odds, this first LCT became part of the study. More than likely, curious, it followed a spawning pair of Rainbows to enter Third Creek, and became our hero.
Against the wisdom of aboriginal spoken history, the US Fish and Wildlife Service would only call one of the 63 Lake Tahoe streams an LTC “habitat”. As explained to me by a retired LTBMU Third Creek watershed hydrologist; “For the forest service to make a creek legally classified as LCT ‘habitat’, the US Fisheries service would not take the aboriginal’s ‘Spoken History.”
Instead, it required that any stream, to be so designated, must be based on written history.'” Stepping up and out: Thank You, Washoe Nevada and California Tribe. Somewhere in the tribe’s pre-twentieth century written history Third Creek’s LCT was found. Lake Tahoe’s Third Creek is a protected habitat for the LCT.
The arrival of this young Lahontan Cutthroat has become celebratory, because he has added to the “Proof-of-concept;” required for further plans and protections to kick in. Since our hero arrived, plans for a semi-permanent weir have come to fruition and are nearing the request-for-bidding stage. Believe it or not, funding has been achieved. It’s slated to be installed this fall and should be active during the 2027 LCT spawning season. After the Rainbow/LCT spawn, the weir will be raised to allow those others in line: the Orange-Sided Tahoe Suckers, then the minnow-like schools of Red-sided Lahontan Shiners, whom you see in July and below your paddle boards. The list goes on through the end of November.
Before the Wašišiw peoples returned to the valley’s warmer winter homes, Lake Tahoe’s three regional bands; the Welméti (Northerners), Páwalu (Valley/Easterners) and the Hungalélti (Southerners) gathered on the North Shore. The White Fish was the celebrated fall-harvest-party fish. According to the tribe’s cultural director, “There were so many White Fish in the autumn streams that one could dip a basket in the stream and fill it.”
Because they never completely dry up, perennial streams such as Third and Incline creeks, are also celebrities around the lake. They’ve been studied, along with the other 61 streams. In her PhD dissertation defense, my friend, a new PhD Stream Geneticist from UNR, achieved her doctoral degree by determining that these two streams are, “the most genetically diverse streams entering Tahoe.”
Knowing that over eleven million dollars was donated by charities, the Corps of Engineers, and Incline citizens, to renovate the lower sections of these two streams, and finding out the recent determination that Lake Tahoe’s microplastic numbers are embarrassingly registered as one of the worst alpine lakes polluted with microplastics on the planet. And knowing that there is a line of native and non-native fish, combined with a special biology in these two creeks that have survived millennia, why, year after year, do we trash Tahoe with the junk in the photograph?
In the grand scheme of preserving Lake Tahoe, all 63 streams and their watersheds need our improved vigilance to help Mother Nature’s aquatic life survive humans. Let’s return to the joy!
Steve Dolan Fills his retirement as a writer and registered Environmental/Education lobbyist in the Nevada Legislature for Friendsofthirdcreek.com. As a Third Creek Watershed specialist, his free 50 minute talk on the history, geology, water rights, flora, and fauna may be requested. Contact him at, friendsofthirdcreek@gmail.com
