Appendix 9 - Climate Projections

Climate Projections for 2084

The Future Urban Climates mapping tool, designed by an ecologist at the University of Maryland shows that, with continued unchecked emissions, Lake Tahoe’s climate will be like Walla Walla, Washington, in 60 years, changing from “temperate conifer forests” to “deserts and xeric shrublands.”

Projected map of Tahoe Climate with unchecked emissions

Figure 17 Projected future climate of South Lake Tahoe if emissions are not reduced. Source: The Future Urban Climates map.

In a low emissions scenario, the Tahoe region’s climate would remain a temperate conifer forest, like Northern California.

Map of projected climate if emissions are reduced
Figure 18 Projected future climate of South Lake Tahoe if emissions are reduced. Source: The Future Urban Climates map

The Future Urban Climates map did not include Incline Village, NV, as an option for projection. South Lake Tahoe, in El Dorado County, California, is the only Lake Tahoe-adjacent city available in the tool, and we chose it as a comparable city because it has a similar altitude (6,225) to Incline Village (6,437 ft), which is located in Washoe County.

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