Lake Tahoe is designated an Outstanding National Resource Water and a “Waterbody of extraordinary ecological or aesthetic value” by the states of California and Nevada, respectively, for its world famous clarity and striking blue color. Over the past half century however, clarity has significantly diminished, threatening Lake Tahoe’s value as one of the few large alpine lakes in the world with exceptionally clean and clear waters. The Lake Tahoe TMDL Program seeks to effectively guide efforts to restore historic clarity within the lake so people may once again be able to see to depths of nearly 100 feet.