Introduction

Welcome to the Lake Tahoe Data Clearinghouse website !!!

This Lake Tahoe Data Clearinghouse website, created and maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in partnership with Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies and groups, is a gateway to information and data on Lake Tahoe and its basin.

The primary goal of this clearinghouse is to facilitate the coordination of research, monitoring, and environmental-management activities in the Lake Tahoe Basin and to ensure the widest possible access to data and information resulting from such activities. The site is designed to ensure that all interested parties -- scientists, engineers, resource managers, developers, and the public -- have quick and easy access to Lake Tahoe data and information.

Users of this clearinghouse have access to a wide range of digital data and Geographic Information System (GIS) products. Examples include high-quality digital maps of digital elevation models, digital orthophoto quadrangles, digital line graphs, and digital raster graphics for the Lake Tahoe area. Some of the data resides on the USGS server at the Western Geographic Science Center, Menlo Park, California. The majority of the data and information, located in databases maintained by the partnering agencies, is accessible from this clearinghouse via links.

Welcome

This section is a good starting point for those interested in a variety of information concerning Lake Tahoe.

Topics Covered:

• Introduction -- An introduction to the goal and purpose of the Lake Tahoe Data Clearinghouse website.
• USGS -- An overview of the USGS mission and its map products for Lake Tahoe.
• Lake Tahoe Initiative -- Background on the Lake Tahoe Initiative.
• Geography & History -- Get to know the geography of Lake Tahoe and some of the history of this beautiful natural resource.
• Lake Facts -- Some facts concerning Lake Tahoe.

Digital Data

This section allows users to have easy access to a wide range of digital data and GIS products specific to Lake Tahoe. Examples include high-quality digital maps of bathymetry, hydrography, roads, vegetation cover, forests, timber, soils, and population for the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The USGS provides two free downloadable software tools (Dem3d and Dlgv32 viewers) for viewing digital data. For more information and downloads of the viewers, please visit the DEM and DLG Viewer page.

USGS provides four digital cartographic products (the 4 D's):
1. Digital Elevation Model (DEM).
2. Digital Orthophoto Quadrangle (DOQ).
3. Digital Line Graph (DLG).
4. Digital Raster Graphic (DRG).

Topics Covered:

• GIS Data -- GIS data depot available for all available downloads are linked from here.
• DEM -- Cartographic/geographic data of elevations in xyz coordinates (view data in 3-dimensions).
• DOQ -- Digital, uniform-scale image created from aerial photos (a photographic map).
• DLG -- Cartographic data in vector format (geographic data in points, lines, and polygons).
• DRG -- A scanned version of the USGS 7.5-minute topographic map.
• Bathymetry -- Relief map and data of the lake floor of Lake Tahoe.
• Landsat 7 -- Satellite image of Earth's surface.
• Landcover -- Information of Earth's surface.
• Census -- Population count.
• Soils -- A survey of the soil types in Lake Tahoe region.

General

This section consists of general interest information.

Topics Covered:

• Partners -- A partial list of Lake Tahoe Partnerships.
• Help Desk -- Questions and Answers regarding the Lake Tahoe Data Clearinghouse.
• Maps -- Maps of Lake Tahoe area.
• Pictures -- Views of Lake Tahoe from Earth and Space.
• Sources -- A list of sources and references to Lake Tahoe reports and links.

Note

All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.

Highlighted and (or) underlined terms are clickable and will take you to a new page. The footer symbol () marks links to external web sites and selected pages that will open in a new window, with a few exceptions. Exceptions include but are not limited to the following: no footer symbol () is placed before images and the signatures that have links to external web sites.

Thank You

Thank you for visiting the Lake Tahoe Data Clearinghouse website. The USGS and its partners designed this website for ease of use, and your feedback is encouraged. Please send your comments to Connie Hoong at choong@usgs.gov, or click on Feedback at the bottom of the page.