Sixteen Lake Tahoe Trees Poisoned on Purpose as Crews Race to Save Them

Sixteen trees around Lake Tahoe were deliberately poisoned earlier this month, and some of them are centuries old. Crews have removed contaminated soil, flushed the affected areas with water, and added minerals and biochar, a charcoal-based material that helps soil hold onto water and nutrients. Arborists and environmental specialists are consulting on what further steps make sense.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the poisoning. Officials say the full scope of the damage may not be clear for months or even years, which tells you how much uncertainty remains about whether these trees can be saved. For a lot of us, those trees are part of what makes a weekend in Tahoe feel like a weekend in Tahoe.

If you saw anything unusual near these trees or have information about what happened, the sheriff’s office wants to hear from you. What do the old-growth trees around Lake Tahoe mean to you? Let us know in the comments.