WEBVTT CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW CONCERNS ACROSS THE TAHOE BASIN. MIKE: LAKE TAHOE ATTRACTS VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING ASTRID MARTENS OF THE NETHERLANDS. >> THAT’S WHAT WE LIKE MOST IS THE BLUE WATER, THE COLDNESS, THE FRESH AIR. MIKE: BUT LAKE TAHOE IS WARMING UP. SCIENTISTS AT UC DAVIS RECORDED AN AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 68 DEGREES LAST JULY. >> IT ACTUALLY ROSE ABOUT SIX DEGREES FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. MIKE: UC DAVIS PROFESSOR GEOFF SCHLADOW IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE TAHOE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER, AND HIS STUDIES REVEAL AIR TEMPERATURES IN THE TAHOE BASIN ARE ALSO ON THE RISE. >> SNOW AS WE KNOW IT IN THE TAHOE BASIN IS GOING TO BE FAR LESS PREVALENT IN COMING DECADES. MIKE: SCIENTISTS PROJECT WE’LL SEE LESS SNOW IN WINTER AND MORE SEVERE FIRES IN THE TAHOE BASIN. >> THAT’S BEEN A LONGER TERM TREND WE’VE SEEN OF RISING AIR AND WATER TEMPERATURES HERE AT LAKE TAHOE. MIKE: TOM LOTSHAW OF THE TAHOE REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY SAYS CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAVING A BIG ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. >> WITH WARMING AIR TEMPERATURES WE ARE SEEING A STRESSED FOREST, INCREASED TREE MORTALITY, BARK BEETLE AND OTHER INSECT PROBLEMS. SO WE ARE TRYING TO REALLY RAMP UP THE FOREST HEALTH TREATMENTS, TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A HEALTHY, RESILIENT FOREST HERE AT LAKE TAHOE. MIKE: AND LAKE TAHOE’S PHYSICAL HEALTH IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE REGION’S ECONOMY AND ITS ABILITY TO ATTRACT VISITORS. >> WE’RE STAYING IN A BEAUTIFUL HOME OVER ON THE WEST SIDE THAT DOESN’T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING. AND IT’S HOT AT NIGHT, AND I’VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THAT AT TAHOE. MIKE: CLIMATE PROJECTIONS FOR THE TAHOE BASIN ARE VERY SOBERING. SCIENTISTS AT UC DAVIS ARE PREDICTING AIR TEMPERATURES HERE COULD RISE AS MUCH AS NINE DEGREES BY THE END OF THE CENTURY. AT LAKE TAHOE, MIKE LUERY, KCRA 3