Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt will be in Tahoe City, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 12, to join U.S. Geological Survey scientists in exploring and mapping the deepest reaches of the Lake Tahoe floor in search of explanations for the rapidly decreasing clarity in Tahoe's famously clear waters.

"In the late 1860s, when Mark Twain first came to Lake Tahoe, these were the clearest waters in the world, with water visibility of more than 160 feet. But that was before the Comstock Lode silver strike, clear-cutting of native trees, and two stroke engines," Babbitt said. "Now visibility in the Lake is about 60 feet and falling. We need to have a clear picture of the natural and human influences affecting Lake Tahoe to know how best to restore it. This project is a classic case of sound science guiding environmental restoration."

Babbitt will go aboard the USGS research vessel, the Inland Surveyor, to observe the use of acoustic sonar by U.S. Geologic Survey scientists. This technology will allow development of high-resolution, 3-dimensional digital data, providing researchers and the public first-of-their-kind photograph-like maps of the lake floor. The data will reveal lake floor sediment patterns, sunken artifacts, and establish a base map for future research by USGS and other scientific organizations. This information will be compared with maps made in the 1920s to study the changes in the lake in the past 70 years.

"This is a key road map for future research and restoration," Babbitt said. "We need a comprehensive understanding of all factors--particularly sedimentation patterns and rates and the exact contours and water volume--so that we can accurately predict what work will be most effective in restoring clarity to the lake. These issues are very complex. But this project is an important part of our fulfillment of the President's and Vice President's commitment to protect this magical place, a place Twain called 'the fairest sight the whole earth affords.'"

Last July, President Clinton and Vice President Gore held a Presidential Forum at Lake Tahoe to galvanize federal help to restore the Tahoe watershed, emphasizing close coordination with state and local efforts. Hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds have been committed to restoration of the Tahoe watershed, including $20 million in FY 1998 and $27 million in FY 1999.

There are many local legends surrounding the depth and content of Lake Tahoe. Myths as to the depth range from thousands of feet to bottomless, although previous work estimates the deepest part of the lake at about 1600 feet. Reported contents include sunken ships and aircraft.

Babbitt will board the USGS ship on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 1998 at 9:00 a.m. at the Tahoe City Marina at the Boatworks in Tahoe City, Calif. Press will be allowed to board the research vessel between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Due to limited space, only one or two media representatives will be on the research vessel with the Secretary. However, an additional press boat will be provided for accredited media. After the vessels return at approximately 10 a.m., Babbitt will meet with media individually to discuss the Tahoe restoration effort.