Lake Tahoe: Drought, climate change threatening winter, way of life at iconic landmark

TAHOE CITY -- There's something disconcerting about life at Lake Tahoe these days.

It's still winter, but visitors are renting bikes instead of snowshoes and kayaks instead of skis. Come summer -- without last-ditch torrential rains -- the lake level is expected to be at such a historic low that some marinas will have to dredge for boats to launch. Jumping off the end of a pier could result in a rock-hard landing.California's epic drought, entering its perilous fourth year, has combined with a pattern of warming temperatures to cast a "Twilight Zone" quality on one of the state's most popular winter destinations and iconic landmarks.[Sledders call it a day after playing in sparse snow in Kingvale near Lake Tahoe, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2015. California’s epic drought is]
Sledders call it a day after playing in sparse snow in Kingvale near Lake Tahoe, Calif., on Saturday, March 7, 2015. California's epic drought is entering a perilous fourth year and is forcing change at one of the state's most iconic landmarks, Lake Tahoe. (Patrick Tehan/Bay Area News Group) ( Patrick Tehan )Lake Tahoe Summer Hailstorm

"It's bizarre what people are doing now. It's so out of season," said Geoffrey Schladow, director of the Tahoe Environmental Research Center and a UC Davis professor. "Years like this are going to become more common."