Western Nevada College's Professor of Geosciences, Dr. Winnie Kortemeier, will be presenting her findings on Lake Tahoe's age at the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences in Incline Village. Her presentation, titled “Lake Tahoe: The Science and the Hype of Being North America’s Oldest Lake,” is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 26.
Dr. Kortemeier discovered in 2024 that Lake Tahoe is North America's oldest permanent freshwater lake. This conclusion was reached through radiometric dating of rocks and studying the interaction between basalt and the lake water over her 20 years of research. According to her findings, "Big Blue" is at least 2.3 million years old.
“I love Lake Tahoe,” Dr. Kortemeier stated, adding that she regularly takes students there for field trips to share her knowledge about the area.
The event will open its doors at 5:30 p.m., with advance tickets available for $10 via EventBrite or free for students with a valid ID. Tickets purchased at the door will cost $15.
WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe expressed pride in Dr. Kortemeier's work, noting her as a role model who brings valuable real-world experiences into the classroom.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://tahoe.ucdavis.edu/events/tahoe-north-americas-oldest-lake, and further inquiries can be made by calling 775-881-7560 or emailing tercinfo@ucdavis.edu.