Tahoe Waterworks

by Robert Frohlich

Outside Art Warner's property along Lake Tahoe's West Shore near Eagle Rock, the soothing sounds of a waterfall drown out the noise of passing cars. Natural granite slabs and water-polished boulders line the streambed near the patio. Water winds from smooth, flowing sheets into a five-foot-deep pond.

"Being around water is very relaxing," says Warner, a landscape contractor from Granite Bay, California, whose business, Tahoe Water and Stone, specializes in building koi ponds, waterfalls and streambeds, as well as stone masonry. "Waterfalls, ponds—any type of water feature—create very pleasing feelings, both audio and visual."

Chic waterscapes are in, and at Lake Tahoe, they are becoming popular features in and around many homes. Whether a simple fountain, meandering stream, water garden or even fi sh bowl in the living room, the sight of water is captivating; the sound can move the spirit deep within. And even with what is arguably the most beautiful body of water lapping at their door, area residents are enjoying the soul-satisfying peace of further dressing up their homes and businesses with water.

"I wouldn't own a home without water features," says Charles Bluth, former owner of Cal Neva Resort at Crystal Bay. Bluth recently built a 20,000 square foot lakefront home on four acres in Glenbrook. Part of his carefully cultivated property includes water-loving gardens landscaped with colorful botanical spreads, a 35-foot-high waterfall and a pond system complete with a floating tea house. "To me, this type of landscaping is icing on the cake to living in the mountains," says Bluth, a resident of Lake Tahoe for 21 years. "Water features add variation to the home and a balance with the surrounding environment. They also add to my BMP (Best Managements Practices) system. My pond is a first line of defense for runoff. More than anything, it's a type of mountain landscaping that works together seasonally with nature."

Creating a water feature can be a lot like falling in love. At the very least, it carries some of the same risks: When the heat of infatuation and the height of the moment are gone, homeowners might find themselves squinting to see the merits of what just a few months before seemed ideal. For years, water features seemed to consist of swimming pools, fountains and lily ponds. Today, landscaping with water, indoors or out, presents a wealth of design opportunities. A powerful waterfall gives self-expression and fulfillment to some. For others, nothing is finer than a quiet waterfall with a stream fl owing to a bog garden. Still others enjoy indoor aquariums and reef tanks.

Many local architects and landscape designers have given a nod to feng shui, the study of the movement of energy, applying its principles to water feature design. Most realtors, including Chase International's Trinkie Watson, tell tales of clients employing water features to justify spending $1,000 per square foot on their homes.

"It's a big deal with some clients," says Watson, whose company is one of the leaders in luxury real estate around Lake Tahoe. "Introducing a water feature is an ideal way to enhance the energy of the home. In feng shui, water is also strongly associated with money, so a water feature supposedly can boost finances and luck."

Water gardening and water features have been around for centuries. Many traditional beliefs hold water as a sacred power and source of wisdom. The Egyptians cultivated water lilies for their priests. The Moors of Northern Africa used water features to cool their surroundings. Water gardens represented the heavens to Asian peoples. Later, French and German rulers displayed wealth and power with huge fountains, man-made streams, waterfalls and lakes. It's no wonder such items remain popular displays of prosperity today.

"A reason for water features' accelerated growth is the supporting technology," says Jon Valdez, owner of Genesis Systems, headquartered in Graeagle, California. "There's a wider variety of materials, components and purification systems that allow easier service and maintenance."

Valdez's company specializes in environmental construction, natural resource management and premier landscapes. "We build ecosystems and habitats for aquariums for both commercial and private residences," he explains. "There's really no box for us. No two projects are ever the same. It's pretty amazing, some of the things we've been asked to design and build." Valdez has designed projects across the country, including moats around private homes, trout ponds and massive fish aquariums for casinos, hotels and hospitals.

"We designed a watering hole for an outdoor sportsman at his home which covered two surface acres," says Valdez. "A series of 14 waterfalls allowed for kayaking and fly-fishing. Trout spawned up the waterfalls, and bald eagles nested close to the site to catch the trout. It was like something out of National Geographic." Valdez says that most water features make a relatively small footprint. The best landscapes strive to work with nature and can be designed to avoid major impacts on the existing environment.

"To me, one of the better things about building these types of water features is seeing the owners becoming more educated about the natural world around them," adds Valdez. "They become strong advocates for the environment."

As owner of Sierra Saltwater Systems, Robert Ordway brings the ocean to the mountains by designing and maintaining saltwater aquariums for homes and business around the Basin. Part marine biologist, part micro-pool cleaner, Ordway specializes in designing reef tanks complete with fi sh and coral, a passion that began as a child surfing off Santa Cruz. Today, he has a budding business that ranges from small household tanks to 1,200-gallon, museum-quality showpieces.

"I call it living art," says Ordway, who even cooks up his own special brand of organic fi sh food for his customers. "I think aquariums and reef tanks are the most inspiring water features. They teem with life, are colorful and always changing shape. They need to be maintained, and some can be pricey, but overall they're attractive and affordable."

The challenges of maintaining water features in the mountains include battling temperature swings, power outages and other adversities that can take their toll. "If it's designed well, engineered properly and built correctly, most water features are low maintenance," says Valdez. "Some even take care of themselves."

Bruce Pohle, a ten-year North Shore resident who owns a lakefront home in Cedar Flat, says his family enjoys their custom-built, 100-gallon reef tank that graces the living room. "We like the water," says Pohle. "Although we live right on The Lake, we still enjoy our indoor water feature. I love watching the fish. It's a soothing and therapeutic experience. It certainly adds another dimension to our home."