Taylor and Tallack Creeks form an important wetland complex separate from Lake Tahoe by Baldwin Beach. Historically, these two wetland complexes provided approximately 400 acres of wetland and meadow habitat. The valley between Taylor and Tallac creeks is dissected by a series of east-west historic lagoons (or swales) that created wetland habitat for a variety of native animal and plant species. From historic aerial photos, it appears that these swales may have hydrologically connected Taylor and Tallac creeks and follow topographic features such as historic beaches/lake levels. In addition to man-made alterations, such as an access road that runs north-south in the middle of the wetland, the influx of aquatic invasive species, such as
Eurasian watermilfoil (
Myriophyllum spicatum), bull frogs and warm-water fishes have invaded both Tallac and Taylor creeks, which now compete with native species such as
Lahontan tui chub (
Gila bicolor pectinifer),
Lahontan redside shiner (
Richardsonius egregius),
Tahoe sucker (
Catostomus tahoensis) and
Tahoe yellowcress (
Rorippa subumbellata). The wetland is also historic habitat for Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, as well as
Lahontan cutthroat trout (
Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi), a threatened species listed on the Endangered Species Act.
Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT) is the only trout species native to Fallen Leaf Lake, Lake Tahoe and the
Truckee River Basin but were extirpated by introduction of predatory non-native
lake trout (
Salvelinus namaycush), other competing non-native
salmonids, and overfishing. Re-introduction into Fallen Leaf Lake of the Pilot Peak strain of Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT), established as the LCT strain native to the watershed, began in 2006. Each autumn, from late September through mid-October, mature
kokanee salmon (
Oncorhyncus nerka), transform from silver-blue color to a fiery vermilion, and run up Taylor Creek, near South Lake Tahoe. As spawning season approaches the fish acquire a humpback and protuberant jaw. After spawning they die and their carcasses provide a feast for gatherings of
mink (
Neovison vison),
black bears (
Ursus americanus), and
bald eagles (
Haliaeetus leucocephalus). These non-native salmon were translocated from the
North Pacific to Lake Tahoe in 1944, and Taylor Creek is their primary spawning stream in the Tahoe basin. Kokanee appear to compete for forage with the recently established threatened
Lahontan cutthroat trout in Fallen Leaf Lake. All of the beaver dams in Taylor Creek, which flows from
Fallen Leaf Lake to
Lake Tahoe, are destroyed annually each fall by the
U. S. Forest Service in order for
Kokanee salmon (
Oncorhynchus nerka) to spawn. A recent study of Taylor Creek showed that the beaver dam removal decreased wetland habitat, increased stream flow, and increased total phosphorus pollutants entering Lake Tahoe - all factors which negatively impact the clarity of the lake's water. ==Recreation==