[1] The lake is bordered by Scotts Creek, which defines its south shore, and California State Route 20 to the north.

Parts of Bachelor Valley may be flooded when Tule Lake backs up and passed through the culverts under highway 20.

[3] Tule Lake has deep alluvial soils and silty clay loam, suitable for field crops.

[10] In 1899 production of string beans was increased, and efforts began to drain parts of Tule Lake for farm use.

There have been proposals by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and (United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to restore wetlands of Tule Lake and the adjacent Rodman Slough Reclamation Area.