Degradation of Lake Tahoe’s nearshore quality is a primary concern. Addressing nearshore degradation is a priority of NDEP, the Lahontan Water Board, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) because the nearshore is the part of Lake Tahoe which most people see and experience. Issues impacting the nearshore environment include visible algal growth as well as the establishment and threat of aquatic invasive species. In addition, the adequacy of existing indicators, standards and monitoring protocols to facilitate assessment of nearshore conditions remains questionable.

In recent years, Tahoe’s nearshore has become a focus of science activities. Monitoring and research are essential to improving our understanding of the nearshore water quality and related processes and impacts. Click Nearshore Science Projects to download a spreadsheet summary of these projects.

Of particular interest is the Evaluation of Nearshore Ecology and Aesthetics Project. NDEP, the Lahontan Board, TRPA, and USEPA partnered with the Tahoe Science Program to synthesize the extensive amount of existing information and data, and to initiate a comprehensive approach to address the nearshore environment. An agency work group is coordinating with a team of scientists to accomplish the following primary tasks by the summer of 2012:

1. Review and synthesis of current and complete projects relevant to the nearshore environment.
2. Resolution on a technical definition of the nearshore environment.
3. An assessment of existing nearshore water quality indicators and standards, with recommendations for revisions, as needed.
4. A conceptual model linking specific sources of pollutants and characterizing relative loading rates, transport mechanisms, impacts and effectiveness of controls.
5. A monitoring plan to measure and assess the recommended indicators.

A public stakeholder meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 2012 to present the results of the project. The agencies also intend to engage stakeholders in future actions that may include development of revised nearshore water quality indicators and standards and/or additional implementation measures to improve nearshore conditions.

Current implementation actions to address nearshore water quality include:

1. Boat inspections and other pilot projects to control and prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
2. Development and implementation of fertilizer management plans.
3. Water quality improvement projects to control and infiltrate urban stormwater runoff.

Although the recently approved Lake Tahoe TMDL lays the framework for implementation measures to restore deepwater clarity within Lake Tahoe, these efforts will undoubtedly help improve nearshore water quality conditions as well. The TMDL calls for specific load reductions to meet the deepwater objective, but the flexibility exists for municipal jurisdictions, state highway departments, and federal and state land management agencies to prioritize implementation activities in locations that provide the greatest benefits to nearshore conditions.