Indicator
Nearshore Turbidity (No Stream Influence)
Basics
Nearshore Turbidity (No Stream Influence)
Littoral Turbidity Non Stream
Outcome
Program
Nephlometric Turbidity Unit (NTU)
WQ4: Turbidity shall not exceed one NTU in shallow waters of the Lake not directly influenced by stream discharges.
The compliance indicator for this threshold is a measurement of turbidity, calibrated in NTUs.
This Indicator is reported in the following LT Info areas:
Status

Annual average clarity in NTU as measured at the 10 UC-Davis TERC nearshore network stations. Years in which no data are reported reflect sensor down for a significant portion of the year. Estimates are preliminary and require additional QA/QC to account for bias introduced by animals, biofouling, and other factors. Two standards exist for nearshore clarity: less than one NTU for areas not directly influenced by stream discharge and less than three NTU for areas directly influenced by stream discharge. 

Name Options
Littoral Turbidity - Non-Stream
General

Program Nearshore Turbidity Monitoring

Approach

A pilot monitoring program of nearshore turbidity began with the first circuit completed in November 2014, followed by similar nearshore circuits completed in April, June, August and November 2015. Measurements were made at a depth of seven meters. Routine boat operating speeds are typically around 10 kilometers per hour in the nearshore areas (Heyvaert et al., 2016). Beginning 1991, nearshore turbidity was measured offshore at the 25-meter depth contour for several locations, including 1) mouth of Upper Truckee River and Trout Creek; 2) El Dorado Beach; 3) mouth of Edgewood Creek; 4) Nevada Beach; 5) mouth of Incline Creek; 6) Burnt Cedar Beach; 7) mouth of Ward Creek; 8) Tahoe State Recreation Area; and 9) the mouth of Blackwood Creek. More recently, nearshore clarity has been measured at approximately the seven-meter contour following a continuous circuit around the lakeshore. This strategy is considered more representative of littoral conditions where people interact with the lake

Partners

Associated Programs data not provided.