Pacific Southwest Research Station

Impacts of Vehicle Activity on Airborne Particle Deposition to Lake Tahoe

Full title: Impacts of vehicle activity on airborne particle deposition to Lake Tahoe

Lead Researchers: Hampden Kuhns, John Gillies, and Alan Gertler, Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute

Abstract

This proposal addresses the need to accurately estimate the impact of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on particulate matter (PM) loading to the lake as stated in the Air Quality - Particle Deposition Science - Theme. The work will be accomplished via seven objectives: (1) assembling datasets, reports, and journal articles from previous studies, (2) summarizing the location and timing of road dust PM emissions in the basin, (3) summarizing vehicle classes operating on different road types in the basin, (4) summarizing the amount of suspended material that deposits close to the roadway, (5) analyzing the link between road location and the material transported over the lake, (6) assessing the impact of the number and location of trips on lake water clarity, and (7) reconciling estimates of atmospheric deposition fluxes to the lake with prior measurements. The results from the study will enable planners to more accurately estimate the effects of growth as well as VMT reduction strategies on lake water clarity. In addition, the project will provide important information on sediment deposition flux to the lake for use in water quality modeling.