Coat of pollen mucking up most of Tahoe
The yellow haze blowing through the South Shore is the annual pine pollen.
In addition to kicking up allergies and leaving behind yellow everywhere, the winds are a fire threat. A red flag warning is in effect for the Lake Tahoe Basin and most of northwestern Nevada until 10pm Thursday.
The wind is expected to dissipate on Friday, but the temps will be dropping. The high on June 22 in South Lake Tahoe is expected to be 65, dipping to 61 on Saturday and returning to 65 on Sunday. Lows will be in the 30s.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Car washes should be doing good business.
Pollen collects in a swale at the end of a driveway.
Pollen floats on Lake Tahoe. Photos/Kathryn Reed
How does the pollen affect lake clarity?
The Green Monster!
How long does the (intense) pollen season last?
Lisa, it could last at least a few weeks, but one real good downpour of rain would help to knock it down a bit.
Shouldn’t the TRPA be working on a grant to cut down all the trees and fine the USFS for the damage to Lake clarity done by their trees?
Every year I forget what a mess it is. The interior of my house is a complete disaster.
Kay
I asked the pollen question to the director of monitoring, the question has been asked before, specifically about phosphorous. It is part of the ecosystem in all lakes. Where does it all go? Unlike other matter, specifically fine particulates, it goes away. Pine pollen is amphiphilic, and floats. It tends to stay on the surface and you see it in greater concentrations near the shore because it travels and accumulates.
Long term it is not a threat to lake clarity, like fine particulates that sink very slowly in water and refract light more than other particles.
Sorry if I let down anyone who wants to blame pollen instead of humans. :(
SCIENCE!
The Yellow Plague – especially bad for a couple of weeks. Come on rain!!!