Volunteer to test Tahoe water on Snapshot Day

The 13th annual Water Quality Snapshot Day is May 11 from 9am to noon throughout Lake Tahoe and the Upper Truckee River area.

Volunteers are needed to conduct near shore water quality sampling and habitat assessments. The event is a citizen-based environmental effort designed to take a “snapshot,” at one moment in time, of the water quality throughout the Lake Tahoe and Truckee River watershed. Water quality monitoring will take place from the tributaries flowing into Lake Tahoe all the way to the waters of Pyramid Lake.

It is sponsored by the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, League to Save Lake Tahoe, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, UCCooperative Extension, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Incline Village General Improvement District, Tahoe Water Suppliers Association, UC Davis and the Truckee River Watershed Council.

Lake Tahoe and Truckee community volunteers will meet at central locations for an overview briefing about water quality measurements.

South Lake Tahoe volunteers meet at Lake Tahoe Community College. North Lake Tahoe volunteers meet at Patton Landing (Waterman Landing) on Highway 28 in Carnelian Bay.Truckee-area volunteers meet at the Truckee River Watershed Council office, 10418 Donner Pass Road.

Volunteer teams, led by trained group leaders, will then fan out to take samples and measurements at various locations at the same time on the same day. The teams will field-test streams for dissolved oxygen, total dissolve solids, pH and temperature; collect water samples for laboratory analysis of nutrients, sediment and bacteria; and conduct visual habitat assessments of the sites.

To sign up as a volunteer or team leader, you can register online at www.snapshotday.org or call the local SSD coordinator:

• Mary Kay Wagner (Truckee River-Nevada portion) — (775) 687.9454

• Andy Otto (Truckee River – California portion) — (530) 550.8760

• Emily Mathews (South Shore Lake Tahoe)  — (530) 541.5388

• Rebecca Williams (North Shore Lake Tahoe) — (775) 832.1284.