No Project associated with this Finding

The University of Nevada, Reno, was contracted by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to collect weekly samples to be quantitively analyzed for Total Coliform and E. coli abundances at eight Lake Tahoe beaches (Camp Richardson, Tahoe City Commons Beach, Incline Beach, Lakeside Beach, Regan Beach, Round Hill Pines, Timber Cove, and Zephyr Cove) during 12 weeks of peak summer visitation. Water quality parameters were also measured during bacterial sample collection, and beach usage was estimated. Eleven of 75 samples collected in California violated California’s single threshold value (STV) of 320 MPN/100 ml. Eight of those samples were collected at Camp Richardson and were associated with the identification of a sewage leak. A single sample from Lakeside Beach, and a sample collected after heavy rainfall at Commons Beach were also elevated above the STV. Another sample with elevated bacterial concentrations was associated with a sewage leak at Timber Cove. Uncovering the sewage leaks and the subsequent swift repairs to aging infrastructure demonstrate the effectiveness and necessity of E. coli monitoring programs at recreational beach sites.