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Overview
Basics
Basics
Snowpack in alpine environments may contain regional pollution acquired through wet and dry deposition processes, as well as from immediate sources such as snowmobile engine exhaust. Understanding the fate and transport of pollutants in alpine environments is crucial for managing emission sources to mitigate their impacts on natural resources. This study presents results from detailed chemical analysis of exhaust from snowmobiles as well as snow and surface water collected in Blackwood Canyon, a tributary to the west shore of Lake Tahoe and a popular winter recreation area for snowmobile riders.
Completed
2002
2006
2013
$70,000
Alan Heyvaert (alan.heyvaert@dri.edu)
11/20/2019
11/21/2019
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| Location Information | Location Notes |
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Organizations
EIP Details
EIP Basics
EIP Basics
04.01.01.0154 - Evaluation of Transport and Fate of Snowmobile Emissions in the Snowpack and Surface Water
Performance Measures
Expected Performance Measures
Expected Performance Measures
No expected performance measures set for this project.
Reported Performance Measures
Reported Performance Measures
No annual performance measure accomplishments entered for this project.
| No accomplishments to report for: | |
| Year(s) | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
|---|---|
| Explanation | Water and snow sampling in the field, snowmobile emissions sampling, and all chemical analysis occurred up through 2008. Data synthesis and spatial analysis occurred through 2012. The project concluded in 2013 with the doctoral dissertation and the following scientific manuscript in 2014. |
Funding
Expected Funding
Expected Funding
$70,000
$70,000
$0
| Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Research Institute (DRI) | $30,000 | $30,000 | $0 |
| U.S. Forest Service (USFS - LTBMU) | $40,000 | $40,000 | $0 |
| Grand Total | $70,000 | $70,000 | $0 |
Reported Expenditures
Reported Expenditures
| Total | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Research Institute | $22,684 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $11,684 | $11,000 |
| U.S. Forest Service | $77,134 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $38,567 | $38,567 |
| Grand Total | $99,818 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $50,251 | $49,567 |
Photos
Ascending FS3 towards Barker Pass
(Timing: During) (~519 KB)
Cutting a snow pit wall prior to snow sample collection
(Timing: During) (~194 KB)
Looking south from Twin Peaks with snowmobile tracks in the foreground
(Timing: During) (~343 KB)
Snowmobile exhaust sampling
(Timing: During) (~287 KB)
Water brake dynamometer installed on snowmobile engine
(Timing: During) (~286 KB)
Other Details
Watersheds
No watersheds set for this project.
Threshold Categories
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Snowmobile emissions may contain high levels of unburned fuel and oil, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and particulate matter. Characterizing these emissions helps land managers consider what areas may be open to snowmobile recreation in order to protect air and water quality.
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A goal of this study was to provide information about the relative use an area gets by snowmobiles and the accumulation, transport, and transformation of emissions in the snowpack and watershed. Balancing those impacts with access to desired terrain and expectations of other, nonmotorized, recreational groups helps ensure a high quality recreational experience for a diverse range of activities.
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This study clearly shows hydrocarbon pollutant loads in the snowpack correlating with localized snowmobile activity, and documents the transport of those pollutants with snowmelt and surface water to Lake Tahoe. Further study is warranted to determine the toxicity of emissions derived pollutants to aquatic systems and how they may be effecting trophic structure and ecosystem health.
Local and Regional Plans
No Local and Regional Plans set for this project.
Related Projects
Related Projects
No Related Projects set for this project.
External Links
- Mark McDaniel & Barbara Zielinska (2015) Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Snowpack and Surface Water in Blackwood Canyon, Lake Tahoe, CA, as Related to Snowmobile Activity, Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds, 35:1, 102-119
- Semivolatile Organic Compounds in Snowmobile Emissions and in the Snowpack and Surface Water in Blackwood Canyon, Lake Tahoe, CA
Notes
Notes
| 11/20/2019 9:00 AM | Mark McDaniel | A product of this work is a dissertation, "Semivolatile Organic Compounds in Snowmobile Emissions and in the Snowpack and Surface Water in Blackwood Canyon, Lake Tahoe, CA" which can be accessed in full at the following archive: https://scholarworks.unr.edu/bitstream/handle/11714/3099/McDaniel_unr_0139D_11288.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y and in the scientific literature as: Mark McDaniel & Barbara Zielinska (2015) Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Snowpack and Surface Water in Blackwood Canyon, Lake Tahoe, CA, as Related to Snowmobile Activity, Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds, 35:1, 102-119, DOI: 10.1080/10406638.2014.935449 |