News
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Road sanders and sweepers in the middle of July? It may seem like a curious sight on Village Boulevard, but the typically winter-time vehicles roaming the streets are part of an experiment to test how street sweeping can help keep Lake Tahoe blue.
According to recent science, the main factor that affects Lake Tahoe's quality is fine sediments — small particles that stay suspended in the water. Studies show fine sediment particles in urban runoff need to be reduced 71 percent from 2004 levels for Lake Tahoe to reach its historic 100 feet of clarity.
To reduce that runoff, Nevada Tahoe Conservation District hopes to go to the source, said Scott Brown, a hydrologist and program manager who is heading up the experiment.
“What if we avoided getting the fine sediment in the water to begin with?” he asked. “It's a form of source control.”
In the next few weeks, these street sweepers and sanders will travel on Village Boulevard between Harold Drive to Peepsight Court to mimic a winter environment as part of the study.
On Tuesday, road sanders will canvass the roads twice in the normal mixture that Washoe County puts down during the winter. Then for the next two weeks, street sweepers will travel the roads, and what they pick up will be measured.
Finally on July 15 or 16 the science team will let loose a faux rainstorm and examine the runoff for fine sediments.
The experiment, conducted by NTCD with equipment and manpower from Washoe County, is funded by the United States Forest Service and Nevada State Lands.
If the study proves that frequent street sweeping with a dustless sweeper significantly reduces sediment load, it could lead to policy and mindset changes around the basin, Brown said.
“The funders see sweepers as maintenance, not as Best Management Practices. It's not something that keeps the lake clean; it keeps the road clean,” he said.
A change in that point of view could change project design, said Washoe County Roads Manager Dick Minto.
“If it shows the sweeping is efficient to get fine sediments out of the lake, it may make sense to sweep the roads more frequently and with different equipment,” Minto said.
According to recent science, the main factor that affects Lake Tahoe's quality is fine sediments — small particles that stay suspended in the water. Studies show fine sediment particles in urban runoff need to be reduced 71 percent from 2004 levels for Lake Tahoe to reach its historic 100 feet of clarity.
To reduce that runoff, Nevada Tahoe Conservation District hopes to go to the source, said Scott Brown, a hydrologist and program manager who is heading up the experiment.
“What if we avoided getting the fine sediment in the water to begin with?” he asked. “It's a form of source control.”
In the next few weeks, these street sweepers and sanders will travel on Village Boulevard between Harold Drive to Peepsight Court to mimic a winter environment as part of the study.
On Tuesday, road sanders will canvass the roads twice in the normal mixture that Washoe County puts down during the winter. Then for the next two weeks, street sweepers will travel the roads, and what they pick up will be measured.
Finally on July 15 or 16 the science team will let loose a faux rainstorm and examine the runoff for fine sediments.
The experiment, conducted by NTCD with equipment and manpower from Washoe County, is funded by the United States Forest Service and Nevada State Lands.
If the study proves that frequent street sweeping with a dustless sweeper significantly reduces sediment load, it could lead to policy and mindset changes around the basin, Brown said.
“The funders see sweepers as maintenance, not as Best Management Practices. It's not something that keeps the lake clean; it keeps the road clean,” he said.
A change in that point of view could change project design, said Washoe County Roads Manager Dick Minto.
“If it shows the sweeping is efficient to get fine sediments out of the lake, it may make sense to sweep the roads more frequently and with different equipment,” Minto said.
