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III. The Role of Research and Monitoring at Lake Tahoe History of Water Quality Monitoring The Lake Tahoe Interagency Monitoring Program (LTIMP) resulted from a series of meetings, beginning in 1978, initiated by the University and including state and federal agencies. It was apparent that a strong environmental monitoring program was necessary to accommodate the needs of the various agencies concerned with land-use planning and regulation. The University's basic research program alone could no longer provide the expanded water quality data requirements in the Tahoe basin. As a result of these discussions LTIMP was formally established in 1979 to collect water and air quality information necessary to support the extensive regulatory and research activities in the basin. LTIMP now consists of 12 federal, state and local agencies with the Directorship residing in the Tahoe Research Group. The relationship between LTIMP and TRG is critical in the University's effort to contribute to the scientific understanding of environmental processes (Figure 17). With over 16 years of experience, data from LTIMP has been used for many purposes, including successful defense in litigation brought against the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, erosion control planning, construction of capital improvement projects, environmental policy, community growth planning, and support of basic research. State and federal planning and enforcement agencies must base their decisions on data that will withstand the most careful scrutiny. Long-term monitoring of the lake and its tributary streams, as presently accomplished by the LTIMP program, is required as part of the adoption of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Basin Threshold Plan. TRG and LTIMP monitoring currently includes sampling for lake water quality and aquatic ecology, stream flow and water quality, and precipitation and atmospheric deposition of nutrients. |
 Figure 17. Tahoe model for UC Davis involvement in scientific research and monitoring. | |
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