Pilot Study: Monitoring Summer Metaphyton Growth along the South and Southeastern Shore of Lake Tahoe

This project tested and evaluated methods that could be used to estimate the distribution and biomass of metaphyton in the nearshore and washing up off of three beaches where metaphyton had been observed in the past: Round Hill Pines Beach in NV and El Dorado and Regan Beaches in CA. Observations through time for Lake Tahoe suggest metaphyton is heaviest in mid-summer to early fall. Monitoring was conducted during two occasions between July and September 2015, as it was believed this would capture the period of peak metaphyton abundance. One transect extending perpendicular to the shore was established at each of the study sites. Monitoring included biomass sampling and photo documentation.