Assessment of groundwater nutrients and periphyton biomass in Lake Tahoe

Understanding the transformation and fate of nutrients in groundwater and surface waters is of critical importance for protecting and managing water resources in lake systems. In this investigation, we collected nutrient samples from groundwater and surface water during a 9-month monitoring period to evaluate the timing and availability of nutrients in the nearshore zone of Lake Tahoe. We estimated seasonal groundwater discharge using continuous hydraulic head measurements in piezometers placed in the shallow lakebed. The results indicate that groundwater and nutrient discharge through the lakebed appear to stimulate periphyton growth along the eulittoral zone of Lake Tahoe.