Relevance

This indicator estimates daily emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) based on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission inventory for the California portion of the Lake Tahoe Region and the recently installed monitoring at the TRPA offices in Stateline, Nevada. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of a group of highly reactive gasses known as “nitrogen oxides.” Other nitrogen oxides include nitrous acid and nitric acid. While federal standards cover the entire group of NOx. NO2 is the component of greatest interest and the indicator for the larger group of NOx. In addition to contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone and fine particle pollution, NO2 is linked with regional haze, global warming, water quality degradation, and a number of adverse effects on the respiratory system. Current scientific evidence links short-term NO2 exposure ranging from 30 minutes to 24-hours with adverse respiratory effects, including airway inflammation in healthy people, and increased respiratory symptoms in people with asthma.

Human and Environmental Drivers

Ozone is considered a secondary pollutant, created by photochemical reactions between hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in sunlight. The sources of HC and NOx include mobile sources (cars, trucks, boats, aircraft, off-road vehicles, etc.), biomass burning (wood stoves, wildfires, prescribed burning), and consumer products such as solvents. Ozone is transported from populated areas around the Lake Tahoe Region into the basin, and the ambient concentration of O3 is highly dependent on meteorological conditions such as sunlight, temperature, wind speed and mixing conditions.

EIP Action Priorities

• Build and Enhance Trail Networks

  Bicycling, walking, and other forms of active transportation are important methods of travel that promote healthy lifestyles, improve air quality.

• Build and Enhance Transit Systems

  Comprehensive and coordinated bus and shuttle transit system that provides seamless around the lake service.

• Reduce Hazardous Fuels

  reduce hazardous fuels and proactively manage forests to improve ecosystem resilience.

EIP Indicators

• Miles of Pedestrian and Bicycle Routes Improved or Constructed

  Since 1997 EIP partners have collectively constructed or improved 198 miles of pedestrian and bicycle routes reducing the number of vehicle trips.

• Non-Compliant Wood Stoves Removed or Retrofitted

  This EIP performance measure tracks removal of polluting wood stoves to reduce local air pollution for human and ecosystem health.

Example EIP Projects

• South Tahoe Greenway Shared Use Trail Phases 1b & 2

  This project completed in 2021 expands on the existing bicycle network and connections in South Lake Tahoe.

Local and Regional Plans

• Climate Adaptation Action Portfolio

  Reducing emissions improves air quality.

• Tahoe Climate Resilience Action Strategy 2022

  Addressing emissions is core climate resilience strategy.

• Tahoe-Truckee Plug-in Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan

  This plan focuses on infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles within the Tahoe-Truckee Region because they play a critical role in reducing the GHG emissions of vehicles.

Monitoring Programs

• Air Quality

  Monitoring of criteria pollutants to assess air quality and visibility in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

---