tahoe environmental research center

Aggravated Divisions: Political Polarization and Policymaking after the 2016 Election with Dr. Christopher Hare from the UC Davis Department of Political Science is the next topic at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) lecture in Incline Village on February 2 at 5:30 p.m.

Oceans are warming, becoming more acidic, and are being depleted of oxygen. How aquatic life reacts to these changes can help us understand more about this monumental issue. Learn how genetic differences facilitate how resilient some organisms are to environmental stress and what we can learn from it.

Lake Tahoe experienced a year like no other in 2015, according to scientists from the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center in its annual Tahoe: State of the Lake Report, released this week.

Lake Tahoe is experienced warming water, a 4.8 foot drop in clarity, increased algae and a lowering water level.

Thanks to global climate change, Lake Tahoe is warming faster than ever according to the report which covers results from tests conducted on the lake in 2015 concerning water temperature, clarity, invasive species and more.

Imagine walking into your house to find an infestation of termites. Not only are the termites annoying, but they’re hard to get rid of and are slowly but surely destroying your home. Similarly, Asian clams and their expanding population are ruining a place that is home to many. Asian clams were not reacted to fast enough, resulting in some serious issues for Lake Tahoe, and old plans to eradicate them have not proven fully effective, so, new plans must be thought of and considered seriously to save the clarity of the lake and the economy of Tahoe.

Prolonged drought periods often result in forest tree mortality, but this death varies across the Lake Tahoe Basin. The causes of tree mortality range from native bark beetles, forest pathogens (both native and invasive), stressors such as drought and salt stress, as well as historical land-use.

Enlightened gardeners realize that it is not enough for a garden to be just beautiful. Gardens must also attract crucial pollinators and conserve water. Gone are the days of lush, green, thirsty lawns. We can replace turf with species that are well adapted to the local climate, save water, reduce runoff, and support wild creatures in the face of habitat loss and climate change. Learn how to support the local ecosystem and insect pollinators like native bees and butterflies, too, at the next UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) lecture on April 7, 2016.

Is there life on Mars? The Curiosity rover is currently exploring the Gale Crater on Mars and the NASA Mars Science Laboratory team has discovered lake and river deposits that show that ancient Mars was habitable by Earth-like life.

Dr. Dawn Sumner, from UC Davis and the NASA Mars Science Laboratory team, will be speaking in Incline Village at the next UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) talk held on Thursday, January 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Its becoming a concern at beaches and venues around the country: increased trash left behind. Lake Tahoe sees massive amounts of trash on beaches after big weekends, especially the 4th of July, but the basin is not alone.

Headline in North Carolina: Residents upset with beach equipment and other trash left behind on shores.

Headline in Los Angeles: Trash left behind from the Made in America festival in downtown Los Angeles.

Headline in Indianapolis: Trail of trash left behind at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

A new smartphone app encourages Lake Tahoe beach-goers of all ages to help scientists better understand conditions around the lake.

Scientists have determined that Lake Tahoe’s iconic blueness is most strongly related to algae, not clarity. In a report released today from the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, researchers found the lower the algal concentration, the bluer the lake.

In the “Tahoe: State of the Lake Report 2015” report, research shows clarity is controlled by sediment. Blueness is controlled by algal concentration, which in turn is driven by the level of nutrients available to the algae.

The public is invited to the League to Save Lake Tahoe's free Summer Kickoff party at the League to Save Lake Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe on Friday, June 10 at 5:00 p.m. Music, food, fun, prizes and education will all be part of the evening's activities.

The party will feature the grand re-opening of their Fritzi & David Huntington Environmental Education Center. Featuring cutting-edge interactive displays, the Education Center’s overhaul has improved the agency's ability to educate and engage the public about how to protect Lake Tahoe and the threats facing the Lake.

Location

The Sixth Annual Native Species Festival will be held at the Taylor Creek visitor Center in South Lake Tahoe on Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This free family event is hosted by the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and is a great way to spend the day outdoors and learn about the native species of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The Visitor's Center is located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89.

Litter. Dog poop. Unsafe fires. Bear safety. These are just some of the issues impacting our Region. Today, the Lake Tahoe Outreach Committee unveiled the Take Care™ campaign to help reduce these impacts and promote a more responsible use of our great outdoors.

The campaign was designed for use in outreach efforts by public agencies, private businesses and nonprofit organizations in the Region. Aimed at residents and visitors, the campaign is a series of reminders that poke fun at the mistakes we all make when we’re not paying attention.

A Scripps Institution of Oceanography-led study on how natural and man-made sources of nitrogen are recycled through the Lake Tahoe ecosystem provides new information on how global change may affect the iconic blue lake.

“High-elevation lakes, such as Lake Tahoe, are sentinels of climate change,” said Lihini Aluwihare, associate professor of geosciences at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. “Small changes in the lake’s chemistry can have big impacts on the entire ecosystem.”

Divers are mobilizing at the mouth of Emerald Bay to start removing 5 acres of rubber mats that were laid on the lake bottom two years ago for a pilot project to control Asian clam populations in the area.

Divers are anticipated to be working in the water through November, so boaters are asked to exercise caution when entering and exiting Emerald Bay and obey a no-wake zone that extends 600 feet from shore at Lake Tahoe.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded $150,000 to the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) to create a new, interactive public exhibit at the Tahoe Science Center, located in Incline Village. The exhibit will merge the results of citizen science with TERC’s new, real-time monitoring network that is being installed around the lake to understand and improve the clarity and health of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline.

Find out how healthy the lake is at the annual State of the Lake Address at the Tahoe Environmental Center in Incline Village on August 14.

Dr. Geoff Schladow will report on how the quality of Lake Tahoe's water has changed as well as examining the long term trends that affect clarity. Schladow is the founding director of TERC and an expert in the areas of environmental fluid mechanics, water quality modeling, and the dynamics of inland waters.

Lucas McNamara, 7, was hiking around Griff Creek near Kings Beach Fire Station last week with his family when he saw a black, spiny fish, about 1-foot-long, lying dead in the creek. He ran up the creek bed, yelling, “Dad, you need to look at the big crazy fish!”

Lucas’ parents, Steve and Jen McNamara, decided to make this a teachable moment for their son, who already shows active interest in science and the environment.

“I told Lucas that this fish is not normal for Lake Tahoe and may be harmful to the other fish and animals in the lake,” Steve said.

The City of South Lake Tahoe Community Services department started their STAR (South Tahoe Adventure Recreation) camps this week. Youth and teens ages 6 to 16 can use this summer to explore Lake Tahoe by enjoying field trips, swimming, going to the beach and many other activities, all in a safe and fun environment.

With record drought conditions in the West, preparing your home for
wildfire is more important than ever. May has been designated “Wildfire Awareness Month” in the Lake Tahoe Basin. This year’s theme is “Prepare Your Home For Wildfire” with a focus on creating and sustaining Fire Adapted Communities.

A Fire Adapted Community (FAC) is a community located in a fire-prone area that requires little assistance from firefighters during a wildfire. Residents of these communities accept responsibility for living in a high fire-hazard area. They possess the knowledge and skills to:

Dr. Louis Grivetti will present “Chocolate: Heritage of the Americas,” featuring samples of American Heritage Chocolate made with authentic ingredients from the 17th century. Chocolate today is a universal treat—amazingly, a mere 500 years ago it was unknown outside of Central America. This presentation will cover
the geographical origins and global dispersal of the cacao tree, and its most beloved product.

Chocolate’s extensive history includes its earliest uses by native Mesoamericans and the spread of cacao production and chocolate manufacture into

Lake Tahoe is one of California’s greatest natural treasures. It is a beauty to behold, with forested mountains surrounding the deep blue shimmering surface. It is famous for many recreational activities- snowboarding, skiing, hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, and sunbathing. But the clear blue waters of Tahoe are in trouble. Invasive species, climate change, and sedimentation all threaten the unique ecosystems of the lake.

The 2014 monthly lecture series from UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center begins January 28 with a presentation on the dangers of radon. Eric Matus of the Nevada Radiation Control Program will lead a public lecture titled “Radon: What you don’t know could hurt you” beginning at 6 p.m. at the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences.

UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center presents an enlightening public lecture on the science of music on Thursday, February 6. Entitled “Music, Memory and the Brain,” it features Dr. Petr Janata of the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain and his research on neurological links between music and memories.