Incline village, nev. – April is the month of citizens’ sciences, a moment to celebrate the power of community participation in environmental conservation. The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) is delighted to encourage residents and visitors to engage in their natural environment using Citizenscistahoe.orgAn innovative web reporting tool developed in collaboration with the League to save Lake Tahoe (Keep Tahoe Blue) and Desert Research Institute.
The month of citizen sciences is an opportunity for individuals to contribute precious data to scientific research and environmental surveillance. This year, we invite the local community and all those who visit the beautiful banks of Tahoe to report on critical conditions affecting the lake, including litter, cloud water, observations of an aquatic invasive species, and in particular the presence or absence of algae along the shore. Algae proliferations can have important implications for clarity and water quality, which makes your participation vital.
Algae reports will be used by TERC researchers who are currently studying the distribution and seasonal variation of algae around the entire coast of Lake Tahoe.
Researchers use lake algae images to complete their existing land surveillance program. These images provide useful additional details on the types, extent and flowers detected in the field in Lake Tahoe.
“Community observations contribute to our algae monitoring program by adding sampling points in a large geographical area and throughout the year, providing a more complete understanding of algae prolifications,” explains Adrianne Smites, Ph.D., main scientist of the TRC project, Smianne Smits, Ph.D.
The data and images collected will also be exhibited at the exhibition “Lake Tahoe in Depth” with a touch screen located at the UC Davis Tahoe Science Center, at the Tahoe City Visitor Center, at Kings Beach Visitor Center, and possibly in other places around the lake, including the new Keep Tahoe Blue Environment & Education Center, the opening of this summer.
“The protection of the Tahoe lake begins with each of us. Thanks to Tahoe citizen science, everyone can keep Tahoe Blue, and that does not take more than two minutes, “explains the League to save science and the data coordinator of Lake Tahoe, Deirdre Francks. “The surveys you contribute through citizenscistahoehoe.orghelp reach us at the root of environmental challenges, create lasting solutions and keep Tahoe in good and beautiful.”
Getting involved is simple. By visiting citizenscistahoe.org, users can quickly submit observations on the conditions of the shore, including the presence or lack of algae. To watch a short practical video, visit keeptahoeblue.org/stst-show-at. The friendly platform is designed to facilitate reports for everyone, from experienced scientists to first observers.
Observations for the quality of citizen science water is permanently recorded and become a precious part of the full data set of Tahoe de Terc. Together, we can make a difference in preserving the emblematic beauty of Tahoe Lake and ecological health. We encourage everyone to participate, to share their conclusions in April and beyond, and to inspire others to join this important effort to protect our lake.
For more information on the month of citizens’ sciences and how to get involved, please visit Citizenscistahoe.org.