Summer Environmental Exchange Projects - 1997

Tahoe Projects

• Trout Creek Watershed Restoration Project (Joe Thompson, Jerry Owens, Natural Resources Conservation Service)

  The goal of the project was to learn about stream restoration in the Tahoe Basin. The TBI group visited restoration sites in the field and sampled macroinvertebrates on a stretch of Trout Creek which will be a future restoration site. Participants learned about stream health, and about other governmental agencies involved in restoration work by attending a meeting of the Advanced Planning Commission of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). TRPA approval is required before a restoration project can be initiated. In addition, participants attended a California Tahoe Conservancy meeting (CTC is a government agency responsible for buying back damaged land and restoring it to reduce sediment erosion).

• Cave Rock Interpretive Project (Phil Caterino, American Land Conservancy)

  This project designed interpretive materials on the history of Cave Rock on the southeast shore of Lake Tahoe. Cave Rock is heavily used with a highway passing through it, boats launched nearbye, an internationally renowned rock-climbing destination, prime visitor destination. Often overlooked is the fact Cave Rock is sacred to the Washoe Tribe of, the native peoples of the Tahoe basin. Washoe Tribe members are interested in closing the site to rock climbers, although rock climbers feel strongly about keepin the routes open. TBI participants met with Washoe tribe members, archaeologists, rock climbers, an anthropologist, historians, librarians, and a geologist to gather information related to Cave Rock. Participants also spent time at the Nevada Historical Society and the Douglas County Library. At the end of the study, TBI participants completed an interpretive poster including a timeline, photos, and four sections of text which was presented to the Washoe tribal office to post at the Cave Rock site.

• Lake Tahoe Community College Demonstration Garden (Peggy Wu, Lake Tahoe Community College)

  The Lake Tahoe Demonstration Garden's purpose is to demonstrate fundamental principles of successful landscaping and gardening at Lake Tahoe. The exhibits in the garden illustrate the importance of soil types, plants, compost, mulch, rock, and water conservation in the Lake Tahoe Basin. This TBI project designed a section of the garden, performed maintenance duties at the garden, and inventoried plant species in the garden.

• Endangered Plant Study: Biology of Tahoe Yellow Cress (Tanya Sapozhnikova, TBI coordinator; Rick Robinson, California Tahoe Conservancy)

  The Tahoe Yellow Cress (Rorippa subumbellata), a plant of the family Crucifera, is an endemic species at Lake Tahoe. This endangered species is found only in several isolated sites on the shore of Lake Tahoe. Until recently, no research has been done on the invertebrate fauna that is connected to TYC. The significance of the entomological aspects of this complex project concerning the research, protection, and possible reintroduction of Rorippa is indisputable. TBI participants collected Entomological data to assess sexual reproduction activities of this disappearing plant species.

• Limnology: Tahoe Crayfish Study (Dorrie Panayotou, TBI '96; Tahoe Research Group)

  One of the problems that Lake Tahoe faces is the invasion of the Eurasion Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), an algae that has a fascinating capacity for survival. There are three ways of addressing the problem: mechanical, chemical, and biological. TBI participants focused on the biological approach (i.e. using natural enemies, to stop the spread of the algae). The natural enemy studied was the crayfish. Myriophyllum is a kind of algae that is not characteristic for Lake Tahoe. It was introduced into the lake by the developing water transport (tourism). The most widespread species in the lake are three plant species and a crayfish species feeding on them. Last year's TBI participants and researchers of the Tahoe Research Group discovered crayfish prefer the species Ranunculus aquatilis, but Myriophyllum constitutes the main problem. In result, the goal was to determine the influence of the crayfish density upon the growth and development of Myriophyllum. It was found the influence on Myriophyllum lies not only in eating the algae but also in cutting off its stems, which promotes its intensive propagation. At the end of the experiment, the optimal number of crayfish individuals that would help reduce the level of Myriophyllum invasions in the lake was estimated.

Baikal Projects

• Environmental Education: Camp at Arakhlei Lake (Inga Gennadieva, Katya, Igumneva, Oleg Korsun, Natalia Kovalyonok, Pedagogical Sate University Chita)

  This project consisted of two parts: development of an Environmental Education Camp at Lake Arakhlei and developing a visitor center at Ivano-Arakhleiskiy Lakes. The environmental education camp included school-aged children from the Chita region, their teachers, students from the Chita Pedagogical University, TBI participants, and camp coordinators. TBI participants planned daily activities and took part in the numerous camp activities, which focused on: forest ecology, survival techniques, water ecology, insects, personal development, and developing eco-crafts.

  TBI participants were also involved in developing a visitor center and museum for the newly established Ivano-Arakhleiskiy nature reserve. TBI participants worked with students of the Chita Pedagogical University and made suggestions on how exhibits and educational programs could be developed. Participants also constructed a model of Lake Arakhlei, designed an interpretive sign, and collected plants and insects for a planned herbarium.