Summer Environmental Exchange Projects
2005

Tahoe Projects

• University of Nevada, Reno & the Tahoe Research Group: Fisheries Restoration with Sudeep Chandra (TBI ’96), Associate Professor of Limnology at the University of Nevada, Reno
  

  Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT), Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi, historically ranged throughout northern Nevada, southern Oregon, and the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada in California. A fluvial (stream) and lacustrine (lake) dweller, human impacts from the mid 1800’s silver rush and expansion of growth in the Lake Tahoe area eventually led to the extirpation of LCT by the 1930’s. Since their extirpation there have been numerous attempts to reestablish LCT within the rivers and lakes of the Truckee watershed. Past summer program projects at Fallen Leaf Lake, Cascade Lake, and Pyramid Lake have preceded this project held a Fallen Leaf Lake and Emerald Bay-Lake Tahoe which will study predation levels and food web dynamics of LCT where reintroduction has been attempted.

  Working off of the work of past SEE projects and continuing regional efforts, participants sampled Fallen Leaf Lake and Emerald Bay-Lake Tahoe to determine relative success of introduced Lahontan cutthroat trout and to determine the feasiblity of re-introduction efforts at each site. Using field work to obtain samples and lab work to examine organs for age, genetics to determine health, and muscle tissue to determine diet of existing lake trout that are the main predators of introduced Lahontan participants were able to: (1) add to the existing data set, (2) generalize conclusions for future re-introduction efforts, and (3) determine trophic levels in Fallen Leaf Lake and Emerald Bay-Lake Tahoe. Participants examined pelagic and benthic status in research areas and determine causes for such findings.

  Click here to view the project presentation or report.
  
  

• California Tahoe Conservancy & Natural Resources Conservation Service: Meadow Erosion/Drainage Survey & Evaluation with Brent Wolfe (TBI ’01), CTC Erosion Control Technician & Woody Loftis, Natural Resources Conservation Service
  

  This two-part project continued the work of 2004 SEE participants with stormwater run-off, and explored CTC efforts to properly manage a sensitive meadow in South Lake Tahoe.

  Efforts to evaluate and map stormwater basins on the California side of the Tahoe basin have proved successful with the help of 2004 & 2005 SEE participants. The completed database and GIS map has been shared with the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District in an effort to complete the stormwater basin assessment for the entire basin, and eventually be used in all regional stormwater mitigation efforts. By helping to determine the effectiveness of stormwater basins, SEE participants have helped evaluate efforts to reduce sediment loading into Tahoe that will help future regional management policies address this already recognized issue more effectively by identifying what basins exist, which are working adequately, which are not working adequately, and what can be done to improve those that lack effectivness.

  The Bijou Meadow site has been identified as a site for potential stormwater infiltration by the CTC, but due to past management effects the CTC with the help of this year’s SEE is undergoing the process of examining soil composition and density in efforts to determine the feasibility of future utilization as a filtration meadow. Conclusions of the participants’ research include the need for increased filtration surrounding the urban areas of South Lake Tahoe and the necessity to classify the north side of the meadow as a man-modified system in need of stream environment zone (SEZ) restoration for this site to be realized as future infiltration site. There is presently a municipal golf course on and urban areas surrounding the north meadow test sites in question which pose the need for this project to be realized in future years.

  Click here to view the Bijou Meadow Report and Stormwater Basin Report.
  Click here to view the presentation
  

• California Tahoe Conservancy: Mountain Lake Environment Center with Dana Dapolito, CTC Research Associate & 2005 SEE Participant
  

  In January 2005, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) of the United States Forest Service (USFS) issued a twenty-year Granger-Thye Special Use permit to the Tahoe-Baikal Institute (TBI) for Frederick’s Cabin at Fallen Leaf Lake for the months of May-October. For the past eight years, TBI has based its Summer Environmental Exchange (SEE) program at Frederick’s Cabin, utilizing the property for a number of purposes including: housing of up to 30 exchange participants and staff, cooking and eating facilities, educational training and workshops, and for gatherings of program partners and the TBI Board of Directors. The facility in its current condition is adequate for only the most basic of TBI program needs but possesses the potential to provide a top-notch environmental education experience to TBI program participants while also opening its doors to a wide array of organizations and community members as a center for education, recreation, and assembly.

  The 2005 SEE Frederick’s Cabin Planning project worked to (1) help TBI and partner organizations to better identify the planning needs for immediate, intermediate, and long-term upgrades to the facility; (2) identify and engage current and future partners in the Frederick’s Cabin facility upgrade project; (3) initiate environmental and structural studies and inventories required for facility planning in consideration of grant requirements and permitting constraints; and (4) assess organizational needs at the facility and brainstorming on needs of an effective and practical environmental education facility.

  Click here to view the project draft report or presentation
  
  

Baikal Projects

• Ecological Monitoring at Bol’shoye Koty: Sensitive Habitat Evaluation with Maxim Timofeev (TBI ’96), PhD of Biology, Irkutsk State University
  

  Building off of data from the past 4 SEE programs this project added to the development of a longterm data set examining the state of water habitants of the Like Baikal. Participants monitored benthic invertebrates to examine how community structure has changed over the last half-century, what specific pollutants may be significantly influencing these populations, and identify how other species may also be affected. This project included fieldwork and examination. Last year’s results were published in a regional ecological journal.
  Click here to view the project report.

• Sacred Places of Olkhon District: Development of Eco-tourism Manual with Anzhelika Markova & Tatiana Trufanova (TBI ’04)

  This project focused on tourism at sacred and sensitive sites on Lake Baikal’s Olkhon Island. With the assistance of members of the local Shaman people, participants worked with local residents & administrators and tourists to organize and complete sustainable tourism materials. Participants prepared guides with regulations that will help develop a better understanding of the local Shaman culture & history and offer guidelines for eco-tourism.
  Click here to view the project report.

• Zabaikalsky National Park: Ecological & Educational Assessment with Erdeni Elaev, Professor of Biology at Buryat State University
  

  Partnering with Zabaikalsky National Park for the first time offers the SEE program continued development of the Russian program. SEE participants travelled to Ulan Ude, Buryatia to partner with Buryat State University. This connection furthers goals of incorporating both Irkustk and Buryatia educational institutions in TBI programming. Goals of this project were to study and gather information concerning vegetation and habitat on the Svyatoi Nos peninsula. TBI participants researched historical flower and fauna data and completed restoration work vital to the retention of the region’s unique species while introducting eco-tourism development.
  Click here to view the project report in English or Russian.