Summer Environmental Exchange Projects
2009

Tahoe Projects

 

Baseline Vegetation Monitoring for the Upper Truckee River Restoration Project
Project Leaders: Scott Cecchi, Scott Carroll, Stuart Roll and Adam Lewandowski - California Tahoe Conservancy; Melissa Faigeles - California Tahoe Conservancy, Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership
Participants: Lauren Zielinski, Natasha Leuchanka, Alexander Jones, Veronika Zhabdorzhieva

• Objective: collection of baseline (pre-project) vegetation monitoring data for a large-scale river restoration project along the Upper Truckee River.
• Key findings: Found relationship between ground water level and plant functional group; created a current condition riparian vegetation map for the main channel of the Upper Truckee River
• Click here for the project presentation (PDF file, 9.92MB

  
  

Survey of Benthic Species Biodiversity and Fecundity with Respect to Asian Clams (Corbicula fluminea) in Lake Tahoe
Project Leader: Marianne Denton, UC-Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center; Project Advisor: Sudeep Chandra - University of Nevada - Reno
Participants: Max Neale, Usukhbayar Shar, Natasha Kravtstova, Sarah Bowers - Tahoe-Baikal Institute, Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership

• Objective: To investigate the impacts of Asian Clam establishment in Lake Tahoe on benthic taxa through species richness and diversity indices.
  Key findings: Found lower numbers of benthic biodiversity where Asian Clams are present; the Asian Clam has a much higher potential reproductive capacity than the native Tahoe clam; the Asian Clam invasion is likely to create habitat conditions that are favorable for new invasive species; and the cost of reversing the damage caused by these invasive clams is astronomical.
  
• Click here for the project presentation (PDF file, 1.79MB)
  

South Lake Tahoe Bicycle Transportation Project
Project Leaders: Karen Fink, Shay Boutillier, Judy White and Judy Weber, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
Participants: Egor Ivanov, Alexander Golobokov, Altansarnai Buyankhishig

• Objective: To survey users about current usage on existing bike trails around Lake Tahoe to impact the update and revision of TRPA’s Bicycle / Pedestrian Master Plan
  Key findings: Survey of bike trail users showed that the general public wants: 1)more bike trails; 2) exisiting bike trails to be extended farther; 3) dedicated bike trails and sidewalks; and 4) a dedicated bike trail going all the way around Lake Tahoe
  
• Click here for the project presentation (PDF file, 2.25MB)

Assessment and Survey of Fisheries Stakeholders in the Tahoe Basin
Project Leader: Jenny Francis, California Trout
Participants: Lawrence Crofutt, Sarah Buck, Rukhsana Saleem

• Objective: To assess fisheries stakeholders in the Tahoe Basin and determine general attitudes towards the current fishery.
• Key findings: Overall, anglers are moderately satisfied with the Tahoe fishery but indicated that improvement is necessary necessary to maintain popularity of the fishery, provide economic revenue and to secure the survival of threatened fish like the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.
  
• Click here for the project presentation (PDF file, 1MB)

Ecological Effects of Forest Fuel Treatments in the Angora Fire Burn Area
Project Leaders: Hugh Safford - US Forest Service, Dan Deegan - Tahoe Reseource Conservation District, Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership
Participants: Faye Gotlieb, Snezhana Kalinovich, Yulia Misevich

• Objective: To estimate the effects of forest thinning (post-fire fuel treatments) on plant diversity and the forest’s resistance to fire damage and soil erosion.
• Key findings: More overall species diversity exists within treated (thinned) areas versus untreated areas; tree mortality is higher in untreated areas
  
• Click here for the project presentation (PDF file, 3.34 MB)
  

   

Baikal Projects

Botanical Investigation of the Rare and Endemic Species of the Baikal Region
Sponsored by: Irkutsk State University Botanical Garden

 

• Objective: To study the biology of several rare species of plant endemic to the Baikal region and estimate the influence of several factors on their populations and distribution.
• Key findings: Waldsteinia ternata and Anemonoides baikalensis are found in new and atypical habitats, indicating adaptive strategies common to ancient species; Tridactylina kirilowii, Asplenium nessi, and Assplenium altajense prefer rocky and gravel substrates, which make these species extremely vulnerable to climate changes; anthropogenic factors that will influence the future of these species include unregulated tourism, construction development, and climate change.

Soil Characterization and Rating of Ecosystem Vitality in Anthropogenically Impacted Areas of Baikalsk
Sponsored by: Irkutsk State University

• Objectives: To characterize soils and determine anthropogenic load, estimate the degree of transformation of local ecosystems, and design a city park that provides effective recreation opportunities while minimizing impact to soils.
• Key Findings: Completion of the first comprehensive soil study of Baikalsk’s future city park, establishment of soil monitoring sites for Rosselkhosnadzor (Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance), and completion of a draft design of the future city park based on minimal impact to soil.

Perspectives on the Socioeconomic Development of the City of Baikalsk
sponsored by: the V.B. Sochav Institute of Geography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

• Objective: To estimate the socioeconomic status of Baikalsk, to find alternative sources of economic activity to the Baikalsk Paper and Pulp Mill (BPPM), and to estimate the perspectives of local citizens through surveys and interviews.
• Key Findings: The majority of the population favors reopening of the BPPM; there are currently no alternatives for those who are unemployed due to the closing. Some favor remodeling of the plant, believing that it would provide jobs for the local people and would be more environmentally friendly. Others believe that tourism is the main perspective in the area. Winter tourism is well developed (successful ski resort) but development of the summer tourism industry needs governmental or federal support.