Pacific Southwest Research Station

Evaluating Indicators of Nearshore Clarity and Fish Habitat

This project will evaluate conditions of the nearshore fishery and test and develop traditional and novel metrics to determine long-term and short-term changes to the nearshore habitat of Lake Tahoe.

Full title: NICHES: Nearshore Indicators for Clarity, Habitat, and Ecological Sustainability

Proposal [pdf]

Lead Researchers: Sudeep Chandra, University of Nevada, Reno; Craig Williamson, Miami University of Ohio; James Oris, Miami University of Ohio; Geoffrey Schladow, University of California, Davis

Goals

1. Provide a contemporary evaluation of the nearshore fishery.
2. Evaluate a variety of traditional indicators that may be used to determine long-term change.
3. Develop novel metrics to detect shorter term change to the nearshore habitat of Lake Tahoe.

Sites: Minimum of 10 locations in the nearshore of Lake Tahoe: Tahoe keys, Baldwin Beach, Sugar Pine point, Obexier's marina, Sunnyside, 64-acre beach, Lake Forest, Patton beach, King's Beach, Secret Harbor.

Timeframe: August 2008 through June 2010 (2 years)

Products

1. Determination of which methodologies are needed to develop short-, mid-, and long-term metrics for evaluating the nearshore fishery
2. Quarterly updates, preliminary report, and final report
3. Scientific publications
4. Presentations at scientific and public meetings