Volunteers invited to citizen science 'Snapshot Day' Saturday at Lake Tahoe’s South Shore
On the morning of Saturday, May 11, volunteers will fan out across the Truckee River watershed to collect and test water samples from creeks, streams, smaller lakes, and Lake Tahoe itself to take a “snapshot” of water quality at a single moment in time for this important source of drinking water and outdoor recreation.
The League to Save Lake Tahoe is coordinating volunteer teams to sample sites along Lake Tahoe’s South Shore, from Meeks Bay to Zephyr Cove, and up to the headwaters of the Upper Truckee River.
Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are invited to become citizen scientists for the day, get outside, and experience some beautiful and rarely visited sites. When you join, you will sample and test the water for things like dissolved oxygen, pH, nutrients, and more. Volunteers can sign up to join an already existing team, create a team of their own with family and friends, or be a team leader. Team leaders will receive training prior to the event on how to most accurately collect the data needed, so they can guide their teams of citizen scientists to success.
When:
The event is Saturday, May 11, 9 a.m. to 1 pm.
9:00 am – noon: Event
Noon – 1:00 pm: Lunch, raffle, and celebration
Who
Volunteers of all ages are welcome. No prior experience is required. You can sign up as an individual, family, or group.
For those interested in leading a team, we ask that you attend a separate training session to review procedures for accurate data collection. This team leader training takes place on Wednesday, May 8, 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Lake Tahoe Community College Gym.
Where
Meet at the Lake Tahoe Community College Gym, 1 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. From there, teams will travel to sample at various sites around Lake Tahoe’s South Shore.
How to participate
Register to be a general volunteer at keeptahoeblue.org/ssd-2024.
Register to be a volunteer team leader at: keeptahoeblue.org/ssd-leader.
WHAT
Since 2001, Snapshot Day partners have sampled sites from Meyers to Tahoe’s North Shore, on to Truckee and through Reno, terminating at Pyramid Lake. By collecting water quality data from the same sites each year, the League and event partners can track changes in the health of Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River watershed. Snapshot Day also provides a unique opportunity for the community to connect with the watershed in its own backyard through hands-on, scientific fieldwork.
Learn more about Snapshot Day and see a map of last year’s South Shore results at keeptahoeblue.org/ssd. Learn more about the sampling locations in North Lake Tahoe and the Middle Truckee at tahoetruckeesnapshotday.org/contacts-and-partners.