A new app will let Tahoe visitors and residents become “citizen scientists”, sharing their observations of the lake with researchers.
Even with dozens of scientists monitoring Lake Tahoe throughout the year, researchers need more data to track the lake’s health, especially when it comes to beach conditions. Geoffrey Schladow, director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, says he hopes the Center’s new citizen science app will help.
“The near-shore areas of Tahoe have been degrading over the past 20 years and very little is known about it. So in a way we’re looking for the public to let us know what the condition is at their favorite beach or wherever they happen to be on a particular day.”
The app is available for both iPhone and Android and can be downloaded from CitizenScienceTahoe.org. Beachgoers can report on everything from algae to water clarity, contributing to a database that’s not only immediately accessible by researchers, but also available online.
