UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center

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UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center UC Davis TERC is dedicated to research, education and public outreach on lakes and their surrounding watersheds and airsheds

The Tahoe Science Center in Incline Village is open to the public for hourly tours from Tuesday - Friday, 1 - 5 p.m. We are also open on Saturdays during the summer. The Eriksson Education Center located in Tahoe City is open for self-guided tours during the summer months (Memorial Day through Labor Day).

Join our team as a Postdoctoral Scholar and contribute to innovative research focused on lake processes, fluid dynamics,...
10/07/2026

Join our team as a Postdoctoral Scholar and contribute to innovative research focused on lake processes, fluid dynamics, and harmful algal blooms (HABs).

This position brings together hydrodynamic modeling, remote sensing, field observations, and environmental data science to better understand and predict how algae moves and changes within freshwater systems.

The research will center around Clear Lake and additionally Lake Tahoe, offering opportunities to work in two unique environments while utilizing long-term datasets and applying cutting-edge approaches to important environmental questions.

If you’re passionate about freshwater ecosystems and interested in using innovative tools to address emerging environmental challenges, we’d love to hear from you.

Applications are now open!

Learn more and apply at link in bio.

10/02/2026

Is more algae growing in Lake Tahoe?

We’re working hard to find out!

Traditional research methods can make it challenging to answer this question definitively, so we’re innovating. Taking advantage of Tahoe’s remarkably clear water, we’re combining imagery from autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) with images captured from drones and helicopters to create expansive nearshore surveys.

By analyzing thousands of images, we’re working toward a more complete picture of algae growth along Tahoe’s shoreline.

All of this is in an effort to get the most accurate data possible! Stay tuned for results—and keep an eye on the skies! 🚁

A HUGE thank you to our incredible TERC Field AmeriCorps member Colby!In just one year, you became an integral part of o...
10/01/2026

A HUGE thank you to our incredible TERC Field AmeriCorps member Colby!

In just one year, you became an integral part of our field team, putting in countless hours on the boat, washing what feels like approximately a million bottles, and always being willing to jump in and do whatever needed to be done.

The reigning champion of boat parking and generous supplier of the field team’s most important fuel: Goldfish crackers.

And, of course, we were always able spot our location thanks to that unmistakable profile with that glorious crown of curly hair! 

Your enthusiasm was contagious, your willingness to tackle any task never went unnoticed, and your genuine passion for protecting the environment showed up in everything you did. From long days on the water to the less-glamorous parts of fieldwork, you brought energy, humor, and a can-do attitude to it all.

We’re incredibly grateful for everything you brought to the TERC field team, thank you so much, we’re going to miss you!

Photo 1: Colby is our man with a sign at the Palisades Tahoe earth day festival.

Photo 2: Captaining our research vessel with ease.

Photo 3: Digging out... or getting buried during snow removal off our research vessel.

Photo 4: testing out our new drone with Aaron and Brandon.

Photo 5: all three of our recently graduated AmeriCorps at the 2026 Tahoe federal summit!

A ginormous THANK YOU to our two incredible Education AmeriCorps members who brought their passion for education and the...
09/29/2026

A ginormous THANK YOU to our two incredible Education AmeriCorps members who brought their passion for education and the environment during their year of service!

Together, they hosted 70+ school groups, connecting students with Lake Tahoe science and inspiring curiosity about this incredible place. They reached thousands of residents and visitors, sharing the science behind Lake Tahoe and encouraging all of us to be better stewards of the Tahoe Basin. To say they worked hard is an understatement!

Beyond the numbers, they became such an important part of the TERC team, jumping in wherever needed, bringing energy and enthusiasm to our programs, and making a lasting impact on all the people they met along the way.

We are so grateful for everything they contributed, and while we’re excited to see what comes next for them, it’s going to be hard to fill their shoes! 🥹

Thank you Abigail and Samantha for an amazing year, we’ll miss you both so, so much 💙

Did you know we work at Clear Lake? Last week we got to participate in the Clear Lake co-management agreement, organized...
09/21/2026

Did you know we work at Clear Lake?

Last week we got to participate in the Clear Lake co-management agreement, organized and led by the California Natural Resources Agency where we were invited to speak about our oxygenation project! This project aims to address low oxygen levels in the lakes depths that can lead to harmful algal blooms.

We were honored to hear from all the tribes who have stewarded Clear Lake since time immemorial. We look forward to working with all our partners at Clear Lake.

Learn more about this project in the link in our bio!

Image one: Sunrise over Clear Lake with smoke from a wildfire in the background. Credit: Cara Hollis, UC Davis TERC

Image two: TERC team members Jack Hopping and Hannah Miradi stand ready to man our booth. Credit: Cara Hollis, UC Davis TERC

Image three: TERC team members Jack Hopping and Hannah Miradi stand behind our bubblers used as our symbolic project kick-off. We added water shortly after this image was taken. Credit: Cara Hollis, UC Davis TERC

Image four: Representatives from tribes and agencies who all signed the co-management agreement pose for their photos. Credit: Cara Hollis, UC Davis TERC

Transportation is the #1 source of U.S.greenhouse gas emissions! What can we do about it?Come hear Dr. Alan Jenn from t...
09/16/2026

Transportation is the #1 source of U.S.greenhouse gas emissions! What can we do about it?

Come hear Dr. Alan Jenn from the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies, dive into the policies, tech, and market forces driving the EV revolution.

Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge is getting a makeover, so come out and enjoy the final lecture in the iconic classic space before renovations begin!

Join us on Thursday, September 24th. Doors open at 5:00, and the presentation begins at 6:00.

Tickets are $10 online and free with a student ID. Register at the link in our bio to reserve your seat!

Looking for some hope for the future of Lake Tahoe? Tune in to the Tahoe TAP podcast for a conversation with TERC Direct...
09/01/2026

Looking for some hope for the future of Lake Tahoe?

Tune in to the Tahoe TAP podcast for a conversation with TERC Director Stephanie Hampton.

Hear what first brought Stephanie to Lake Tahoe, her perspective on the lake’s overall health, and why the many challenges facing Tahoe are more interconnected than they may appear. She also discusses emerging research—including studies of wildfire impacts—the extraordinary value of more than 60 years of scientific data, and her long-term vision for research at the lake.

Can Lake Tahoe be preserved despite the growing stresses it faces? Stephanie believes it can—and this conversation offers plenty of reasons for hope.

Listen to the full episode of Tahoe TAP at TahoeDailyTribune.com

Kinda chic to work for the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center ✨🌊Image one: View of the NASA buoy from the deck...
08/28/2026

Kinda chic to work for the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center ✨🌊

Image one: View of the NASA buoy from the deck of the RV Bob Richards. Credit: Michael Cane, UC Davis TERC

Image two: TERC chemist Lily in the lab. Credit: Lily Dailey, UC Davis TERC 

Image three: Members of the field team in wetsuits ready to snorkel aboard the RV John LeConte. Credit: Colby Kalasardo, UC Davis TERC

Image four: AmeriCorps member Abigail teaching a class about trees to students outside in the snow. Credit: Alison Toy, UC Davis TERC

Image five: Docents in training watching the secchi disk get lowered on the RV John LeConte. Credit: Alison Toy, UC Davis TERC

Join our TERC team in Tahoe! Applications are now open for the 26-27 Service Year! Full-term positions start on November...
08/27/2026

Join our TERC team in Tahoe!

Applications are now open for the 26-27 Service Year! Full-term positions start on November 1, 2026. We are filling two education and one field team position. As an AmeriCorps member here, you’ll gain hands-on experience in environmental science, education, fieldwork, and community outreach while helping protect Lake Tahoe. Members support Tahoe science and education through field and lab activities, science center tours, hands-on learning experiences, community events, and more. This service opportunity connects people with the science of Lake Tahoe and helps inspire stewardship of this extraordinary place.

Find out more about these positions, and the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) program by clicking the link in our bio!

Image top left corner: AmeriCorps member Samantha Campisi leads a Tahoe Science Center Tour. Credit: Alison Toy, UC Davis TERC

Image top right: AmeriCorps member Abigail Cain out skiing on the mountain for the Ski with a Scientist educational program.

Image bottom: AmeriCorps member Colby Kalasardo works on an instrument on the deck of the RV John LeConte. Credit: Mahren Hudson, UC Davis TERC

Image bottom right: AmeriCorps member Colby Kalasardo drives the RV Bob Richards. Credit: Abigail Cain, UC Davis TERC

Address

291 Country Club Drive
Incline Village, NV
89451

Opening Hours

Tuesday 1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 1pm - 5pm
Thursday 1pm - 5pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+17758817560

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