Drone Monitoring Tackles Growing Algae Threat to Lake Tahoe Brandon Berry has an enviable job. In the morning, he flies a drone to survey Lake Tahoe shores, and in the afternoon, he dives into the lake to sample water quality. This hands-on research has its fitness benefits, and it’s hard to imagine a more beautiful office. It’s a year-round job, though. “In the wintertime when the water is freezing cold and it’s snowing, I think my colleagues are less envious,” Berry said. 70 As ecological researcher for the Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), his work has advanced scientific understanding of algal growth and the invasive Asian clam. Both contribute to degradation of the nearshore in the historically clear mountain-ringed lake. Berry began the drone program at TERC five years ago. He’s used the combination of drones, water sampling, and GIS technology to record conditions and address Lake Tahoe’s Lake Tahoe straddles the border of California and Nevada. It’s known for its clear water, beaches, and ski resorts.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA2NTE0Mw==