Position Title: Area Freshwater Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist in Cooperative Extension
Position: (1) Extension education and applied research to increase regional and statewide understanding of the
processes driving the introduction and management of freshwater aquatic invasive species (AIS), to predict the
impacts of AIS on freshwater ecosystems and water quality, and to develop and implement methods and programs
to prevent the spread of AIS. (2) A PhD scientist with a background in aquatic ecology or related field and
experience with AIS. There is relatively little experience and few accepted practices to address the recent
expansion of invasive invertebrates, into lakes, reservoirs and ponds in California. Candidate should have research
experience sufficient to help lead in the development of these practices and to understand how AIS affect aquatic
ecosystems, particularly with additional pressures from climate change and increased population and demands on
ecosystem services. This background should be coupled with the demonstrated ability and motivation to extend
new knowledge to stakeholders such as those in the Lake Tahoe area and statewide. (3) Supporting units include
the State of California through the California Tahoe Conservancy and the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the
Tahoe Resource Conservation District, Nevada Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Nevada Department of
Wildlife (NDOW), El Dorado and Placer Counties, and the bi-state Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA).
Justification: Water resources and associated ecosystem services are critical for both agriculture and the
ecological health of California. Among the greatest threats to water resources statewide is the impact and spread
of AIS. This threat is clearly recognized by the inclusion of an Initiative for Managing Endemic and Invasive
Pests and Diseases in ANR’s Strategic Vision 2025. In the US alone there are about 50,000 invasive species
established that cause economic losses and costs in excess of $138B/year. To date California has already been
subjected to invasions by dozens of non-native aquatic plants, fish and invertebrates and, invertebrate and fish
species are spreading west. While laws excluding and controlling terrestrial weed species have existed for over
100 years, only recently have aquatic species received the same attention.
Key issues requiring immediate attention are: 1. Understanding the processes and likelihood of spread within a
water body for the climatic conditions and water quality conditions that pertain in California (very distinct from
mid-western lakes); 2. Understanding the impacts on native fish and other wildlife as well as entire food webs;
and 3. assessing the interacting risks of invasion, climate change, land use and socio-political environment..
These issues currently challenge resource managers in the Sierra Nevada and the foothills. For example, at Lake
Tahoe (where the position will be based), over $1M of research funds have gone to UC Davis in the last 5 years
for basic AIS research, control methodologies and education. Agencies have focused on boat inspection programs
that cost $1-2M annually, an unsustainable expense even though it has no doubt reduced the probability of new
AIS introductions at Lake Tahoe. The economic consequences of the establishment of AIS (e.g. Quagga mussels)
at Tahoe are enormous, both for the local economy (2-3M tourists annually) and property values. If Lake Tahoe
cannot be protected, then it is likely a matter of time before other lakes, ponds and wetlands follow. There are
pressing needs for better technology transfer from research outcomes to better management practices, and for
extracting underlying research questions from the concerns of the agencies and other stakeholders. ANR is ideally
set up to provide this linkage. There are currently no full-time ANR specialists statewide dealing with this issue,
and very few researchers at any of the UC campuses who focus on AIS.
Extension: The position will be expected to engage and meet with on a regular basis those agencies engaged in
the AIS management and education programs at Tahoe (approximately 6), to take an active role with the TERC
public education program, to meet with lake, reservoir and other waterbody managers, local and state agencies
and stakeholders statewide including recreational boaters and fishers, property owners, recreational businesses,
tribal groups, and others to both transfer knowledge gained at Tahoe, and to identify new and emerging issues in
other regions. While based in the Tahoe basin, the position is seen as a statewide resource in the effort to
understand, manage and stay ahead of the threats posed by AIS.
Research: Key questions are: 1. How are AIS spreading within water bodies and how can the process be
managed? 2. What are the most cost-effective ways to monitor for, control, and prevent the establishment of AIS.
3. How are AIS impacting recreational activities including boating and fishing as well as impacting native biota
and water quality conditions, to what extent are these changes increasing their survivability, and will this become
exacerbated with changes due to climate and growth? Outside of ANR publications and technical reports, AIS
research is publishable in peer-reviewed journals (e.g. TERC AIS research is published in Aquatic Conservation;
Journal of Lake and Reservoir Management; Limnology and Oceanography; Canadian Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Sciences; Environmental Management).
ANR Network: The new Specialist in CE would join and complement a network of ANR collaborators based
both in the Lake Tahoe area and statewide. UC campus-based researchers have been dealing with aspects of
invasive species in and out of the Tahoe Basin (e.g. non-AES scientist Lars Anderson (aquatic invasive plants),
AES Professor and Specialist in CE Ted Grosholz (invasive species in freshwater and estuarine systems), fishes
(e.g. AES Professor Peter Moyle)). CE Advisor Susie Kocher (El Dorado County and Central Sierra), based in
South Lake Tahoe, has broad expertise in watershed management and strong connections with Tahoe
stakeholders. CE Advisor Greg Guisti (Lake and Mendocino Counties) has been coordinating local stakeholders
to prevent the invasion of Clear Lake by Quagga mussels, and has facilitated statewide coordination of reservoir
managers regarding boat inspections. In southern California CE Advisor Sabrina Drill (LA County) has worked
with Grosholz on Zebra/Quagga Mussels. CE Advisor Jodi Cassell (Solano County) has collaborated on Quagga
mussel issues, and has coordinated an extension program for stakeholders about the risks posed to the Bay-Delta
and San Francisco Estuary by AIS carried in the ballast water of marine ships. This new Specialist in CE position
would complement and enhance the impact of this group by providing research expertise and extension focus on
AIS in freshwater systems.
Network External to ANR: TERC affiliated faculty and staff have been working on aspects of AIS for many
years in the Tahoe Basin, including invertebrates, macrophytes and fish. TERC has active collaborations with
colleagues at UNR, Notre Dame, the University of Granada (Spain) centered on AIS research, as well as UC
Davis based researchers. These collaborations have most recently focused on Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) at
Lake Tahoe. The specialist would be expected to take a central role in this network, and in time to provide
academic leadership to it. The specialist would also be expected to build strong ties with the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Both are active in the Tahoe Basin (the
TERC field station at Tahoe City is to be used as office space by DFW).
Support: The specialist will be provided office space and lab space at TERC in Incline Village, NV. TERC has
high quality space including meeting rooms, a public education center, computer support etc. Additional space is
available at the TERC field station in Tahoe City (a CAES facility). TERC vehicles, boats and sampling
equipment will also be available for use. Campus space will be provided through ESP.
Other support: For the first four years, the California Tahoe Conservancy has committed to provide a match of
$25,000/year in support of this position. These funds are provided through SB630, whereby buoy and pier lease
moneys from Lake Tahoe are being used to fund AIS activities. It is very possible that this source of external
funding will be available beyond four years.
Location: The position will be based in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP). ESP has
had a 50 year connection to research at Lake Tahoe, with professor emeritus Dr. Charles Goldman having
initiated the program. Members of the ESP faculty are qualified to review the performance of the specialist in the
merits and promotions process. The physical location of the specialist will be at Lake Tahoe, because of the
combination of the ideal research facilities, the current high level of AIS activity and funding there and the
willingness of partner agencies to help fund the position. The high visibility of Tahoe-related research will also
help in future outreach activities.
Developed and proposed by: Dr. Susan Handy (Chair, ESP), Dr. Ted Grosholz (ESP), and Dr. Geoffrey
Schladow (director, TERC). Developed in consultation with (Dr. Lisa Thompson, Dr. Rob Atwill, Dr Lars
Anderson, Ms. Susie Kocher). Feedback from P. Wright, California Tahoe Conservancy, J. Regan, Tahoe
Regional Planning Agency, K. Boyd, Tahoe Resource Conservation District, D. Sussman, Lahontan Regional
Water Quality Control Board, D. Shaw, California State Parks, J. Landy, EPA.