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Overview
Overview
Clear Lake’s waters are cared for by many. Learn more about cultural connections, examine water quality data and key managing agencies, contribute data on potential harmful algal blooms, and make plans to get involved in the community.
Through basket weaving, educators will be able to share with students how important wetland species like tule are for maintaining both healthy water quality and traditional Tribal practices. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a critical water quality concern that students will learn about by comparing their own observations with local data. Questions generated by looking at the data can feed into the discussion of key groups that are monitoring and protecting water quality in the lake. Educators can then guide students in how to use the participatory science app, bloomWatch, to contribute observations of potential HABs. Finally, traditional knowledge, student data questions, key groups, and contributing observations will come together through examining Clear Lake wetland restoration efforts.
Objectives
Objectives
Understand how wetland plants impact water quality
Understand the cultural importance of tule to local Tribes and Clear Lake
Have students’ prior knowledge and observations contribute to sense-making
Understand what a HAB is and what causes HABs to occur in Clear Lake
Read maps and interpret data
Utilize protocols to submit scientific data
Identify HABs
Develop student questions
Engage with local groups and their projects
Activities
Activities
Introduction to tules and their importance for water quality and culture
Determining key groups to support change making
Identifying where HABs happen and linking DO with temperature
Submit observations of suspected HABs
Learn about local projects restoring and protecting wetlands
Educator Background
Educator Background
Anything contributing to making the water too acidic, too warm, or with too little oxygen, is a pollutant. Pollutants heavily impact Clear Lake’s water quality and can lead to harmful algal blooms (HABs). Algae and cyanobacteria are simple organisms that live in the water. Algae and cyanobacteria can grow fast, or “bloom,” when water is warm, slow-moving, and full of excess nutrients from pollutants like pesticides and sediments. When there is cyanobacteria present, these blooms can sometimes produce toxins called cyanotoxins. People and animals can get sick when swimming, boating, or near water with a cyanobacterial bloom. While it’s important to reduce or eliminate the production of pollutants contributing to HABs, restoring wetland plants can help cycle excess nutrients from the lake. Wetland species like tule are important in cultural practices, providing habitat for animals, preventing lake shoreline erosion, and improving water quality by filtering pollutants. Caring for wetland species around Clear Lake and its tributaries positively impacts the health of the lake and its people. Use the list of local resources to learn more about Clear Lake's water quality.
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