Clear Lake Environmental
Research Center
Carolyn Ruttan
(707)295-0333
[email protected]
What is CLERC?
 501(c)3 non-profit corporation striving to bring scientific
research and environmental education to the shores of
Clear Lake on a permanent basis
 Creating a world class research and conference center on
the shores of Clear Lake, complete with lab facilities,
conference rooms, lodging, and educational exhibits
 Active, year-round destination facility for scientists,
educators, individuals and families from all over the world
 Not affiliated with the County of Lake
Background
 Imagined by Will Evans while
investigating a seawall failure
at Holiday Harbor in Nice, CA
 The County is marketing
Holiday Harbor as a site for a
boutique hotel – difficult in
today’s economy
 Assumption: Hazardous Algae
Blooms (HAB) harm the
tourism industry
 Challenged assumption – could
a HAB actually attract any
people to Clear Lake?
Why research Clear Lake?
 Clear Lake is a truly unique
resource for scientific study
 Largest freshwater lake in
California
 Oldest lake in North America
 Over 400 feet of sediment
on the bottom – records the
last 475,000 years
 Long history of previous
scientific studies leading to
more questions
Cyanobacteria
 Numerous types of
cyanobacteria
 Information deficit
concerning the
understanding of
hazardous algal
blooms (HAB)
events
 HAB’s have been
an increasing
occurrence across
lakes worldwide in
the 21st century
Other Areas of Interest
 Climate change
 Human impacts on water quality
 Remote sensing applications for
determining water quality
 Benthic Invertebrates
 Aquatic Ecosystems
 Endangered species/Invasive species
 Mercury Contamination
 Limnology
 Geology/Geomorphology
 Renewable Energy
 Development of Byproducts
 Lake Management
Why environmental education?
 Clear Lake is a hub for outdoor
recreation – bass fishing, water
skiing, kayaking, bird watching
 Clear Lake could also be a world
class destination for ecotourists
wishing to spend their time in a
truly unique natural place, while
also learning about the place and
being good stewards of the
environment
 Proper facilities, including a
visitors' center/museum and
hands-on environmental education
programs, are needed to help
visitors explore and enjoy the lake
Community Benefits
 Increased tourism and awareness of Clear Lake through
the marketing of the research being conducted and the
educational programs offered by the center
 Increased amount of research being conducted on Clear
Lake’s water quality issues
 By collocating and sponsoring multiple research projects
based out of one location, the community will be on the
ground floor with partnering agencies to leverage any new
findings for the good of Clear Lake
CLERC’s Goals
 Create a modern scientific research center that would give
scientists a place to study Clear Lake and the area
surrounding it
 Develop comprehensive public education programs for
local adults and families, as wells as for school groups and
ecotourists
 Partner with universities and other centers of education
 Generate new economic growth in the local community
 Create new local jobs and bolster existing Lake County
business
Current Status
 Still in early stages incorporated June 2014
 Held a day-long strategic
planning session on July 12 to
solidify vision and set goals
 Built website and fair booth
with help of volunteers
 Looking for people to establish
workgroups:




Administration
Projects & Programs (w/ subgroups)
Fundraising
Marketing
Administration Workgroup




Drafting Business Plan
Initial 2-year Budget
IRS 501(c)3 application
Contacting and
Coordinating Volunteers
Marketing, Events, & Fundraising
Workgroup
 Determine overall
fundraising strategy
 Establish CLERC
Membership Program
 Plan and Coordinate
Fundraising Events
 Plan and Coordinate
Outreach and Marketing
Events
 Coordinate Social Media
Campaigns
Facilities Workgroup
 Identify and secure location
for initial science research
lab.
 Locate and secure initial
office and meeting space.
 Start long-term visioning
process for building science
research and education
destination facility.
Initial Projects & Programs
 Citizen Monitoring/Clear Lake
Monitoring Round Table
 Clear Lake Virtual Data Library
 Cyanobacteria Harvesting Study
 Monthly Environmental Education
Series
 Cyanobacteria/Algae Biofuel Pilot
Project
 Science Lab
Contact Info.
Clear Lake Environmental Research Center
P.O. Box 636
Lakeport, CA
95453
www.clerc.co
Carolyn Ruttan
[email protected]
(707)295-0333