In collaboration with Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) education team helps support teachers in our region who participate in the Trout in the Classroom (TIC) program.

The Trout in the Classroom program is designed to give students a unique opportunity to witness Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT) birth and care for them during their early life stages. In the process, students learn about trout habitat requirements and how to become good stewards of our aquatic resources. TERC hosted a TIC Teacher training event in March, which walks new participants through background information, setting up the aquarium, successfully raising the fish, and curriculum connections. On April 17th, the eggs were picked up from the Lahontan National Fish Hatchery and distributed to the classrooms. Once the LCT are in the fry stage, they are released into Lake Tahoe, Incline Creek, Third Creek, or the Truckee River. NDOW is currently conducting a long-term study on Third Creek, which includes monthly population monitoring in both Third and Incline creeks, so the introduction of the LCT could provide some interesting findings.