Clear Lake is one of California’s most iconic freshwater ecosystems, but in recent decades it has faced increasing water quality challenges. Since 2018, UC Davis researchers have been part of a multidisciplinary, multi-agency effort to identify the root causes of the challenges Clear Lake is facing. Guided by the Blue Ribbon Committee, a collaborative scientific effort was launched to investigate the origins of this nutrient enrichment. This work brought together researchers from the University of California, Davis, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in a coordinated partnership. UC Davis led intensive in-lake studies to examine internal processes and nutrient cycling, while USGS conducted comprehensive stream monitoring to quantify phosphorus inputs from the watershed.
The Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake (BRC), which oversees these collaborative efforts, is focused on developing and providing actionable recommendations to the Governor and the California Legislature to improve Clear Lake's water quality and ecosystem, supporting the surrounding community.
The BRC's partners include:
