Gus Tjernagel

Major: Environmental Science, Ecology

Class of: 2017

My interest in natural resource conservation and ecological studies comes from my passion for the environment. I came to SNC Tahoe from Lake Tahoe Community College to complete my degree because of my love for Lake Tahoe, snowboarding, and everything else that the mountains have to offer, and because of the small class sizes and hands-on approach here. I feel very lucky to have been a part of many research projects and field classes rather than taking test after test.

“My favorite experiences here at SNC have been field classes that involve camping out for days in the wilderness with like-minded people.”

My senior research project is a field study examining the effects that non-native crayfish have on periphyton biomass in the Lower Truckee River. My project has proven to be bigger than I expected, but doing completely original research is extremely rewarding. Nobody has studied this question before! I’ve learned that I am more capable of understanding and executing science than I previously thought, which has really opened my mind to new opportunities.

Placing Non-Native Crayfish Safely in the Truckee River

I can see myself continuing my education through internships and possibly graduate school, but for now I have no plans to leave the Tahoe Basin.

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