_____________________________________________________________________________

Ecology  Project – Land Use History Presentation

_____________________________________________________________________________

 Each person will sign up with a partner for a presentation of some part of the land use history of South Lake Tahoe, and the current effects of that land use on the landscape.  

Your team will give a 20 minute presentation on your topic.  Find a site in South Lake Tahoe to demonstrate the activity you are describing.   We will take part of the lab time during week 5 to coordinate our plans so you must have identified your site by this date.  We will then visit all the sites during the land use history lab, and each group will present their findings.  We will attempt to view the presentations in chronological order, beginning with the Washoe Indians and ending with current land use practices.  Spend a few minutes describing the research you did, and where you found the information.  Spend the majority of the presentation time describing the entity or group that used the land in a particular way, how they used it, and the impacts, whether minimal or still evident on the ecosystems in place today. You should leave a minute or two for questions. 

Some of topics you might consider - effects of Washoe Indians, explorers and scouts (such as Kit Carson or John Fremont), developers, timber harvesters, gold miners, land owners, planning agencies, other government agencies, fire prevention, casinos, conservation organizations;  any land use that affects or affected ecosystems is up for grabs. 

Provide some type of visual presentation, such as a poster (which you may use it during the presentation), as well as a handout that you will distribute to all class members..

Some questions you may want to address in your presentation:

How did the human group you are presenting use the land or its resources?

Which particular ecosystems were affected by this land use?

How did these uses affect local ecosystems?  Was the effect positive or negative in your opinion?

Are the impacts still evident in the Tahoe Basin? How?

Are land managers currently dealing with these impacts?  In what  ways?

What references did you use?           

You will be evaluated on the following criteria:

________oral presentation contained good information                    (20 pts.)

________presentation was interesting and cohesive                        (20 pts.)

________visual presentation and handouts                                        (20 pts.)

                        were attractive and informative        

________presentation was timely                                                        (20 pts.)

________ adequate use of references                                                (20 pts.)