Russians, Tahoe experts to exchange ideas on environment

"Hopefully the scientists from two countries will benefit from each other's knowledge and expertise," said event coordinator Sanoma Lee Kellogg. "The idea is to have everyone put their heads together to see what is being done to try and build on certain projects."

The Tahoe-Baikal U.S.-Russia Environmental Policymakers' Exchange will focus on environmental policy and research in the Lake Tahoe and Russia's Lake Baikal regions.

Four Russian governmental representatives and one Russian scientist will meet with an American team of four policymakers and one scientist.

The U.S. delegation includes California Resources Secretary Douglas Wheeler, Dr. Charles Goldman of the University of California Tahoe Research Group, former U.S. Rep. Jerry Waldie of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Patricia Ronald of the League to Save Lake Tahoe and a TBI board member, and another federal official yet to be named.

Events here include a July 29 reception at Heavenly Ski Resort. Other sessions have been scheduled in San Francisco, Sacramento, Davis and Tahoe City. The same representatives also will meet in Moscow and at Lake Baikal in Siberia from Aug. 26 to Sept. 3.

Lake Baikal is the world's largest freshwater lake and, like Tahoe, draws many scientists and conservationists.

"The lakes are very similar. Both have high clarity and are threatened by pollution," Kellogg said. "Both are tourist spots, although Lake Baikal is more of an eco-tourist location."

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