It is a primary mission of the UC Natural Reserve to facilitate scientific research. The perennial Convict Creek flows through the reserve and is divided into channels for manipulative studies. In addition, a diversion supplies water to a set of nine artificial streams, each 1 m x 50 m long. Non-aquatic research is also encouraged as we have long-term flow and temperature records for Convict Creek; climate data; maps; bibliography of on-site research; synoptic collections; complete flora; selected species lists; aerial photos. The reserve provides easy access to the high Sierra Nevada, Mono Lake, Long Valley, Owens Valley, Yosemite National Park, and the Great Basin.
Facilities
The reserve offers housing, laboratories, and meeting space to qualified organizations for education, research, and public service purposes.
We welcome a wide range of research at the Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratories. If you are unsure of whether your project is feasible and appropriate for a UCNRS site, review the NRS Use and Guidelines. If you have specific questions about the reserve and its resources, please reach out to our knowledgeable staff at vesr@nrs.ucsb.edu.
SNARL staff document all research projects past and present, curate data collected at SNARL, map equipment locations, document any environmental manipulations, and curate a list of natural and environmental resources available. SNARL staff can also provide geospatial resources, fieldwork support, reserve orientation, and networking opportunities.
To look at previous research conducted at SNARL check out our Bibliography of research. This collection has over 1300 entries divided into the following categories: books, book chapters, symposia proceedings, articles in professional journals, technical reports, theses and dissertations, magazine articles, newspaper articles, websites, and audio visual materials.
Some other resources can be found at the Natural Resources of SNARL page, including the Native Riparian Specimen Collection
Check out the current and historical weather data at SNARL to help you plan your research
The first step to apply to do research at SNARL is to create an account and submit an Application in our Research Access Management System (RAMS).
During the application process your project will be reviewed for research value and suitability of the project based on a number of factors including natural resources, permits, other research projects, infrastructure, environmental conditions, and staff resources if required. We will make every effort to work with applicants and welcome new projects.
Be sure to record the user name and log-in password you used when submitting your original application. Allow at least 10 business days (ideally more) for us to review your application. We will reach out to you with questions or once a determination of accept/reject has been made.
You will receive confirmation that your application has been approved via e-mail. If you are unsure, please check RAMS for the status of your application and reservation(s).
What information should I provide in the application?
- Title, principle investigator, a brief introduction/summary of the project, and research methods you plan to use to complete your project
- Approximate dates of the proposed research project. The application will require you to provide dates and an “activity” (what you are going to be doing on those dates) in order for your application to be approved
- Frequency/duration/seasonal timing of your visit(s)
- Your anticipated need for housing, transportation and/or equipment
- How/whether specimens will be collected and specifically how many/ how much you require
- How you will avoid the intentional or inadvertent introduction of non-endemic genetic material within the boundary of the reserve
- Your ability to accurately document metadata associated with your project and share it with Reserve staff in a timely fashion. Your plans to construct or devise (and later remove) experimental manipulations during the scope of your work
Additional Approvals
Installation of equipment will require a consultation and plan for installation, upkeep, and removal. Larger installations will require CEQA approval.
A letter of support from the Reserve Director is required for any grant administered by the University of California Santa Barbara. Please submit a final (or almost finalized) proposal to the Director at least three weeks before the grant submission deadline if you need a letter of support. Contact us at vesr@nrs.ucsb.edu for more info
If your project will involve vertebrate animals, you will need approval of the UCSB Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). For more information visit UCSB Animal Subjects and read Using Wild Vertebrates in Research.
If you project includes human subjects, you will need approval of the UCSB Human Subjects Committee (HSC) which serves as the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
If your project involves drones, you will need to complete an application to fly drones at the Reserve. For questions on drones or the permitting process, reach out to Dr. Brandon Stark at uassafety@ucmerced.edu
Make a reservation for every visit
As one of the busiest research stations in the UC Reserve system, coordination is essential to ensure that researchers’ needs are met and conflicts with housing, equipment, vehicles, and research sites are avoided. Your adherence to the online reservation process provides this essential research coordination.
- Learn about facilities you can rent as a researcher and the rates of the amenities offered.
- Create a reservation in RAMS every time you plan to come to SNARL.
- Staff will review your reservation and notify you as to whether you have been approved. During the reservation process, staff are looking at accommodation availability, road and weather conditions, fire risk, personnel availability, and other activities on the reserve.
- Part of our job is to help you conduct a successful research project, so let us know how we can help. However, beyond basic administrative and field support, we would bill you for our time helping you get your project started. This would be discussed before billing.
Understanding Applications vs Reservations in RAMS
New research projects are submitted as an application. Individual visits within a project are submitted as reservations linked to the application. Please allow 10 business days for review of a new application, and 3 business days for review of reservations.
When to file a new application:
- Any time a new research project is planned
- If a previously approved project is expanded, altered, significantly revised or extended beyond the period stated in the approved proposal.
- When multiple research projects are proposed (separate applications must be filed for each project)
When to file a new reservation:
- You may submit your first reservation at the same time as your application
- Any time you plan to visit SNARL as part of an approved research application
Hours of Operation
SNARL operates on limited staff. Staff are generally available Monday-Saturday 8 AM – 5 PM. Researchers needing assistance should schedule a meeting with staff during these hours.
Guidelines for Research Visitors:
- Bring the gate code (given to you once your reservation is approved), as there is limited cell service at the reserve! DO NOT share this code with others.
- Before you arrive review our Code of Conduct
- Make sure you have completed all the necessary Permits and Waivers prior to your arrival
- Review the information on Infectious Diseases found in the area
- Review and download the General Information Guide. Please email vesr@nrs.ucsb.edu for any questions.
- Spouses and family members not engaged in research will be accommodated on a space-available basis. Public accommodations, including campgrounds, are available in the Mammoth and Convict Lake areas.
- Charge and carry a cell phone. Service can be spotty so please plan accordingly.
- Keep vehicles on established roadways and vehicle trails.
- Leave gates as you find them (e.g., if closed and locked, close and lock it after passing).
- Upon arrival at the reserve please read the posted information and Emergency Action Plan in each residence for detailed information.
- Let reserve staff know if you see anything broken or unusual out in the Reserve.
- NO firearms, NO smoking, and NO pets are permitted anywhere on the Reserve. If you violate these rules, you will be asked to leave.
DO NOT disturb reserve residents, animals, or experiments.
DO NOT visit without having made reservation and receiving Reserve staff approval. Requests for personal or recreational visits to the Reserve will not be approved.
DO NOT smoke, bring dogs, collect, hunt, or ride mountain bikes, horses, or ATVs on the Reserve.
In an effort to keep our facility use rates low no janitorial services are provided. Users are expected to leave residences, labs, offices, and shops cleaner than they found them. In this way conditions will improve instead of degrade. Cleaning supplies are provided in all buildings. Failure to adequately clean up will result in cleaning fees and prejudice future visits by the group.
- Invoices will be emailed to the indicated person on the application after your visit. Let us know if you used different facilities than were on your RAMS reservation.
- Make sure to include the SNARL DOI: 10.21973/N3966F for all publications
- Mention The Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratories in your manuscripts and send us your research! We keep records of published work Zotero
- Tag, follow, and like us on all our social media platforms. Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
- Inform SNARL staff when projects are soon to be completed at vesr@nrs.ucsb.edu
Graduate Student Grants
The reserve offers grants for graduate student research conducted in and around Mammoth Lakes.