MOnika Larson

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Monika Larson graduated from San Diego State University in 2012 with a Bachelors Degree in Biology with an Emphasis in Marine Biology. While at SDSU, she worked as a research assistant in the Coastal & Marine Institute Laboratory, where she participated in eelgrass recovery and kelp forest foraging studies. Her experience working in the kelp forest off Point Loma inspired her Senior Thesis in temporal effects on sea urchin predation. Since graduation Monika has worked on numerous projects with various agencies and nonprofits throughout the Pacific region. She began working as a Biologist on board commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea. Her work provided critical real time data for sustainable management of Alaskan fisheries. After a few years she began splitting her time, spending her summers working as a fisheries technician and crew lead with Trout Unlimited in the Great Basin and working the winters in Alaska. Her work with TU was focused on Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Recovery. She witnessed firsthand the power of habitat restoration for native species and the profound effect restoration efforts have on the ecosystem. In 2018, Monika worked for Gabon’s National Agency for National Parks as a part of a dive team enlisted to create sampling protocols for a potential Rigs to Reef program conducted on the soon to be decommissioned oil rigs offshore. The goal of the program was to provide a sustainable fishing economy and food security for the local communities. Most recently, Monika led a small team conducting fish passage assessments at stream crossing locations along the California State Highway system. Her work has provided valuable insight into remediation efforts that will open up miles of stream habitat for threatened anadromous salmonids. Monika is excited to return to the Tahoe basin and combine her love for diving with her passion for conservation.