Sunday, October 24, 2010

Funds OK'd for cloud seeding, boat inspections


A program to boost the amount of snow falling during winter storms at Lake Tahoe can proceed this winter following action by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority on Oct. 20, according to news reports from the Reno Gazette-Journal.

The $155,800 approved by the Truckee Meadows Water Authority to help fund the Desert Research Institute's cloud-seeding program was among more than $723,000 worth of projects designed to protect the Truckee River and the region's water supplies.

Money also was approved to expand a program to inspect boats for the presence of mussels and other invasive species from Lake Tahoe to other area water bodies, including Boca and Stampede reservoirs.

Added to $100,000 already promised by the Western Regional Water Commission, the $155,800 approved by TMWA will ensure the program proceeds this winter.

Boat inspections
The authority also voted to provide $296,000 to begin inspecting boats for mussels and other invasive species at area lakes and reservoirs, including Boca, Stampede, Prosser Creek and Martis Creek reservoirs, as well as Donner, Independence and Weber lakes.


Boat inspections have been under way at Lake Tahoe since 2008, but experts said it's important to expand that effort to other water bodies within the Truckee River system. Inspections are anticipated to begin in May.

Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance returns Aug. 12-13

New dates of Friday, Aug. 12, and Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011, have been announced for the 39th annual showing of the renown Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance wooden boat show, presented by the Tahoe Yacht Club Foundation at the Sierra Boat Company, Carnelian Bay.

"After holding the show over Father's Day weekend in 2009 and 2010, we're excited to have an agreement with Sierra Boat Company that enables us to return to our traditional August dates," Foundation President Dave Olson said. "This will get us well past all the Father's Day gatherings, and June graduations and weddings that have been conflicts for both our boat exhibitors and show attendees these past two years."

The featured Marque Class for 2011 will be a very rare but popular one: Gar Wood - the Gentleman's Runabout. First produced in 1922, these powerful and luxurious mahogany craft built by inventor, industrialist and record-setting speedboat racer Garfield A. Wood ranged in size from 22 to 33 feet, and were described as the "aristocrat of motorboats."

The Foundation also announced Rivas, the Italian synonym for distinctive style and elegance since the '50s, as the Marque Class for 2012.

Additional information on the 39th annual show and social functions of 2011 Wooden Boat Week, starting with the Opening Night Gala on Thursday, Aug. 11, will be available shortly on at http://www.laketahoeconcours.com/.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

TRCD seeks new board members

The South Lake Tahoe-based nonprofit environmental organization Tahoe Resource Conservation District is seeking two new board members to serve on its five-person Board of Directors. New board members, appointed by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, will serve voluntary, four-year terms from Nov. 30, 2010, through Nov. 30, 2014.

Interested applicants are required to reside and own property in the Lake Tahoe Basin in either Placer or El Dorado County and are asked to submit a letter of interest along with a county committee application (available online at www.co.el-dorado.ca.us) to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors by Nov. 1, 2010, to be eligible for consideration. Decisions regarding new board members are expected to be announced the week of Nov. 15, 2010.

”Tahoe RCD plays a vital role in preserving and restoring natural resources in the Lake Tahoe Basin,” said Director Dave Roberts. "And, we rely heavily on our Board to help direct our efforts and connect us with resources, stakeholders and issues within the community.”


Current board members have a diverse set of backgrounds, with experience in not-for-profit management, private business, education, resource management and real estate. Any eligible applicants with an interest in Tahoe Basin environmental and conservation issues are encouraged to apply. New applicants or anyone from the general public are invited to attend Tahoe RCD board meetings, the next of which will be held on Oct. 12, 2010.


Tahoe RCD’s mission is to promote the conservation and improvement of the Lake Tahoe Basin’s soil, water, and related natural resources by providing leadership, information, programs, and technical assistance to all land managers, owners, organizations, and residents. Tahoe RCD is a non-regulatory, grant funded, not-for-profit agency that works with a variety of partner agencies to implement programs and outreach, which currently focus on erosion control, runoff infiltration, terrestrial and aquatic invasive species control, and conservation landscaping.


For details, visit www.tahoercd.org.

Successful removal of aquatic invasive weeds in Lake Tahoe


From Tahoe Resource Conservation District:


South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – Efforts to remove approximately one-third of the Eurasian watermilfoil infestation in Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay using experimental technologies has been deemed an early success.


Eurasian watermilfoil is a fast-spreading aquatic invasive weed that has been on the rise in Lake Tahoe since its introduction more than a decade ago. A partnership including Tahoe Resource Conservation District, California Department of Parks and Recreation, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center and subcontractor A.C.E. Diving covered approximately 8,500 square feet of lake bottom near the pier and swimming beach of Emerald Bay using 8’ x 40’ reusable bottom barrier strips in June and hand removal of remaining weeds. On Sept. 14, the barriers were removed to reveal just sand, with no signs of invasive weeds below the barriers.


The project’s objective was to focus efforts on the removal of a significant portion of one known, discreet infestation site, with the goal of completely removing all visible plant growth.


According to California Department of Parks and Recreation Environmental Scientist Dan Shaw, “We’re very optimistic about the initial results of this pilot project because it demonstrates that it is possible to eradicate the majority of an infestation in a specific locale. These findings will help us establish a control plan for aquatic invasive weed populations in Emerald Bay and other afflicted areas of Lake Tahoe.”


Participating resource managers are implementing a prioritized strategy for the effective removal of aquatic invasive weeds based on risk of spread, previous removal projects, public benefit and likelihood of removal success. The swimming beach and pier area in Emerald Bay was identified for the pilot project because it meets all of these criteria. Surveys will be conducted in subsequent seasons to document the long-term success of the removal efforts. It is anticipated that future control efforts will only require more limited maintenance removal to keep the swim beach and pier free of aquatic invasive weeds, greatly reducing control costs.


It is estimated that 3 acres of Eurasian watermilfoil have established in three distinct locations within Emerald Bay, near Parson's Rock, the Swim Beach and Avalanche Beach.

For more information, visit http://www.tahoercd.org/.