Inspections ward off invasive mussels

Watercraft inspection data and scientific reports continue to indicate that Lake Tahoe’s waters remain clear of invasive Quagga and Zebra mussels, which are considered major threats to Lake Tahoe and surrounding waterbodies.

Tahoe Resource Conservation District watercraft inspectors performed 8,000 inspections this boating season, and there were an additional 19,000 launches comprised of watercraft with intact Tahoe-issued inspection seals.

“We’re very happy with the watercraft inspection program thus far,” said Patrick Stone, TRPA’s Senior Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist and lead for early detection monitoring of invasive mussels. “Investigations conducted around Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake and Echo Lake confirmed that Quagga and Zebra mussels have not established in our lakes. These results are a credit to the inspection program.”

Concern among local agencies remains high as more Western waterbodies have shown evidence of invasive mussels and other aquatic invaders. Waterbodies in California and Nevada known to be infected with invasive mussels include San Justo Reservoir, Lake Mead, Lake Havasu and the entire Colorado River system. As watercraft continue to arrive from high risk waters, the importance of Lake Tahoe’s watercraft inspection program remains critical. Federal appropriations through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2010 enabled the program to implement off-highway inspection stations. This created an opportunity to streamline inspection procedures and increase decontamination capacity.

2010 saw a dramatic increase in watercraft decontaminations, which doubled from approximately 600 in 2009 to 1,208 this year. Improved decontamination capacity at off-highway inspection locations allowed inspectors to be more thorough in treating high-risk watercraft. Additional improvements to inspection protocol allowed inspectors to increase prevention efforts by intercepting watercraft arriving from waters known to be infested with aquatic invasive mussels.

In total, 11 watercraft showing the presence of aquatic invasive species of concern were intercepted and decontaminated.

“It only takes one contaminated boat to introduce aquatic invasive species into Lake Tahoe,” said Tahoe RCD Biological Resources Program Manager Kim Boyd. “We need to remain vigilant and not let our guard down. We hope that by demonstrating the success of the watercraft inspection program for Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe RCD and its partners can create a model for prevention programs by sharing our resources and providing support. The TRPA, our key partner in invasive species prevention, continues to be instrumental in the success and evolution of this program.”

While the addition of convenient off-highway locations enabled boaters to receive their watercraft inspections and decontaminations when entering the Lake Tahoe Basin, marinas and boat launches continued to be the busiest locations for inspections in 2010. Cave Rock saw the most inspections, followed by the Tahoe Keys Marina, Lake Forest Boat Launch, Meyers Inspection Station, Alpine Meadows Inspection Station and Sand Harbor. Off-highway inspection stations accounted for approximately 31 percent of all inspections performed during the 2010 boating season.

This year’s prevention efforts also included a more rigorous non-motorized watercraft inspection process at ramp facilities, U.S. Forest Service kiosks and Fallen Leaf Lake. Tahoe RCD inspectors surveyed more than 1,900 paddlers to assess the risk of transporting aquatic invasive species from previously visited water bodies. Paddlers also were educated about self-inspecting and decontaminating canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.

Current information on the boat inspection program, including hours of operation for boat launches and snow closures, is available at http://TahoeBoatInspections.com or by calling 888-824-6267. For more information on the district, visit www.tahoercd.org.

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.

TRPA boat inspections

The brilliant blue waters with amazing clarity are what draw boaters, kayakers and other water enthusiasts to Lake Tahoe. But, it takes all of use to keep these beautiful waters safe from invasive species.

Hence, the TRPA’s mandatory inspections of quagga and zebra mussels for all vessels – including kayaks – into the Lake. This year, the inspection program has been combined with the Blue Boating certification program. Kayakers aren’t required to have Blue Boating certification.

The invasive quagga and zebra species are miniscule, but can wreak havoc on the Lake if they are introduced. These mussels, which are hitching rides on boats and trailers and in ballast tanks, bladders and live wells, are spreading across the West. Quagga and zebra mussels will spread rapidly once they are introduced to a lake and will gorge on the food supply, kill fish and pollute the clarity of the lake. They also will clog cooling system water intakes, causing motors to overheat.

TRPA charges a single annual fee for the invasive species inspections and Blue Boating certification, which are available at all launch sites. TRPA also will be offering four roadside inspection stations opening Memorial Day weekend: Alpine Meadow Ski Resort; Northstar-at-Tahoe in the Castle Peak parking lot; 2128 Keetak St. in Meyers at the intersection of Highways 89 and 50; and Spooner Summit at the intersections of Highways 28 and 50 (boats less than 26’ only). The stations are open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. throughout the summer.

TRPA offers a sticker for Tahoe-only vessels and one for vessels that use other waters during the year – the Tahoe In & Out Sticker. These fees are based on engine horsepower.

The Tahoe Only sticker ranges from $20 for a vessel with 1 to 100 horsepower up to $60 for more than 1,001 horsepower.

The Tahoe In & Out sticker has a fee system based on vessel length or type (including personal watercraft) for the invasive species inspection and on horsepower. For example, a 16’ to 25’ boat with 1 to 100 horsepower would pay $55, while the same size boat with 501 to 1,000 horsepower would be $85. The complete fee structures are available online. The fee includes unlimited invasive species inspections for the year. As well, a three-day pass is available for a flat $20 discount.

It’s a lot of information to digest, so I’ll devote a separate column later in the season to the Blue Boating program and the need for such inspections. In the meantime, call the TRPA hotline at (888) 824-6267 or visit www.protecttahoe.org.