Learn about aquatic invasive species

The Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Coordination Committee will host a public forum on April 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the US Forest Service Building at 35 College Drive in South Lake Tahoe.

Brief presentations will focus on aquatic invasive species prevention and control projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin, including the Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program, invasive aquatic plant and Asian clam control efforts, and non-native fish removal. The evening will conclude with a question and answer period. Light refreshments will be served.

Aquatic Invasive Species pose a real and serious threat to the Tahoe Basin’s unique natural environment and economy. Prevention efforts such as the Watercraft Inspection Program aim to avoid introduction of harmful species, such as Quagga and Zebra Mussels and New Zealand mudsnails. However, efforts have expanded in recent years to include control projects for invasive species already present in Lake Tahoe, such as Asian clams, Eurasian watermilfoil, curlyleaf pondweed, and non-native fishes. Primary funding for these projects has come from US Fish & Wildlife Service.

“Preventing and controlling aquatic invasive species matters to everyone who lives, works or plays here,” said Pete Brumis, Public Outreach Specialist for Tahoe RCD. ”

The AIS Forum offers the opportunity to interact with those leading the efforts to protect Lake Tahoe.” Presenters include scientists, research professionals and agency personnel from UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, TRPA, the U.S. Forest Service, Tahoe RCD and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Project partners also hope to host another forum in the fall to summarize activities and lessons learned over the summer.

Tickets on sale for Concours d'Elegance

CARNELIAN BAY, Calif. - Tickets to the 39th Annual Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance Wooden Boat Show are available online at http://www.laketahoeconcours.com.

Make reservations for this year's show, which takes place Aug. 12 to 13 at Sierra Boat Company Marina in Carnelian Bay.

Show tickets
Show tickets may be purchased for one or two days allowing access along the docks at the Sierra Boat Company where you'll enjoy festivities, food, music, vendors and, of course, up-close and personal views of some of the most historic and classic wooden boats in the nation. Single day passes are $25 in advance and $30 at the gate. Two-day passes are $35 in advance and $40 at the gate. Children under 12 are free.

Awards barbecue
With a backdrop like no other surrounded by premiere Concours boats and the splendor of Lake Tahoe, join exhibitors, judges and guests for a Korbel Champagne barbecue catered by Men Wielding Fire. The presentation of 2011 Concours d' Elegance awards will be held at the Sierra Boat Company marina courtyard beginning at 6 p.m. on Aug. 12. Adult tickets are $50, children 6 to 12 are $25, and children under 6 are free.

Opening Night Gala
Don't miss this traditional kick-off event held at the West Shore Café at 6 p.m. on Aug. 11. Enjoy wine, elegant food, music and the stories behind the boats and their owners. Tickets are $135 and are limited to the first 200 people, so don't wait to secure your spot. Additional details and theme for the Gala will be announced closer to show dates. Continue to check show the Web site for up-to-date information.

Ladies' Luncheon & Fashion Show
All ladies are welcome to an afternoon with fellow boat exhibitors and friends to enjoy light beverages and a catered lunch while enjoying some of the hottest fashions from Sports Tahoe. Tickets are $55 and the event will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 14. Each year's luncheon is hosted at a fabulous locale in Lake Tahoe.

Men's Grill Turner Playtime
The tradition continues as late friend and Tahoe Yacht Club Staff Commodore Howard Turner is honored at the Men's Grill Playtime beginning at noon on Aug. 14. Tickets to this relaxed afternoon along the lakefront lawn are $45 and include a hosted bar and catered barbecue lunch by Melanie Jackson.

Visit http://www.laketahoeconcours.com/ for additional information on all ticket sales and event details. Additional information on sponsorship packages, participant entries, and scheduled entertainment are available online.

Bacteria could kill invasive species

The recent discovery of a bacteria that can kill zebra and quagga mussels has raised hopes for private and public organizations fighting to control the environmentally hazardous speciesm according to news reports.

New York State Museum researchers Daniel Molloy and Denise Mayer discovered a bacteria strain — Pseudomonas fluorescens — that can kill zebra and quagga mussels without killing other native species in the ecosystem.

Quagga and zebra mussels have not entered Lake Tahoe, but in the past three years the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has implemented a lake-wide boat inspection program in an effort to prevent aquatic invasive species from entering into the waters of Lake Tahoe.

The complete story is available at the Tahoe Daily Tribune.

Thunderbird Lodge Lighthouse restored

From "Thunderbird Tales" newsletter

The Whittell Harbor Beacon (Lighthouse) at Thunderbird Lodge has been an East Shore fixture since it was built in 1938.

Early photos show a bridge from the lighthouse parapet to shore, but it appears to have been removed during Whittell’s time.

As the years took their toll, winter storms battered the monument until the
base was all but gone. The beacon was in imminent danger of collapsing as only
a tiny pinnacle of rock remained to support the structure.

After nearly two years were spent obtaining the regulatory approvals and
permits for these emergency repairs, the beacon was saved in just three short
weeks of construction in October.

For more and other news about the Thunderbird Lodge, visit www.thunderbirdlodge.org. You can find the latest newsletter, under the link for "Preservation Society."

TRPA appeals pier construction ruling

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has said it will appeal a federal judge's ruling that struck down rules guiding new pier construction and other shoreline activity on Lake Tahoe.

The agency hopes to overturn a September decision by U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence K. Karlton that found TRPA failed to ensure protection of the lake's environment with new regulations on shoreline development, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.

"We feel there is substantial case law that supports the analysis TRPA used" in preparing the regulations, said Nicole Rinke, the agency's general counsel. "The amendments were the result of a 20-plus-year stakeholder process and represent a reasonable approach to regulation of the shoreline."

While the appeal is pending, a freeze will remain in effect on new piers, buoys and moorings around the Tahoe Basin. After Jan. 17, TRPA will begin accepting applications for shore zone projects under rules in effect before the October 2008 adoption of the regulations now being litigated.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Club sued over those regulations, which would have allowed 138 new piers, 1,862 new buoys and six new boat ramps.

Wendy Park, an Earthjustice attorney representing the two environmental groups, described Karlton's ruling at the time as a "very significant ruling for Lake Tahoe."

The new shoreline facilities, Park said, would have caused additional boating pollution and further diminished clarity of the landmark alpine lake.

Inspection program working

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 (Tahoe RCD) 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.

Planning for the 2011 season is under way with some improvements and changes that will better serve the boating community while still protecting the Lake. Current information on the boat inspection program, including hours of operation for boat launches and snow closures, is available at www.TahoeBoatInspections.com or by calling 888-824-6267.

Martime Museum members tour

Award-winning boat builder Tony Brown and Sabina Pellissier invite Tahoe Maritime Museum mebers to tour their workshop and view the current restoration of "Miss Tahoe" in progress on Jan. 22 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Mark your calendar and join the Museum for this special afternoon for all members. Light refreshments will be served. The workshop is located in Auburn. Space is limited, so please RSVP. For more information or to RSVP, call (530) 525-9253 or e-mail events@tahoemaritimemuseum.org.

New director for maritime museum

The Tahoe Maritime Museum Board of Directors announces the appointment of Jesse Siess Hadley as the Museum's new Executive Director, effective Jan. 1.

Jesse was previously the Executive Director of the Coachella Valley Historical Society in Indio, Calif. "The Board believes that Jesse brings the professional museum experience necessary to continue the Tahoe Maritime Museum's development as a World Class institution," according to a release.

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.

NASA study finds Earth's lakes are warming

WASHINGTON -- In the first comprehensive global survey of temperature trends in major lakes, NASA researchers determined Earth's largest lakes have warmed during the past 25 years in response to climate change.

Researchers Philipp Schneider and Simon Hook of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., used satellite data to measure the surface temperatures of 167 large lakes worldwide.

They reported an average warming rate of 0.81 degrees Fahrenheit per decade, with some lakes warming as much as 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit per decade. The warming trend was global, and the greatest increases were in the mid- to high-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

"Our analysis provides a new, independent data source for assessing the impact of climate change over land around the world," said Schneider, lead author of the study published this week in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. "The results have implications for lake ecosystems, which can be adversely affected by even small water temperature changes."

Small changes in water temperature can result in algal blooms that can make a lake toxic to fish or result in the introduction of non-native species that change the lake's natural ecosystem.

Scientists have long used air temperature measurements taken near Earth's surface to compute warming trends. More recently, scientists have supplemented these measurements with thermal infrared satellite data that can be used to provide a comprehensive, accurate view of how surface temperatures are changing worldwide.

The NASA researchers used thermal infrared imagery from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and European Space Agency satellites. They focused on summer temperatures (July-September in the Northern Hemisphere and January-March in the Southern Hemisphere) because of the difficulty in collecting data in seasons when lakes are ice-covered and/or often hidden by clouds. Only nighttime data were used in the study

The bodies studied were selected from a global database of lakes and wetlands based on size (typically at least 193 square miles or larger) or other unique characteristics of scientific merit. The selected lakes also had to have large surface areas located away from shorelines, so land influences did not interfere with the measurements. Satellite lake data were collected from the point farthest from any shoreline.

The largest and most consistent area of warming was northern Europe. The warming trend was slightly weaker in southeastern Europe, around the Black and Caspian seas and Kazakhstan. The trends increased slightly farther east in Siberia, Mongolia and northern China.

In North America, trends were slightly higher in the southwest United States than in the Great Lakes region. Warming was weaker in the tropics and in the mid-latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. The results were consistent with the expected changes associated with global warming.

The satellite temperature trends largely agreed with trends measured by nine buoys in the Great Lakes, Earth's largest group of freshwater lakes in terms of total surface area and volume.

The lake temperature trends were also in agreement with independent surface air temperature data from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. In certain regions, such as the Great Lakes and northern Europe, water bodies appear to be warming more quickly than surrounding air temperature.

Tahoe analysis: Climate Change Forecasts

UC Davis scientists have issued the most detailed forecast to date of likely climate-change effects at Lake Tahoe, complete with estimates of when those effects might be seen and how big they might be.

Their findings suggest that even under the most optimistic projections:
* The average snowpack in the Tahoe Basin will decline by 40 to 60 percent by the year 2100.
* Floods will increase in the middle of the century.
* Prolonged droughts will become more common at the end of the century.
* A new threat to the lake's unique ecology, one that will come from the bottom of the lake, will become important by the second half of the century.

The report was written for the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station. Its lead authors are Robert Coats, a UC Davis researcher and consulting hydrologist, John Reuter, associate director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, and Geoff Schladow, the center's director.

"Public dollars are funding restoration programs in the Tahoe region, which is a special place for millions of people," Schladow said. "For these programs to succeed, resource managers need to know what to expect in the coming decades.

"Will we have more or less snow, rain and runoff? Will the erosion controls and stormwater basins we are devising now still be useful in 30 or 50 years? What impact might climate change have for Lake Tahoe's water quality and aquatic ecology?" Schladow said.

In recent years, UC Davis researchers have drawn on 100 years of data to describe changes in temperature and precipitation that have already occurred in the Tahoe region.

The new report combines those findings with sophisticated computer models to produce detailed local projections out to the year 2100.

The scientists considered two possible future carbon emission scenarios: one business as usual, in which population growth and national and international policies affecting global climate change remain unchanged, and the other optimistic, assuming slower growth and aggressive climate action.

"While there is always some uncertainty when projecting this far into the future, the results appear reasonable," Reuter said. "They provide environmental managers and scientists with our first detailed glimpse of the potential impact of climate change on precipitation, runoff, water quality, and plant and animal resources in Lake Tahoe."

This glimpse gives scientists and resource managers a better chance of taking strategic steps to minimize coming impacts of climate change.

Those potential impacts include:

Precipitation

No strong increase in the amount of annual precipitation was predicted. However, the Tahoe Basin will see a continuing shift from snowfall to rain, as well as earlier snowmelt and runoff. Based on the modeling scenarios, by the end of the century, precipitation in some years could be all rain and no snow. The peak snowmelt in the Upper Truckee River will occur four to six weeks earlier by the end of the century.

Water flow and quality

Floods will be larger and more frequent in the middle of the century. Peak water flows in the Upper Truckee River, the largest river flowing into Lake Tahoe, will more than double, with the future 100-year flood resembling today's "1,000-year flood." Such high streamflows will threaten regional infrastructure (such as roads and bridges), the authors said.

In the case of water quality, the model simulations showed that, even though more stormwater runoff is forecast, today's best management practices will be able to accommodate the bulk of the increase. The simulations showed that predicted growth in runoff will cause only a 10 percent decline in the performance of urban stormwater control devices configured to current requirements.

Droughts

Droughts will be more severe, especially toward the end of the century and on the east side of the basin.

Truckee River water supply

Toward the end of the century, there are likely to be longer periods when the lake falls below its natural rim and water stops flowing into the Truckee River. (In the last 110 years, the lake has fallen beneath its natural rim on only 20 occasions, and only for a few months or years at a time.)

Under the "business as usual" scenario, these periods could be as long as 10 to 20 years. This would eliminate a large part of the downstream water supply for Reno, Pyramid Lake and agriculture. Under the "optimistic" scenario, these periods would last several years at a time and occur more frequently than in the past.

Lake turnover (vertical mixing)

The new analysis confirms the researchers' 2008 warning that climate change is likely to greatly alter water circulation in Lake Tahoe. By the second half of the 21st century, there are likely to be decades-long periods when the lake stops mixing to the bottom. (Historically, this complete mixing or turnover has occurred once every four years, on average.)

Turnover carries oxygen from the surface to the bottom of the lake. Without oxygen, a large part of the lake will be inhospitable to trout and other game fish.

Lake clarity may be impacted, as well. Prolonged absence of mixing could start a physical-chemical process resulting in the release of large amounts of phosphorus from the lake's bottom sediments. If this phosphorus reaches the surface, it will feed algae. Algae are one factor contributing to reduced water clarity. In addition, when algae sink to the bottom and decompose, oxygen is taken from the deep water, thus creating a downward spiral in water quality and clarity.

The authors conclude that public programs at Lake Tahoe to restore lake water quality (such as the Environmental Improvement Program and best management practices) are needed more than ever.

"The Total Maximum Daily Load program, which prioritizes fine-particle removal to improve clarity, may be the most important local action to be taken to help mitigate against climate change," Schladow said. "Phosphorus, the limiting nutrient at Lake Tahoe, will be reduced in direct proportion to the removal of fine particles, and this will help reduce the oxygen demand of the lake and increase its resilience to change."

There is little time to waste, said Robert Coats.

"Lake Tahoe is very close to at least two tipping points. First, a decrease in deep mixing could trigger abrupt changes in water quality and clarity. Second, our modeling results show that a decades-long shut-off of lake outflow by the end of the century is likely, cutting off a large part of the water supply for Reno and other downstream users."

"When we add the expected terrestrial impacts of increased drought - especially tree deaths and wildfire - it is clear that by 2100, the Tahoe Basin will be different from the one we know today," Coats concluded.

The new report has value to water resource managers beyond the Tahoe Basin, since many other lakes and reservoirs are likely to be affected by climate change. "Our team came away convinced of the value of early collaboration between the science community and regional resource managers," Reuter said.

The study was funded by the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, through the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act.

The report's research collaborators included Goloka Sahoo (UC Davis), Mike Dettinger (U.S. Geological Survey and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego), Brent Wolfe (Northwest Hydraulic Consultants), John Riverson (Tetra Tech, Inc.) and Mariza Costa-Cabral (Hydrology Futures, LLC).

Rubber mats killing Tahoe's clams

Rubber mats laid atop beds of Lake Tahoe's invading clams seem to have done their deadly job, according to reports from the Tahoe Resource Conservation District.

In early November, divers removed mats from two half-acre-sized swaths of clam-infested lake bottom. While data still are being analyzed, the test indicates the mats appear to be the most effective weapon against Tahoe's Asian clam population, experts have said.

"There are definitely lots of visibly dead clams," said Kim Boyd, an invasive species specialist with the Tahoe Resource Conservation District. "It looks very promising."

The mats, measuring 10 feet wide and 100 feet long, kill clams by robbing them of oxygen and nutrients. The mats were laid on the lake bottom in July at Marla Bay and South Lake Tahoe's Lakeside Marina.

The $648,000 experiment was built on a previous test in 2009 suggesting "bottom barriers" were effective in killing the dime-sized clams. But this one targeted them on a larger scale. Scientists first noticed Asian clams in Tahoe's waters in 2002, but they have since exploded in number, infesting a large part of the southeast corner of the lake. They also have become established on a football field-sized piece of lake bottom near the mouth of Tahoe's landmark Emerald Bay.

Clams can adversely impact Tahoe's sensitive ecology and are linked to blooms of noxious algae. A bigger danger, experts say, is that the clams could elevate calcium levels in the lake's waters to the point they could support populations of quagga or zebra mussels, which would have devastating effects on Tahoe's ecology and economy.

"The fear is Asian clams could facilitate the introduction of the quagga," said Geoffrey Schladow, director of the University of California, Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

Researchers now will study the areas the mats were laid to determine how quickly Asian clams recolonize on the bottom. They also want to study long-term impacts on other macroinvertebrates native to the lake, such as pea clams, Boyd said.

Other, smaller tests are planned in Marla Bay to gauge effectiveness of the mats in killing Asian clams during the winter, when cold water temperatures are thought to shut down their metabolism and make them invulnerable to this particular method of control, Boyd said. If bottom barriers still can be effectively used in winter, she said they would prove much more valuable over the long run.

By late February, researchers plan to install some barriers in Emerald Bay to determine their stability when encountering underwater turbulence produced by paddle-wheel tour boats, Boyd said. Scientists said they hope to begin using the mats to kill Emerald Bay's clams after next summer's boating season.

While the barriers appear effective, Asian clams probably will always have an unwelcome presence at Lake Tahoe, Schladow said.

"Eliminating them probably isn't feasible. Controlling them could be possible," Schladow said.

Photo: UC Davis

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/.

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/.

TRPA places hiatus on shorezone applications

The bistate Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has imposed a 90-day operational hiatus on applications relating to buoys, piers and boat ramps. The decision came on Sept. 22, less than a week after a federal judge ordered the TRPA to reconsider proposed shorezone amendments.

“The hiatus will allow staff to sort out the legal and operational implications of the court ruling,” TRPA spokeswoman Julie Regan told the Sierra Sun.

The 90-day hiatus — enacted at the Sept. 22 governing board meeting at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach — means lakefront property owners cannot file applications to bring existing buoys into conformance with the agency's proposed ordinance updates on October 2008.

On Thursday, Sept. 16, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled in favor of the League to Save Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Sierra Club in a challenge to the amendments, which would have allowed the placement of 1,862 new mooring buoys and construction of 128 private piers, 10 public piers, six new boat ramps and 235 boat slips on Lake Tahoe.

The conservation groups filed a lawsuit challenging the amendments in November 2008, a month after TRPA governing board approval of the amendments.

In the 66-page ruling, Karlton found several provisions in the approved amendments were “arbitrary and capricious.” The judge also found the shorezone amendments would be ineffective in achieving many of the agency's environmental goals, known as “thresholds.”

Governing board member Mara Bresnick said the direction board gave to staff, following six hours of closed session deliberation on Sept. 22, has two components.

“The internal staff will begin evaluating the ramifications of the court ruling on operations,” she said. “The other component is the legal side, where the legal committee and the legal team will consider the legal options available to the agency.”

Those options include an appeal of Karlton's order, or a motion to amend or clarify the order, Bresnick said. TRPA will have 30 days from Sept. 16 — the date the ruling was issued — to file an appeal, according to Jill Rozier with TRPA's legal team.

Tahoe Lakefront Owners Association Executive Director Jan Brisco — who represents homeowners attempting to place mooring buoys in the lake near their properties — said the hiatus is unsurprising.

“The TRPA has given themselves a cushion of time sufficient for analyzing all the available options,” Brisco said. “As one of the largest stakeholders in this matter, we will be there every step of the way and offer any help we can.”

Maritime Annex Open House

The Tahoe Maritime Museum is hosting an Open House at the Truckee Annex on Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with David "Smitty" Smith. View vessels and artifacts not currently on display at the museum.

The Annex is located at 10434 River Park Place. For details, call (530) 525-9253, ext. 104, or visit www.tahoemaritimemuseum.org.

"S.S. Tahoe" model & lecture

The Tahoe Maritime Museum hosts Alan J. Zulberti for a showing of his "S.S. Tahoe" model and a lecture from 11 a.m. to noon on Sept. 14. Zulberti will talke about his three-year project in building an operational model of the "S.S. Tahoe."

Built nearly 115 years after the original ship was launched at Glenbrook in 1896, the model is hand-built, has a riveted copper hull with more than 5,000 rivets and is powered by the only known twin engine steam plant. Six feet long and radio controlled, the ship provides the sounds of a steam whistle, a ships bell and steam cuffing. The model is fast with a trial run at a scale speed of 36.9 knots.

Zulberti is an active member of the San Francisco Model Yacht Club. This is his third model boat, which follows his construction of a WW II Patrol Torpedo boat, which received first place in Military and Best in Show a few years ago. The PT-588 also was the subject of a six-page feature article in a national magazine, Ships in Scale.

The model will be on hand during the slide show presentation. Lecture is free with admission. Adults $5. Members and children under 12 are free. Visit www.tahoemaritimemuseum.org.

Lodge-to-Lodge Kayak Tour

Experience a multi-day kayak adventure along the Lake Tahoe Water Trail with Tahoe Adventure Company from Sept. 23 to 26.

The multi-day kayak and stay package along the West, North and East shores of Lake Tahoe features early morning guided paddles spotting local wildlife and learning the unique natural and human history of this special region. By afternoon, arrive at the lakefront hotel for a hot shower, warm meal and relaxation. The best hotels have been chosen for your comfort and include Sunnyside Lodge, Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort, and the Hyatt Regency.

Call (530) 913-9212 or visit http://www.tahoeadventurecompany.com/.