The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has found an invasive species in a bay-delta nearby that has Lake Tahoe on a heightened alert.
Golden mussels were found in the Bay-Delta near Stockton, California.
The mussels have the potential to significantly damage the ecology of the bodies of water in the bay-delta.
This is the first time that this specific species of mussel has been detected in North America.
"While this discovery is concerning because of the proximity to Lake Tahoe, our watercraft inspection program is robust and we will continue our existing protocols to prevent its spread to the Lake Tahoe Region," said Dennis Zabaglo, aquatic invasive species program manager at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
Lake Tahoe's Watercraft Inspection Program ensures that every motorized watercraft is inspected and decontaminated (if needed) before it hits the water.
Non-motorized paddle boats can also request a free inspection at any regional inspection station.
"This news underscores the importance of the [inspection] program. Now more than ever non-motorized paddlers, kayakers, and even beach goers must learn how to clean, drain, and dry their gear through the free Tahoe Keepers program before launching anywhere in the region,” said Zabaglo.
The golden mussel is native to China and Southeast Asia. Experts deduce that the species was likely introduced to the area via international shipping, since boats are one of the largest potential sources of spread of invasive species in the Western United States.
Golden mussels are known to have roughly the same ecological and recreational impacts as quagga and zebra mussels - both of which have never been found in Lake Tahoe.
