From Tahoe Resource Conservation District:
Starting October 1st, boat inspections will move to select launch ramps and winter hours will begin. Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD) inspectors will be stationed at Cave Rock and Lake Forest boat launches from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week, weather permitting. All boats without an intact Tahoe inspection seal are required to get an inspection during daylight hours. Decontaminations are available by appointment only for watercraft that are not Clean, Drained and Dry. Decontamination fees will apply. Boats with intact inspection seals are permitted to launch at all open launch facilities; however, inspections are only available at Cave Rock and Lake Forest.
“It is more efficient to move inspections back to the boat ramps with the decrease in boater traffic during the slower fall and winter months,” said Dennis Zabaglo, Aquatic Resources Program Manager at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, “but we will continue operations at roadside inspection locations for the 2016 summer boating season. We appreciate the continued cooperation from Tahoe boaters in helping to protect our amazing recreational resources from the threat of aquatic invasive species and supporting our nationally recognized prevention program.”
According to monitoring and scientific reports, Lake Tahoe remains free of new invasive species’ introductions, which are major threats to the overall health of Lake Tahoe and surrounding waterbodies. During the 2015 boating season, Tahoe RCD watercraft inspectors performed more than 5,500 inspections. In total, more than 14,000 vessels launched at Lake Tahoe, including both newly inspected vessels and those with intact Tahoe-issued inspection seals.
As watercraft continue to arrive from high-risk waters, the importance of Lake Tahoe’s Watercraft Inspection Program remains critical. In fact, in 2015, 35 of the inspected watercraft were harboring aquatic invasive plants, mussels or snails. With our efficient roadside inspection stations, Tahoe RCD decontaminated approximately 3,200 watercraft with hot water, preventing invasive species from entering Tahoe’s waters.
“We would like to thank the more than 2,300 boaters who arrived at Tahoe inspection stations with their watercraft clean, drained and dry,” said Nicole Cartwright, Aquatic Invasive Species Program Coordinator for Tahoe Resource Conservation District. “These boaters were able to get on the water faster and avoided paying the additional fees.”
Tahoe RCD continues to support aquatic invasive species prevention efforts in the Truckee region. Tahoe RCD partnered with the Town of Truckee to provide watercraft inspections and decontaminations for Donner Lake at our new Truckee-Tahoe watercraft inspection station. Tahoe RCD watercraft inspectors also educated boaters about preventing the introduction of aquatic invasive species at Prosser and Boca Reservoirs in Nevada County, Stampede and Jackson Meadows Reservoirs in Sierra County, and Lakes Basin waterbodies in Sierra County.
Prevention efforts for over 7,000 paddlers in the Region occurred at beach kiosks, boat ramps and park entrances. Watercraft were assessed for their risk of transporting aquatic invasive species from previously visited waterbodies. Paddlers were also educated about self-inspecting and decontaminating canoes, kayaks and paddleboards and encouraged to become a Tahoe Keeper (TahoeKeepers.org).
Inspection and boat ramp hours are weather permitting, and may be delayed or closed during winter storm conditions. Boaters are encouraged to confirm hours and inspection locations online at TahoeBoatInspections.com or by calling the toll-free hotline at 888-824-6267.
From Tahoe Resource Conservation District
