quagga mussels

Column: 50 years of progress for Lake Tahoe and the nation

Celebrations have taken on many new forms since the start of social distancing. Birthday parties have become processions of cars parading past a celebrant’s home—people honking and waving, tossing candy and small gifts (for later disinfecting, then enjoying). And huge international celebrations like the 50th anniversary of Earth Day this week have moved online, giving room for individuals to celebrate and explore the conservation movement in new ways.

Invasive mussels found during Lake Tahoe boat inspections

Mandatory inspections of all boats launching in Lake Tahoe and other Sierra lakes has resulted in the interception of invasive quagga mussels on two boats.

The detection of the infestations of aquatic invasive species took place at the California inspection stations in Meyers and Truckee.

Lake Tahoe area boat inspection stations opening for 2019 season

LAKE TAHOE, CA/NV - Roadside watercraft inspections stations aimed at stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species are opening for the season. Locations, hours of operation, and opening dates are online at TahoeBoatInspections.com and as follows:

Opening Wednesday, May 1:
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week

Meyers: at the junction of US Highway 50 and Highway 89, South Lake Tahoe
Spooner Summit: at the junction of US Highway 50 and Highway 28 in Nevada
Alpine Meadows: Highway 89, off Alpine Meadows Road north of Tahoe City

El Dorado County Sheriff's Report

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county. The following are calls that only pertain to the South and West Shore, including Meyers, South Lake Tahoe, Meeks Bay, Tahoma and the Echo Summit area. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at time of story.

Some of those recently added to last week's log:

11/7

Column: 10 years of fighting invasive species at Tahoe

This summer marks the tenth anniversary of Lake Tahoe’s Watercraft Inspection Program. Under the program, every motorized watercraft is inspected to ensure it is clean, drained, and dry and not carrying aquatic invasive species before launching at Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe area boat inspection stations opening for 2018 season

The successful Lake Tahoe roadside boat inspection stations are reopening for the 2018 boating season. The fight against aquatic invasive species (AIS) has gone on for the last ten years, and officials say a large part of their success in keeping the lake clear are the stations located around the lake.

Since 2018, Tahoe Resource Conservation District (RCD) inspectors have performed over 70,000 vessel inspections, decontaminated 32,576 of them using hot water, and have found hundreds of vessels containing foreign species such as mussels, snails and plant material.

Quagga mussels found on boat during inspection near Lake Tahoe

The watercraft inspection spots around Lake Tahoe once again proved their valuable service when a boat at the Alpine Meadows station was found to have quagga mussels on board May 14.

The boat was quarantined for several days and Tahoe Resource Conservation District staff performed multiple decontaminations to ensure all invasive species were removed before the boat was released to the owner.

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board voted to increase prevention methods by requiring motorists towing boats to remove drain plugs from their watercraft after leaving the lake.

Lake Tahoe roadside boat inspection stations open for season

Boating season in Lake Tahoe is here, and with it comes the return of roadside stations that will inspect and decontaminate motorized boats and watercraft heading to the lake.

All motorized watercraft require inspection for aquatic invasive species (AIS) prior to launching into Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake and Echo Lake. Invasive species, such as quagga mussels, New Zealand mudsnails, and hydrilla, are known to multiply quickly and colonize underwater surfaces, including docks and piers, water supply and filtration systems, buoys, moored boats, and even the beautiful rocky shoreline.

Smartphones now used to keep invasive species out of Lake Tahoe

Smartphones and invasive species don't normally go together, but this summer in Lake Tahoe, one was used to help keep the other out.

In a new partnership with other agencies around the West, the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program receives real-time updates from other land managers about vessels traveling to Lake Tahoe from waters with a high risk of containing invasive species.

By sharing the data, Tahoe's watercraft inspectors are alerted before the suspect boats show up.

Lake Tahoe Restoration Act passes committee in Washington

The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Nevada Sen. Dean Heller, passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on Wednesday.

The legislation, created alongside senators Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Harry Reid, D-Nevada and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., provides federal, state, and local partners important tools to reduce wildfire threats, improve water clarity, jumpstart innovative infrastructure projects, and combat invasive species.

Protection of Lake Tahoe taken to new heights

Lawmakers from Nevada and California met Monday on the shores of Lake Tahoe to discuss how to protect a national treasure as it faces continued threats to water clarity, invasive species, wildfire and drought.

Ever since President Bill Clinton held the first meeting in South Lake Tahoe in 1997, the annual focus of the Lake Tahoe Summit is to protect what Mark Twain called "the fairest picture the whole world affords."

Forum on aquatic invasive species at Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
May 21, 2015 - 5:00pm

What are homeowners in the Tahoe Keys doing to fight aquatic invasive species (AIS)? How successful was the pilot research project to reduce the Asian clam population in Emerald Bay, and what does it mean for future control projects? What does the latest research say about whether quagga mussels could survive in Lake Tahoe?

Lake Tahoe roadside boat inspection stations open May 1

Roadside stations for inspections and decontaminations of motorized boats and watercraft are officially opening for the 2015 boating season. Locations, hours of operation and opening dates are as follows:

Opening Thursday, May 1st:

8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., 7 days a week

• Meyers: at the junction of US 50 and Highway 89

• Spooner Summit: at the junction of US 50 and Highway 28 in Nevada

• Alpine Meadows: Highway 89, off Alpine Meadows Road north of Tahoe City *

*Road construction on Alpine Meadows Road: Go to placerroads.com or call 530-581-0471

Study emphasizes importance of fighting invasive species at Lake Tahoe

A newly released scientific study highlights the importance of collaborative work to prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species at Lake Tahoe, and confirms what many public and private stakeholders have feared: That the invasive quagga mussel, if introduced, could establish in our mountain lake’s clear, iconic waters.

Divers in Emerald Bay to remove Asian Clam control mats from bottom of lake

Divers are mobilizing at the mouth of Emerald Bay to start removing 5 acres of rubber mats that were laid on the lake bottom two years ago for a pilot project to control Asian clam populations in the area.

Divers are anticipated to be working in the water through November, so boaters are asked to exercise caution when entering and exiting Emerald Bay and obey a no-wake zone that extends 600 feet from shore at Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe native mussels being relocated in order to protect species

Quagga mussels have been getting all the press lately but today it was the river mussel's turn for notoriety.

Native to the western U.S., the river mussel is now a protected species due to their population being threatened by dams, habitat modification due to the disappearance of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout from the Upper Truckee and other river habitat changing occurrences.

Invasive Species Prevented From Entering Lake Tahoe

Tahoe Resource Conservation District watercraft inspectors intercepted a boat on Wednesday that had quagga mussels and an unidentified snail in the boat's anchor locker.

The boat was at the inspection point on Spooner Summit after arriving from Lake Mead, a known quagga mussel infested body of water. Once detected the boat went through two decontaminations and inspections, and then was allowed into Lake Tahoe.

Over the holiday weekend most than 725 boats went through the four inspection points located around the lake which represents a 17% increase over last year's count.

Learn About Lake Tahoe Invasive Species and Programs That Combat Them During Public Forum

Event Date: 
May 22, 2014 - 5:00pm

A free public forum is being held by the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinating Committee on the north shore next week.

New Technology Used to Keep Aquatic Invasive Species Out of Lake Tahoe

An innovation in aquatic invasive species protection was unveiled last week at the Water Sports Industry Association’s 2014 Summit that could make Lake Tahoe and recreational water bodies around the nation safer from the spread of invasive species, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) said Friday.

Operation Sierra Storm Brings Leading Scientists and Meteorologists to South Lake Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe is home again to "Operation Sierra Storm," a cutting-edge meteorological forum and seminar for network television meteorologists from around that country.

New Way to Predict Weather Now Available

Long range weather forecasting is no longer a thing of the future due to recent developments in weather research. Speaking to participants in "Operation Sierra Storm (OSS)" Dr. Duane Waliser explained the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), a key phenomena for predicting weather around the world.

Local Leaders Hail House Introduction of Lake Tahoe Restoration Act

The reauthorization of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act was introduced yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives, following the Senate’s introduction of the bill in August.

Lake Tahoe leaders applaud restoration bill

Lake Tahoe organizations whose collaborative work over the past 15 years has been a driving force for advancing Lake Tahoe restoration efforts applauded congressional leaders Thursday for introducing a $415 million reauthorization of the federal Lake Tahoe Restoration Act.

California, Nevada lawmakers introduce $415 million federal bill to restore Lake Tahoe

Nevada Senator Harry Reid today co-sponsored, along with Senator Dean Heller (R-NV), and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act that was introduced today by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The Lake Tahoe Restoration Act continues the federal commitment to Lake Tahoe by authorizing $415 million over 10 years to improve Lake Tahoe’s water clarity, reduce risks from catastrophic wildfires, combat invasive species and restore and protect the environment in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Bipartisan bill would add quagga mussels to national invasive species list

U.S. Representatives from California and Nevada have introduced legislation that would add quagga mussels to the national list of invasive species.

Considered one of the biggest threats to Lake Tahoe among other lakes and reservoirs, this listing would give federal agencies greater ability to prevent the spread of the invasive species.

The legislation, H.R. 1823, Protecting Lakes Against Quagga Act of 2013, was introduced Thursday by Reps. Mike Thompson, CA-5, Joe Heck, NV-3, and Mark Amodei, NV-02.

Scientists assemble five acres of mats for Tahoe Asian clam project

Rubber barriers bound for the lakebed of Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay are being assembled at the University of California, Davis, as part of the biggest Asian clam control project in the lake’s history.

The invasive clams threaten the lake's health and famed clarity.

UC Davis scientists, staff and students are unfolding the long, black mats and enhancing them with rebar, brass grommets and valves that will hold the barriers in place underwater and enable scientific analysis of the project.

Six-week Asian clam control project begins at Emerald Bay

Boaters heading to Lake Tahoe in the next six weeks may experience a short delay when entering Emerald Bay due to an Asian clam control project that will be taking place there.
The Asian clam control project is being implemented by a team of partners from the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program, with plans to treat an area of up to 5 acres at the mouth of Emerald Bay. Treatment will be accomplished by covering the infested lake bottom with thin rubber barriers, augmented with organic material, that reduce the available oxygen and smother the clams. It will be the largest project of its type in the history of Lake Tahoe.

Asian clam control project at Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay

A team of partners from the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program is scheduled to begin implementation of the largest Asian clam control project in the history of Lake Tahoe on October 15, with plans to treat an area of up to 5 acres at the mouth of Emerald Bay.

Two boats with quagga mussels intercepted by Lake Tahoe inspectors

Lake Tahoe inspectors intercepted two boats carrying the invasive quagga mussels last week, according to a Tahoe Resource Conservation press release. On Aug. 2, officials stopped a boat at the Spoo...

Two boats with quagga mussels intercepted by Lake Tahoe inspectors

Lake Tahoe inspectors intercepted two boats carrying the invasive quagga mussels last week, according to a Tahoe Resource Conservation press release. On Aug. 2, officials stopped a boat at the Spoo...

Four Infested Boats Prevented from Launching into Lake Tahoe in 2012; 5 inspection stations prepared for July 4 holiday

The July 4th Holiday and fireworks celebrations always bring an influx of boaters to the Lake Tahoe Basin. With sunny skies and warm temperatures predicted for the 4th of July holiday week, boaters are urged to Clean, Drain and Dry their boats before arriving at one of 5 roadside inspection stations in the Tahoe to avoid delays and decontamination fees.

Invasive mussels found in Idaho, Wash. inspections

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho officials intercepted 24 boats contaminated with invasive zebra or quagga mussels and Washington decontaminated 20 boats during the last boating season - numbers that have...

Grants to help with Tahoe area water issues

More snow, cleanups along the Truckee River and projects to fight quagga mussels have been approved to help keep the Truckee River, Lake Tahoe and other ...www.laketahoenews.net/.../grants-to-help-wit...

Paddlers Help Protect Lake Tahoe from Invasive Species

By Kristi Boosman
Paddlers at Lake Tahoe who enjoy the peace and solitude of skimming over crystal clear waters can now join the Tahoe Keepers stewardship community to protect Lake Tahoe from aquatic invasive species, according to an invasive species multi-agency committee.

Tahoe Keepers is a free training program designed to help non-motorized watercraft operators guard against inadvertently transporting aquatic invasive species to water bodies within the Lake Tahoe Basin by self-inspecting and decontaminating their boats and gear after each use.

Lahontan positive for quagga mussels

FALLON, Nev. - After months of testing, the Bureau of Reclamation and Nevada Department of Wildlife announced quagga mussels have been linked to Lahontan Reservoir.The BOR found quagga veligers, or...

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