Inflatable paddleboards (i-SUPs) are easy to carry and help us access the lake without a car. Unfortunately, i-SUPs are hard to dry and are a great hide-out for harmful aquatic invasive species (AIS) like weeds, clams, and mudsnails that we can unintentionally spread. Any water sucked inside or left in the folds of a rolled-up I-SUP can carry AIS and cause mold that corrodes the material and weakens the seams to hurt performance.
It only takes one drop of infected water, a spec of mud, or a weed fragment to damage Tahoe’s ecology and clarity, and your paddle gear. AIS thrives in damp conditions – like i-SUPs – up to 50 days.
The greatest threat are the invasive golden mussels found nearby in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. While there are NO golden mussels – or zebra or quagga mussels in Tahoe – we must be on guard. The aggressive golden mussel larvae are microscopic and can swim freely undetected for over a month, making it easy for them to get inside your paddle or I-SUP. The lake and your gear can become infested long before any adult mussels are discovered.
Protecting Our Paddle Gear Protects Lake Tahoe
When we protect our paddle gear, we also protect our home, our community, and our healthy lifestyle.
We all cherish our precious time paddling in new places to connect with nature. Unfortunately, our interconnected waterways and nomadic paddle lifestyle have fostered the perfect climate for more aggressive and pervasive aquatic invaders that threaten the waters and sport we love.
Clean, Drain, and Dry Your Paddle Gear Every Time
The best defense is to always Clean, Drain, and Dry all of our paddle gear before and after we paddle and move to another part of Tahoe. This is vital when we paddle around the lake since we can accidentally snag weed fragments on our paddles, fins, leashes, etc., that can have mudsnails and clams hiding, which can spread to a clean part of the lake.
Watch this short video and follow the steps to prevent AIS and to protect your gear.
https://youtu.be/xo9_T2HQUjc?si=PSzA-7sd4wEMcFSN
Before you Launch: Inspect your gear for water, mud, and weeds.
- Inflate paddleboard – Inspect deck pad, straps, fin, paddle, leash, etc.
- Wipe your board and gear with a towel. Make sure it’s completely dry and has no mud or weeds.
- Make sure your inflation valve is dry, clear of mud and weeds and closes securely so it doesn’t suck in water!
- Open the carrying bag flat so the inside can dry in the sun while you paddle.
After you Land: Clean, Drain, and Dry all gear before you leave the beach!
- Keep your paddleboard inflated. Inspect your inflation valve for water, mud and weeds – clean and dry with a towel.
- Never deflate SUP in the water! This will suck water inside that can cause mold and weaken seams, and spread AIS to other areas.
- Remove mud and weeds from straps, leash, fin, life jacket, shoes, etc. Throw in trash can – not the water.
- Disassemble paddle and drain water on the beach. Clean off mud, weeds, and dry with your towel.
- Dry your board and gear thoroughly before moving to another launch site.
Free Paddle Gear Decontaminations
To help you make sure you are not inadvertently spreading AIS, you can get a free, expedited hot water decontamination at a Tahoe Boat Inspection station. This is essential if you recently paddled in mussel infested waters like the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, or if you plan to paddle in Fallen Leaf, Angora, Spooner, or Echo Lakes that do NOT have AIS.
Join the Tahoe Paddling Community: Become a Tahoe Keeper
Let’s all get on board. As the TRPA and League to Save Lake Tahoe continue their Herculean fight against AIS, we all need to help. Being a community of athletes and fun hogs, we all know that quality, clean gear is our lifeline that enables us to safely explore our favorite coves and to keep Tahoe blue.
To learn more, become a Tahoe Keeper. It’s easy and free, and you’ll get a waterproof membership sticker and a free Clean, Drain, and Dry microfiber towel.
-Becky Bell, Sierra Business Council
