Letter: Noteworthy items that affect ecology of Lake Tahoe, and safety in the water

This is in response to Ms. Regan’s column “Team Tahoe Battling Aquatic Invasive Species”. There are other note-worthy items that affect Lake Tahoe regarding its ecology and the safety of people on the lake.

While she mentions the viral social media content that occurred over the July 4th holiday regarding HAB (hazardous algae blooms) that water testing determined did not exist in the lake proper, she might not be aware of other activities over that holiday and that occur regularly during the summer months which have a substantial impact on the lakes health as well as the people recreating on the lake.

Over the years as my family and I have boated Tahoe in summer there has been an increase in boaters and watercraft not abiding by rules and regulations pertaining to speed, no-wake zones from shorelines, other watercraft (SUPs, kayaks), swimmers and people in the water before or after being pulled by a boat either on skis, boards or tubes.

While these boaters, private and rented, come too close and at excessive speeds to these activities, they also disrupt the shoreline with excessive wave action thus eroding it.

Emerald Bay for example is supposed to be a no-wake zone for the entire bay. Numerous private, for-hire cruises and rented boats along with private and rented jet skis do not follow this rule. I spent a day on shore at our campground beach during the July 4th week watching as boats passed by creating wakes that rocked buoyed boats and then came crashing to shore. I’ve also watched this happen at other beaches we anchor at during our summer boating.

I have a problem with people renting power watercraft who have never driven power watercraft at all being allowed to with very little guidance. I as a private boat owner must pass a certified course and receive a boater’s card. People renting boats need only the money, a speech by the rental company’s employee and to “watch” a short video. Why? Are they not a danger to other watercraft and the ecology of Tahoe as private watercraft owners are? Can someone drive a vehicle without a proper license?

The events that occurred that week in Emerald Bay were mind-boggling.
Examples:

-Excessive speed creating wakes eroding the shoreline,
-SUPs/kayaks with adults and kids paddling in the middle of boat traffic with no life vests being worn or on the watercraft,
-A rental boat letting adults and kids swim in the middle of boat traffic with no flag being raised to indicate people in the water,
-An adult who swam from the campground to Fannette Island accompanied by a kid in a kayak with no life vest
-A rental boat that had swimmers in the water that drifted too far from them that they started the engine to BACK UP TOWARDS the swimmers.

Lake Tahoe is not some small shallow body of water. Boats can be large. The specifications of the MS Dixie II are:
Capacity
Net Tonnage: 62
Passenger Capacity: 520
Size
Register length: 103.6 Feet
Regular Breadth: 33 Feet
Overall Length: 127 Feet
Overall Breadth: 33 Feet
Load draft: 5 Feet
Light Draft: 4.6 Feet
Height: 55 Feet

Most boats on Lake Tahoe average at least 21’ with horsepower that can easily exceed a minimum of 100. Not knowing the rules and regulations of not only boating but of Lake Tahoe as well can lead to dangerous situations for people and damage the lake's ecosystem and environment.

Can the TRPA at least acknowledge that there is an inconsistency between private and rented boat operators? Can we at least require that to operate a boat one must pass a certified course and obtain a boater’s card? Can we also have consistency and educate the public about boating rules for Lake Tahoe? Many of the “stated” rules regarding what is not allowed in Emerald Bay are ignored. The no-wake zone for the entire lake is also ignored.

These straightforward requirements will not only improve the safety of people but the ecology and environment of the lake.

While AIS is a threat to Lake Tahoe, shouldn’t EVERY boat be required to pass inspection? Boats that never leave the lake, ones that are kept at marinas or private docks/boat houses, should be required on a yearly basis to be inspected. Many boats for instance that are kept at slips in The Keys have algae-infested bottoms. When they leave The Keys and enter the lake proper, they spread that algae along with other AIS from The Keys. Most notably the invasive weeds. I have found fragments of these weeds floating in the middle of the lake. Is it that difficult to require a yearly inspection of these boats and to have their bottoms decontaminated? I think this would be more cost-effective than having divers remove AIS from nearshore areas.

Millions of dollars are spent on Lake Tahoe by private and government agencies to improve the ecology and environment. Only inspecting boats that go in and out of the lake is akin to playing a game with only half the team. Odds are you’re not gonna win.

- April Stephens