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.

Knowingly transporting AIS into Lake Tahoe is against the law, and violators may be subject to monetary penalties.

Here are the locations, hours of operation and opening dates of the stations:

Opening Monday, May 1:
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

Opening Wednesday, May 17:
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., 7 days a week
Truckee-Tahoe: Highway 267, off Truckee Airport Road

“Entering our tenth season with no new invasions, boat inspections are clearly doing what they are intended to do, protect Lake Tahoe,” said Dennis Zabaglo, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s aquatic resources program manager. “The Tahoe Resource Conservation District boat inspectors have allowed us to be ready for any invaders that try to come our way.”

They destroy fish habitat, ruin boat engines, and can negatively impact water quality and the local economy, recreation, and ecosystem. Boats and other watercraft are the largest transporters of AIS, and the inspection program is critical to preventing their spread into Lake Tahoe and other waterbodies.

In 2016, Tahoe RCD inspectors inspected over 8,000 vessels and decontaminated approximately half of them. Throughout the season inspectors found 39 vessels containing foreign species such as mussels, snails and plant material. “Boaters are encouraged to Clean, Drain, and Dry their boats prior to arriving at inspection stations in order to save time and money,” according to Nicole Cartwright, AIS Program Coordinator for the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, “make sure to drain all water, even water from your garden hose used to flush. Taking these three simple steps will get you on the water faster.”

Annual watercraft inspection fees remain unchanged from last year. The “Tahoe In & Out” inspection ranges from $35 for personal watercraft and vessels under 17 feet and up to $121 for vessels over 39 feet. The “Tahoe Only” inspection sticker is $30. An additional fee of $35 is charged for any boat requiring decontamination and an additional $10 fee for the decontamination of ballast tanks or bags.

Invasive species are highly advantageous and can be transported by non-motorized water recreation equipment as well. The Tahoe Keeper program was created to inform the paddling community about the importance of inspecting equipment, including: kayaks, paddleboards, fishing equipment, inflatable water toys and life jackets. Visit tahoekeepers.org for more information.

Stay tuned for our upcoming North Shore and South Shore Aquatic Invasive Species Trivia Nights. Test your knowledge about AIS and boat inspections, interact with local agencies for a free drink ticket, and win prizes. Information on trivia night details, the inspection program, and AIS can be found by visiting TahoeBoatInspections.com or calling (888) 824-6267.