Lake Tahoe to receive $3.4 million for Aquatic Invasive Species protection

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced an additional $3.4 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to prevent and combat the spread of aquatic invasive species in Lake Tahoe. The funds come from the President’s Investing in America agenda to support existing cooperative agreements with The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) to prevent and combat the spread of aquatic invasive species in Lake Tahoe. The funding represents the continuation of a historic effort dedicated to restoring the Lake Tahoe Basin ecosystem and emphasizes the commitment to protecting and restoring our freshwater resources and to inclusive engagement with Tribes, partners, and stakeholders.

“This significant investment from President Biden's Investing in America agenda comes at a crucial time as the Lake Tahoe Basin continues to see threats from the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. "The valued partnerships and Tribal leadership in the Basin provide the collaborative environment needed to restore the habitats of Lahontan cutthroat trout and other native species.”

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Service was awarded a total of $17 million over the course of five years to expand important collaborative efforts for Lake Tahoe’s conservation, restoration and resilience. Today’s announcement marks the third year of funding towards these ongoing restoration projects. The Department has also launched the Invasive Species Keystone Initiative, a key conservation initiative through the Restoration and Resilience framework, that will guide $2 billion in investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

Aquatic invasive species management is a top priority of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, one of the most comprehensive restoration programs in the nation. In 2022, nearly 17 acres of benthic barriers were installed in Taylor and Tallac Creeks and adjoining marshes to help smother common invasive weeds, like the Eurasian watermilfoil, which can significantly disrupt aquatic ecosystems and crowd out native species.

Located on the Washoe Tribe's ancestral lands, Lake Tahoe holds significant cultural importance for the Washoe Tribe and is part of the historic range of Lahontan cutthroat trout. Since 1998, the Washoe Environmental Protection Department has worked as a key partner to oversee restoration efforts in the Lake Tahoe watershed.

The Service continues to work closely with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the multi-partner Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinating Committee to identify priority areas for funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including two permanent watercraft inspection stations to aid in preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species. Under the Environmental Improvement Program, Lake Tahoe watercraft inspectors have inspected more than 113,000 boats since 2008.

To strengthen collaboration with the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, the project team also identified several projects that will increase Tribal engagement and participation in ecosystem restoration efforts and inform future program priorities with traditional perspectives and methods.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments have also contributed to expanding public outreach to multilingual recreators in the Lake Tahoe region through the development of Spanish-language educational and training materials to help raise awareness about combatting the spread of aquatic invasive species.

These projects, and more information, may be found on the Service’s website and TRPA's website, and https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/0aa16d846f1a44f99486b40089713394.