TRPA settles with jet boat operator who entered the Upper Truckee River Marsh

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A $10,000 penalty against a jet boat operator on Lake Tahoe was approved by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) during its July 24 board meeting.

In April 2024, TRPA staff received complaints and video documentation of a motorized watercraft operating more than 5 mph in the sensitive Upper Truckee River Marsh on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. Operating motorized watercraft in tributaries of Lake Tahoe and speeding within 600 feet of shore are prohibited by TRPA regulations to protect public safety, water quality, habitat, and recreation.

Agency compliance staff identified and contacted the boater, Kevin Meyer, who has accepted responsibility for the incident and has agreed to a settlement where he will pay a penalty of $10,000.

“Lake Tahoe’s shoreline and tributaries are sensitive areas that are essential to the ecosystem and define what Tahoe means to many people,” TRPA General Counsel John Marshall said. “We are grateful for the cooperation of the boater and the support of the Governing Board in approving the resolution. The agency hopes this settlement improves Lake Tahoe’s protection and helps others take part in that.”

All monetary penalties received are reserved for research studies and special projects in the region. Read the full text of the settlement agreement here.

Since 2021, legal actions by TRPA stopped illegal boat rental operations, and the use of illegal mooring buoys. Last year alone, TRPA's watercraft team spent 1,3000 hours on Lake Tahoe to conduct enforcement as well as educate boaters on environmental protections. During 2023, they tagged over 80 illegal moorings and issued 650 verbal corrective actions, most of them relating to heeding the 600-foot no-wake zone.

Positive interactions between boaters and TRPA staff remain critical to increase safety and compliance with regulations that protect the shoreline, reduce noise, and keep boaters, paddlers, and swimmers safe, according to the agency. TRPA encourages boaters and paddlers to use the Lake Tahoe boating app to know when they are in a no-wake zone, how to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species, and how to enjoy the lake safely and responsibly.