NRAP Focus Area
Focus Area - Aquatic Invasive Species
Basics
Focus Area - Aquatic Invasive Species
Aquatic invasive species pose a major threat to the ecological health of Lake Tahoe. In the Lake, thick growths of invasive aquatic weeds, clams, snails, and even warm water fish threaten waterways in a number of ways. Consequences of establishment include degradation of water quality, loss of important habitat to native species, impacts to water conveyance structures, and negative economic impacts to the Lake Tahoe Region.
NRAP Focus Area Key Photo
Invasive Milfoil (Tahoe Resource Conservation District)
State of Knowledge

Lake Tahoe faces a constant and serious threat from the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). AIS can devastate aquatic ecosystems, and negatively impact the recreation opportunities that drive Lake Tahoe’s economy.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program’s mission is to prevent, detect, and control aquatic invasive species in the region so that future generations can enjoy Lake Tahoe. TRPA and the Tahoe Resource Conservation District lead the program in collaboration with the public and private partners.

?Visit https://eip.laketahoeinfo.org/EIPProgram/Detail/4 to learn more about this program.

Since 2008, the nationally recognized Watercraft Inspection Program has prevented new AIS from entering the lake. The program calls for the inspection of all motorized watercraft to ensure new AIS, such as quagga and zebra mussels, are not introduced.

The Tahoe Keepers free self-inspection and decontamination training program provides paddlers with the information needed to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. Paddlers can also find maps and planning resources for the Lake Tahoe Water Trail at https://laketahoewatertrail.org/

For more information about launching a boat or paddle craft in Lake Tahoe, visit tahoeboatinspections.com.

Findings

Aquatic Invasive Species Monitoring

Approach

Monthly veliger surveys for mussel larvae are done during the boating season.

Partners

Deep Water Plants Monitoring

Approach

The data used in this assessment was collected in 2008, 2009 and 2013 in an attempt to find endemic invertebrates and the deep water plants they depend on. Divers investigated the spatial extent and depth profiles of the only two known beds at Camp Richardson and the South Shore Mound during the 2013 survey. Routine monitoring is not currently underway for this indicator.