Lake Tahoe roadside boat inspection stations open for season

Roadside stations for inspections and decontaminations of motorized boats and watercraft are officially opening for the 2017 boating season.

Locations, hours of operation and opening dates are as follows:

— Opening Monday, May 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 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; and Alpine Meadows, along Highway 89, off Alpine Meadows Road north of Tahoe City.

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

“Entering our 10th 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 RCD boat inspectors have allowed us to be ready for any invaders that try to come our way.”

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.

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 water bodies.

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

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.

About the Lake Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program

The Watercraft Inspection Program is part of the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program which is implemented by 40 public and private partner organizations including federal, state and local jurisdictions, research partners, public utility districts, and private marinas.

The state, federal and local agencies comprising the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinating Committee have provided leadership, direction and resources to fulfill this program’s mission of prevention, detection and control of aquatic invasive species in the Lake Tahoe Region.

The Tahoe Resource Conservation District’s mission is to promote the conservation, stewardship and knowledge of the Lake Tahoe Region’s natural resources by providing leadership and innovative environmental services to all stakeholders.

Tahoe RCD is a division of local government that is non-regulatory, designed to implement local conservation measures. Our boundary covers the California side of the Tahoe Basin, although through collaboration and partnerships we have been granted authority to work outside District boundaries including Nevada side of Basin and the Truckee River Watershed.

Tahoe RCD strives to protect our natural resources including soil and water, wildlife habitat enhancement and restoration, control and prevention of invasive species, watershed restoration, wildfire prevention, and environmental education.

Tahoe RCD is unique and diverse by being able to receive funding through state, federal, local, and private sources.