As the boating season at Lake Tahoe concludes, agencies responsible for the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program have assessed the 2024 watercraft inspection season. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD), which oversee this program, announced that over 5,600 vessels were inspected since January. Of these, 59 vessels were found carrying AIS, an increase from 46 in 2023 but below the peak of 129 in 2021.
Since its launch in 2008, the program has cleared approximately 118,000 boats to protect native species and Lake Tahoe's clarity. This year saw 17 vessels intercepted with quagga or zebra mussels, invasive species not yet detected in Lake Tahoe. Inspectors are trained to identify various non-native species and are informed about regional high-risk water bodies.
Dennis Zabaglo, AIS program manager at TRPA, emphasized collaboration: “We are fortunate to have a comprehensive inspection program at Tahoe, but it takes everyone working together to protect our waters from the damage that invasive species can inflict.” He stressed vigilance following recent discoveries of New Zealand mudsnails in Lake Tahoe and golden mussels in other areas.
Vessels failing to meet Clean, Drain, Dry standards undergo decontamination. In 2024, about 59% of motorized vessels complied with these standards upon arrival.
The emergence of New Zealand mudsnails on Lake Tahoe's South Shore last year led TRPA and Tahoe RCD to implement a rapid response plan to contain their spread. Additional procedures now require boaters to drain water and inspect their equipment before leaving Lake Tahoe.
This summer also saw the introduction of a "Roving Inspector Program," expanding outreach beyond inspection stations to beaches around Lake Tahoe and nearby lakes. Funded by the Tahoe Fund, roving inspectors engaged with over 5,200 non-motorized recreators and inspected 100 vessels.
Chris Killian from Tahoe RCD praised this initiative: “We are always looking for ways to reach more recreators, and the rovers were vital in providing information for this growing population.”