Tougher boating regs for Lake Tahoe likely
By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal
Lake Tahoe regulators aim to get tough when it comes to people attempting to evade inspectors trying to protect the lake from aquatic invaders attached to boats launching into the lake.
Later this month, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency will consider rules making it illegal to lie to boat inspectors or tamper with seals designed to show boats have been inspected and are free of invasive species such as the quagga mussel.
The change is designed to beef up a boat inspection and decontamination program that’s been in place at the landmark alpine lake since the spring of 2008.
That’s fine with me, but what about the numerous rafters and kayakers that launch in the Upper Truckee River? How do you control that source of contamination?
Jim
Jim, it’s too late anyway. I’ll bet the critters are already in the lake.
But I would question the motive of anyone who rents watercraft in the basin who is suggesting inspection of blow-up rafts and kayaks.
Actually there are multiple monitoring traps checked every month. And no, they are not in the lake.
So no it is not too late. Your mentality/ignorance is dangerous.
While the quagga mussel may not be here yet, the asian clams are. I watched some agency putting down panels on the bottom to kill them. They work but there are hundreds of acres of clams and they are putting down only tens of square feet of panels. Seems like a waste of money.
Except when you consider that asian clams will facilitate the invasion of q/z mussels.
We have been proud boaters of Lake Tahoe for over 40 years. (I am only in my 40’s). We have traveled many lakes, and when mussels and clams became an issue, we sought only the lakes with no issues. I only know of two! Lake Tahoe was one of them. We took pride in our boat and protecting our waters. But this being said, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. If someone wants to lie….. they will. Why not have an account of most current lake visited? Got mussels? Sit out dry…..
Gosh, I can’t WAIT for Nevada to pull out of TRPA!