The Truckee River Fund has awarded $267,267 to the Tahoe Resource Conservation District to protect Truckee area water bodies from the growing threat posed by aquatic invasive species.

The funding will also be utilized to work toward the implementation of a mandatory watercraft inspection program and the establishment of a stakeholder collaborative to fund a long-term, sustainable aquatic invasive species prevention program for the Truckee area.

Entering its third year of managing the Truckee Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Protection Program, the Tahoe RCD will continue to conduct watercraft inspections and develop and refine a comprehensive AIS education and outreach plan for the Truckee River watershed. Funding will also be utilized for early detection monitoring of AIS, an essential component of prevention programs.

Tahoe RCD and the Truckee River Watershed Council will be meeting with decision-makers in the coming weeks to develop an ordinance for mandatory boat inspections in the Truckee area. Boaters may see changes to the inspection process at Donner Lake and Stampede, Boca and Prosser reservoirs.