Aquatic Invasive Species

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Attention Boaters!

Boat Inspections Begin at Lake Tahoe in an Effort to
Prevent the Spread of Invasive Mussels

Mandatory inspections of all boats launching at Lake Tahoe began the week of June 9, 2008. The mandatory inspections are part of a joint effort to stop the spread of Quagga and Zebra Mussels that are threatening to invade Lake Tahoe. Federal, state and local agencies are working to educate the public about the danger such an invasion poses to the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe.

Photo Credit: Canadian Press
wire photo

Quagga Mussel
(Dreissena bugensis)

The Lake Tahoe Basin with its many rivers, lakes and streams is especially vulnerable to Aquatic Invasive Species. Non-native mollusks can have serious impacts on native wildlife, fisheries and ecosystems. Of particular concern is the inconspicuous Quagga Mussel and the closely related Zebra Mussel. There are many agencies working hard to prevent their introduction into Lake Tahoe and other lakes in the Basin.

In January 2007 Quagga Mussels were found in Lake Mead, Nevada and have since been discovered in Lakes Mohave and Havasu. This is the first detection of this species in any waters west of the Rocky Mountains. Quagga Mussels are transported to new locations by recreational boaters. They may be lurking on your watercraft, trailer, vehicle, and can attach to waders, boats and even fishing line. Invasive mussels cause millions of dollars of damage to boat and water systems by clogging pipes and engines; they also disrupt native ecosystems.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service along with the National Park Service, California Department of Fish & Game, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit have begun an extensive campaign to educate the public about the Quagga Mussel and how you can help stop the spread of this invasive species.

A sneaker covered in quagga mussels. The sneaker was submerged in quagga-infested Lake Mead by Sam Chan, an aquatic ecosystem health educator with Oregon State University, to illustrate how they are able to bond to rubber and nylon. According to Chan, quaggas and their cousin, the zebra mussel, are two of the most-feared invasive species in the Pacific Northwest.
Photo Credit: Kobbi R. Blair / Statesman Journal

Could you imagine the beaches at Lake Tahoe looking like this!

Quagga mussel shells litter the beaches of Lake Erie at the mouth of Elk Creek, Photo Credit: Sean Rafferty, Pennsylvania Sea Grant, seagrant.psu.edu/seagindex.htm

Related Links

100th Meridian Initiative
Protect Your Waters
Tahoe Resource Conservation District - Aquatic Invasives
USGS Distribution Map

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