Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Invasive Species Category
Click here to view all posts

Tahoe boats will face inspections for invasive mussels

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 8, 2008 at 11:47 am

From the San Diego Union-Tribune:

Boaters at Lake Tahoe will be facing random inspections at public launches to ensure their vessels aren’t harboring any invasive mussels that could threaten the lake’s ecosystem. Spot checks of vessels at all of Tahoe’s public boat-launching sites begin May 16 and will last throughout the summer boating season. The goal is to try to prevent the introduction of quagga or zebra mussels.

“They’re heading our way, and we can’t be too careful about this,” said John Singlaub, executive director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

Boat inspections are essential in the fight against mussels being waged by TRPA, the Tahoe Resource Conservation District and fish and wildlife agencies from Nevada and California. If quagga or zebra mussels were to make Tahoe home, officials said, big trouble would follow. The mussels can overrun an aquatic ecosystem, disrupting the food chain and substantially damaging native species. They can clog water intakes and conduits, damage boat engines and produce widespread economic damage.

Read more on this story from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.

May 8, 2008 · Filed Under Invasive Species

Comments

Leave a Reply