Outdoors

Aw shucks

5/29/09, 9:29 am, By Andrew Pridgen

Enviro nonprofit says TRPA slacking on invasive species

By Andrew Pridgen -

Tahoe City

Alpengroup, a Tahoe City-based nonprofit which monitors invasive species in the Tahoe Basin, Friday accused the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency of falling short on its commitment to protect the lake from invasive species. Click here for video

A story titled, "Troubled Waters — Tahoe Regional Planning Agency in Denial" contends Alpengroup's divers have discovered the Euroasian milfoil problem much farther-reaching than the agency admits. They also note "scores of bullhead catfish" and a fast-growing Asian clam population are destroying parts of the lake.

While the agency is ramping up its fight of invasive species with the installation of a new boat-monitoring program (boats being the host monkeys of invasive species — more below), Alpengroup contends the problem is spreading too rapidly for current mitigation measures to be effective:

"(TRPA executive director Joanne Marchetta) suggested that they sent in team of scientists to do a report that will be presented next month," Alpengroup's story read. "Next month ...What about tomorrow?

"Who is out working on this problem now? We have the equivalent of a catastrophic wildfire burning underwater at Lake Tahoe.

"When you have a forest fire you called firemen not scientists."

TRPA officials, who acknowledge the presence of Euroasian milfoil, bullhead catfish and the Asian clam, said nonprofits like Alpengroup are "doing a lot to help the overall cause."

"These volunteer divers are key," TRPA spokesman Dennis Oliver said Friday "We kind of depend on people. It's important to us that people who see algae blooms or clam beds — that they let us know.

"Last year, it was a woman who was a swimmer/kayaker who gets out on the lake every day who kept telling us this algae problems is not normal. It turned out she was onto something."

Oliver said the only drawback of spreading information is people may have the "false impression" that the problem has been mitigated.

"We don't want people to get the impression that milfoil and clams are everywhere to the extent that people are stopping letting us know," he said. "We want people to call us. Tell us. Send us photos."

...A sentiment mirrored by agency executive director Marchetta.

"Over a number of years, invaders have entered the lake: Species that are not native to Tahoe have affected the lake’s ecosystem," Marchetta wrote. "These invaders include curly leaf pondweed, the Asian clam, Eurasian milfoil and others.

"...Yet another and arguably the worst invader is now at our doorstep, further threatening Lake Tahoe. Quagga and zebra mussels are carried between water bodies by boaters who use multiple recreational lakes."

A new boat inspection program, which will go into effect Monday, charges boat owners $10 to $60 (depending on size) per launch for invasive species monitoring.

"The boating community in particular has played an essential role by participating in boat inspections at ramps and launch facilities," Marchetta wrote. "This summer we are increasing our vigilance and are asking even more of Lake Tahoe boaters.

"All launch ramps will be staffed with boat inspectors trained to search for invaders."

Some local boaters contend the mitigation measures are nominal at best.

Truckee photographer Court Leve, who has launched his boat three times this season, wrote in a recent editorial for the Sierra Sun "(boat) inspectors that have been hired are, in my opinion, grossly under-qualified for the job.

"From what I have seen — they do not have a clue what they are actually looking for, lack the motivation to actually do the job and are also equally inept with regards to the new rules and regulations for the lake — and basic boating knowledge."

Leve expressed concern that nearby bodies of water including Donner Lake and Boca and Stampede reservoirs are being simutaneously ignored.

Though the aforementioned are outside the footprint of the TRPA, they do fall within the jurisdiction of the Tahoe National Forest; officials have yet to comment on invasive species for those bodies of water.

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