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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee for inspections? Yes, there is an annual fee for motorized watercraft inspections. Click here for the 2012 fee structure (2011 stickers valid thru April 30th, 2012). There is currently NO FEE for inspection and decontamination of non-motorized canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Visit TahoeKeepers.org for information on self-inspecting non-motorized watercraft.

How long does an inspection take? An inspection only takes a few minutes if you come prepared. Clean, Drain & Dry your boat after every use–including the bilge, ballast tanks, live wells and storage compartments. Clean up any oil, dirt or debris inside bilges and storage compartments, and remove all items inside these compartments prior to arriving for your inspection.

What are the hours of operation? Hours are updated depending on the season and are available here.

Is there a program for Truckee Boat Inspections? Yes. The Tahoe Resource Conservation District also currently runs a voluntary inspection program for Truckee area lakes. Please visit TruckeeBoatInspections.com for more info.

Why are inspections so important? Boat inspections are an essential part of preventing this inadvertent transport of invasive species into the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe.

 Invasive species have devastating environmental and economic impacts on industries, communities, and native species populations. Most invasive species do not have predators to keep their populations in balance and, once introduced, are difficult or impossible to eradicate.

What are inspectors looking for? Inspectors are looking for any non-native plants and animals, particularly invasive species such as:

  • Zebra and Quagga mussels
  • New Zealand mudsnails
  • Spiny waterflea
  • Hydrilla and other highly invasive plants, some of which are already present  in California and/or Nevada waters

Invasive mussels are spreading rapidly throughout Nevada, California, and other western states. These mussels attach themselves to practically any hard surface, wreaking havoc on boats, marinas, and water delivery systems.

 Aquatic pests, including both plants and animals, are easily carried by trailered boats so checking obvious places may not be enough.

What can I do to make this a quick and simple process? Come prepared! Make sure your watercraft is Clean, Drained & Dry. Clean up any oil, dirt or debris inside bilges and storage compartments, and remove all items inside these compartments prior to arriving for your inspection. Drain & Dry the water from your bilge, ballast tanks, live wells and any storage compartments.  If you have an outdrive, lower the outdrive on the engine to release any residual water. All ballast tanks will require decontamination (seperate fee will apply).  To expedite this process, ensure the ballast tank pumps are functioning and drain tanks before arrival. If you have any special adapters or a flush kit for your engine, please bring them with you to the inspection station.

What is a boat decontamination? All vessels that are Clean, Drained & Dry will not need a decontamination, which entails flushing the boat and its systems with 140 degree water to destroy any possible remaining invasive species. If the boat requires a hot water decontamination, that will happen at one of our 5 Roadside Inspection Stations on a first-come first-served basis and an extra fee will apply for boats that did not arrive Clean, Drained & Dry. Depending on the complexity of your vessel, decontaminations can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. If you flush your boat’s engine at home, please bring your flush kit and any adapters with you to the inspection station, as we have only the most common adapters and tools for the decontamination process.  Non-motorized vessels, such as canoes, kayaks and paddleboards may be decontaminated (especially after visiting infested waters) for no charge at roadside inspection & decontamination stations in the Tahoe Basin.

What are Quagga and Zebra mussels? Dreissena bugensis (Quagga) and Dreissena polymorpha (Zebra) mussels are destructive aquatic invasive species that grow to about 1 inch in diameter. They can be larger than 1 inch or they can even be microscopic. The small, freshwater bivalve mollusks are triangular with a ridge between the side and bottom. It has black, cream or white bands, and often features dark rings on its shell almost like stripes.

Why should we be concerned about Quagga and Zebra mussels in California and/or Lake Tahoe? They reproduce quickly and in large numbers. Once established, eradication is extremely difficult. Their establishment in California waters or Lake Tahoe could result in an environmental and economic disaster.

What is the environmental impact of the Quagga and Zebra mussel? Quagga and Zebra mussels will upset the food chain by consuming phytoplankton that other species need to survive. They are filter feeders that consume large portions of the microscopic plants and animals that form the base of the food web. Their consumption of significant amounts of phytoplankton from the water decreases zooplankton and can cause a shift in native species and a disruption of the ecological balance of entire bodies of water. In addition, they can displace native species, further upsetting the natural food web.

What is the economic impact of the Quagga and Zebra mussel? Quagga and Zebra mussels can colonize on hulls, engines and steering components of boats, other recreational equipment and if left unchecked, can damage boat motors and restrict cooling. They also attach to aquatic plants and submerged sediment and surfaces such as piers, pilings, water intakes and fish screens. In doing this they can clog water intake structures hampering the flow of water. They frequently settle in massive colonies that can block water intake and threaten municipal water supply, agricultural irrigation and power plant operations. U.S. Congressional researchers estimated that an infestation of the Zebra mussel in the Great Lakes area cost the power industry $3.1 billion in the 1993-1999 period, with an economic impact to industries, businesses and communities of more than $5 billion. California could spend hundreds of millions of dollars protecting the state’s water system from a Quagga/Zebra infestation.

How did the Quagga and Zebra mussels get to the Western Region? Quagga and Zebra mussels primarily move from one place to another through human-related activities. They attach to hard surfaces and can survive out of water for up to a week. The microscopic larvae also can be transported in bilges, ballast water, live wells or other equipment that holds water. Authorities discovered Quagga mussels living in the Colorado River at Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, and Lake Havasu in January 2007. It is likely they were originally brought to Lake Mead on the hull of a recreational boat. Additional bodies of water were infected in California as the veligers drifted downriver from Lake Mead.

Where did the Quagga and Zebra mussels come from? Zebra and Quagga mussels are native to the Ukraine and Russia. Zebra mussels were first discovered in the Great Lakes in 1988, and a year later, Quagga mussels were discovered in the same area. It is believed they arrived in America via ballast water discharge.

How many waterbodies have been known to be infested with Quagga and Zebra mussels? For the most up-to-date listing of confirmed mussel finds in the Western United States, click here. Nation wide, click here.

Do Quagga and Zebra mussels have predators? Quagga and Zebra mussels have few natural predators in North America. It has been documented that several species of fish and diving ducks have been known to eat them, but these species are not an effective control. In some cases, the mussels concentrate botulism toxin causing bird die offs.

Can we get rid of mussels if Lake Tahoe becomes infested? Since Quagga and Zebra larvae (called veligers) are free drifting, preventing their spread downstream from known infestations may not be possible. However, controlling populations may be possible in some locations. Prevention is the best solution!

What does the law say about these mussels? Spreading invasive species violates local, state, and federal laws. Providing inaccurate or false information to boat inspectors or other authorized personnel is prohibited. Violators are subject to a minimum $5,000 fine. For more detail on the TRPA Code of Ordinances 79.3, click here.

Why haven’t all the infested waters closed to boat traffic? Each water body holds a unique position in the state, city or county it is in. A unilateral closure of waters can have devastating economic impacts upon a community. Agencies work with each water authority in charge of an infested water to determine the best control and containment methods. Options include possibly closing additional lakes or reservoirs, allowing only rental boats or mandating cleaning of all boats exiting the water or reducing access. Staffing and resources can affect these decisions and the ability to implement some of these options.

What about boats in saltwater? Does saltwater affect the mussels?
If a boat has been in saltwater, there is little risk of it transporting live freshwater mussels (though it can transport other invasive species). A conservative estimate of the lethal salt concentration for mussels is 10 to 15 parts per thousand (ppt), so realistically, anything above 10 ppt should kill Quagga/Zebra mussels. The average ocean salinity is 35 ppt. What is currently unknown is the time duration necessary for the salt to kill the mussels.

Will California Department of Fish and Game or Nevada Department of Wildlife provide Quagga-sniffing dogs to assist inspectors with identifying infected boats? The DFG K-9 Program is still developing, but is not in place at this time.

Is my Lake Tahoe inspection sticker valid at any other lakes in the basin, like Fallen Leaf Lake, Echo Lake or Spooner Lake?

No, because Lake Tahoe already contains aquatic invasive species (AIS) such as Eurasian watermilfoil, curly leaf pondweed and Asian clams that could be spread to these other lakes.  Fallen Leaf Lake, Echo Lake, and Spooner Lake are considered pristine (no AIS), and isolating and controlling AIS populations already present within the Tahoe Basin is an important part of preventing the spread of invasive species. Fallen Leaf Lake and Echo Lake do require all boats to have an inspection prior to launching, and both lakes have inspectors on site 7 days a week. Spooner Lake does not have inspectors on site and does not allow motorized boats to launch. Kayaks, canoes and inflatable watercraft without engines are allowed and should be inspected and Clean, Drained and Dry.

Click here to learn about AIS and how to inspect your boat and gear. Tahoe Basin Paddlers: Please inspect watercraft and gear to ensure you are not inadvertently transporting clams, non-native weeds or standing water between lakes, even if you only stay within the Tahoe Basin. 

About aquatic invasive species

How does winter weather affect boat inspections and inspection locations?

Boat inspections are required and available all year long in Lake Tahoe. Winter operations officially begin October 1st and end April 30th. During winter operations, inspections are performed at Cave Rock and Lake Forest boat ramps daily, weather permitting.

Closures and/or delays may occur at inspection stations and launch ramps based on forecasted and observed snow accumulations and lake conditions. Delayed openings will occur with predictions of 1-3 inches of snow, and closures will occur with more than 4 inches of snow or other weather advisories, such as a “Lake wind advisory.” All closures and delays will be posted on this website the day prior or as soon as possible.

Private marinas, including Ski Beach, Sand Harbor, Obexer’s and the Tahoe Keys Marina are also open during the winter, and allow only boats with intact wire seals from Lake Tahoe to launch. Their hours of operation vary depending on the site. Please contact these private facilities directly for more information.