The Watercraft Inspection Program is part of the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program which is implemented by 40 public and private partner organizations including federal, state and local jurisdictions, research partners, public utility districts, and private marinas. The state, federal and local agencies comprising the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinating Committee have provided leadership, direction and resources to fulfill this program’s mission of prevention, detection and control of aquatic invasive species in the Lake Tahoe Region.

Watercraft inspectors are trained to inspect all watercraft that come through the three roadside inspection stations in the Tahoe Basin. They look for signs of invasives, including mud, water, plants, and animals, and safely decontaminate vessels when aquatic invasive species are found. Through personable boater education at the stations, inspectors work to “spread the word, not the species.”

Rovers expand outreach beyond roadside inspection stations. Rovers roam the shoreline of Lake Tahoe, providing education to kayakers, paddleboarders, anglers, and other beachgoers. Rovers provide on-site inspections and introduce non-motorized watercraft users to the Tahoe Keepers program, which teaches users to Clean, Drain, and Dry their gear to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.