The number one method to prevent the spread of non-native species is to Clean, Drain, and Dry your vessel and Dispose of any dirt, vegetation, or debris between waterbodies and different launch areas. In response to the detection of invasive New Zealand mudsnail, Watercraft Inspection Program managers request all Tahoe motorized boaters follow these actions:

1. Prevent the spread of New Zealand mudsnails around Lake Tahoe.
   • • Temporarily avoid boating in areas of Lake Tahoe known to have them. View the map here.
     • Do not fill any onboard systems (ballasts, fish wells, etc.) in these areas.
     • Spill Where You Fill. Whenever filling raw water in boat systems, plan to discharge it in the same area you picked it up.
2. When hauling out of Lake Tahoe, avoid taking aquatic invasive species with you.
   • • Drain all water from your vessel away from surface water and storm drains.
     • Pull all plugs and sea strainers; drain ballast tanks and fish wells or other onboard systems.
     • Ask launch facility staff for the appropriate location to drain.
3. Clean your anchor, hull and trailer of dirt, vegetation and debris and dispose of it in the trash.
   • • New Zealand mudsnails can easily go unseen in mud and vegetation. Remove and dispose of it.
4. Clean any sea strainers and flush your raw water systems (engine, a/c, generators, fish wells, ballasts, etc.) to make sure mudsnails aren’t present.
   • • Visit an inspection station (summer) or schedule a decontamination (winter) if you’d like to be decontaminated.
5. Dry your vessel for 5 days or more before launching again.
   • • New Zealand mudsnails are tiny and tenacious. To make sure anything on your boat is dead, dry your boat for 5 days or more.

Additional inspection program protocols are being reviewed to ensure the lake and other waterbodies are protected.

The number one method to prevent the spread of non-native species is to Clean, Drain, and Dry all watercraft, paddles, equipment, and water toys between waterbodies or separate launch and recreation areas. In response to the detection of invasive New Zealand mudsnail, Lake Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program managers ask that Tahoe non-motorized users and beachgoers follow these actions.

1. Prevent the spread of New Zealand mudsnails around Lake Tahoe.
   • • Temporarily avoid boating in areas of Lake Tahoe known to have them. View the map here.
2. When hauling out of Lake Tahoe, avoid taking aquatic invasive species with you.
   • • Drain all water from your vessel and equipment away from surface water and storm drains.
3. Clean your hull of dirt, vegetation and debris and dispose of it in the trash.
   • • New Zealand mudsnails are often found hiding in mud and vegetation. Remove and dispose of it.
     • If able, dismantle your paddle to drain and clean inside.
4. Dry your vessel for 5 days or more before launching again.
   • • New Zealand mudsnails are tiny and tenacious. To make sure anything on your boat and gear is dead, dry for 5 days or more.
5. Clean, Drain, and Dry your vessel before launching at other areas of Lake Tahoe to avoid transporting AIS around the lake and increasing their presence.
6. Become a Tahoe Keeper and be a steward for responsible boating in the Tahoe Region.
7. Keep your Eyes on the Lake.
   • • Eyes on the Lake is the League to Save Lake Tahoe’s citizen science program where community volunteers identify and report aquatic invasive plants in and around Tahoe, helping to track and prevent their spread throughout the Lake. To learn more and attend a training visit keeptahoeblue.org.

The number one method to prevent the spread of non-native species is to Clean, Drain, and Dry all equipment, including waders, and Dispose of dirt, vegetation, and debris between waterbodies or separate fishing or launch areas. In response to the detection of invasive New Zealand mudsnail, Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program managers ask that anglers follow these actions:

1. Follow the steps above for motorized boaters or non-motorized boaters if you fish from a watercraft

2. Do not transport live bait

• • It is illegal in the Tahoe Region to use live bait from waterbodies other than the lake of origin.
  • New Zealand mudsnails can survive the digestive systems of fish and can be transported on or in bait.
  • Do not transport live bait away from or within Lake Tahoe.

3. Clean, Drain, and Dry your equipment

• • Drain and clean any bait buckets.
  • Clean and dry anything that came in contact with water, including nets and waders.
  • Take extra care with equipment that came in contact with the lake bottom.

4. Clean and Dry your clothing

• • New Zealand mudsnails are tiny and can attach to clothing, boots, and gear. Make sure to clean felt bottomed boots, shoes laces, tread, and seams.
  • Scrub and rinse all boots and waders. If possible, keep additional pairs to rotate and make sure each are fully dried between uses.
  • To decontaminate waders and equipment, dry them for 24 hours or more and use one of the following methods:
    • Freeze (4 hours@ 26°F)
    • Heat (10 minutes in water@ 120°F)
    • Bleach (10 minutes in 2.2 tablespoons of household bleach/gallon water)

5. Learn how to decontaminate your gear

• • Video 
  • Prevention procedures 
  • Manual