Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Lake Tahoe Basin restoration

Washoe Tribe Priorities     

For Washoe Environmental Protection Department (WEPD) staff to fully engage on planning, monitoring and control of AIS from a Washoe Tribe perspective.  

For WEPD staff to build more effective working relationships with environmental partners working in Lake Tahoe and to contribute early and often to prioritization of projects (including AIS) in the Environmental Improvement Program, especially, along streams named as Washoe priority in the Lake Tahoe Watershed Assessment.  

For WEPD staff to contribute to removal of nonnative fish species (AIS as well) and to monitor and advance the recovery of native fish species, especially, Lahontan cutthroat trout and whitefish.  

For WEPD to successfully complete the Máyala Wáta Restoration Project along Meeks Creek and adjacent wet meadows including Lahontan cutthroat trout accessing stream while controlling AIS found in Meeks Bay. 

$681,724 

$392,779

$370,380

Bilingual AIS Education and Outreach 

The resident and visitor population of Lake Tahoe is diverse and includes a significant number of people who are part of the Latinx community. Public education is critical when it comes to preventing the introduction of AIS into the region, but many educational materials are not currently available in Spanish. This investment will fund rack cards, educational kiosks, billboards, public service announcements, trainings, and other educational materials to be disseminated throughout northern California and Nevada in both Spanish and English.   

$64,635

 $100,000

Permanent Watercraft Inspection Stations 

The Lake Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program is one of the most successful programs in the country, with no new invasions discovered since program inception in 2008. Currently, inspections occur at three off-ramp, temporary inspection stations along corridors into the Region during the summer months. This investment will fund two new permanent inspection stations to ensure efficient long-term inspections.  

$500,000

$2,495,880

$2,216,744

Taylor-Tallac AIS Control Project 

The Taylor and Tallac creeks and marshes are infested with approximately 17 acres of the invasive aquatic weed Eurasian watermilfoil. This investment will fund the installation of benthic barriers that smother invasive aquatic plants and prevent photosynthesis by blocking sunlight.  

*In FY23, $206,229 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Lake Tahoe Marina Redesign Feasibility Study funding was reallocated to the Taylor-Tallace AIS Control Project. 

$1,550,000 

*$206,229

$500,000

Lake Tahoe Marina Redesign Feasibility Study*

Most AIS infestations occur within and around the marinas on Lake Tahoe. This investment will fund a feasibility study to determine the potential for redesign at marinas around the lake to help reduce potential AIS infestation.  

      -

N/A

Meeks Resort Non-motorized Prevention  

TRPA staff have identified a tool that will aid non-motorized AIS prevention efforts by providing a location recreationists can make their craft clean, drain, and dry. This project would be a collaborative effort with The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California at the Meeks Bay Resort where TRPA staff would acquire the equipment and train staff, and Tribal staff would direct recreationists to use the tool and provide outreach, and the minor maintenance needed.

N/A

$120,864