01-06-2025
Lake Tahoe inspectors find golden mussels in a boat in Alpine Meadows
( — Lake Tahoe watercraft inspectors identified highly invasive golden mussels on a boat on Friday at the Alpine Meadows inspection station. • Video above: Officials have no idea how Golden Mussels make their way to the region
According to officials, this is the first interception of the new invasive species by Lake Tahoe watercraft inspectors since the first acknowledgment in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta back in 2024.
In May, golden mussels found their way to Folsom Lake and were discovered during a boat inspection.
'Golden mussels pose an extreme threat to Lake Tahoe and the waters of the region, and it is critical that everyone stay vigilant and always Clean, Drain, and Dry all watercraft and equipment when visiting new areas,' said Dennis Zabaglo, aquatic invasive species program manager for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. 'We are fortunate to have such highly trained inspectors and committed partners at marinas and boat ramps, but protecting the waters of the Tahoe Region from the spread of aquatic invasive species takes all of us.'
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TRPA and the Tahoe Resource Convention District manage the Lake Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program, which helped to strengthen the inspection procedures in March in response to the golden mussel discovery just a few hours away from the Tahoe Basin, according to authorities.
Inspectors said that crews at the Alpine Meadows station conducted an initial decontamination of the 65-foot boat and placed it under quarantine under the California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations until the boat is safe.
The managers of the Watercraft Inspection Program have been working with the Nevada Division of Wildlife and other state agencies to share information on all detections with agencies in both states and the western U.S., officials said.
'With the support of boaters and paddlers, we have kept Lake Tahoe safe from many invasive species, but the survivability of golden mussel and their proximity to Tahoe make them a greater threat than other aquatic invasive species,' Killian said. 'The Lake Tahoe inspection program has become a national model because it is so comprehensive. The move to mandatory decontaminations this year was a crucial step to continue protecting the waters of the Tahoe Region for all to enjoy.'
According to the inspectors, as new threats come to Lake Tahoe, the emphasis on following clear, drain, and dry protocol remains for all boaters, paddlers, anglers, and beachgoers.
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Tahoe RCD Aquatic Invasive Species Program Manager Chris Killian said that the golden mussels are not in the lake, so following the clean, drain, and dry protocol will help to lessen the risk of invasion.
Authorities stated that since the discovery of golden mussels in the port of Stockton, they have been discovered as far south as Bakersfield through the connected water system. The areas outside the Tahoe Region have responded to the threat by standing up prevention programs, temporary waterbody closures, and 30-day quarantine periods in some areas.
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