Lake Tahoe Invasive Species Prevention

Inspection Tips

Lake Tahoe Boat Rentals has each watercraft go through a mandatory invasive species inspection. We handle all fees and make sure you have nothing to worry about as a Tahoe Blue Boating Company. If you decide to use your own boat and not rent from us, here are a couple of things you might want to know about the inspections.

Why the Inpections?

The largest vectors for spreading invasive species is through Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) being carried into new waterways and lakes.  Preventing this inadvertent transport of alien species into our pristine waters of Lake Tahoe is the goal.

Invasive species can wreak havoc for industries, tourists and our native species are seriously impacted too.

With no predators to go after the invasive species in almost all instances, they multiply like you have never seen! The two most popular invasive species Lake Tahoe is most concerned with are Quagga and Zebra Mussels.

The fees range from $30-$125 depending upon boat length. Decontamination could be an additional fee or no launch at all. I see a lot of people try to launch after being in the Delta, Berryessa, and other non-Tahoe waters end up being turned away because there isn't anyone to run the decontamination power washers, or they are busy in prime season and don't want to deal with it now. You'll most likely need an appointment at a decontamination site the day before if you want it to go smoothly and not waste too much of your time. Not that you can't pull up to any launch ramp and get in on the Fourth of July weekend with an out of town boat and dump it it right in, I doubt it. You don't want you and your family sitting two hours waiting for the decontamination because you left a little water in your bilge.

If you see anything suspicious, please call 1-888-TAHOE-ANS.

Here's how to be prepared for a Lake Tahoe Invasive Species Inpection!

To stop aquatic hitchhikers please CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY, AND FLUSH your boat in between every body of water, every time.

Here’s how:
1 . AT THE RAMP: Remove all drain plugs, bilge plugs, and empty wake board balllast tanks while you are still on the boat ramp. This will help the water drain from the inside of the boat while trailering home.

2. AT HOME: HOSE OFF EVERYTHING! Make sure you pay special attention to HOSING off the following items and make sure they are free of AQUATIC VEGETATION, MUD, and any other DEBRIS Contaminents LIKE OIL/FUEL:

3. Dry any compartment with standing water*

4. FLUSH your ENGINE(S) for 15 MINUTES with hose water if possible. Do not run your engine without water hooked up it could overheat yor engine and at least ruin your impellar.

5. Once your flush is complete, AIR and TOWEL DRY all compartments on the boat where you see standing water.

6. Fill a mister with about 5oz of BLEACH and spray the following places and equipment:
Bilge - Ropes - Coolers - Bumpers/Fenders - Anchor - Ski Storage Lockers - Anchor Line - ANY place just dried of standing water - Anchor Compartment

7. Keep your boat DRY with PLUG(S) PULLED for at least 7 DAYS in the SUMMER, 18 days in the SPRING and FALL, and 30 days in the WINTER before launching at another body of water.

RENT A BOAT FROM Lake Tahoe Boat Rentals! WHY BUY? We save you all this hassle of inspections, blue boating engine tuning, a truck and your future ex-wife from an argument on the ramp! Save your marriage and rent a boat, not buy.

Show up and go, no hassle launching!

Sign Up for the Lake Tahoe Water Craft Inspection Newsletter here.

Fees below: