Lake Tahoe boat inspections: Officials to alter process after recent breach

STATELINE - Officials are altering the way they conduct mandatory aquatic invasive species evaluations after a recent breach in the boat inspection process led to a high-risk vessel illegally entering Lake Tahoe's waters.

In a Friday interview, Kim Boyd, Invasive Species Program manager for Tahoe Resource Conservation District, said inspectors are improving watchlist procedures after a man allegedly evaded Lake Tahoe boat inspectors this summer after they recommended his vessel for decontamination.

Now, when a boat is scheduled for decontamination, that boat's registration information will immediately go on a watchlist, which is available to all inspection stations throughout the basin as well as private marinas, said Boyd.

TRCD is in charge of administering the boat inspections in collaboration with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

Julie Regan, TRPA communications and legislative affairs chief, said the agency is in the process of purchasing additional decontamination machines, which will double the capacity at inspection stations to avoid any multi-day delays between the original inspection and the decontamination process.

According to the incident report from TRPA, Mark Kanev was stopped from launching his boat on June 28 at the ramp in Cave Rock, after it was suspected the vessel may be infested with invasive species.

A decontamination was scheduled for July 1, which officials said Kanev evaded. The reason for the three-day delay, Boyd said, was because of the impending busy July 4 holiday weekend. Long delays are not typical, she said.

"The new (decontamination) machines will be operational for testing by the end of this summer and fully operational by the spring of 2011," said Regan, who said funding will come from the overall Aquatic Invasive Species Program budget.

Ted Thayer, TRPA Aquatic Invasive Species Program manager, said the incident demonstrates the inspection program is working.

"We are proud of all the inspectors and launch operators involved in this incident for being diligent and doing their part to protect Lake Tahoe," Thayer said. "It's unfortunate that this incident occurred, because the vast majority of boaters have been very patient and supportive and we appreciate that."