Boat ramps at Lake Tahoe's Cave Rock and Sand Harbor are open for the season
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Thu, 05/09/2019 - 3:30pm
Boat ramps at Lake Tahoe's Sand Harbor and Cave Rock are now open from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily, according to Nevada State Parks.
Visitors are encouraged to enjoy a safe boating season by observing water safety practices. Always wear a life jacket, be aware that high altitudes may cause you to tire more quickly and remember that cold water will take your breath away. When swimming, be sure to enter water slowly to allow your body time to acclimate to cold temperatures.
Boaters are advised to have their powered watercraft inspected and, or sealed prior to arriving at the ramp. For more information on the Invasive Species Program and inspection locations, visit tahoeboatinspections.com.
Sand Harbor State Park is located 3 miles south of Incline Village on Highway 28. The Cave Rock boat ramp is located near Cave Rock on Highway 50.
Roadside watercraft inspections stations aimed at stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species are opening for the season. Locations, hours of operation, and opening dates are online at TahoeBoatInspections.com.
The watercraft inspection program is entering its second decade of fighting aquatic invasive species at Lake Tahoe. The first 10 years were successful because of partnerships and support from the community, with no new documented invasions since the inception of the program.
All motorized watercraft require an inspection before launching into Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake, Echo Lake, and Donner Lake. Invasive species, such as quagga mussels, New Zealand mudsnails, and hydrilla, are known to quickly colonize underwater surfaces. Knowingly transporting aquatic invasive species into Lake Tahoe is against the law, and violators are subject to fines.
This year, the annual watercraft inspection fee schedule is being simplified, condensing 13 categories to five to make it easier to understand and more accurately reflect inspection work and boat complexity. Decontamination fees were also modified to reflect the work it takes to decontaminate watercraft.
Remember, before arriving at inspections stations: Clean, Drain, and Dry your watercraft. “Save time and money by making sure to drain all water from the intake systems, clean out your vessel, and make sure it is dry,” advises Chris Kilian, AIS program manager for the Tahoe Resource Conservation District.
Transporting boats on roads in the Lake Tahoe Basin and the state of Nevada requires bilge plugs to be removed from the vessel. Draining watercraft during transit helps prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Boaters on the water should fill and drain ballast tanks in the same location, making sure they are at least 200 feet from shore.
Invasive species are highly opportunistic, and non-motorized watercraft are also capable of transporting aquatic invasive species.
The Tahoe Keepers program informs the paddling community about the importance of inspecting their equipment, keeping Kayaks, paddleboards, fishing equipment, inflatable water toys, and life jackets from spreading invasive species. For more information visit tahoekeepers.org.
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