Lake Tahoe Invasive Species Training
Published June 6th, 2024 by KTVN 2 News Reno by Cole Johnson
ECO-CLEAN Solutions and Keep Tahoe Blue recently held a free invasive species training session at the Tahoe Keys Marina, showcasing advanced machines designed to purify water by removing invasive weed fragments and floating debris.
Aquatic invasive weed species are severely damaging Lake Tahoe’s ecology and water quality. These invasive plants crowd out native species, disrupt the lake's ecosystem, and detract from Tahoe's natural beauty. They easily spread to other areas around the lake by hitching rides on recreational equipment and boats, creating new infestations.
The “Eyes on the Lake” training sessions, hosted by Keep Tahoe Blue, educate citizens and volunteers on identifying and reporting aquatic invasive plants found in and around Tahoe. This proactive approach helps prevent the spread of these invasive species to other parts of the lake. During the training, attendees receive hands-on field experience in conducting surveys and identifying invasive plants in real-life settings.
The primary targets of the Eyes on the Lake program are Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed, two aquatic invasive plants introduced to Tahoe in recent decades. Both species are already established in over a dozen locations in Lake Tahoe, making them difficult and costly to control.
During the training, ECO-CLEAN Solutions introduced attendees to their latest water-based robot technologies, which complement their land-based beach-cleaning robot, BEBOT. The Collec’Thor, a fixed mobile waste collector attached to the dock, brings in dirty water and releases clean water while collecting harmful debris.
The Collec’Thor operating in the Tahoe Keys Marina, during “Eyes on the Lake” Invasive Species Training by Keep Tahoe Blue. Photo by: Katy Jo Caringer
The PixieDrone, akin to a roomba on the water, can operate manually or autonomously to clean the lake. This aquatic robot roams the channels within the Tahoe Keys, collecting invasive weed fragments, Styrofoam, and other floating debris.
You can contribute to these efforts by visiting the Citizen Science Tahoe website and using the Eyes on the Lake survey to report any sightings of invasive plants. Early detection helps prevent new infestations from spreading.
If you spot these plants, please contact us at protect@keeptahoeblue.org. Reporting absences—areas where you haven’t seen these plants—is also valuable.
For those interested in further involvement, the Eyes on the Lake program offers opportunities for regular surveying, reporting, and even hand-pulling of aquatic weeds. Join us for an official Eyes on the Lake training session to get started.
Visit Keep Tahoe Blue Events and Activities page to find out when the next training session is scheduled!