72 boats with invasive species intercepted before entering Lake Tahoe

(FOX40.COM) — Quick actions by boaters and paddlers so far have helped prevent golden mussels and other aquatic invasive species from entering the Lake Tahoe watershed, according to agencies leading the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species program.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and Tahoe Resource Conservation District manage the watercraft inspection program, which reported that inspectors performed more than 4,700 decontaminations in 2025, a 60% increase compared to the previous year.

Officials said inspectors attribute the dramatic jump in decontaminations to actions taken this year in an effort to confront the threat of the golden mussel in Northern California.

“Our inspectors were on the front lines of defense against golden mussels, which brought a strong sense of purpose and e