Lake Tahoe Boat Inspection: Where to Get Your Boat Inspected

By: Lake Tahoe Staff

Boating season is underway and Lake Tahoe boat inspection stations for your motorized boats and watercraft are officially open and ready for you to make an appointment. Love Tahoe’s clear blue water? Make sure you get your watercraft checked – it’s critical to the lake’s health and easier than you’d think.

Lake Tahoe boat inspection locations and hours:

  • Meyers, 2175 Keetak St., at the junction of US 50 and Highway 89 (Open 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.)
  • Spooner Summit, at the junction of US 50 and Highway 28 in Nevada (Open 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.)
  • Highway 89, at Alpine Meadows Road north of Tahoe City (open 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.)

So, what are they checking for? Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) like quagga and zebra mussels These unwanted guests are quite problematic as they multiply and quickly colonize underwater surfaces including docks and piers, water supply and filtration systems, buoys, moored boats, and even the beautiful rocky shoreline.

Invasive species are more than an eyesore, they destroy fish habitat, ruin boat engines, and can negatively impact water quality and the local economy, recreation, and ecosystem. 

Boats and other watercraft are the largest transporters of AIS, and the inspection program is the most effective way to prevent their spread into Lake Tahoe and other nearby water bodies. Knowingly transporting AIS into Lake Tahoe is against the law, and violators may be subject to fines.

How to prep for a Lake Tahoe boat inspection:

  • Clean
  • Drain
  • Dry

… your boat prior to arriving at Lake Tahoe boat inspection stations. You can also plan ahead and save time with the convenient appointment system

Taking to the water under your own power? Paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and other watercraft all have the potential to transport aquatic invasive species, so make sure to clean, drain and dry your equipment after every use to help keep Lake Tahoe the jewel of the Sierra that it is today.

For more information, visit www.TahoeBoatInspections.com or call (888) 824-6267 for updates. Follow @TahoeBoating on Twitter for real-time updates.

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