In the News

Tahoe’s Boaters Must Be Safe and Know the Rules
date posted: December 22 2005

Lake Tahoe Report #77
July 26, 2004
By John Cobourn and Heather Segale


It is a thrill to take a boat ride on Lake Tahoe. With the privilege of enjoying boating on the lake comes the responsibility to know and observe safety precautions and regional rules and regulations.

Most people know that two-stroke engines, including personal watercraft or Jet skis with two strokes, were banned on Lake Tahoe in 1999. Now, only watercraft with new, cleaner, direct fuel-injected two-stroke engine models are allowed. Four-stroke engines also are allowed. This ban is still in effect, because the older, carbureted two-stroke engines discharge as much as 25 percent to 30 percent of their fuel, unburned, into the water and subsequently into the air. This discharge rate is approximately 10 times greater than that of newer technology engines, including direct fuel-injected two-stroke engines and all four-stroke engines.

It is important to keep gasoline out of the lake because it is highly toxic to fish, microorganisms, and humans. Since some communities draw drinking water directly from the lake, reducing fuel discharge into the water is critical. Two extremely harmful compounds in gasoline are MTBE (methyl, tertiary, butyl, and ether) and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and zylene). To avoid fuel spills, never top off or overfill fuel tanks, and use rags or petroleum-absorbing pillows to clean up.

It is also important to keep human waste out of the lake. Dumping or pumping of onboard toilets and holding tanks into the lake is prohibited. Boats are required to seal off or wire shut all discharge outlets prior to launching. Fines for noncompliance start at $500. Use onshore facilities and always empty holding tanks only at approved pump out stations.

In addition, boat owners are required to help stop the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil, a noxious weed infesting the Tahoe Keys, by reversing their propellers before entering the lake when coming from the Tahoe Keys. Boaters should always give boats and trailers a good cleaning before launching or leaving any boat ramp.

Lake Tahoe also has a requirement for a no wake zone extending 600 feet into the water from shore. This means boaters are required to travel at speeds no greater than 5 mph, and to refrain from creating waves within this zone. Waves too close to shore can increase shoreline erosion, destroy sensitive aquatic life, and fragment shoreline wildlife habitat. The 600-foot no wake zone also benefits kayakers, canoers, and swimmers who are trying to enjoy the lake.

There are more rules that help protect the safety of those enjoying the lake, including:
• Navigation lights are required after sunset, and anchor lights are required all night when boats are anchored outside of an approved mooring area such as a buoy field.
• Jet skiing, skiing or wakeboarding are not allowed after sunset.
• A minimum of two people must be on a boat that is pulling skiers or wake boarders.
• There must be enough life jackets for all persons onboard.
• All children under 12 years old must be wearing life jackets.

When underway, the following safety rules apply:
• Give way to boats in front of and to the right of you (at the 12 o’clock to 4 o’clock positions).
• Overtake other vessels on their right sides.
• Pass boats headed in the opposite direction port side to port side.
• Always carry visual distress signals for day and night.

Boaters should make sure to pay close attention to weather reports and rapidly changing weather conditions while on the lake. Calm mornings are often followed by high winds during midday and afternoon. Wind-driven waves can build rapidly to heights capable of swamping small boats. Try to anticipate changes in the weather. When a long, dark wind line appears on the water, it can already be too late to reach a sheltering harbor.

Finally, some boaters on Lake Tahoe have disconnected the silencers or muffler systems on their engines. Large offshore boats can produce noise levels that are offensive to many people trying to enjoy the lake or a quiet moment on the shore. Sound carries a long way across the water, and noise ordinances are evolving which will make excessive noise illegal.