Agencies host Tahoe Keepers appreciation event at Live at Lakeview

Tahoe Keepers will hold an appreciation event with complimentary food and drink for registered Tahoe Keepers at the Live at Lakeview summer music series from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on June 27, 2013.

The first 75 Lake Tahoe Keepers to check in will receive a voucher to Lakeview Café.

Tahoe Keepers is a free self-inspection and decontamination training program that provides paddlers and hand launched watercraft users with the information they need to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species into Lake Tahoe. The program was launched in the summer of 2011 and now there are over 900 trained and registered Keepers.

“Becoming a Tahoe Keeper is quite simple,” said Patrick Stone, senior wildlife and fisheries biologist with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. “All it requires is watching a short online video and taking a quiz.” At the June 27 event, the Tahoe Keepers booth will provide access to the video and quiz so unregistered paddlers can become Tahoe Keepers and participate in the appreciation event. Staff from the TRPA, the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, and the League to Save Lake Tahoe will be on hand to assist paddlers with the registration process.

There will be complimentary food and beverage for the first 75 Tahoe Keepers that check in at the booth. Vouchers will be provided for tasty options at the Lakeview Cafe including such goodies as tacos, hot dogs, bunny chow, and burgers.

“This is a great opportunity for the Lake Tahoe AIS program to appreciate the hundreds of non-motorized recreationists who have become stewards of the Lake by ensuring that their vessels and gear are not transporting invasive species in Lake Tahoe and around the Basin,” said Nicole Gergans, natural resources manager with the League.

“Please bring your friends and family to register,” said Nicole Cartwright, watercraft inspection program administrator with the TRCD. “We will have registration materials at our booth, but we also highly encourage people to become a Tahoe Keeper online prior to the event.”

For more information about becoming a Tahoe Keeper check out www.tahoekeepers.com.

The Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program consists of 40 public and private partner organizations including federal, state and local jurisdictions, research partners, public utility districts, and private marinas. This program provides leadership, direction and resources to fulfill its mission of prevention, detection and control of aquatic invasive species in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

— Jesse Patterson is the deputy director of League to Save Lake Tahoe