Independence Lake Preserve

Public Input Process

We are seeking public input on recreation and access management issues. Variety of opportunities to provide direct feedback:•Public Meetings•Online Survey:

–https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ILP2011

•Focus Group Sessions•Blog Website with comment options:

–http://tncindependencelake.wordpress.com/

Topic Stations

1) Aquatic Invasive Species/Lake Health – Educational Station

2) Watercraft Options – Input on the types of watercraft and related issues

3) Seasonal Recreation Activities – Input on other types of recreational activities

4) General Issues/Map of the property– Input on all other issues not covered by the other

topic stations

Introduction: The Independence Lake Preserve and Aquatic Invasive Species Information

Kathryn Landreth, Nevada State Director for The Nature Conservancy, will provide an introduction about the acquisition of the property around Independence Lake and the Conservancy’s goals.

David Kean, Program Coordinator for the Truckee Regional AIS Prevention Program will now do a briefpresentation on the issue of aquatic invasive species (AIS) and the relevance of this issue to Independence Lake.

The Property

Why The Nature Conservancy is Here

Mountain lake ecosystem

Lahontan cutthroat trout

Lahontan native fish assemblage-

• Lahontan lake tui chub

• Paiute sculpin • Mountain whitefish • Speckled dace • Lahontan redside • Tahoe sucker

Old Growth Conifers, Aspen Groves, Wet Meadows

Recreation

Forest Restoration

Management Goals for the Independence Lake Preserve

Support public and private agency partners with restoration of native fish and the Lahontan cutthroat trout population.

Prevent aquatic invasive species introduction to Independence Lake.

Restore a healthy forest system, and reduce threat of catastrophic wildfire.

Provide public access for recreation compatible with protection of the ecology of the watershed that is cost-effective and administratively feasible.

Science and Managing Partners

• California Department of Fish and Game• Northern Sierra Partnership• Truckee Donner Land Trust• Truckee Meadows Water Authority• Truckee River Watershed Council• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service• U.S. Forest Service• U.S. Geological Survey

Property Acquisition Budget

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: $6,594,028

CA Wildlife Conservation Board $5,500,000

CA Resources Agency: $1,310,294

Sierra Nevada Conservancy: $1,000,000

Northern Sierra Partnership: $ 495,678

Private donation: $ 100,000

Why did Public & Private Sources Fund this Acquisition?

Bureau of Reclamation: “For the acquisition of land surrounding Independence Lake and protection of the native fishery and water quality of Independence Lake.”($6 million)

CA Wildlife Conservation Board: “The Property shall be held and used for the purposes of acquisition and protection of habitat that promotes the recovery of threatened and endangered species, that provides corridors for linking separate habitat areas to prevent habitat fragmentation and that protects significant natural landscapes and ecosystems.” ($5.5 million)

CA Resources Agency: “For the purpose of protecting this pristine watershed which surrounds Independence Lake and straddles approximately 3.5 miles of Independence Creek. The Grant Funds will be used to acquire the property along Independence Creek and surrounding Independence Lake and to allow open space for low-impact recreational uses.” ($1.3 million)

Aquatic Invasive SpeciesWhy are some species invasive, where are they presently, how do they move into new lakes, and, why are they damaging both economically and environmentally?

Didymosphenia geminataA diatom that grows in shallow water. Easily transmitted by fishing equipment.

Common Attributes of Invasives

* Reproduce rapidly and reach high densities* Have few or no predators, also, no native disease* Voracious users of resources (phytoplankton, DO

and CO2)

* Nitrogen byproducts can lead to Algal blooms* Impact economics-can increase the cost of utilities

such as electric and water* Impact the ecosystem by disturbing food webs and

changing water chemistry* Impact recreation* Food web disruptions can cause native fish decline

Watercraft and Equipmentas Transmission Vectors

“…bombardment of every country by foreign species, brought accidentally or on purpose, by vessel and by air and also overland from that used to be isolated…” ‐Charles Elton 1958-Population Biologist Long distance dispersal events greatly increase the speed of invasions and the expansion of ranges Known dispersal vectors, boats (recreational,

commercial), fishing equipment (creels, boots, lures), waterway connections (rivers, canals, currents), aquarium or ornamental release

Recreational boaters are willing to travel for a variety of reasons to use waterways including distance, amenities

and resource quality A precautionary approach toward invasive management

and prevention of introduction provides the highest probability of delaying or avoiding an introduction of AIS

Marion Whittmann, UC Davis, Recreational Boater Movement in California and Nevada and Implicationsfor Dreissenid Mussel Introduction to Inland Water Bodies

Zebra & Quagga MusselsOriginated in EuropeNo natural predators in

the USHave threads that allow

them to attach to infrastructure

No native mussels have threads

Can produce 1 million juveniles per year

Juveniles are microscopic

High Densities

Asian Clam

Present in Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake Has the highest metabolism of all mollusks-disrupts

food web Hermaphroditic Can Produce 100,000 juveniles/year Juveniles are microscopic No natural predators in US Control program in Tahoe Spread throughout Texas rapidly Reach extremely high densities

Eurasian WatermilfoilExtensive local populations in

Tahoe, Martis, & TRReproduces vegetatively by

fragmentationDispersed by boats, trailers,

motorsSpreads quickly, reduces light

penetrationWater ChemistryGreatly changes habitat,

predator-prey relationships, and reduces nutrient rich plants needed for waterfowl

Didymosphenia geminata

Common name-Rock Snot

Grows in shallow waterEasily transmitted by

fishing gearReproduces

vegetativelyUses stalks to attach

to surfacesImpacts recreation

Curly Leaf PondweedPresently in TahoeReproduces by turions

(burr like winter buds)Found in all states except

MaineNew plants can form under

iceDie off in mid-summerDecaying plants decrease

DO and can increase algaeThe water equivalent of

cheat grass

Hydrilla Can drive out all

native plants Needs very little light Photosynthesizes in

early morning Depletes CO2

Can double biomass in two weeks

At night uses dissolved oxygen

Decreases in DO can kill fish

Reproduces with turions

New Zealand Mudsnail

Is asexual-only takes one Easily transported by fishing

equipment Presently in Sacramento and

American Rivers Reaches extremely high

densities 500,000/sq. yard Can survive for days out of

water Eat algae Compete with native bottom

dwellers

NZMS are tiny

Topic Station Break-Outs

Please go to the Topic Stations now to provide direct feedback.

1) Aquatic Invasive Species/Lake Health – Educational Station

2) Watercraft Options – Input on the types of watercraft and related issues

3) Seasonal Recreation Activities – Input on other types of recreational activities

4) General Issues/Map of the property– Input on all other issues not covered by the other

topic stations

Wrap-Up

Thank you for your input and feedback about this important area. If you have further public

comment, please complete the online survey or submit your comments on the blog website. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ILP2011http://tncindependencelake.wordpress.com/