Target Invasive Fish Control Program at Lake Tahoe April 14, 2020 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Target Invasive Fish Control Program at Lake Tahoe

April 14, 2020 Initial Study/Negative Declaration and Initial Environmental Checklist/ Finding of No Significant Effect for the Tahoe RCD Board Decision to Adopt

Project t Directo tor

Curtis Alling, AICP Environme mental ntal Lead Nanette Hanse sel Presenter/Project Manager Kelley Kelso, so, CPESC SC, , QSD/QSP SP

Ascent Team

2 Target Invasive Fish Control at Lake Tahoe

Stillwat ater Sciences Senior Fisheri ries Biologist Russ ss Liebig

California Environmental Quality Act

3 Target Invasive Fish Control Program at Lake Tahoe

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CEQA requires state and local government agencies to inform decision makers and the public about the potential environmental impacts of proposed projects, and to reduce those environmental impacts to the extent feasible. By adopting the CEQA document, it enables public agencies to issue permits to perform fish control activities that would otherwise need to complete their own CEQA document.

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The Conservancy requires a completed CEQA document for the program to support authorization of future funding to implement fish control activities. If a project will not cause any adverse environmental impacts, a public agency may adopt a document known as a Negative Declaration.

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Environmental Process Steps Completed

4 Target Invasive Fish Control Program at Lake Tahoe

• Kick-off meeting with agencies on July 16, 2019 (TRPA, LTBMU,

CDFW, USFWS, CSLC, BOR, USACE, Conservancy, LRWQCB, USFWS, NDEP, NDSL)

• Follow-up coordination with agencies through fall 2019
• Scoping period from September 4 to October 4, 2019
• Comments letters (4 agency, 1 public) that were received were

addressed in IS/ND and IEC/FONSE

• Document released for public comment from January 23 to

February 24, 2020

• Comments letters (1 agency, 2 public) that were received were

responded to in Response to Comments Memorandum

Tribune Article

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Program Background

6 Target Invasive Fish Control Program at Lake Tahoe

• The program is based on a systematic

planning effort by the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinating Committee (AISCC). Tahoe RCD co-chairs the committee.

• The program is also based on the Lake

Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan, which was formally reviewed by an expert panel of scientists and managers who specialize in invasive species management and ecology.

• The program is modeled after successful Aquatic Invasive Plant Program.

Why Remove Invasive Fish?

7 Target Invasive Fish Control Program at Lake Tahoe

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Supports TRPA Fisheries Threshold.

• Goal: Improve aquatic habitat essential for the growth, reproduction, and

perpetuation of existing and threatened fish resources in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

• Policy: Prohibiting the release of non-native aquatic species and controlling and

eradiating existing populations. Tahoe RCD has received support from public to implement this program. Invasive fish species predate upon, and compete with both native and non-native aquatic species (fish and amphibians), as well as native recreational sportfish. They disrupt ecosystem function and create negative ecological effects to food web dynamics and composition.

Program Description

8 Target Invasive Fish Control Program at Lake Tahoe

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The proposed program would authorize a selection of mechanical fish control methods that can be implemented in locations of suitable habitat for the target species for long-term implementation. Target invasive fish species include smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), and goldfish (C. auratus auratus). The proposed program would apply to all areas within the Lake Tahoe region that include suitable habitat for target invasive fish. These areas include marinas and shallow waters of Lake Tahoe, portions

• f the tributaries that feed into Lake Tahoe, a short reach of the Truckee River just downstream of the

dam (the lake’s only river outlet), where it is under the jurisdiction of TRPA, and marsh areas around the lake shoreline.

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Recreational sportfish are NOT targeted: rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), brown trout (Salmo trutta), brook trout (Salvelinus foninalis), lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), and kokanee salmon (Oncorhyncus nerka).

Program Area

9 Control of Warm Water Fish in Lake Tahoe

• Tier 1 Area – low-gradient stream

segments, shallow waters, marinas, marsh areas, and Truckee River downstream of dam.

• Tier 2 Areas – extend from the Tier 1

boundary to a point where a tributary exceeds 10% slope, or the farthest upstream location where target invasive fish populations have been documented.

• Elsewhere

Control Methods

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Boat Electrofishing Weirs Backpack Electrofishing Benthic Electrode Arrays Minnow Traps Gillnets Seines Fyke Nets

Permits Required

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Agency Environmental Process Role Required Permit/Approval Tahoe Resource Conservation District CEQA Lead Agency CEQA compliance, program approval Tahoe Regional Planning Agency TRPA Lead Agency Environmental Improvement Project (EIP) permit U.S. Army Corps of Engineers NEPA Lead Agency/ESA Lead Nationwide Permit 4/Biological Assessment U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Reviewing Agency Section 7 Consultation, Biological Opinion U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit NEPA Lead Agency Special Use Permit California State Lands Commission CEQA Responsible Agency, Permitting Agency Lease of State Lands for placement of benthic electrode arrays, seines, and fyke nets at or below the ordinary high-water mark of Lake Tahoe. California Department of Fish and Wildlife CEQA Responsible Agency, Permitting Agency Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement; Scientific Collecting Permit California Tahoe Conservancy CEQA Responsible Agency Approval of funding expenditures Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board CEQA Responsible Agency, Permitting Agency 401 Water Quality Certification for any activities that require 404 permit from the USACE Nevada Department of Wildlife Permitting Agency Scientific Collection Permit Nevada Division of State Lands Permitting Agency Authorization to use State-Owned Submerged Lands

Questions/Discussion

Staff Recommendations

13 Control of Warm Water Fish in Lake Tahoe

• 1. It is recommended that the Board of Directors

adopt the Target Invasive Fish Control Program at Lake Tahoe Initial Study/Negative Declaration.

• 2. It is recommended that the Board of Directors

approve the Target Invasive Fish Control Program at Lake Tahoe.