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Lake Tahoe Boating

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Jet Skis

A debate rages about the environmental effects of jet skis on sensitive lakes such as Lake Tahoe. The following two articles discuss the issue, and sources for jet ski rentals appear below.

Petrochemical release

Currently, jet skis are not allowed on many California lakes, where two-stroke motors have left a persistent residue of MTBE, a highly soluble substance that does not appear to readily biodegrade in the environment.

Unlike other boats, jets travel at high speeds in shallow water, churning up sediment and vegetation in areas normally full of algae, larvae and zooplankton. The Blue Water Network (a division of the Earth Island Institute) is a San Francisco-based coalition of scientists and environmentalists who have studied the long- and short-range effects of jet skis.

According to Blue Water president Russell Long, who holds a doctorate in developmental ecology, the jets release petrochemicals that float on the surface microlayer and settle within the shallow ecosystem. The long-legged birds, standing in 6 inches of water, cannot see their food or prey below the surface. Turbidity blocks light penetration, depletes oxygen and harms both fish and birds. In 1999, two-stroke motors were banned at Lake Tahoe because they contributed to the decline of water clarity in one of the world's deepest lakes. (Source: Metro Silicon Valley newspaper)

The clouding of Lake Tahoe

The crystal blue water Lake Tahoe is famous for is becoming about a foot and a half cloudier with each passing year. Clarity is measured by the depth at which the human eye can see a white plate-like object called a secchi disc. Thirty years ago, the disc could be seen at a depth of about 100 feet. Today, the average visible depth is about 70 feet.

This loss of clarity is due to increased algae growth nourished by nitrogen and phosphorous. As the algae flourish, the lake loses clarity. However, people disagree about where the excess nitrogen and phosphorous is coming from.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe sees jet skis as part of the problem. Cutler said the group supports an outright ban on the water craft until the industry will produce machines that meet EPA standards. The TRPA has recommended that Jet Skis be banned at Lake Tahoe by June, 1999. Personal watercraft business owners around Lake Tahoe have filed suit against TRPA to stop the proposed ban. The matter is still pending.

"Jet skis dump 25 to 40 percent of their fuel directly into the lake," Cutler said.

Derrig said any objections he has toward jet skis are not based upon evidence of environmental damage, but his own personal feelings. "I hate the noise more than anything -- they remind me of a pack of hornets," Derrig said. "Every year there seems to be more of them."

Tyler said that water craft introduce "oil and gasoline into the lake." He said additional chemicals and nutrients introduced by man into the lake will help the algae grow. Cutler said regulations placed on jet skis instead of a ban by the TRPA would not be satisfactory to the league, because there is no money for enforcement. (Rebecca Romaggi, Copyright 1997 Nevada Outpost)

Jet Ski Rentals

Action Watersports of Tahoe
Ski Beach (Across from the Hyatt Regency), Incline Village, Nevada ; Tel. +1 775.831.4386

Tahoe Water Adventures
120 Grove Street, Tahoe City, California (behind Lake-House Pizza) ; Tel. +1 530.583.3225