Independence Lake Preserve

1. Independence Lake Preserve

2. 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/

3. Topic Stations Aquatic Invasive Species/Lake Health Educational Station Watercraft Options Input on the types of watercraft and related issues Seasonal Recreation Activities Input on other types of recreational activities General Issues/Map of the property Input on all other issues not covered by the other topic stations

4. 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 brief • presentation on the issue of aquatic invasive species • (AIS) and the relevance of this issue to Independence • Lake.

5. The Property

6. 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

7. Old Growth Conifers, Aspen Groves, Wet Meadows

8. Recreation

9. Forest Restoration

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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)

14. Didymosphenia geminata A diatom that grows in shallow water. Easily transmitted by fishing equipment. Aquatic Invasive Species Why are some species invasive, where are they presently, how do they move into new lakes, and, why are they damaging both economically and environmentally?

15. 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

16. 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 Implications for Dreissenid Mussel Introduction to Inland Water Bodies

17. Zebra & Quagga Mussels • Originated in Europe • No natural predators in the US • Have 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

18. 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

19. Eurasian Watermilfoil • Extensive local populations in Tahoe, Martis, & TR • Reproduces vegetatively by fragmentation • Dispersed by boats, trailers, motors • Spreads quickly, reduces light penetration • Water Chemistry • Greatly changes habitat, predator-prey relationships, and reduces nutrient rich plants needed for waterfowl

20. Didymosphenia geminata • Common name-Rock Snot • Grows in shallow water • Easily transmitted by fishing gear • Reproduces vegetatively • Uses stalks to attach to surfaces • Impacts recreation

21. Curly Leaf Pondweed • Presently in Tahoe • Reproduces by turions (burr like winter buds) • Found in all states except Maine • New plants can form under ice • Die off in mid-summer • Decaying plants decrease DO and can increase algae • The water equivalent of cheat grass

22. 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

23. 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

24. Topic Station Break-Outs Please go to the Topic Stations now to provide direct feedback. Aquatic Invasive Species/Lake Health Educational Station Watercraft Options Input on the types of watercraft and related issues Seasonal Recreation Activities Input on other types of recreational activities General Issues/Map of the property Input on all other issues not covered by the other topic stations

25. 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/ILP2011 • http://tncindependencelake.wordpress.com/