Control Methods Test Update

Control Methods Test (CMT) Update

By: Kirk Wooldridge, General Manager

On May 25th, 2022, the Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association (TKPOA) received final approval from the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (LRWQCB) of the submitted Aquatic Pesticide Application Plan (APAP) Amendments 1 and 2, allowing the Control Methods Test (CMT) to move forward as scheduled. The 2022 CMT Boating Restrictions Emergency Rule has also been officially changed based on this approval on May 25th, 2022, which includes the new location of Site 14. The TKPOA has installed the turbidity curtains to align with this approved Site 14 move, and the extent of Restricted Area A (RED) has been decreased.

This proposed Site 14 change was approved by the Board of Directors on May 18th, 2022 at the Regular Open Board Meeting in preparation of this pending approval. The revised Emergency Rule – 2022 CMT Test 05-25-2022 has been mailed to all TKPOA Property Owners and is posted on the TKPOA website at www.tkpoa.com.

Now that the CMT is moving forward, there are a number of required activities that will be taking place during the next two months. You will also continue to observe a number of the Contractors and the TKPOA Water Quality team performing the required water quality monitoring and sampling throughout the summer and into November 2022.

The following is the list of Contractors that are performing work in the Tahoe Keys Lagoons as part of the CMT project, and their contracted scope of work.

TKPOA Contractors:

Stratus Environmental Inc.

Tahoe Keys Water Company (TKWC) Well Water Monitoring Lab Coordination for Well Water Samples Environmental Program Manager for Spill Prevention and Response

Aqua Technex

Herbicide and Rhodamine Water Tracer (RWT) Dye Application Lanthanum Modified Clay (LMC) Application and Monitoring

Domenichelli & Associates

Culvert Seals, Culvert Pump and Pipe Sealing – Project Design and Management

Mountain Pipeline/Pacific Built

Culvert Seals Installation and Removal Culvert Pump and Pipe Socks Installation and Removal

Hiuga Divers

Turbidity Curtain Install and Removal

Shoreline Engineering

Installation and Removal of Boat Barriers

Clean-Flo (Restorative Lake Sciences LLC)

Laminar Flow Aeration Installation

Sierra Ecosystem Associates

CMT Project Management

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Contractors:

Blankinship & Associates, Inc.

Herbicide & Rhodamine (RWT) Dye Monitoring Laboratory Services – Herbicide Residues/Degradants

Environmental Science Associates (ESA)/ Marine Taxonomic Service LTD (MTS)

Nutrient Grab Water Quality Monitoring Benthic Macroinvertebrate (BMI) Monitoring Macrophyte Monitoring Laboratory Services – Nutrient and BMI Monitoring Lab coordination if LMC samples are collected by AquaTechnex for lab analysis

Stratus Environmental Inc.

Continuous Water Quality (miniDOTS) Monitoring

Inventive Resources, Inc. (IRI)

Ultraviolet Light (UV-C) Treatment Boats and Treatments

Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (LRWQCB)

Lab Services for TKPOA Cyanobacteria analyses

As demonstrated by the Contractor list above, the magnitude of water quality monitoring and sampling required by the permit is unquestionable to ensure a safe and detailed CMT analysis. The number of water quality monitoring, aquatic plant, and other sampling data points that will be collected is forecasted at over 25,000 for 2022. The CMT will test two herbicides in 13 sites and UV-C light in 9 sites of approximately one acre each. The 13 herbicide test sites have been divided into three large ‘test areas’ – Area A, B, C and the data collection and compliance monitoring points are indicated on the adjacent map: “Tahoe Keys Lagoons CMT, Nonherbicide/Herbicide and Rhodamine Monitoring (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Compliance Map”.

The CMT will cost the TKPOA and the TRPA collectively over $3.0 million dollars. For TKPOA, this is funded by the Water Quality Third Payment Special Assessment, and a proposed TKPOA Water Quality 2022 Fourth Payment Special Assessment (RESOLUTION TKPOA #2022-0427) pending membership vote. The TRPA is funding it’s portion with Environmental Improvement Program funding from the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act.

MOVING FORWARD As a reminder during this time, the following rules apply: 1. No boat access, entering or exiting, the Treatment Areas A, B and C 2. No water activities inside Treatment Areas A, B and C. Water Activities include but are not limited to swimmers, pets, boats, sailboats, personal watercrafts, kayaks, canoes or stand-up paddleboards, etc. The herbicide concentrations to treat the weeds will be at levels safe to humans, pets, fish and wildlife, but avoidance is necessary to protect the validity of the CMT. 3. No outside visitor access into Treatment Areas A, B and C. If you observe someone violating these rules, please contact TKPOA’s Security Staff. “If you see something, say something.” 4. Boats and other watercraft docked prior to May 9th, 2022 may remain moored, but cannot be operated, from May 9th, 2022 to as late as mid-July 2022.

Any interference with these tests sites by homeowner or outsider swimmers, pets, boats, sailboats, personal watercrafts, kayaks, canoes or stand-up paddleboards and similar watercraft could compromise the entire CMT and result in significant financial impact to TKPOA plus years of delays to solving the weeds problem.

The next major notification from TKPOA will be when the turbidity curtains can be removed by Treatment Areas A, B, C and/or Sites, to open boating back up for the summer. Stay tuned and thank you for all TKPOA Property Owner’s cooperation and patience during this important test.

Questions or Request for Additional Information

For additional information and updates, please refer to the TKPOA website at www.tkpoa.com, the following folder - Control Method Test (CMT) as well as www. keysweedsmanagement.org. You can also contact the TKPOA Association Office Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Saturday - Sunday from 10:30 AM - 2 PM or call 530-542-6444.

Stay connected and fully informed with all news and information regarding the Control Methods Test (CMT) Project using the following resources:

1. Go to www.keysweedsmanagement.org and click on the ‘CMT Project’ page on the top left navigation tab. This will lead you to all relevant information 2. Go to www.keysweedsmanagement.org and scroll down to ‘Latest News’ on the main page. This will provide you with all news articles regarding CMT and all TKPOA projects. 3. Head to www.tkpoa.com and click on the ‘News’ page on the top navigation tab in the center. This will lead you to all recent news articles about CMT and TKPOA at large. 4. Head to www.tkpoa.com and click on Documents to navigate to the Documents Folder Page. Click on the Water Quality folder and then on the Control Methods Test (CMT) folder. This will provide you with documents and information related to the CMT.

For all information and updates, please refer to the TKPOA Water Quality website at www.keysweedsmanagement.org. You can also contact the TKPOA Association Office Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Saturday - Sunday from 10 AM - 2 PM or call 530-542-6444.