WATERWAYS FUNDING REFERENDUM: CONTROL METHODS TEST YEAR THREE AND THE WATER QUALITY LONG-TERM PLAN

By Kristine Lebo, Water Quality Manager

The voting packet for the 2024 Waterways Funding Referendum has been sent out to the homeownership. This special assessment includes the Control Methods Test (CMT) Year 3 budget along with a plan to take the beginning steps to achieve the long-term solution.

The Tahoe Keys faces two challenges within the waterways: 1) the invasive weeds infestation and 2) the overall water quality. The Water Quality Department identifies these topics as: 1) our largescale solution and 2) the long-term plan. Through the CMT, we are trying to solve how we control and eliminate the invasive weeds themselves in a way that is economically viable, environmentally sound, and reasonably permittable for a large-scale application within the lagoons. To solve the second issue of water quality, we must look long-term into the resources we have to manage the water column. Through this two-sided approach, we strive towards restoration of the natural ecosystem for the Keys.

Control Methods Test Year 3

Continuing our commitment into the third year of the CMT is critical. To determine what combination of treatments control invasive weeds year after year, while avoiding the risks associated with long-term herbicide dependence, we need to complete the test as designed. Through this test, we have developed incredible partnerships with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and League to Save Lake Tahoe that must be preserved. They not only have been major contributors financially, around $9 million and counting, but additionally utilizing their influence and public reach has been extremely beneficial in communicating with and educating other agencies, programs, stakeholders, and the general public. We as an association want to stay in control of the future, therefore, spearheading and continuing what we have started is necessary to ensure our homeowners have a say on what goes on in their backyard.

The CMT Year 2 has shown promise. Herbicide application from Year 1 worked as expected and have proven continued results into Year 2. Nonetheless, you might have noticed a lot of plant growth along this year's shoreline in herbicide treated sites. As you know, 2023's water level is much higher than it was in 2022, submerging areas that were previously dry and left untreated with aquatic herbicide. Therefore, we utilized Group B methods in these newly submerged areas to treat the new plant growth. Though it was an obstacle, this became a positive learning objective the test provided. It highlights the need for an adaptive implementation plan and the necessity for flexible permit regulations to be effective and work with the uncontrollable environmental conditions that each year presents.

The actual implementation of these Group B methods has also been successful. We achieved virtually every goal that was set at the start of the season. Continuing on this path into the third year will allow us to gather data of the lasting effects from both the herbicide and the non-chemical follow-up treatments. This understanding will help us make determinations moving forward into the large-scale plan.

We understand progress may be hard to see as things may look a certain way around your dock. Please remember our team has focused our efforts on small, specifically controlled treatment sites. This means the testing is not as noticeable if you are not familiar with their exact locations. It is not yet time for a transformative lagoon wide treatment, however, if you look at our overall biomass (plant density) through the hydroacoustic scans, you can see major changes year over year that should provide excitement in the progress being made. We have included scans for comparing August 2020 through 2023 where you can see the positive impact of the CMT project.

The red coloring depicts areas with high biovolume or areas with many invasive weeds. The blue coloring highlights areas that have low biovolume or little to no vegetation.

Water Quality Long Term Plan

Looking ahead at the future we must consider the impacts water quality has in the overall picture. Can we reduce excessive nutrients? How do we prevent the toxic algae growth (HABs) we get every summer? Can we return to our natural ecosystem where native species thrive, and the water quality is reverted to a healthy balance? As we move forward, we need to start finding answers to these questions. Both the weeds and water quality go hand in hand. We cannot have successful change in one without the other.

The Keys Lagoons were originally built with a circulation system knowing water quality would be important to maintain. As a first step, we need an evaluation of the non-operational system currently in place. In addition, we need to evaluate operational changes that must be made to accommodate current and potential regulations and water flows. Furthermore, we need to collaborate and create more agency partnerships. This will allow us to receive funding and outreach support specifically on designs, permitting, and grant participation.

We have taken good beginning steps this year already. We have a defined workplan which outlines the specific needs mapping a way forward. We identified a variety of grants to pursue. The Circulation System has officially been designated as an EIP Project (#4478) In 2024, the foremost task will be to continue the effort made this year to secure $200k from the Mitigation Fund to use assist in financing the remaining items as defined in the objectives for 2024.

What we need from you!

Please Vote! We need to reach a quorum which requires a minimum of 50% of the total membership to vote for the ballots to be counted and proven valid. We have multiple resources to share with our homeowners to inform your decision. Dr. Lars Anderson, the CMT lead scientist, documented the initial findings for CMT Year 2, and will soon publish the 2023 Interim Report which will include more detailed results. We have also prepared the CMT Year 3 outline with budget information on where money is being allocated, grants we are pursuing, and partnerships we are trying to develop. These documents and more are all posted on our dedicated Water Quality website (keysweedsmanagement.org). Please attend the upcoming Town Hall Forum on Thursday, October 26 at 6pm for a Q&A opportunity with the project team.

Ballots are due by mail on Tuesday, November 14th or in person on Wednesday, November 15th by 5:05 p.m. If you have not received a ballot in the mail, please contact the front desk at 530-543-6444 for a replacement.

Group

Venice Drive, Tuolumne Drive, Lassen Drive, Shasta Court, Dana Court, Dover Drive and 15th Street

Group 2 (teal) Alpine Drive, Cascade Court, Cathedral Court, Genevieve Court, Tahoe Keys Blvd, Danube Drive, Morro Drive, Monterey Drive and Lucerne Way Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday

Group 3 (green)

Group 4 (purple)

Group 5 (brown)

Group 6 (blue)

Texas Avenue, Whitney Drive, Aloha Drive, Daggett Court, and Carson Court Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday

Capri Drive, Inverness Drive, Catalina Drive, Kokanee Way, Crystal Court, and Lido Drive

Beach Drive, Beach Lane, Beach Court, White Sands Drive, Balboa Drive, Marconi Way, and Garmish Court

Lighthouse Shores Drive, Emerald Drive, Christie Drive, Traverse Court, Slalom Court, Wedeln Court, and Weir Way

Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 1:00AM-3:00AM

Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 3:00AM-5:00AM

Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 5:00AM-7:00AM

Group 7 (yellow)

Group 8 (pink)

TKPOA Townhomes: Cove 1, Cove 2, Cove 2A, Cove 3A, Cove 3B, Cove 3C, Cove 4, Cove 5, Tahoe Marina Shores (TMS), Islanders 1, Islanders 2, and Islanders 3

TKPOA-Owned Common Areas, Mt. Tallac Village 3 (South Tahoe Public Utility District Service)

Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday 3:00aM-5:00AM

Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 10:00PM-1:00AM