Invasive Species
The Invasive Species Program (ISP) manages invasive species issues in the Tahoe Basin and consists of two sub programs; Terrestrial and Aquatic. The overall goal is to protect the Lake Tahoe Basin from invasive species by education and outreach, research, prevention, early detection, rapid response, and control. The Invasive Species Program’s mission is executed through successfully collaborating and coordinating with partners, which increases the ability to gather and share resources and information, standardize methods for treatment and data collection, and enhance early detection, control and eradication efforts.
For information about the Terrestrial Invasive Weed program
For information about the Aquatic Invasive Species program
For information about the Watercraft Inspection Program
What is a native species?
A native species is a plant or animal that naturally occurs in an area because it evolved there over time. Native species evolve together and populations never get out of control due to predators, competition and disease. In Lake Tahoe, our native species did not arrive by any human influence, they came naturally.
What is a non-native species?
Non-native species are also known as exotic or alien species. These species do not naturally occur in the areas in which they are found. They are usually introduced through human actions, either intentionally or unintentionally.
What are invasive species?
Sometimes non-native species can be detrimental to an ecosystem and other times they do no harm. Invasive species are the non-natives that are harmful to the ecosystem. They tend to out-compete the native species, causing environmental and economic problems.