Project
04.01.02.0026 - Eyes on the Lake
Link to this project

Overview

Basics

Basics
Eyes on the Lake is a citizen science program to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in Tahoe’s waters. League staff train community members how to identify and report on aquatic plants found while out enjoying the Lake. This information is used for early detection of new infestations followed by a rapid response to get treatment on the ground and stop these invaders in their tracks. Eyes on the Lake volunteers literally protect while they play at Lake Tahoe.

Implementation
2016
2016
2026
$550,000
Laura Patten (Laura@keeptahoeblue.org)
05/13/2016
06/25/2025
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Location Information Location Notes
Eyes on the Lake monitors all water bodies in the Lake Tahoe Basin and, beginning in 2020, expanded to include waterbodies in the Truckee region as well. Eyes on the Lake program occasionally gets reports from the Yosemite region as well.

Organizations

Organizations
League to Save Lake Tahoe (League) Laura Patten - League to Save Lake Tahoe (League)

EIP Details

EIP Basics

EIP Basics
View EIP Fact Sheet | View Funding Request Sheet
04 - Science, Stewardship, and Accountability
04.01 - Science Program
Implement Programmatic Monitoring and Reporting
04.01.02.0026 - Eyes on the Lake

This project is on the EIP 5-year list.

Performance Measures

Expected Performance Measures

Expected Performance Measures
New Invasive Species Locations Detected [Invasive Species Type: Aquatic] 5 number
Educational and Interpretive Programs Produced [Primary EIP Program: Stormwater Management] 50 number

Reported Performance Measures

Reported Performance Measures
Acres Treated for Invasive Species
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Total Units
Invasive Species Type
Aquatic 0.1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 acres
Total 0.1 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.2 acres
New Invasive Species Locations Detected
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Total Units
Invasive Species Type
Aquatic 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 number
Total 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 number
Acres of Invasive Species Inventoried
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Total Units
Invasive Species Type
Aquatic 30 29 27 24 34 12 24.8 7.4 10.9 199.1 acres
Total 30 29 27 24 34 12 24.8 7.4 10.9 199.1 acres
Educational and Interpretive Programs Produced
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Total Units
Primary EIP Program Program Objective Program Status
Invasive Species Education and Interpretation Delivered 10 15 6 31 number
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 15 6 31 number
People Served
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Total Units
Primary Service Type
Education or Interpretation Program 187 203 119 509 number
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 187 203 119 509 number

Funding

Expected Funding

Expected Funding
$550,000
$330,000
$220,000
Total
League to Save Lake Tahoe (League) $330,000 $330,000 $0
Grand Total $330,000 $330,000 $0

Reported Expenditures

Reported Expenditures
Total 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
League to Save Lake Tahoe $806,900 $6,900 $50,000 $50,000 $150,000 $110,000 $110,000 $110,000 $110,000 $110,000
Grand Total $806,900 $6,900 $50,000 $50,000 $150,000 $110,000 $110,000 $110,000 $110,000 $110,000

Photos

Photos

Other Details

Watersheds

Threshold Categories

  • Identifying and removing aquatic invasive plants helps improve the habitat and water clarity of Lake Tahoe and surrounding waters, improving recreational experiences.
  • Identifying and removing aquatic invasive plants helps restore water clarity by removing nutrients and restoring silt/mud substrates to more native, sandy habitats.
  • Identifying and removing aquatic invasive plants helps restore habitat to native wildlife in the nearshore and reduces habitat for non-native species that impact native plant and animal populations.

Local and Regional Plans

Related Projects

Related Projects

04.01.02.0026 - Eyes on the Lake is associated with following groups of projects.

External Links

Notes

Notes
01/09/2025 3:14 PM Deirdre Francks In 2024, we migrated the Citizen Science Tahoe app (which houses the Eyes on the Lake reporting survey) from a download-required app to a web-based app with no downloads required. As of this year, we also began reporting expenditures for this project based on direct expenditures only. Previously, we reported staff salaries as an Eyes on the Lake expenditure.
01/13/2023 2:21 PM Deirdre Francks In 2022 Cole Dickison update the EIP for EOL. 170 acres were removed from acres surveyed in 2021 because these acres were surveyed outside of the Tahoe Basin (in Truckee). Similarly in 2022 24.8 acres were reported for acres surveyed, but in addition to this number the entire shoreline of Stampede reservoir was surveyed by the League for AIS. This was not included in the acreage total as it was outside of the Tahoe Basin.
03/03/2022 11:45 AM Beth Vollmer In 2021, 3 new invasive species locations were detected. However, I have removed them from the accomplishments because they are outside of the Lake Tahoe Basin.
01/14/2022 8:58 AM Emily Frey In 2021, volunteers submitted 129 surveys using the Citizen Science Tahoe App and a Survey123 survey data form. In a previous year, we determined that each survey submitted would be equivalent to 0.1 acres monitored. Volunteers and League staff also conducted Aquatic Invasive Plant surveys at eight waterbodies in the Truckee region: Martis Creek Lake, Dry Lake, Glenshire Lake, Michael's Pond, Upper Coldstream Pond, Lower Coldstream Pond, Summit Lake and West Lake, surveying a total of 170 acres. The total acres surveyed in 2021 was 183 acres.
12/22/2020 12:22 PM Emily Frey In 2020, volunteers submitted 164 surveys on our main survey platform and an additional 162 surveys on the Citizen Science Tahoe app. Volunteers and League staff also conducted nearshore Aquatic Invasive Plant surveys at Spooner Lake and Donner Lake for which I added 8 and 10 acres, respectively, to the Acres Inventoried measure for a total of 34.4 acres rounded down to 34.
01/15/2020 10:18 AM Emily Frey In 2019, volunteers submitted 171 surveys on our main survey platform and 26 surveys on the Citizen Science Tahoe smartphone app. I added approximately 4 acres for the aquatic invasive plant survey on the Upper Truckee River from Elks Club Road to Highway 50 near North Upper Truckee Road for a total of 23.7 acres which was rounded up to 24.
01/07/2019 3:58 PM Emily Frey 1/7/19 - An update on the calculations for reporting acres surveyed each year: in a conversation with Dennis Zabaglo in 2018, we decided on 0.1 acre per Eyes on the Lake survey. In 2016, volunteers submitted 270 surveys; in 2017, 290 surveys; and in 2018, 204 surveys. For 2016, I also added approximately 2.5 acres for a coordinated survey of the Upper Truckee River from the river mouth to Highway 50 (total rounded up to 30 acres for the year); for 2018, I added approximately 7 acres for a follow-up survey on the Upper Truckee River from Highway 50 to Elks Club Road, for a total for the year of 27 acres.
01/10/2018 12:48 PM Emily Frey For 2016 and 2017, the only aquatic invasive species removals for Eyes on the Lake have been for an infestation of Eurasian watermilfoil in Glenbrook Bay. The area containing the infestation was estimated at approximately 1 acre in 2016, though the plants were dispersed throughout that acre. The size of actual infestation was estimated at around 0.25 acre. In 2016, the Eyes on the Lake program removed approximately 0.1 acre of Eurasian watermilfoil; in 2017 the program removed approximately another 0.1 acre. By the 2016 estimation there may be some plants remaining, though the size of the infestation will change over time depending on water levels. The Eyes on the Lake program will continue to survey Glenbrook Bay in subsequent years to confirm removal of all Eurasian watermilfoil plants in the Bay.