Compromise on Lake Tahoe Ban

Boat/US Magazine, May, 1999

The end may be in sight in a protracted boating battle on Lake Tahoe that started with prohibitions on personal watercraft (PWC) and escalated to a ban on most two-cycle marine engines and drew a lawsuit by the marine industry.

Under a three-year compromise reached in late February, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) exempted three categories of engines from the ban, originally set to go into effect June 1. A further compromise reached in March exempted two additional engine categories.

Two-cycle engines now permitted on the lake until Oct. 1, 2001, include two classes of fuel-injected engines, conventional carburetted engines 10 hp or under, all sailboat auxiliary engines and engines that already meet federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards set for 2001.

After that deadline, only direct fuel injection two-cycle engines and engines that meet EPA's 2006 standards or the California Air Resources Board's 2001 standards will be permitted. Four-cycle inboard and outboard engines are not affected.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association, the Personal Watercraft Industry Association and local boating interests subsequently agreed to drop their suit. As a condition, the industry groups must assist TRPA in certain enforcement and public education measures.

A IRPA spokesperson said the agency plans to hire six seasonal enforcement personnel this year and purchase a second boat for patrols. She said violators will get a warning but there will be no second chances, adding that an estimated one-third of motorized boats using Lake Tahoe will be affected by the ordinance.