Lake level causing problems for boat owners
By Kathryn Reed
Boats already aren’t able to get in and of Lake Tahoe marinas and with only a little runoff expected to come down from higher elevations in the next couple months, the situation is only going to get worse as summer rolls into fall.
The Tahoe Queen paddle-wheeler can no longer get in and out of its home port at Ski Run Marina.
“There are plans to dredge if the drought continues. It is being done directly by Aramark,” Mansoor Alyeshmerni, owner of Ski Run Marina, told Lake Tahoe News.
Steve Pascal had to remove his boat this winter from the Tahoe Keys Marina because he can’t get out to the lake. Photo/Provided
Aramark’s habit of not returning calls continues. No permit has been sought by Aramark to dredge, according to Lahontan officials.
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board has permitted a maintenance dredging project that has already started at the North Tahoe Marina.
“I’ve heard from a representative of Tahoe City Marina they may wish to dredge this summer. We are talking about maintenance dredging. That is to dredge to the area that has previously been dredged,” Alan Miller with Lahontan told Lake Tahoe News.
The agency is also in the process of permitting a maintenance dredging operation for Tahoe City Public Utility District.
Miller said now is the typical time to dredge so marinas avoid the busy summer season when boats want access. It takes about 30 to 60 days to get a permit.
“They can (dredge) anytime unless there’s a habitat issue,” Miller said.
Steve Pascal had to remove his 56-foot-long boat last month from the Tahoe Keys Marina because he could no longer get out of the channel into the lake. He hasn’t been able to do so since September.
The lake level was at 6,225 feet then. The natural rim of Lake Tahoe is 6,223 feet. The water level is about 1 foot above that now.
“My boat draws 4.5 feet and I was unable to get out. The water level in the channel now is about 3 feet,” Pascal told Lake Tahoe News. “The majority of boats in Lake Tahoe need more than 3 feet underneath them to get out of the channel.”
He said the Keys is the only marina that can house his vessel and is the only one where he can remove it. Francesca, named after his grandmother, is now in San Diego.
What irks Pascal is that part of his slip fee was a surcharge for dredging maintenance. He’s had large boats at the marina since 1993. In those 21 years he said he’s spent $240,000 on slip fees, maintenance dredging fee, and water quality fees.
Pascal said he’s talked to Robert Spinnato, general manger of the marina, about dredging, but nothing ever happened.
Spinnato did not return multiple phone calls.
I was asked about plans to dredge and answered based on what I knew. Aramark will decide about dredging.
Water level is lower than everybody wants it to be. It is not being replenished this winter and it is being still drained out to the Washoe Valley.
As to the Tahoe Queen, I expect it will be running within a month.
What does dredging do to lake clarity?
The lake level will come back up, it always does. Like the weather, it runs in cycles.
M. Elie Alyeshmerni, “…drained out to the Washoe Valley”? By what mechanism? Do you mean the effluent from the sewer plant that is being sent over the hill to a lake which then uses the water to irrigate crops or are you describing the tiny amount of melting man-made snow that finds it’s way there? Would you rather see STPUD return the water to Lake Tahoe?
Yhe only outlet Lake Tahoe has is at the Tahoe City dam which controls the water flow into the Truckee River, which flows and ends in Washoe Valley. The treated sewage, STPUD sends over the hill to the Carson River watershed.
dumbfounded says,
I think Elie’s talking about the water that leaves the basin through the Truckee River on its way to Pyramid Lake
When the dam at Tahoe City caused the lake to rise about five additional feet above the natural rim, this opened the door for this problem to occur far more often. Launch ramps and marinas were built with the expected lake level to remain five feet higher. What happened in previous droughts was that when water dropped below the natural rim, water stopped flowing out at Tahoe City. This natural stoppage slowed the effect of droughts on the water level. But the lake is effected now, by the dam, that dumps enormous amounts of water now, even during drought years. This is because the native americans have prevailed in court to have a right to the water out at Pyramid Lake. What was previously happening naturally, is no longer the case. The water level now fluctuates far more. This is because we begin with an extra five more feet of water. When a drought hits, the dam is not slowed to compensate the lake for drought conditions. Water is continually dumped, until the lake reaches the natural rim. This is what results today.
The water level now fluctuates far more than what we are prepared to cope with. If the dam was not built, the flow would stop after one year of drought, and level would drop far more slowly after that level has been reached. The native americans have been given too generous of a deal. They should not be given the same amount of water after the lake drops more than two feet due to drought.
The cure is for marina operators to return to court and point this flaw out in the previous court ruling. They need to be better prepared when they explain this situation to the court. The dam needs to be regulated according to what water is entering the lake naturally. We should lose water during drought years. But we shouldn’t lose nearly as much as they are dumping out at the dam. I’ve known about this problem for years.
Wherever the TRPA does not ok dredging, they should be advised. Marinas will have their staff out late at night, when they don’t believe anyone is watching, doing secretive dredging! Happens every drought/low water Season!
The dredging process does little to nothing to affect lake clarity. Lahontan insures this by regulating the methods of dredging that can be done and requiring on-going water quality sampling to be conducted during the process to prove no turbidity is being released to the lake.
Far and above the greatest contributors to lake turbidity is from run off of the upper Truckee river and storm drains.
As far as dredging for this summer, if the marinas or homeowner associations don’t already have their permits or are close to getting them now then the work won’t be done. California Fish and Game who is one of 4 or 5 government agencies that regulate the dredging in Tahoe probably won’t allow it once spring arrives.
There will be plenty of water for paddling this summer though and possibly better conditions if the number of power boats is reduced. Maybe its time for everyone to get out on the Lake Tahoe Water Trail, use your muscles and enjoy the best that summer brings to us!
The reason the dam was installed was to facilitate farming in the desert (Fallon area via the orr ditch), around 1915. The water always flowed to Pyramid Lake long before that. Reno also gets up to 90% of its drinking water from the Truckee River.
When you pay fees to have something done it should be done. The keys marina is known for taking the money and giving almost nothing in return.
Tom. I heard that.
Lou has it right.
The dredging regulations not only do not hurt lake clarity but help it.
When we dredged the Ski Run Marina harbor, we removed 4500 cubic yards of dirt in hermetically sealed trucks off the hill.
Very expensive but the lake deserves that.
How do they get the dirt from the lake into trucks?
From the harbor. The mouth of the harbor was closed off so that the waters of harbor and lake did not mix. Then a clamp like instrument would dig bring up , water would drain somewhat in the enclosed area and then swing over to a hermetically sealed truck and the trucks kept moving as they were to capacity. Not one oz. draining on land.
In our case the reason we had so much dirt was the walls were wood and had broken down allowing dirt to enter the lake. Unfortunately it took four years to get it right for a permit.
Thanks mansoor. That sounds well seperated from the lake. Have you dredged from the marina and into the lake before? If so how was that accomplished?
I have not but I imagine if one were to do that they would have to do it very carefully.
the last time the keys dredged they used the area between Venice and the Beach and Harbors to discharge the material and water. It was a very watched process regarding the discharge of the water from the holding ponds. It took about 2 months to complete the projects. Every agency you could think of was involved. Luckly they processed the material and was used by the asphalt plant to pave our roads. If the keys hasn’t started the process for a project I highly doubt that it would happen this summer. From the info I know you cannot discharge the material into the lake. We had to make sure the quality of the water was better than the water quality in the lake.
Thanks fireman; I think that you and I have mostly the same recollection, although the area I remember the tailings going to is the area that Tahoe Conservancy, and I suppose others, have restored to a wetlands area. In the long term, sending the dredging material there probably wouldn’t do any harm, but it would likely upset the immediate plans of the folks who developed it.
I well remember trying to get my 21` swing keel sailboat out of the homeowner’s docks during the last low water. With the keel lowered, I could head up the center of the channel, but if I needed to share the channel, I had to raise the keel. And, even under power, the boat wouldn’t steer with the keel up. Either way, I was a hazard; I managed to survive the summer without hitting anyone, but I did annoy a few. My wife and my kids, none of them sailors, much to my regret, became experts at raising and lowering the keel. On demand, and quickly.
How are the channels formed and maintained to the tahoe keys and ski run marinas?
Could be the makings of a class action suit against Tahoe Keys Marina? All I can say is, as much as I enjoyed boating on Lake Tahoe, I could not be happier to have left these shmucky marina owners.
You can get the information you need about dredging by contacting the Regional Water Board Lahontan.
Mansoor, why would Aramark pay a reported $500,000 to a Million to dredge the channel? They have the Dixie for cruises.
The Keys marina is a joke. The crook that manages it, Robert is a con man. He is holding the HOA hostage. The HOA has need for access to the marina exit since many homeowners slips are on that side. The HOa has offered to pay to have the channels dredged. Robert has told them that he will only allow the marina side to be dredged if the HOA names him as the contractor. He plans to skim 20% off of the top for himself. And we are talking real money here….He has no experience in this work. Further the marina has only a handful of summer slips booked to date where they usually have a hundred or so booked by now. Saying this marina is a joke is being way too kind.
There are issues that need resolving here at the TKM but not all businesses located here are affiliated and could negatively impact those not deserving.
BOAT stands for “break out another thousand”
When somebody posts a comment and doesn’t place their real name with it, It just all sounds like somebody is being a liar who doesn’t know what they are talking about, and they have fear of being charged for slander, and thats why nobody has placed their name with a comment!!!!! And Bt the way, it would be nice to have this comment placed up, so I can defend my work place, because once again, this article is NOT correct, Thank you and have a nice day
In Robert’s defense it’s my understanding that it is common to charge 20-30% to oversee a project of this type and is done so everywhere.
Obviously the water level cant be that low cause I’m driving through the marina and the sierra rose is driving around the marina and channel. and fishing charters( including myself ) are going out every day. the water is “low” but not so low that boating is out of the question. and as for steve pascal having to lift out cause his boat wouldn’t make it out the channel, he never tried to go out, his boat only drafts about 5 feet ( as you can see in the photo ) and my depth gauge reads no less than 7 feet on my way out the channel and I even have my keel offset at 2 feet . and TKM Sucks – you have no idea what you are talking about so keep your mouth shut.
boater & John Adamski, Boater, My Bayliner Cierra Classic will stay on the trailer this year. Not because of the low lake level, more like,ahem, low finances, if you get my drift. That’s okay tho, I’ve still got my 17ft Grumman canoe I bought from the Outdoorsman back in 1975. Come hell or, in this case low water, or in my case, a thin wallet will keep me off the water!
John Adamski, thanks for putting up your website and e mailing me back that I was signed up. It can be found at
./meyersresident/.Very informative. Looking forward to meeting you. I’m hopng to make the 6 o’clock meeting at the Meyers CCC building Wednsday evening. OLS
old long skiis- stop in and see the new guys at the TKM service shop, they worked really well for me last year and are always willing to help out if you are in a tight spot.
Tahoe Keys Marina IS NOT Dredging! There has only been Three or Four permits poled for the whole Lake, and T.K.M is not on that list!
Also would like to say that who “Boater Says” that would be the Tahoe key’s Marina them self.
I am positive that this year is going to be a great one!!We are resurfacing the docks and slips that require it, we have become a fully certified Mercury Service Center/Dealer and we just brought in three new boat lines for sale. I am confident that the water level ( being low ) will rise to a proper level that will allow boats of all sizes to enter and exit the marina with no issues, and if it does not raise high enough we will do what is necessary to allow business as usual for the Marina and HOA that have to use our channel for entry and exit.
As for whomever is commenting on any malicious activity by ANY Marina employee or manager I suggest you get your facts straight and don’t just run your mouth cause you like the sound of your own voice. If you dont have all the facts then you shouldnt be talking about the issues.
Boater- thank you for your shout out
old long skiis- if you do wish to get on the water this year come by and see us. I’m sure we can get you out there at the best price possible to you.
thank you and have a great summer
Tahoe Keys Marina Service and Sales Team
The Tahoe Keys Marina and The Fresh Ketch Restaurant are being systematically run into the ground…blame whoever you want…ownership and management seem to be the first obvious causes!