Friday, September 23, 2011

What's Behind and In Lake Tahoe?

The Universal Aspects of Tourist Destinations in the World.


My dear friends,


My last week’s post, September 15th, talked about Tahoe Toba Blue. Just to refresh your memory, Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world, located in North Sumatera, Indonesia. 

I am not finished yet thinking about Lake Tahoe.


Watch this You Tube video:


I think most of you know the popular slogan “Keep Tahoe Blue,” the ongoing appeal to the public and visitors of the lake. 

Not every visitor, not every tourist, is aware or has the understanding, or has the feeling of responsibility, to help protect and preserve the places. Without the efforts from tourists and visitors, and also local people, natural wonderful and beautiful places could quickly deteriorate. But more and most important is that tourist destinations need to be well managed and maintained. 

Management and maintenance by a management board, committee or other kind of management body will not suffice. The entire population of the area needs to cooperate. Lake Tahoe, both California and Nevada side, is so highly commercialized. Nevertheless, the place is very well taken care of. Kudos to the people who live there, the various management teams and organizations. I wonder if this is also the case with Lake Toba in Indonesia.

In the publication “Lake Tahoe – Skier’s and Boarder’s Winter Vacation Guide 2010-2011” I read the following:

“Lake Tahoe is one of the largest, deepest and clearest lakes in the world. And we’re committed to making sure it stays that way.

Safeguarding the beauty and clarity of Lake Tahoe has long been a top priority. Area resort and or organizations are fiercely dedicated to reducing the carbon footprint and improving the region’s ecosystem. Focused on a pristine lake, healthy forest, and protected fish and wildlife, they hold fast to the vision of preserving these natural wonders while enhancing recreation and transportation.” 

And some paragraphs in “North Lake Tahoe Bonanza” Thursday, August 25, 2011, written by columnist Bruce Afari: 
“It seems like every day now there is some new account of an invasive species issue. Two weeks ago it was all about the boat that got stopped coming in to Lake Tahoe from Lake Mead that was infested with quagga mussels.

Last week, there was the confirmation that smallmouth bass are in Lake Tahoe. Smallmouth bass are a non-native species that could threaten the established trout fishery in Tahoe. According to scientists at the University of Nevada, Reno, these fish pose the most serious threat to native biodiversity.

Smallmouth pose a significant threat to the native forage fish in the lake. The Lahontan redsides, suckers and chubs are all highly susceptible to the predacious bass.

The list of non-native introductions seems to be increasing at an alarming rate. An uneducated boater may introduce some, like the quagga mussel. Others like the smallmouth bass are the results of what many call environmental terrorism.

A person that is deliberately and illegally introducing a species to the detriment of the existing species really has no regard for the law. These individuals should be caught and prosecuted to the full extend of the law.”  

There are many bodies, organizations  and ongoing efforts to protect Lake Tahoe, such as the Invasive Species Program (ISP) that 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, outreach, research, prevention, early detection, rapid response, and control. 

There is also the Watercraft Inspection Program. Watercrafts are the largest factors for spreading aquatic invasive species (AIS), such as Quagga and zebra mussels, making boat inspections a vital aspect of protecting Lake Tahoe . 
 
Photo: Tahoe Boat Inspections

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is the bi-state (CA and NV) regulatory agency which established boating ordinances, enforced by the TRPA Watercraft Team. It operates a patrol boat on the Lake seven days a week from May through September each year.

Regular Lake Tahoe boaters know what they have to do, but most visitors won’t. They even may not be aware of such existing rules. Here is an example of a guideline for boaters: Preparing your boat : Clean, drain, and dry your watercraft. Drain your bilge, ballast tanks, live wells, and any storage compartments. If you have an out-drive, lower the out-drive on the engine to release any residual water. 








If you are a new Lake Tahoe boater you better study the Consumer's Guide to Boating Lake Tahoe - Clean Boating Practices Mean Better Water Quality


Studies have shown that carbureted two-stroke engines may discharge up to 20-30% of their fuel, unburned, into the air and water. In order to reduce the impact of motorized vessels on water quality, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) has adopted new regulations restricting the use of certain marine engines on lakes in the Tahoe Region.  This information was published as part of a cooperative effort among TRPA, the State of California, and the State of Nevada, to inform boaters about rules and help them determine whether their watercraft can be used on affected lakes, including Lake Tahoe.


Some of the examples above clearly show that the slogan “Keep Tahoe Blue” is not just an empty slogan. Let’s take Tahoe region as an excellent example to understand how important it is that each and every natural tourist destination should be strictly managed and maintained lest it will get destroyed in no time.


Indonesia has hundreds of natural wonders with very strong tourist potentials, not only Lake Toba and Bali. Bali in the East of Indonesia is one of the top tourist destinations in Indonesia. 
I wonder if I can see Lake Toba, North  of  Indonesia, become a tourist attraction as strong as Bali or Lake Tahoe.  

Below are some photos of tourist destinations in Indonesia.




(Photos: Ministry of Culture and Tourism Republic of Indonesia)

A big maintenance job to protect and preserve lakes in the tropic is fighting against a deadly enemy, the water hyacinth. Water hyacinth grow super fast and very dense. In no time the water surface will be totally covered. Watch the following You Tube video: Save Rawa Pening from Water Hyacinth attack!





 

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3 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Hi L.L.,

    Thank you for your comment:

    "Your blog is very informative and educational.
    Keep writing and hope it will bring a positive awareness and impact to our lovely former country."

    I am happy to hear from you and to receive your appreciation. It's supportive and encouraging.

    Hanafi

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  3. Hi M.M,

    I received your comments:

    "Thanks for sharing so much information on this blog...really enjoyed the reading of Yosemite, the importance of Lake Tahoe, the smothering plants in the water in your country, and the Komodoo Dragon. Really interesting material. Keep it up."


    Thanks for your comments and support

    Hanafi Daud

    ReplyDelete