Fewer Pollutants Found in Lake Tahoe

Water quality officials say Lake Tahoe has seen a dramatic reduction in levels of burned and unburned gasoline products in its water since two-stroke, carburetor engines were banned in 1999.

The ban was instituted by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency´s governing board after a study estimated that each day of the boating season, two-stroke carbureted engines released 770 gallons of unburned fuel into the lake.

Officials the large decrease in the amount of gasoline products in Lake Tahoe is safer for residents who rely on the lake as a source for drinking water and healthier for fish and wildlife.

They add that fears expressed by owners of watercraft rental businesses that converting to higher cost, four-stroke engines would put them out of business did not materialize.