HomeMy Public PortalAbout01 Aquatic Invasive Species TOWN OF TRUCKEE
California
ORDINANCE 2014-01
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF TRUCKEE AMENDING TITLE 14, AQUATIC INVASIVE
SPECIES OF THE TOWN MUNICIPAL CODE
DEALING WITH AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION
The Town Council of the Town of Truckee does hereby ordain as follows:
Section 1. TITLE 14 AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES of the Town of Truckee Municipal Code is
hereby amended to read as follows:
TITLE 14 AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES 2
CHAPTER 14.01 AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION 2
14.01.010 Purpose 2
14.01.020 Findings 2
14.01.030 Aquatic Invasive Species Defined 2
14.01.040 Prohibition 2
14.01.050 Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination 2
14.01.060 Fees 3
14.01.070 Violations 3
14.01.080 Public Nuisance Declaration 3
TITLE 14 AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES
CHAPTER 14.01 AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION
14.01.010 Purpose
The purpose of this ordinance is to protect all native and desired aquatic species and aquatic habitat
in all water bodies within the Town of Truckee by preventing the introduction and spread of Aquatic
Invasive Species.
14.01.020 Findings
Aquatic Invasive Species potentially pose a significant and imminent threat to the water bodies
within the Town of Truckee and have already created serious and irreparable harm to bodies of
water located in other locations in the United States and California. Once introduced into a water
body,Aquatic Invasive Species can proliferate at an alarming rate,drastically altering the ecosystem
of that water body, harming and/or consuming native species and food resources within the
Ordinance 2014-01
ecosystems they infest. Additionally, Aquatic Invasive Species potentially pose a significant and
imminent threat to water distribution and sewer collection and treatment infrastructure.
Water vessels entering Town of Truckee water bodies from other areas of the state and country may
have recently been launched in infested counties or waters, making those vessels at high risk to
carry Aquatic Invasive Species into Town of Truckee water bodies.
A mandatory screening and inspection program for such vessels is integral to the preservation of the
water bodies and water distribution systems within the Town of Truckee.
14.01.030 Aquatic Invasive Species Defined
Aquatic Invasive Species are aquatic animals and plants that have been introduced into waterways
in which they do not live naturally and have harmful effects on the natural resources in these
ecosystems and the human uses of these resources. Aquatic Invasive Species include but are not
limited to invertebrates (New Zealand Mudsnails, Quagga Mussels, and Asian Clam), plants
(Eurasian Watermilfoil, Hydrilla, and Curly Leaf Pondweed), and warm water fishes.
14.01.040 Prohibition
The transport or introduction of Aquatic Invasive Species into any Town of Truckee water body is
prohibited. Further, the launch of any watercraft contaminated with Aquatic Invasive Species into
any Town of Truckee water body is prohibited.
14.01.050 Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination
1. All motorized and/or trailered watercraft, and other watercraft having water ballast tanks,
shall be inspected by Town of Truckee or its designee prior to launching into any Town of
Truckee water body to detect the presence and prevent the introduction of Aquatic Invasive
Species. All other watercraft may be subject to an inspection prior to entering Town of
Truckee water bodies if determined necessary by Town of Truckee or its designee.
2. All watercraft inspected in subsection (1) shall be subject to decontamination or quarantine
for a period if determined necessary by an inspection. A watercraft shall launch only if: (a)
the required decontamination is performed and completed by a certified individual pursuant
to Town of Truckee or its designee standards and requirements for Aquatic Invasive
Species, and (b) following the decontamination, the launch is authorized by a certified
inspector pursuant to Town of Truckee or its designee standards and requirements for
Aquatic Invasive Species Inspections.
3. An owner operator of a boat ramp or other boat launch facility (inclusive of single family
residences) shall not permit the launching of watercraft which have not been submitted to
inspections required by subsection (1) and/or which have not undergone required
decontamination or quarantine.
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Ordinance 2014-01
4. Affidavit of Compliance:At the time of the inspection,the watercraft owner/operator shall be
required to execute an affidavit which attests to the responsibility of that owner/operator to
ensure that his/her watercraft is clean, drained and dry and properly screened, re-screened,
inspected, and, if necessary, decontaminated prior to launching in any Town of Truckee
water body. The affidavit shall be signed under penalty of perjury.
5. No watercraft owner/operator shall provide false, inaccurate, or misleading information to
inspection personnel.
6. A watercraft owner or operator may refuse to consent to the inspection required by this
chapter. If the watercraft owner or operator refuses to consent to inspection, that watercraft
shall not be allowed to launch in any Town of Truckee water body. No person shall launch
or attempt to launch in any such water body a vessel for which inspection has been refused.
14.01.060 Fees
All watercraft inspected are subject to a fee to pay for the inspection and/or decontamination.
The schedule of fees shall be established and adopted by the Town Council from time to time by
resolution.
14.01.070 Violations
A violation of any regulation set forth in this Chapter shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1.03
of this Code (Administrative Remedies) and this chapter shall be enforced by Town Code
Compliance personnel, Police Department personnel, or any other Town staff authorized to do so.
14.01.080 Public Nuisance Declaration
Any violation of this chapter is additionally declared to be unlawful and a public health nuisance and
may be abated by authorized personnel of the Town of Truckee or its designee, irrespective of any
other remedy provided by law.
Section 2. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
Section 3. This ordinance shall be published in its entirety one time in the Town newspaper of
general circulation and shall take effect (30) thirty days after its second reading and adoption.
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Ordinance 2014-01
* * * * *
The foregoing Ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the Truckee Town
Council held on the 14t'' day of January, 2014, and adopted at a regular meeting of the
Truckee Town Council, on the 28th day of January, 2014, Council Member deRyk Jones,
moved for the adoption,the motion was seconded by Council Member Wallace Dee and was
carried by the following vote:
AYES: Council Member deRyk Jones, Council Member Wallace Dee, Council
Member Brown, Vice Mayor Barr and Mayor Flora.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
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Patrick ra, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Judy rice, , Town Clerk Andy Morris, Town Attorney
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