BEsT MANAGEMENT PRACTICEs HANDbooK - Tahoe BMP

TRPA will require a Water Quality Mitigation Plan prior to permit approval.If dredging is required to site the boat ramp, water quality monitoring shall berequired consistent with the mitigation measures required for all dredgingprojects before the project and during construction. Monitoring results thatdemonstrate mean concentration of constituents in project area watersexceeding TRPA surface water discharge standards by more than 50 percentshall result in a site inspection, permit review, and potential enforcementactions, including fines. In this circumstance, only techniques that do notrequire cast-in-place concrete and that avoid substantial alteration of theexisting shorezone contours would be allowed.Overall, boat ramp construction and vehicle source control provide bothtemporary and permanent BMPs that provide source, hydrologic, andpollution controls for water quality.8.12.2 BOAT RAMP CONSTRUCTION AND VEHICLE SOURCE CONTROL:ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGESDuring construction, sediments may be disturbed, causing silt andcontaminants to enter the water where they impair water quality and interferewith fish rearing and food sources, such as insects, plankton, and algae. Thefootprint of boat launch facilities prevents the growth of aquatic vegetation inthe productive littoral zone of the lake, which is an integral part of the laketrophic food web. 79Launching of watercraft may introduce other pollutants such as oils, fuel,sewage, or AIS into the water. In shallow water, even the wash from propellerscan churn up enough sediment to damage fragile aquatic plants and animals.Despite these potential impacts, there are also advantages in implementing boatramp construction and vehicle source control as a BMP for shorezoneprotection (Refer to Table 8-20).79USACE, 2008, Coastal Engineering Manual - Parts I-6CHAPTER 8: Shorezone Protective Structures and BMPsTRPA BMP Handbook8.12 Boat Ramp Construction and Vehicle Source Control Methods and Design 2012Page 8-78