Tahoe Keys wins International IPM Award of Excellence

The Tahoe Keys Property Owner’s Association (TKPOA) has been awarded the International IPM Award of EXCELLENCE at the 11th IPM (International Pest Management) Symposium in early March due to their work on the extensive three-year Control Methods Test (CMT) project. The International IPM Symposium is a global event for bringing scientists from various disciplines to present and learn about the latest research, strategies and solutions for effectively managing pests in agriculture communities and natural areas. There were over three thousand attendees from 30 different countries and TKPOA was awarded for their prestigious work on the CMT Project!
The three-year CMT Project, (2022 – 2024), has achieved key milestones, including securing multiagency approval for the first-ever, one-time herbicide testing at Lake Tahoe, combining herbicides with non-herbicide tools for aquatic plant management. It took 10 years of planning and development and once the project began there were 12 management teams and over 100 staff involved in coordinating extensive monitoring of plant treatments and water quality. Results found a 75% reduction in invasive plant biovolume and demonstrated the effectiveness of integrated methods such UV light treatment, bottom barriers, and diver-assisted suction harvesting (DASH). Additionally, the CMT provided data that refined habitat management and improved long-term aquatic plant strategies. Funded through a public-private-NGO partnership, the project has fostered greater public understanding and support through regular communication with stakeholders.
To be recognized internationally for the achievements of the CMT and be awarded the IPM Award of EXCELLENCE is a huge accomplishment and a feat for the Tahoe Keys. This affirms the work that the association has done to protect the lagoons and Lake Tahoe as TKPOA strives to continue to find long-term and large-scale solutions.
The year 3 report detailing the 2024 season implementation of methods and findings has been published and available at keysweedsmanagement.org.
A draft of the comprehensive final report will be published April 2025, which will summarize cumulative insights from all three years of the Control Methods Test. After a stringent scientific review, the results will be used to identify the most useful method, or combination of methods, for controlling aquatic weeds in the Tahoe Keys to protect all of Lake Tahoe from the spread of these invasive species.