The standard articulates one of the broad goals of the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program, to reduce the ecological impacts of AIS in Lake Tahoe. AIS are non-native organisms that threaten the abundance and diversity of native organisms in Lake Tahoe. Non-native species have been intentionally and unintentionally introduced to the Tahoe Basin over the last 150 years. Ecological impacts of AIS can include threats to native plants and animals, changes to water chemistry and physical habitat, increased predation, and greater competition for food supplies. The EIP partners of the AIS program implement projects to control and remove existing AIS from the lake and to prevent the introduction of new AIS. The programs both reduce the impact of existing AIS and the threat from new AIS.