Boaters Told to Watch Out for Invasive Mussels: Boaters at South County Lakes Warned About Introducing Invasive Species
By Daniel Lopez, The Monterey County Herald, Calif.
May 22–Hundreds of boaters and water sports enthusiasts expected to plunge into two South County lakes on Memorial Day weekend will not be subject to the kind of watercraft inspections taking place in other parts of the state, despite concerns about the potential for a shellfish infestation.
Instead, visitors to Lake San Antonio and Lake Nacimiento will be handed information about two invasive species of mussels — the zebra and the quagga — that have plagued other state waterways, and about how to prevent them from invading the two local lakes.
Monterey County parks and water officials say there are no indications the mussels have entered the lakes. But they want to keep them out.
On Wednesday, county officials will meet with authorities from San Luis Obispo County and the state Department of Fish and Game to learn more about the problem and discuss future steps. One option being discussed is a watercraft inspection program.
“We are trying to uncover what the range of problems may be,” said Bill Phillips, deputy general manager for the county’s Water Resources Agency. “It’s a big concern.”
A public outreach campaign has been launched that will target an estimated 600 to 800 boat owners expected to visit the lakes this weekend.
“We are going to stay aggressive on this problem,” said Tom Shepherd, the county parks department’s operations manager at both lakes. “A lot of people have heard about it, but don’t really know what it is.”
The mussels,
microscopic in their formative stages, can move from already infested lakes and other bodies of water to noninfested areas by hitchhiking on boats and watercraft that are not properly cleaned after they are taken out of the water. The mussels can live out of water for up to a week.
Officials believe the two species of mollusk entered the United States from Eastern Europe in the late 1980s. Since then, they have spread across the nation.
In January, zebra mussels were found in San Justo Reservoir in San Benito County.
The mollusks can multiply by the trillions, displacing native species and clogging reservoir pipelines, valves and pumps. They can damage boat trailers, cooling systems, hulls and steering equipment.
They are impossible to eradicate once established, according to Fish and Game.
Phillips said it is too early to tell the effects the mussels could have on the county’s water resources infrastructure or its marina operations at the lakes if they get in the water. But he said indications are the results could be devastating.
In the Great Lakes region, where both types of mussels are established, water agencies spent billions of dollars to try and control them, Phillips said.
The county has a greater vested interest in the lakes since it purchased the lake resorts last summer as part of a $22 million legal settlement with the previous owner. The county would be responsible for repairs and maintenance needed at the lakes if the mussels invade.
In an attempt to protect Santa Clara County’s water resources, officials there recently placed a temporary ban on boats at county reservoirs while a fee-based inspection plan was put in place. Many boaters were unhappy with discussion of an all-out ban.
State Fish and Game inspectors are planning to stop and screen all motorists towing boats on Interstate 5 near Redding today and Friday. People with questionable watercraft will be subject to an inspection at a California Highway Patrol facility.
Shepherd and Phillips said watercraft inspections at the local lakes could pose a challenge because of the number of privately owned boat launches on Lake Nacimiento. Those boat owners would likely have to “self-police,” Phillips said.
“The best prevention measure is education,” he said.
Officials said they have set up monitoring sites at the lakes to do monthly checks for the invasive mussels.
Daniel Lopez can be reached at 646-4494 or dlopez@montereyherald.com.
No mussels Tips for boaters to help prevent the spread of mussels: — Inspect all exposed surfaces. — Wash boat hulls thoroughly. — Remove all plant material from the boat and trailer. — Drain all water, including lower outboard units. — Clean and dry livewells and bait buckets, and dispose of leftover baitfish in the trash. — Dry watercraft for at least five days between launches in different fresh bodies of water. — For more information about zebra mussels, see www.dfg.ca.gov/quaggamussel/ or call 1-866-440-9530 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Source: California Department of Fish and Game ——
—–
To see more of the Monterey County Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.montereyherald.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Monterey County Herald, Calif.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.