Please contact Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Department of Fish and Game (contact information below), to prevent lakes and reservoirs from banning all outside boats, or boats from Southern California.

Instead of closing the lakes and reservoirs to all outside boats, request that the lakes and reservoirs be required to purchase boat decontamination systems, which are presently available on the market which would work well in stopping the spread of quagga mussels.

Water District’s in Central California have recently begun to turn away all boats from outside of California, Southern California and those from nearby San Benito and Santa Clara counties.

www.pardeelakerecreation.com/

I would appreciate your support.

Sky

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Quagga and Zebra Mussels are invasive, non-native mollusks that have been discovered in some California waters recently. State officials say the spread of the mussels threatens water delivery systems, hydroelectric facilities, agriculture, recreational boating and fishing, and the environment in general. www.pardeelakerecreation.com/

To prevent the destructive mussels from potentially shutting down the water delivery system, EBMUD will severely restrict boating on its reservoirs this recreational season and turn away all boats from outside of California, southern California and those from nearby San Benito and Santa Clara counties.

All boats coming in will be inspected before launch, and boaters who have recently had their boats in any newly identified high risk reservoirs will also be turned away. Any boats found to have mussels when inspected will not be allowed on the water and the removal of those mussels on boats will be coordinated with the state Department of Fish and Game. As circumstances develop, additional restrictions may be implemented.

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SACRAMENTO - The invasive Quagga mussel has been discovered in California and the public is being asked to help prevent its spread. A public toll-free number, 1-866-440-9530, has been established for boaters and anyone involved with activities on lakes and rivers seeking information on the invasive and destructive Quagga mussels. The toll-free number is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m..

Both quagga and zebra mussels pose an enormous economic and environmental threat to California.

A number of reservoirs have chosen to temporarily ban private vessel access to their water body since boat movement is one of the main vectors of transporting these species throughout the state.

A number of those are looking at purchasing boat decontamination systems. An ideal system would include the options of high pressure and hot water (140' at the minimum will kill the veligers instantaneously). There are systems on the market which would work well at water bodies to do just that. These systems are quite pricey depending on number of different options available and once ordered, it would take a number of months to produce and install the systems.


Contact:
California Department of Fish and Game
Dominique Norton
866-440-9530
DNORTON@dfg.ca.gov
Department of Fish and Game's website regarding this issue: www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamussel/


Contact:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
David Richey
Office of Constituent Affairs
governor@govmail.ca.gov