Boaters and Water Enthusiasts Asked to Keep Waters Free of Mussels Over July 4 Weekend

Published on Jun 24, 2009 - 7:11:01 AM

By: California Department of Fish and Game

June 23, 2009 - The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) urges boaters and water enthusiasts to prevent the spread of invasive mussels in California waters this holiday weekend. Anyone who visits a lake or reservoir should take care to clean, drain and dry their boat, watercraft or any other equipment that comes in contact with the water, both before arrival and upon departure.

"The law prohibits the possession and transportation of Quagga or Zebra mussels, whether on a boat or on any other item like a rock, bucket or log," said Nancy Foley, DFG Chief of Law Enforcement. "It's crucial that anyone who uses public waters take the time to make sure they're not adding to the spread of these mussels. Just one boat can contaminate an entire freshwater body and destroy fisheries."

Quagga and Zebra mussels are non-native, fast-reproducing invasive species that can cause severe problems for boaters and water enthusiasts. They spread from one body of water to another by "hitchhiking" on boats and other equipment.

To help prevent the spread of mussels, boaters should inspect all exposed surfaces, wash boat hulls thoroughly, remove all plants from boat and trailer, drain all water, including lower outboard units, clean and dry livewells and bait buckets and dispose of baitfish in the trash. Watercraft should be dried for at least five days and up to 30 days depending upon the weather between launches in different fresh bodies of water. These measures are critical to the state's efforts to safeguard boats and preserve high quality fisheries.

Travelers are also advised to contact their destination before they leave home in order to see what restrictions or inspection requirements are in place. Boaters and watergoers entering or returning to California should be prepared for inspections at state Department of Food and Agriculture Border Protection Stations. Inspections, which can also be conducted by DFG and the Department of Parks and Recreation, include not only a check of boats and watercraft, but also items that might be onboard. Contaminated vessels and equipment will be confiscated and quarantined.

Quagga mussels were first detected in the Colorado River system in January 2007 and were later found in San Diego and Riverside counties by state and local water agencies. Zebra mussels were discovered in San Justo Reservoir in San Benito County in January 2008. Both mollusks can attach to and damage almost any submerged surface. They can:

* ruin a boat engine by blocking the cooling system and causing overheating
* increase drag on the bottom of a boat, reducing speed and wasting fuel
* jam steering equipment on boats
* require scraping and repainting of boat bottoms
* colonize all underwater substrates such as boat ramps, docks, lines and other underwater surfaces requiring constant cleaning

Mussels attached to watercraft or trailers can be transported and spread to other water bodies. Water in boat engines, bilges, live wells and buckets can carry tiny mussel larvae (called veligers) to other water bodies as well.

A public toll-free number hotline has been established for boaters and anyone involved with activities on lakes and rivers seeking information on the invasive and destructive Quagga mussels at 1-866-440-9530.

For more information on the Quagga/Zebra mussel response and what you can do to help prevent their spread in California, please visit the DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamussel.

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