HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/15/2008, BUS. 7 - QUAGGA MUSSELS-PROTECTION OF SANTA MARGARITA LAKE J
counat Apr.
j acEnbA Repopt mN ,
CITY O F SAN LUIS O B I S P O
FROM: John E. Moss, Utilities Director
SUBJECT: QUAGGA MUSSELS—PROTECTION OF SANTA MARGARITA LAKE
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Receive and consider information regarding options and protocols for preventing the
introduction of the Quagga Mussel to Santa Margarita Lake and provide direction to staff to
follow-up with the County as appropriate.
DISCUSSION
Background
Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and Quagga Mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis)
were believed to be imported to the United States in the 1980s. First found in the Great Lakes
region they have spread throughout the canals and river systems which flow from the Great
Lakes region. The quagga mussles were subsequently found in Lake Mead in January 2007 and
have spread downstream through the Colorado river system. The mussels have been found in
some Southern California Reservoirs (those associated with the Colorado River water systems)
and most recently in the San Justo Reservoir in San Benitio County.
While the mussels spread most rapidly via larvae flowing downstream, they can also be
transported in water carried by boats, trailers and other aquatic equipment. The adults can attach
to boats, trailers and equipment and can be spread as boats move from lake to lake. Short of lake
closure to boating, boater education, inspection and decontamination of boats and trailers prior to
entering uninfested waters or leaving infested waters are the primary methods being used to
prevent the spread of the organisms.
The potential impacts associated with the spread of quagga mussel to local waters are both
environmental and economic. Environmentally, because of their prolific and invasive nature the
mussels can remove important food and nutrients from the water system possibly significantly
affecting aquatic species. Economically, their colonies.can clog pipes, obstruct valves and
pumps, impact treatment plant equipment and operations, ruin boat motors, and damage
facilities. Once established, ongoing maintenance will be required to control and clear the
mussels from the reservoir water intakes, valve, pipes, pumps etc. Agencies affected by the
species have found the costs to be enormous. Attached to this report is an informational paper
prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about the Quagga Mussels. There is also
considerable and more detailed information available on the internet.
Response from Other Agencies
In 2007 after the mussels were discovered at Lake Mead, California set up an incident command
system (ICS) and formed the California Science Advisory Panel to plan the State's response to
Quagga Mussels—Protection of Santa Margarita Lake Page 2
the invasion. The panel provided their recommendations to the ICS. The ICS consisted of the
California Department of Fish and Game, The California Department of Water Resources, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the
California Department of Boating and Waterways. The panel's recommendations provided a
strategy for eradication/control, containment and detection monitoring. Perhaps most important
for our local concerns, are the considerations relative to containment, i.e. halting the spread of
the mussel to other non-infested waters. The panel's recommendations relative to state and
federally controlled waters were that a mandatory boat inspection and cleaning system be
established before allowing entry to any high priority waters. This same recommendation is
encouraged for"other"waters.
Nearby in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties different measures have been taken to protect
both Cachuma and Casitas reservoirs. Santa Barbara County recently implemented restrictions
on recreational boat access at Cachuma Lake and are now requiring all boats entering the park to
undergo inspection and cleaning prior to entry. If the boat does not pass the initial inspection,
i.e. has mussels present, is not dry (live wells, bilge etc.) or has not removed all drain plugs, it is
turned away. Only boats passing inspection are allowed to proceed to cleaning and then launch.
In Ventura County, Casitas lake has been closed to all recreational boating except for those boats
permanently stored at the reservoir.
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) as well as other agencies continue to
monitor, study and evaluate the quagga's presence in California and set policy and regulation for
its control. City and County staff will be meeting with the DFG quagga task force lead on
Monday April 7, 2008 to discuss protection of our local reservoirs. An update of the results of
this meeting will be provided to Council either at the Council meeting, or prior to as a red-file.
San Luis Obispo County's Response
At Santa Margarita and Lopez Lakes the County Parks staff have been providing educational
information to boaters regarding the quagga mussel and how to prevent inadvertently
transporting them. Additionally, County Parks staff have implemented a mandatory inspection
program beginning April 5, 2008 and will soon be requiring vessel decontamination in the form
of steam cleaning prior to launch at the lakes. Representatives from the County Parks staff will
be at the Council meeting to provide a presentation of their current and proposed activities.
Copies of the fliers being provided to boaters entering the county lakes are included as
attachments to this report.
Defining an appropriate and adequate response to the quagga invasion is a critical and complex
matter for state and local agencies. Much of California's economy is based on the transport of
water the length of the state through a vulnerable system of canals, pipes and pumps. The impact
to California, should the mussel find its way into California's state and federal water systems,
would be staggering. Locally, should the mussel find its way into our local reservoirs, the
impact could have a similar order of magnitude effect on the reservoirs and their dependant
water systems. That said, the recreation, boating and tourism industries associated with the
recreational use of state and local waters, are also very significant and important to the state and
local economies.
Quagga Mussels—Protection of Santa Margarita Lake Page 3
In determining the most appropriate course of action, agencies with control over the use of water
bodies will have to determine the relative risk to the water body, based on factors such as nature
and extent of use, access, and feasibility of control measures, against factors such as liability,
cost associated with management of an infestation should one occur, loss of recreation associated
revenues and other more social/policy based considerations. It is staff's belief that this
determination rests with the County Board of Supervisors as the agency currently responsible for
the operation of the dam and the recreational facilities at the lake. It is also staff's belief that the
County's agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers allowing the recreational activities at the
lake would hold the County responsible for the costs to the Corps' facilities (at a minimum the
dam, outlet works, transmission main and pumping station) should infestation occur. The City
Council should provide their input to the Board in their determination on this matter.
City of San Luis Obispo Response
City staff have been and will continue to research this issue in an effort to further understand the
science behind the problem and the various control/prevention strategies. City staff involved in
the analysis and study to date, have included staff from Utilities and Administration-Natural
Resources. While staff would like to be able to provide Council with a science based
recommendation, we do not at this time have sufficient information to do so.
In review of the literature and recommendations of state and federal agencies to date, it does
appear that the approach taken by Santa Barbara County and that proposed by San Luis Obispo
County, in providing for boater education and restricting access to only "clean" boats, is
consistent with those recommendations, if not somewhat conservative. On the other hand, given
the potential cost of managing a reservoir and facilities should an invasion occur, added
restrictions up to and including closure to boats not stored at the reservoir may also be
reasonable.
One element of the County's program not currently included is, the establishment of an on-going
quagga monitoring program to provide for early detection of the quagga should they indeed
infest Santa Margarita Lake. Staff will be seeking additional information on monitoring and
detection programs and requesting that monitoring be established as soon as possible.
Options for Council's Consideration
Do nothing—not recommended.
Direct staff' to prepare a letter from the Mayor to the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors
requesting:
1. That the County proceed immediately with implementation of the inspection and
decontamination programs as planned.
or
2. That the County close Santa Margarita Lake to all boats not stored at the reservoir until
such time as all elements of their proposed inspection and decontamination program are
ready for implementation.
or
Quagga Mussels—Protection of Santa Margarita Lake Page 4
3. That the County close Santa Margarita Lake to all boats not stored at the reservoir until
such time as prevention of infestation can be assured and/or reasonable eradication and
control strategies are developed.
or
4. Other recommendation(s) as determined by Council.
As stated previously, any recommendation should also include a request to initiate a monitoring
and detection program immediately.
CONCURRENCES
In as much as the primary recommendation of this report is for Council to consider the issue and
provide direction to the staff relative to communicating the City's position on this issue to the
Board of Supervisors, the Natural Resource staff and Utilities staff involved in the analysis to
date concur with the recommendation. How restrictive that recommendation should be continues
to be debated among staff.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact of the recommendation to the City. The fiscal impacts to the City
should an infestation occur would likely be substantial. The fiscal impact to the County to
implement their proposed control strategies is likely considerable as would be the fiscal impact
to the County and local economy resulting from wide-spread reservoir closures.
ATTACHMENTS
1. March 25, 2007 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Information— Western Quagga Mussels
2. May 2007 California Science Advisory Panel report — California's Response to the
ZebralQuagga Mussel Invasion in the West
3. County of San Luis Obispo Boater Education Handouts—Don't move a Mussel and What
to Expect When visiting Lopez Lake or Santa Margarita Lake
G: File Path
-y
l�'1-��chrne�t 1
U.S. Fish& Wildlife Service'
March 25,2007
Western Quagga Mussels
Background Information
e Quagga Mussels were found in early January 2007 in Lake Mead National
Recreation Area'
o Populations have subsequently been found throughout the Boulder
Basin of Lake Mead
• Also in other Lower Colorado River lakes
• Lake Mohave,AZ/NV`
• Lake Havasu, AZ/CA
• Copper Basin Reservoir, CA'
■ These lakes supply irrigation and drinking water to Southern
Nevada, Southern California, and Southern Arizona
• Also Found in Fish Hatcheries
• Nevada State Fish Hatchery on Lake Mead
• Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery
Canada
or" o
rnn�ed 0 op ICY O
aomn p Z
1 manq y
o r
•
x.
a
00
Allanlic
e •dee• Ocean s
Pacific C e\
Ocean Mexico
Gu(/ofMatm
.m nm .wr o e
0 ,,,,Si,�;. Zebra/Quagga Mussel
o�•W.e , .e�.: �.. .W
Distribution March 2007 G�sed�G�en`
a�tachmer►t ►
General Biology
• Species Names
o Zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha
o Quagga mussels, Dreissena rostriformis bugensis
• Size
o Microscopic to about two inches long
• Lifespan
o Typically up to 5 years
• Reproductive potential
o May spawn all year if conditions are favorable
o Peak spawning typically occurs in Spring and Fall
o A few individuals can produce millions of eggs and sperm
• Life Cycle
o Embryos are microscopic (< 100 microns)
o Larval stage is planktonic (free floating), carried with currents
o Adult stage attaches to hard surfaces with threads (like marine
mussels), but can detach and move to new habitat
• Impacts
o Ecological
■ As filter feeders, these species remove food and nutrients
from the water column very efficiently, leaving less or nothing
for native aquatic species
■ They have the potential of collapsing entire food webs
o Economic
■ These species clog pipes, ruin boat motors, and damage
aquatic recreational equipment
• Once established in a lake, routine maintenance is necessary
and perpetual
® Management costs are enormous, particularly for industrial
raw water users like power stations and water supply
agencies
7-Le
HttWUR'M2ll'r t
Frequently Asked Questions
• What's the difference between Quagga Mussels and Zebra Mussels?
o Short Answer:Not Much
• These are two species within the same genus Dreissena
■ Zebra Mussels invaded North America First (in mid-1980x)°
■ Quagga Mussels invaded a few years later(1989)5
• There are morphological differences,but they are subtle
• There are ecological differences, but more research is needed on North
American quagga mussels to assess these differences
■ The practical implications of zebra and quagga mussels are essentially
identical
• Where did the come from?
o Short Answer. Eurasia
■ Zebra Mussels came from the Black and Caspian Sea Drainages
• Quagga Mussels came from the.Dneiper River Drainage in the Ukraine
• What temperatures can zebra mussels and quagga mussels tolerate?
o Short Answer.Between 1-30°C (33-86°F)
■ Heat Tolerances
• Zebra Mussels can survive in waters as warm as 30°C (86°F)
• Quagga Mussels may be able to survive in waters as warm (need
more research)
■ Cold Tolerances
• Both zebra mussels and quagga mussels can survive cold waters
near freezing,but cannot tolerate freezing.
• Zebras need waters above 12°C (54°F)in order to reproduce
• Quaggas need waters above 9°C (48°F) in order to reproduce
■ Temperature Preferences
• Zebra Mussels survive and reproduce best in waters near
approximately 18°C (64°F)
• Quagga Mussels survive and reproduce best in waters slightly
cooler, approximately 16°C (61°F)
Attachment I
• What other physiological tolerances do zebra and quagga mussels have?'
o Salinity: needs to be (<5 PPT)
o Calcium: needs to be high (>25mg/liter)
o pH: needs to be high(in the range of 7.4—9.5)
o Oxygen: both species can temporarily survive low oxygen concentrations
■ Zebra mussels need >25%of full oxygen saturation to grow and
reproduce
■ Quagga mussels are more tolerant of low oxygen concentrations than
zebra mussels
o Water Velocity: needs to be low (<2 m/sec)'
o Substrate: both species prefer hard surfaces
■ Quagga mussels can tolerate living in soft sediments,but zebra mussels
seldom do
• What do they eat?
o Short Answer:Algae and bacteria in the water column
■ Both species are filter feeders
■ Quagga mussels are more efficient filter feeders than zebra mussels
• What eats zebra mussels and quagga mussels?
o Short Answer.No natural predators in North America
■ Many species do eat these mussels, including diving ducks,red-eared
sunfish and some catfish, but predators cannot keep up with the
explosive reproductive potential of these invasive mussels
• What Depths can you find zebra and quagga mussels?
o Short Answer.At any depth, but quaggas mussels can be found
deeper
■ Zebra mussels are typically found from just below the surface to about
12 meters(40 feet)
■ Quagga mussels are typically found at any depth as long as oxygen is
present
■ Both species prefer to avoid light and are usually found in shaded areas
or below the depth that light penetrates water
• Why aren't they a problem in Europe?
o Short Answer. They are, but most Europeans have been dealing
with them for over 200 years. Their industrial facilities were
designed with these in mind.
A}Fachrneltit I
• How do they spread?
o Short Answer.Larvae flow downstream. Adults attach to
recreational boats and equipment (anchors, bait buckets, etc).
■ Eggs and larvae will naturally flow downstream of established
populations.
• Larvae can also be transported in water carried by recreational boats,
trailers, and other aquatic equipment.
■ Adults can also be spread by recreational boats,trailers,and aquatic
equipment.
■ Adults can survive out of water for weeks if temperatures remain cool
and humidity remains high.
• Quagga mussels were probably transported overland at least 1000
miles from their source population (most likely the Great Lakes)
■ Resident boats (those boats that are moored or held in a slip)are much
more likely to harbor zebra and quagga mussels than day boats (boats
that are removed from the water after each use).
• How can we prevent additional spread?
o Short Answer. Educate boaters.
■ Preventing downstream invasions is practically impossible.
■ Convincing recreational boaters to clean their boats and equipment
before transporting them to new waters is essential.
■ Simple steps are necessary every time a boat is retrieved from a lake or
other water body:
• Remove all aquatic plants, animals, and mud from everything that
came in contact with water.
• Drain all water,including bilges, live-wells,cooling water from
the motor.
• Clean and dry everything that came in contact with water
• Dispose of any live bait.
■ If mussels are seen attached to a boat or other recreational equipment,it
must be decontaminated using more stringent guidelines.
• A decontamination protocol is attached.
• Where can I learn more?
o www.1OOthMeridian.ora
■ The 100th Meridian Initiative is a cooperative effort between state,
provincial,and federal agencies to prevent the westward spread of zebra
mussels and other aquatic nuisance species in North America. The
associated website is the official coordination point for information
regarding zebra and quagga mussel spread to the western United
States.
Compiled by
David K.Britton,Ph.D.
U.S.Fish&Wildlife Service
UTA Box 19498,Arlington TX 76019
David Britton@fws.gov
�7—
A}tachrV�er�t �
Decontamination Protocol
For Boats and other Recreational Equipment Potentially
Contaminated with Zebra/Quagga Mussels
Step 1:DRAIN
Bilges,wet wells, live wells,and any other compartments that could hold water from an
infested field collection site should be drained of water at the boat ramp before leaving the
area. If a boat has carried water from another location,remove all water and treat it with
household bleach (> 5% sodium hypochlorite) at a concentration of 3 oz of bleach per 5 gallons
of water for a minimum of 1 hour before disposing in wastewater drain. Never dump water
to the ground.
Step 2:PURGE
In order to kill and purge larvae that may be in the engine's cooling system,run disinfecting
water through the motor for at least 1 minute.. Disinfecting water should be either 1) a
bleach solution using household bleach(>5% sodium hypochlorite) at a concentration of 3 oz
of bleach per 5 gallons of water, or 2) tap water heated to>140 OF. Running bleach through
an engine may violate the terms of the engine's warranty,so hot water is recommended.
Step 2:SCRUB
Scrub all surfaces with soapy water to remove any clinging material (plants, animals, mud,
etc.),then visually inspect and remove anything remaining. Pay special attention to cracks
and crevices in which mussels may become trapped, and aquatic plants harboring juvenile
mussels that may be present on trailers or propellers. Since adult zebra/quagga mussels can
close up and survive for extended periods of time under toxic external conditions,chemical
disinfecting as a means to kill adult mussels may require a contact time of several days.
Thus, chemical disinfectants are not recommended for killing adult mussels. At this step,the
goal is to remove any and all living organisms as well as mud and other debris.
Step 3:WASH
Hose down everything with hot high pressure water,including boat,anchors,trailer,and
anything else that came in contact with the water. Pay particular attention to trailer pads
made of carpet and foam rubber, which could trap tiny mussels. Temperature and exposure
time determine the effectiveness of temperature treatments. Live steam,boiling, and hot (>
140'F)power washing are all believed to be effective against all zebra/quagga mussel life
stages. Work a small section at a time with a minimum exposure of 3 min at full heat for each
area.
Step 4. DRY
After thorough scrubbing,power washing and visual inspection, dry the boat and all
equipment and keep everything out of the water for at least 2 weeks if temperature is below
70 OF or 1 week if weather is warm(> 70°F) and dry(<40%relative humidity). In winter,
freezing may be used as an effective tool. Adult zebra/quagga mussels have a relatively low
tolerance to freezing. Exposing boats and equipment to continually freezing temperatures
for a recommended period of three days should produce 100%mortality.
A+tac-hfywf+
Information Sources
'National Park Service Press Release 1-07,January 10,2007
'Invasive Mussel Update, NPS Digest, National Park Service,January 23, 2007
'USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Collection ID 237660
`Zebra Mussel Fact Sheet, USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program
'Quagga Mussel Fact Sheet, USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Program
'McMahon, R.F. 1996.The Physiological Ecology of the Zebra Mussel,Dreissena
polymorphs,in North America and Europe. Aerican Zoologist 36:339-363
'O'Neill, C.R. 1993. Control of Zebra Mussels in Residential Water Systems. Sea Grant:
Coastal Resources Fact Sheet
7-111
_ A-*m Ok vyn�eA Z
•
California 's Response to the
Zebra/Quagga Mussel Invasion
in the West
Recommendations of the
California Science Advisory Panel
Prepared for the
California Incident Command
California Department of Fish and Game
California Department of Water Resources
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
California Department of Food and Agriculture
California Department of Boating and Waterways
May 2007
A bchmeM a
Science Advisory Panel
Andrew N. Cohen, Chair
Senior Scientist and Director of the Biological Invasions Program
San Francisco Estuary Institute
7770 Pardee Lane
Oakland, CA 94621
Russell Moll
Director, California Sea Grant
University of California, San Diego
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
9500 Gilman Drive, Dept. 0232
La Jolla, California 92093-0232
James T. Carlton
Professor of Marine Sciences and Director of the Williams-Mystic
Maritime Studies Program
75 Greenmanville Avenue
P.O. Box 6000
Mystic, CT 06355
Charles R. O'Neill, Jr.
Senior Extension Associate and Director of the National Aquatic
Nuisance Species Clearinghouse
Cornell University/New York Sea Grant
Morgan II, SUNY College
Brockport, NY 14420
Lars Anderson
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Exotic and Invasive Weed Research
One Shields Ave. Mail Stop #4
Davis, CA 95616
Peter B. Moyle
Professor of Fish Biology and Associate Director of the
Center for Watershed Sciences
Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology
University of California
Davis, CA 95616
2
7-i3
ft"aCV1nVf1t COL
•
Contents
ExecutiveSummary ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------=---------- i
ReportSummary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- i
Introductionand Scope --------------------•----------------------------------•----------------------•-------•---------. 1
Background and Status of the Invasion ................................................................... 2
PotentialImpacts ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
Recommendations -------------•---------•--•----------------------------------•--•------------------••-------------------- 10 .
Overview ------------------- 10
Eradication/Control -----------------•---------------------------------------- ... 11
Containment ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16
DetectionMonitoring ................................................................................ ----------- 21
Other Research Priorities ---------------- 22
ConcludingThoughts ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23
Sources Cited 24
Appendices
A: D. bugensis records in the Lower Colorado River system --------------- 28
B: Priority research questions ___________________________________________________________
3
. At�'1meYtr �
Executive Summary
Zebra mussels, in the form of Dreissena bugensis, also known as quagga
mussels, have now, for the first time, established a beachhead west of the
continental divide. The significance and potential impact of this event cannot
be overstated. Zebra mussels are harmful fouling organisms: they attach by
the millions to submerged objects, fill and block water pipes, and clog
protective screens. Zebra mussels are efficient filter feeders: they strip food
from the water that is needed to sustain other aquatic life. Direct economic
costs are on the order of $100 million a year in eastern North America;
unquantified secondary and environmental costs could be substantially
larger. Impacts in California and the West could be as great or greater than
those in the East. California cities, industries and farms depend on the
transport of huge quantities of water across very large distances through a
complex and vulnerable system of canals, pipes, reservoirs and pumping
stations. It is thus critical that aggressive, concerted efforts be undertaken
immediately to eradicate, contain and monitor the zebra mussel
infestation in the lower Colorado River system.
Report Summary
On January 6, 2007, Eric Virgin was making some underwater repairs at a
Lake Mead boat harbor when he noticed a small, striped and unfamiliar
mussel attached to a steel cable—which is how we discovered that the zebra
mussel Dreissena bugensis had established a beachhead west of the
Continental Divide. Subsequent surveys found the mussel throughout Lake
Mead's lower basin, with smaller numbers at a few sites downstream in
Lakes Mojave and Havasu and the Colorado River. If not eradicated or
contained, these populations will seed secondary invasions across Western
North America. The potential impacts include hundreds of millions to billions
of dollars in direct economic costs, along with large but unquantified indirect
economic and environmental costs.
California quickly set up an Incident Command system, and appointed a
Science Advisory Panel to plan its response to the invasion. This report
presents the Advisory Panel's recommendations in three operational areas:
control and eradication in currently infested waters; containment within
those waters; and monitoring to detect new infestations.
The goal of these recommendations is to protect California waters and water
supply systems, but they include critical actions that must be taken in
infested waters outside the state's boundaries. If the State of California
i
nzwcnrr�cr rr �.
cannot implement needed actions directly in these cases, it should facilitate
their implementation by providing assistance or funding, or through
persuasion or political action.
The Advisory Panel's core recommendations are:
ERADICATION/CONTROL
• A determined effort should be undertaken to eradicate the infestations in
the lower Colorado River system. The population in Lake Mead will be the
most challenging, but feasible methods exist if applied persistently on a
large scale. The potential for enormous, long-term economic and
environmental impacts both in the infested waters and across Western
North America warrants a very aggressive response.
• Field trials of treatment methods should begin immediately in Lake
Mead.
• Methods of reducing the downstream flow of live larval stages (veligers)
through Hoover Dam and dams further downstream should be
investigated and, if feasible, implemented.
CONTAINMENT
• The infested waters should be closed to boating until the eradication
effort is completed.
• If the lakes are not fully closed to boating, then any boat that spends
more than 24 hours in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (NRA)
should be cleaned by NPS staff before leaving. All boats leaving the NRA
should be inspected by NPS staff. Similarly, boats leaving Lake Havasu
and other downstream waters on the lower Colorado River system should
be inspected, and cleaned if necessary.
• All 16 California border check stations, and an added station on US Route
95, should operate 24/7 and inspect all boats. Boats with live or dead
mussels should be cleaned by state staff before being allowed to
proceed.
• California and federal agencies should institute a mandatory boat
inspection and cleaning system before allowing entry to high priority
water bodies in California where access is under state or federal control.
California and federal agencies should work with local entities to
implement inspection and cleaning at other waters.
ii
fkitacnmerrr
• Hatcheries that take water from an infested water body should switch to
an uninfested source such as groundwater. If not possible; then fish from
these hatcheries should not be planted into uninfested waters; any
plantings should use appropriate fish transport protocols to minimize the
spread of veligers.
• Protocols to prevent the accidental transport of zebra mussels should be
implemented by all relevant activities in infested waters, including
eradication/control; research and recreational activities.
DETECTION MONITORING
• California and federal agencies should institute a core monitoring
program for early detection of zebra mussels at high priority water
bodies; and should work with local entities to augment the level of
monitoring and extend it to other water bodies.
OTHER RESEARCH PRIORITIES
• Within 30 days, California should conduct an initial analysis of the
potential direct economic costs of the invasion (based on scaling from
costs in the East), and an initial review of the potential environmental
impacts of the invasion in California and in the West.
• California should also conduct more detailed assessments of the potential
direct and indirect economic costs and environmental impacts in
California.
• California should conduct an assessment of the vulnerability of California
waters to colonization by zebra mussel species, including assessments of
environmental requirements, a survey of calcium concentrations in
California waters, and a survey of boat movements from infested waters
into California.
• California and federal agencies should support research on promising
control alternatives that need longer-term development.
iii
T �
® ® , EE
® A, ,)
Mow MQ79[b
By contaminating recreational watercraft and commercial haulers from infested waters:
• Many Southern California freshwaters • Most waters east of the Continental Divide
• Waters along the Colorado River drainage • Lake Mead, NV/AZ and waters it feeds
• All of the Great Lakes andtheir tributaries (� VY
D 0 � � IYJLIl5L1LlU LJ m VL�J�.J.I 0 0 0 �J1J \7l°JLl 0 ° L`) VV °
Wulhefl ieav5nq qh(a Wagera
• Inspect all exposed surfaces - small mussels -r-
feel like sandpaper to the touch.
• Wash the hull of each watercraft thoroughly.
• Remove all plants and animal material. �
• Brain all water and dry all areas.
• Drain and dry the lower outboard unit.
• Mean and dry all live-wells. e-
• Empty and dry any buckets.
• Dispose of all bait in the trash.
• Wait 5 days and keep watercraft dry between _
launches into different fresh waters.
FOIT Umare oo9ff®�orr���o®� ' III `- 1111 Ll i t 111 i fLff
�� voo7ff�°c�a°g7®d/m�aaa��armaasse� 10- 1 2I 31
LOOKFOR MUSSELS HERE
Anchor Dock Lines Live Wells
Trailer Bilge
Vehicle Rollers Hull Axle Motor
CHIECKYOUIR BOAT,, TRAILER 1
VEHICLEl
At�AMAVjyr L5
What to expect when visiting Lopez Lake or Santa Margarita Lake
San Luis Obispo County Parks has been educating park visitors on the Quagga and
Zebra Mussel threat since July of 2007.
Effective April 5th, 2008 boaters can expect:
$ Verbal screening of last launch locations.
$ Visual inspections of all boats based on a CLEAN AND DRY protocol.
What is clean and dry?
1. Boat hulls and trailers must-be free of foreign matter. All bilges, live wells, bait
tanks, integral coolers, or any other compartment within the boat must be clean
and dry.
2. All Drain Plugs Removed
All boats entering Lopez Lake must first have all drain plugs removed from the.
hull, bait tanks, live wells, integral cooler compartments, or any compartment that
has the potential to retain water prior to transport that day. Any boat found with a
plug installed upon entry will be turned away unless meeting certain criteria.
Anchor Dock Lines Live Wells
Trailer � � � Bilge
Vehicle Rollers Bull Axle Moto
In the near future boaters can expect vessel decontamination procedures to be in place
in the form of steam cleaning of boat hulls. Additional information on policies and
procedures regarding boat inspection and decontamination will be released as they
come available.
San Luis Obispo County Parks takes this issue very seriously and asks that visitors
cooperate to help keep the county's lakes free of invasive species.lf you think you
have found a Quagga or Zebra Mussel please contact County Parks Ranger Staff at
(805) 781-5930
The following links will provide you with additional resources regarding the Quagga
and Zebra Mussels.
California Department,of Fish and Game
hftp://www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamusseV
US Geological Survey
hftp://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?specieslD=95
California Department of Water Resources
http://wwwdes.water.ca.gov/zmwatdh/Posting of educational flyers
7-/9
Page 1 of 1
Council,SloCity
From: jes@jesherry.comDes@jesherry.com] RED FILE Sent: Sat 4/12/2008 AM
RECEIVED
To: Council,SloCity
Cc: MEETING AGENDA
Subject: Anit-mussel emergency DATEA5
S D ITEM #Bres. 7 APR 14 2008
Attachments: SLO CITY CLERK
Greetings,
I know that the City Council is not the controling agency for this issue so I ask that you please forward this email on to whomever
you deem the appropriate person,or advise me of who to contact.
As an avid bass fisherman with an annual pass for Lake Santa Margaria I would like to have the opportunity to provide input on this
matter if the public is given the opportunity. I have some ideas that I would like to present.
There are two main issues: keep the very serious pests out of our lakes and keep the lakes open to fishing and boating.Certainly
the boaters and fishermen will have to accept compromises and inconveniences to ensure the former goal.
I would propose the following suggestions:
1. Ban bass tournaments.These traveling boats pose the most serious threat of transporting the quagga and zebra mussels into our
lakes. Eliminate the tournaments and you have a smaller problem to deal with.
2. Institute a Certificate Program for each lake.The first time a boat is brought to one of our lakes,the fisherman fills out a
"contract'that after that time the boat will only be used in that lake or another lake with the certificate program.The boat is then
inspected and pressure cleaned.A sticker for that lake is issued. When the fisherman travels to another of our lakes with the
certificate program the boat will have to get Inspected and washed and obtain a sticker for that lake. If the boat should in the future
travel to a lake without the certificate program,upon returning to the fisherman's home lake.he will have the boat inspected and ..
washed again. (That is part of his contract and would be somewhat of an honor system in that regard. Please see below for
rational.)
Here is the rational for the certificate program. Excluding the tournament guys, most local fishermen fish one or two lakes on a
regular basis. For the guy going to LSM once a week,and only LSM, it.really makes no sense to inspect and wash the boat each
time.A hassle for him or her and an unnecessary burden for the lake staff. If he or she travels strickly between our 4 nearby lakes-
LSM, Lopez,San Antonio and Nacimiento,which would be the vast majority of us boaters and fishermen, if we are certified at each
of those lakes,there is no threat of transporting the pests.
No sticker at a lake=your boat gets Inspected and washed, period. But with the sticker/certificate program the unnecessary
burdem of washing boats that have only been In that lake would be relievied.
Thank you for your consideration. Iwould like to know if there are any hearings open to the public and I could present these ideas
in better detail.
Regards,
John Sherry o
San Luis Obispo,CA -9 COUNCIL iIa CDD DIR
805-544-3839 CAO FIN DIR
jesCujesherry.com `n ACAO FIRE CHIEF
`n ATTORNEY PW DIR
`® CLERK/ORIG POLICE CHF
❑ DEPT HEADS REC DIF
UTIL DIR
(� T�ir?u.✓� HR DIR
eau lecL
e 6 E�rc
https://mail.slocity.org/exchangelslocitycouncil/Inbox/Anit-mussel%20emergency.EML7C... 4/14/2008