Clear Lake & The Golden Mussels

[WB Staff]

Newly Detected Invasive Golden Mussels Pose Potential Threat to Clear Lake and Lake County Waterways and Infrastructure

An Important Joint Message from Lake County Water Resources Department and Watershed Protection District. Please note, maps and images are included below and in this downloadable PDF, for your use.

LAKE COUNTY, CA – The Lake County Water Resources Department, and Watershed Protection District urge residents and visitors to Clear Lake, and other Lake County Water Bodies, to be aware and on the lookout for invasive Golden Mussels (Limnoperna fortunei), a newly detected invasive mussel (freshwater bivalve) found in several locations in the Port of Stockton and in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region.

On October 17, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) reported finding attached, adult mussels at a sample site location in the Port of Stockton. Mussel specimens were sent to UC Davis Genomic Variation Laboratory and confirmed to be Golden Mussels, originally from China and Southeast Asia; the species had not previously been detected in North America.

Water Resource managers are concerned. While similar in appearance, biology, and potential ecosystem effects to Quagga and Zebra Mussels (the current focus of invasive mussel prevention programs in Lake County), Golden Mussels pose an even greater threat.

“Golden Mussels have been found in soft surfaces [e.g., fine silt and sediments] and attached to hard surfaces. Adult mussels are mobile and have been observed to move freely within a waterbody,” notes California Department of Fish and Wildlife Regional Biologist, Angie Montalvo, who observes Clear Lake on behalf of the State agency. “[Golden Mussels] have a much wider tolerance threshold than Quagga-Zebra mussels. This discovery is serious.”

Much like Quagga and Zebra mussels, Golden Mussels, if established in Clear Lake or other Lake County Water Bodies, pose a significant threat to water conveyance systems, infrastructure, and water quality. Effects Golden Mussels would have on sport fisheries, like Bass, Crappie, and Catfish, native fisheries and wildlife species, like the Clear Lake Hitch and Clark’s and Western Grebes (which feed and forage in shallow lake areas on green algae), and plants whose populations can become heavily disrupted when invasive mussels establish, are not fully known.

Golden mussels were likely introduced to California by a ship traveling from an international port. Lake County Water Managers are concerned they may mobilize further from the Delta (likewise a popular California sport fishery) to Lake County overland on a visiting boat.

Therefore, the Lake County Water Resources Department is reminding the public, both residents and visiting boaters, to get their boat screened by trained and certified boat screeners and inspectors (the Lake County Invasive Mussel Prevention Program) whenever coming back to the County from Delta region or waters. In addition to routine screenings, some boats may be inspected or required to undergo decontamination beyond what has been typical in Lake County. Please be patient and understanding with staff and certified screeners and vendors.

As always, remember to Clean, Drain, Dry whenever moving a boat between water bodies; every time!

Visit www.nomussels.com for more information on the Lake County Mussel Prevention Program. To learn more about Lake County’s efforts to plan for an invasive mussel rapid response, visit https://www.clearlakemusselprevention.org/.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife are also encouraging boaters and water users to visit their new website, “California’s Invaders: Golden Mussel,” to learn more about this dangerous newly detected invasive species: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/In ... den-Mussel

For any inquiries regarding this release, or if you think you visually observe a golden, quagga, or zebra mussel, please contact the Water Resources Department at (707) 263-2344 or email at water.resources@lakecountyca.gov.

[Charles]

At least Clear Lake gets it. Thank you. Let’s fish!

[StogieMan]

You know it's funny, I thought I would not reply to this post and just leave it be but obviously I can't.

As a Lake County and specifically a Clear Lake resident and bass fisherman as well as recreational boater I love this resource, so much so that I moved here and retired here.

I remember when the muscle program was first introduced at Clear Lake and I found myself for the very first time in my life really agreeing with a Gov. program most of which (all of which) I opposed in my life, I mean who wants more
bureaucracy right! But at the time I was (and still am) all in favor of doing my part to protect this wonderful resource.

But in reality what happened was a program designed to generate revenue. I say that because all these years later you are required to have a muscle sticker and still do not have to have your boat inspected to get that sticker, you simply fill out the form and pay the fee.
Someone here who is might be way smarter than I am; please explain to me how a program with zero inspection will help protect this resource.

[Dave Brabec]

I was one of the first inspectors certified by the county. They are mainly screening where and when boat comes from. Delta boats were not a threat in the past and will now be part of the list of boats that need checked. I personally think that the county needs to tighten up regulations. I inspected lots of boats on the 10 years I did it.

[Popper]

-What a joke!

These comments will not be popular but requires a response to the initial post to maintain current mussel inspections which is a joke.
And everyone knows it!
Walking around a boat/trailer or going to the local tackle shop to pay for stickers on your trailer and boat is not doing a damn thing to prevent contamination of mussels.

Clear Lake needs to enact immediate actions as Solano County (Berryessa, Camanche) and every lake in California.
Nothing is full proof to prevent contamination, however, decontamination of vessels is the best and only approach at this point.

New regulations on the two lakes mentioned is a pain in the ***, and as an avid recreational and tournament angler I dread going through the hassles of color-coded straps limiting the freedom to launch anywhere without check points, and decontamination stations.
The consequences of doing nothing, maintaining worthless inspections and attitudes of supporting continuing on ward as if mussel contamination isn't a threat, is foolishness.

No question, tournament circuits in the State will be impacted by these new regulations. And the inconvenience of more new regulations associated with these restrictions is a pain in the ***.
Unfortunately, it's the right decision verses accepting defeat "we cannot do anything"
and accepting destruction cost in billions to surrounding infrastructure and water systems.

Ed

[JVGondal]

Are we to believe that ships from over seas brought the invasive species to the delta suddenly and now it is a great threat to not only the delta but our lakes as well?
How many years have these ships been traveling from the infested waters to Ca?
Isn’t more logical to think they have been here all along and that if it can get into our lakes lt already has?
I’m just wondering how this clam suddenly appeared
Certainly foreign ships didn’t decide last month or last year that they need to empty their ballast into the port of Stockton

[896]

The state of California caused this problem by not performing the inspections on the ships entering the delta.
Their own experts told them this would happen with ships coming from the countries where the mussel are present.
Their own experts said the golden mussel has probably been in the delta form one to ten years already.
Now they will pass the cost and burdens of this failure on their part onto boat owners in the state.
The state will probably sue the places performing the decontamination because the water will be deemed toxic waste, and not disposed of correctly!!!!
As for the clean and dry deal. If I fish the delta one weekend then clear lake the next it’s a safe bet the boat is clean and dry. Five days sitting in garage with motor trimmed down ( that’s how most 20 foot boats in garages) then 3.5 hour drive down the highway

[Mitch]

Sooooooo, what happens if on the why to the lake it's RAINING ???? Do you now FAIL because your boat is wet ????

[Dave Brabec]

The problem here at Clear Lake with the band to boat and trailer is there is over 300 boat ramps including private ramps. Don’t see it happening

[Popper]

The problem here at Clear Lake with the band to boat and trailer is there is over 300 boat ramps including private ramps. Don’t see it happening

What's the sheriff on the water doing?
What's the DFG doing?

Time to expand their responsibilities paid for by taxpayers' verses checking fishing licenses and registration stickers.

[Dave Brabec]

Sheriffs write tickets for mussel sticker violations. Don’t think anyone has ever been fined though. Hasn’t been DFG in over 10 years. It’s DFW

[Rick Pierce]

Locally we have had Zebra Mussels in lakes Bull Shoals and Taneycomo now for about 25 years. It’s believed they came from an excursion boat moved to Taneycomo. Bull Shoals is about 15 miles from Lake Norfork.

As of this time we have been able to prevent the spread to Norfork with diligence. The Marina operators and anglers all watch the ramps closely for docked boats that would have bilge water and mussels attached. Prevention will stop the spread until wildlife eventually may and can spread it.

Bull Shoals is better now, though it was so bad that a common 1/2” limb on a Buck brush bush would be 2” or more with mussels connected. Undersides of submerged objects were fully coated with mussels. The water fluctuations, bream and shell crackers have restricted their growth and the population is much better now.

Do what’s right and watch those ramps is what works here.

[Dave Brabec]

The state of California caused this problem by not performing the inspections on the ships entering the delta.
Their own experts told them this would happen with ships coming from the countries where the mussel are present.
Their own experts said the golden mussel has probably been in the delta form one to ten years already.
Now they will pass the cost and burdens of this failure on their part onto boat owners in the state.
The state will probably sue the places performing the decontamination because the water will be deemed toxic waste, and not disposed of correctly!!!!
As for the clean and dry deal. If I fish the delta one weekend then clear lake the next it’s a safe bet the boat is clean and dry. Five days sitting in garage with motor trimmed down ( that’s how most 20 foot boats in garages) then 3.5 hour drive down the highway

Guarantee that if you fish weekly the trailer bunks are never dry.