Santa Clara County Lakes Scheduled To Reopen In Time For Memorial Day - W/Conditions

LisaLisa · 05-21-2008, 02:53 PM

As many of you riders know, all public waterways in Santa Clara County were closed last week to recreational boating when Quagga Mussels (aka: Zebra mussels) were discovered in a local reservoir. With the Memorial Day weekend looming, folks were very alarmed about their inability to access these waterways.

The good news....

The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors met this week on the issue of funding the Quagga and Zebra mussel inspection program this week. Only three of the five Supervisors were present so a full quorum of three votes was needed to pass anything. The County Executive presented the plan for vote, explaining Santa Clara Valley Water District had approved the inspection program but had not approved any funding.

One Supervisor wanted to make the start of the plan on this Friday (May 23rd) contingent on the SCVWD Board approving half of the costs. Fortunately that did not come to a vote. The County Executive then proposed that the County start the program and pay all of the initial costs up to half of the total costs.

That option was passed, so the boating activities are tentatively scheduled to resume this Friday.

The possible bad news....

This Thursday, the SCVWD will debate the funding request made by the County for them to pay half of the costs for the inspection program. If they do not approve any funding then the County will run out of money for this program in mid July and will have to terminate the inspection process.

The boats can again be banned at that time.

This places the responsibility of putting in place any further ban squarely on the SCVWD.

It should be noted that boats are not the only way the Quagga mussels can and are introduced to our waterways. All agencies, and the general public have a financial stake in this crisis; this issue is everyone’s problem, and all must participate in the control of these invasive pests.

No matter where you boat, please be a responsible boater and take a moment when loading up and inspect your watercraft for the invasive Quagga Mussels. For information on this highly damaging and invasive species, and instructions on how to perform this inspection, go here:http://www.des.water.ca.gov/zmwatch/...i_do/index.cfm

Thanks,
Lisa

J.Donaldson · 05-21-2008, 05:45 PM

Thanks for the update. My network is listening for any other info. And that Santa Clara Valley Water District meeting is open to the public if anyone wants to spend an otherwise lovely Thursday at their meeting.

mixermike · 05-21-2008, 09:25 PM

In the meantime they found the time and money to vote themselves a nice pay raise.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_932616...ercurynews.com

LisaLisa · 05-21-2008, 09:26 PM

Here's the Boating Advisory Update they came out with this afternoon:

Beginning May 23, 2008 all vessels entering four Santa Clara County reservoirs will be subject to a vessel inspection.
Based on new protocols, park staff will perform visual inspections on every vessel entering Anderson Lake, Coyote Lake, Calero Reservoir and Stevens Creek Reservoir. All other county reservoirs will be closed to boating.

Inspections at the four reservoirs will begin on May 23, 2008 and will continue until December 31, 2008. All watercraft, including but not limited to, power boats, jetskis, sailboats, kayaks, canoes, and float tubes will be subject to inspection. Current vessel registration documents are required at the time of inspection.

A $7.00 inspection fee will be collected per inspection. An annual vessel inspection pass of $35 will also be offered. Boating reservations can be made at www.parkhere.org or by calling (408) 355-2201.

A “banding” program will be offered for convenience to the vessel owner. Once a vessel has left the reservoir for the day, a plastic band may be attached to the vessel between the winch hook of the trailer and the eyebolt of the bow of the vessel. If this band is broken upon reentry into the reservoir, that vessel will be re-inspected before entering the water and an inspection fee will be collected. If any vessels are found to have water in the bilge or live well, or are not clean, they will not be allowed to launch.

Decontamination procedures will also be implemented. In addition to inspection, vessel owners will be required to have their vessels decontaminated using hot water treatment or they will not be permitted to launch. The mussels and their larvae cannot survive water temperatures in excess of 140 degrees.

Vessels coming from San Benito County and all counties south of the Tehachapi Mountains will be denied entry as will vessels from out of state.

Santa Clara County Parks wants to educate park visitors on the quagga and zebra mussel threat. These tiny mussels are an invasive species that present a negative environmental impact on California’s reservoirs and waterways. They can breed rapidly and can clog pipes and valves posing a threat to municipal water systems, aquatic food chains in lakes, access for fishing and boating, and recreation-based economics.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STAY CLEAN AND DRY!

Remember when you plan your visit to any Santa Clara County Waterways to prepare your vessel – powerboats, kayaks, canoes and jetskis - by having them clean and dry for inspection. What is clean and dry?

• Wash the hull of each vessel thoroughly.
• Inspect all exposed surfaces – small mussels feel like sandpaper to the touch.
• Drain plugs pulled, no water in bilge, live well or integral coolers.
• No mud, debris, aquatic weed or algae on hull, trailer or motor.
• Lower units on vessels should be dry – when lowered they should not contain water.

The future of boating in Santa Clara County waterways depends on your cooperation and support.

PLEASE KEEP OUR WATERS CLEAN AND ACCESSIBLE.
For

momarski · 05-22-2008, 09:38 AM

after witnessing first hand at kingmans wash, those mussels are terribly damaging, they get on everything and leave nothing uncovered, a real eco tragedy, where the hell did they come from and did not anything eat them

norcal EX · 05-22-2008, 08:55 PM

im going to try to get my ski inspected tomorrow... washed it and shes 100% dry! wish me luck!