The program began in 2008 in response to the rapid movement across the country and the state of invasive quagga and zebra mussels, as Lake County News has reported.
It was noted Tuesday that the county's program is gaining statewide attention.
“It turned out to be a herculean effort on the part of all parties concerned,” said Greg Giusti of the University of California Cooperative Extension, who earlier this year was made chair of a county invasive species council the supervisors formed.
That council, Giusti said Tuesday, has met three times. He said the participation from local businesses, tribes and community members has been “nothing short of remarkable.”
Lake County's countywide approach to prevention is unique in the state, said Giusti, as other areas are working on prevention by focusing on individual water bodies, such as is being done in Lake Tahoe.
The invasive species council came up with the revamped protocols to establish a standard for the county, said Giusti. One of the key principals is that no vessel can be launched into local lakes unless it's first been cleaned, drained and dry.
Kayaks, canoes, boogie boards, float tubes and similar small craft, which Giusti said are considered to be lower in risk, are exempt from screening, but not from the standards.
Owners must sign affidavits about the vessels' locations, and any watercraft that have come from infested areas must be inspected. Any boat not found to be cleaned, drained and dry must be cleaned, said Giusti.
The new protocols continue a two-tiered approach to deal with full-time residents and nonresidents.
Giusti said the protocols suggest abandoning the sticker program because they've found that if they inspect and give a sticker to a nonresident boat in January, “we've essentially given them a pass for the 12 months,” as it's rare they'll return and go through the process after taking the boat in and out of the county.
Instead, they wanted to maximize the screening process by replacing the stickers with 30-day compliance bands that are color-coded for the months of the year during which they're issued.
Supervisor Anthony Farrington asked about the county's impoundment powers and how the California Department of Fish and Game's quarantine rules are triggered.
Giusti said the updated ordinance mentions impounding boats that harbor mussels. He said DFG's impoundment is triggered only by the presence of adult mussels, not the microscopic veligers, a younger life stage of the mussels.
Farrington said he wanted to explore what the county can do with its own police powers, as it seemed there was a gap between impoundment and quarantine.
He added that education will be important for the program's success. “Education is going to be key for those locals who aren't going to be required to get new stickers,” he said.
Giusti said he intends to look more into local education. “Residents will have to assume the responsibility on their own.”
Victoria Brandon, chair of the Sierra Club Lake Group and a member of the local invasive species council, commended Giusti for his work.
“I think we've got a very strong standard here to move forward,” she said, agreeing about the importance of education in making the program work.
Brandon pointed out that the county has been collecting money as part of its sticker program, and the new program guidelines can increase that revenue stream. She said the county needs to tell people where the sticker money is going, and a reasonable answer is it's going to support the program.
A member of a state invasive species council formed earlier this year, Brandon told the board. “Lake County is taking the lead on this statewide.”
She said the state invasive species council is looking for a poster child for how a community can react to threats, and she said Lake County's work may receive some positive publicity.
Julie Richardson, a Konocti Bay Sailing Club member, said she was concerned about the “problematic way” the county is addressing the issue, saying she was shocked that the county sold its decontamination units – which use very hot water to clean boats – earlier this year.
“What were you thinking?” she asked, asserting that the decision to sell the units was shortsighted.
Richardson said boat trailers also needed to be screened, as do kayaks, which can be difficult to drain.
“I think we really need to think about what we're doing and make sure we don't become like Lake Havasu,” she said.
Supervisor Jeff Smith explained that they chose to sell the decontamination units because there are less expensive ways to address cleaning boats.
Regarding boat trailers, Giusti said there needs to be a change in the ordinance's language to address them, as currently one compliance band is given for both the boat and trailer.
Sarah Ryan, environmental director at Big Valley Rancheria and an invasive species council member, said she was pleased with the solutions the group put forward.
They evaluated 2008 information that showed about 7,000 boat registrations in Lake County. Out of those, they found there was a small number of people – about seven – going to contaminated water bodies.
“It only takes one,” she said, adding that it's important that locals be extremely aware of the rules.
Enforcement also is important, and she said she was pleased that the Lake County Sheriff's Office had stepped up enforcement, which will help the program succeed.
Rushing asked when they could have the education and outreach component ready. Giusti said they're first trying to get the program changes in by the start of the year, and they can then focus on awareness and education before looking to state and federal legislators for help in expanding and promoting the program.
Another invasive species council member, Suzanne Lyons – who also sits on the Lakeport City Council and the Clear Lake Advisory Subcommittee – urged the board to accept the protocols.
“There's never going to be 100 percent of anything when it comes to keeping invasive species under control,” she said.
However, every time they cut the odds, it gives the county a chance to save the lake, Lyons said. Adjustments can be made later but getting the program up and running is the important thing.
Bob Higgins, who runs Limit Out Bait & Tackle in Clearlake Oaks, said he's been involved in the inspection program since it began. Out of the 8,000 stickers given out, he issued 3,400 of them.
Higgins felt the program shouldn't be changed. However, he noted that Lake County residents still haven't gotten the message about their responsibilities in having boats reinspected after returning from infected waters.
He also raised a concern about part-time residents and what he felt were expensive and difficult rules that could require them to have to pay for monthly inspections.
Giusti said the residency issue has provided a challenge. It's possible to track vessels to make sure they're reinspected, “but it adds another layer of administration.”
Jason Robertson of DFG said he feels the new protocol is the best the county can achieve right now, and that the current standards have serious flaws that the new set of rules will address.
Invasive species council member Terry Knight said he's received a lot of complaints that screeners don't physically inspect the boats before giving out stickers. He said that should be fixed with the new protocols, which require boats be physically inspected.
County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox was concerned that some of the places where stickers now are offered may not be able to do physical inspections, such as may be the case with the county's visitor center.
Giusti said part of the program's mechanics will be to determine who can do the inspections. However, he noted, “The workload will increase for people participating in this program.”
Replied Cox, “I just suspect there won't be as many places available when this change is made.”
Higgins emphasized that he has physically inspected all of the boats he's approved. He added that businesses like his will make sure the program's new rules are followed.
“It's hard economic times, we're all looking to survive. We will take up the slack,” he said, noting that the lake's protection is the main reason, not the $3 inspection fee they get for each boat.
Farrington moved to accept the protocols and standards as presented, and to direct staff to prepare for the transition and implementation. His motion also directed County Counsel Anita Grant to prepare the ordinance with suggested changes.
Grant said there may be additional issues to consider when the ordinance comes forward, which it's expected to do at the board's meeting next Tuesday.
The board accepted Farrington's motion 4-0, with Supervisors Rob Brown being absent.
If the ordinance continues on track, board members suggested it – and the new protocols it contains – could be in place by the end of January.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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