LAKEPORT, Calif. – At the request of the county of Lake's Water Resources Department, the Lakeport City Council on Tuesday agreed to return a boat washing station meant to clean vessels suspected of having exposure to invasive mussel species.
City Manager Margaret Silveira asked the council to consider the request, which she said was submitted to her by county Water Resources Director Scott De Leon.
De Leon was on hand for the discussion.
Silveira explained how the city had received the washing station from the county, for free, in 2009.
Since that time it has been used to clean one boat that officials believed posed a threat to county waters from invasive species, she said.
The city entered into an agreement to operate the station with Lakeport Camper & Truck. Silveira's written report to the council explained that the agreement requires a two-month notice to terminate it.
Silveira said Water Resources' plan was to have the station available to travel around the county when needed.
Mayor Suzanne Lyons pointed out that the county plans to offer the washing services for free, which she felt was important.
De Leon said the county wanted to have the station back.
“This program continues to evolve,” he said of the effort to keep the county's waters safe from invasive species, like quagga and zebra mussels.
“We definitely see a need to be able to respond to boats and to clean them,” said De Leon.
He said he wanted to be the guy who is cleaning boats and making sure they're not risks to the lake.
De Leon confirmed that the county intends to offer boat washing as a free service.
He said he thinks that, by making washing free, it will encourage people to be more honest in their answers about where their boats have been and if they have been exposed to the mussels.
“I think it will move the program forward in protecting the lake,” he said.
The council had no questions and approved the request 4-0. Councilman Roy Parmentier was absent from the meeting.
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