The board, which last week held two meetings with more than six and a half hours of discussion on how to proactively fight an invasion by quagga and zebra mussels, held a comparatively brief talk on the subject this time around.
The result was a unanimous vote to accept an interim urgency ordinance, which establishes a program requiring inspections for all water vessels launched in the county.
The mussels, originally from Ukraine, have wrought havoc in areas where they've been discovered, clogging water systems' pipes and destroying natural ecosystems, as Lake County News has reported. Last year they were discovered in Southern California waterways but are believed to have been here several years before that.
Water Resources Deputy Director Pam Francis, who met with a specially appointed task force to work on the plan's specifics, told the board that the group agreed on a few key points at the outset, one of them being the need for immediate action.
Just as important is community buy-in. “We want them to be part of the solution,” said Francis.
The program's overall goal, Francis explained, is to inspect all boats coming into the county. Particular attention will be paid to critical vectors – including bait water, known to infect even those lakes where there are no boats.
Effective April 8, all water vessels must be inspected before launch, said Francis. However, the inspections will be free to boat owners through June 30.
Initially, inspections by certified inspectors will take place at Northshore Fire Protection District's Clearlake Oaks and Upper Lake fire stations, and Konocti Vista Casino's marina, with other locations to be announced, Francis reported.
Vessels that are found free of mussels will receive a sticker allowing them to launch in local lakes, said Francis.
Contaminated vessels won't be allowed to launch in any water bodies until they've been decontaminated and reinspected, the ordinance explains. Last week the board approved the purchase of four decontamination units from a Utah company.
Boat owners will be required to sign “affidavits of compliance,” which the ordinances says “attests to the responsibility of that owner/operator to ensure that his/her water vessel is properly inspected and, if necessary, decontaminated prior to launching.”
Fines for infractions include $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second, between $500 and $1,000 for subsequent fines, and/or up to six months in the county jail, according to the ordinance. First and second offenses also may be prosecuted as a misdemeanors.
County Counsel Anita Grant said the ordinance's penalties for noncompliance are what the county is legally allowed to do.
The ordinance also calls for a special program for local boats, many of which Francis pointed out are never taken out of the county.
Through June 30, county residents will be able to obtain inspection stickers electronically through confirmation of residency and registration, and when the boat has been out of the water and dry for 30 days.
If those boats do leave the county, Francis said they would need to be reinspected.
County residents who want to participate in the special program should call the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, 994-3600; Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce, 263-5092; or the Lake County Visitor Center at 274-5652.
Board members expressed their appreciation to Francis and the task force for their effort, which included lengthy meetings and long hours over the weekend to pull the proposal together.
“To get this far is huge,” said Supervisor Jeff Smith.
To read the full ordinance visit our Legals section or click on Board of Supervisors: Interim urgency ordinance establishing boat inspection program.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
{mos_sb_discuss:3}
How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
