LAKE COUNTY – With the onset of warm spring weather and the coming Memorial Day weekend, many residents and visitors alike will be enjoying Lake County lakes and creeks by boat. All are reminded that inspection stickers are required prior to launching any vessel on any Lake County water body.

The Lake County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance on March 25 that requires all vessels have inspection stickers prior to launching on any Lake County water body. An interim program enables vessel owners/operators to go through an inspection process to obtain an inspection sticker at no cost through June 30. These stickers will be valid through Dec. 31.

As part of this inspection process, an inspection application form, which includes an affidavit, must be completed, signed, and submitted. Application forms with instructions may be downloaded from the Lake County Mussel Web Site at: www.co.lake.ca.us/mussels.

Once the application form, including the affidavit, is signed, reviewed by an authorized screener, and determined that no further vessel inspection is required, an inspection sticker will be issued. If it is determined that an inspection sticker may not be issued until further inspection of the vessel is performed, the owner/operator will be provided with details on where to take the vessel for inspection, which, during this initial period, is also at no cost. Any owner/operator who takes their vessel out of Lake County is then required to have the vessel re-inspected when they return to Lake County.

For registered vessels, stickers must be affixed on the starboard (right) side of the vessel, 6 inches forward of the registration (CF#) number (toward the bow of the vessel). For unregistered vessels such as kayaks, stickers must be affixed in a prominent location toward the front, and preferably starboard side, of the vessel. Owners of vessels such as seaplanes or classic vessels will be instructed as to acceptable alternate display locations.

INSPECTION LOCATIONS

Inspection stickers are available at many locations throughout Lake County. To locate the most convenient inspection location, a complete listing of inspection locations is available online at the Lake County Mussel Web Site (www.co.lake.ca.us/mussels) or by calling the Lake County Mussel Hotline (707-263-2556).

Several local bait shops and marine-related businesses offer this vessel inspection service to the public, and many resort owners and marina operators offer this service to their guests and customers. In addition, other locations include:

Department of Public Works

Walk-in hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday

Lake County Courthouse (third floor)

255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport

263-2341

Lake County Visitor Center

Walk-in hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Saturday; Noon to 5 p.m., Sunday

6110 E. Highway 20, Lucerne

274-5652; (800) LAKESIDE

Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce

Walk-in hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday – Friday

4700 Golf Ave., Clearlake

994-3600

Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce

Walk-in hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday

875 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport

263-5092

URGENCY ORDINANCE

This program was set forth by the Lake County Board of Supervisors on March 25, to protect the water bodies of Lake County from the significant and imminent threat posed by invasive quagga and zebra mussel infestation. This urgency ordinance:

• Requires a mandatory inspection for any water vessel prior to launching in a Lake County water body. This applies to all motorized and non-motorized vessels including boats, kayaks, canoes, jet skis, inflatable rafts, etc.

• Establishes the first phase of an inspection program, which includes an interim program to obtain inspection stickers at no cost through June 30, 2008.

• Bans the disposal of live bait and any liquid that contains or has contained live bait into Lake County water bodies.

VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE NEEDED

Volunteers are a critical part of the program and will be needed in a variety of roles, including Courtesy Lake Watch Monitors at major launch ramps around the County to provide vessel owners with information about the inspection sticker program. Those who would like to volunteer are encouraged to contact the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce at (707) 263-5092 or the Department of Public Works at (707) 263-2341.

For information about this program, go online to the Lake County Mussel Web Site at: www.co.lake.ca.us/mussels.

For specific questions or to volunteer to help, please call the Lake County Mussel Hotline at 263-2556.

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