LAKEPORT, Calif. – At the next Sierra Club Lake Group general membership meeting Department of Water Resources invasive species coordinator Carolyn Ruttan will discuss the county's program to protect Clear Lake and other local water bodies from the devastation that would inevitably accompany an infestation of invasive quagga or zebra mussels.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, at the Lakeport Yacht Club, located on the waterfront adjacent to the Fifth Street boat ramp. As always it is free and open to the public.

As most local residents know by now, all boats (and many other vessels) must undergo a formal screening process before receiving a sticker allowing them to launch in Lake County waters, with a potential fine up to $1,000 for noncompliance.

If the vessel has recently been in an area contaminated by invasive mussels, or if it not “clean, drained, and dry,” an additional detailed inspection and (if necessary) a decontamination process will be required.

The county program has changed in many ways since it was initiated in 2008. Ruttan will talk about the ways the program has evolved, discuss current procedures, and – most important of all – let us know what local residents can do to assist this vital endeavor.

For more information visit www.redwood.sierraclub.org/lake or contact Lake Group chair Ed Robey at 707-994-8304 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .