Latest news with #goldenmussel
CBS News
28-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Utility district bans boats, alcohol at Lake Comanche in San Joaquin Valley
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY -- When the weather heats up, many want to grab a drink, get on a boat and spend time with friends and family on the water. This year, at Lake Camanche, it's a different story. "We've taken the precaution, a difficult one, to shut down our boat launches for this year as we try to get our arms around this and figure out the best way to prevent its introduction to East Bay MUD's water system," East Bay Municipal Utility District spokesperson Christopher Tritto said. The reason is because of the recently discovered golden mussel found in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta. While this invasive species hasn't made it into the reservoir, the utility district is taking this ban a step further: no kayaks, no paddleboards, and more. The only boats allowed are those with a permanent slip or boats that have been in the water before the launches closed. "It may be impossible and it can be very, very expensive to try to maintain, clean out pipes and pumps and things like that that we need to bring water to one and a half million people here in the East Bay," Tritto explained. For an area where the lake brings in boatloads of tourists during the summer months, it's negatively impacting local businesses. "Two hundred people will visit us on the weekend. It's down to now, like 80-85 people in a day," local business owner Muhammad Khan said. "It's affecting our business. We are even having a hard time to pay the bills." On top of this boat ban is an alcohol ban to keep visitors and residents safe from its influence. As a convenience store owner who's trying to pay rent, this additional ban is making money even harder to come by. "We are completely dependent on these four months for business," Khan shared. "But now, even these four months are very slow for us, so we cannot even cover the basic expenses to keep the business running." While the decision was difficult, the utility district wants to let people know there are still plenty of ways to enjoy yourself at the lake and support local. "We have shoreline fishing, hiking, camping. There are boats for rent available that are safely in the water. A lot of things for families to come out and enjoy throughout the summer and the year. So we hope that you'll still come out and find other ways to enjoy the water," Tritto said. EBMUD says the alcohol ban will end on September 30, while the boat ban will be in effect until at least the end of the year. Until then, the district will reassess once they have more studies done on these mussels.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tiny Invader Sparks Big Alarm in California Waterways
California is scrambling to contain an invasive species never before seen in North America: the golden mussel. First detected in October 2024 in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the tiny mollusk, no larger than a paperclip, has now triggered a sweeping, statewide emergency response. State officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife unveiled a Golden Mussel Response Framework this week, calling the threat 'urgent' and laying out a long-term strategy to prevent further spread. The mussels have already been spotted in multiple waterways, including the San Luis Reservoir, and their ability to form dense colonies could wreak havoc on infrastructure, agriculture, and ecosystems. 'The discovery of golden mussels in California is a serious challenge that requires coordinated action and a long-term commitment,' said Charlton Bonham, director of the CDFW, in a recent news release.'These impacts necessitate ongoing, costly removal to maintain operational function,' said CDFW spokesperson Krysten Kellum, SF Gate reported. The species, native to East and Southeast Asia, clogs pipes, damages watercraft motors, and threatens the drinking water supply for two-thirds of California residents. In response, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering $1 million in grants to support prevention efforts at boating facilities. New rules are also in place at several lakes and reservoirs, including mandatory 30-day quarantines and decontamination for trailered boats. The response includes expanded boat inspections, public education campaigns, and enhanced decontamination infrastructure. Officials are urging boaters to follow the 'Clean, Drain, Dry' protocol and report sightings of golden mussels immediately. 'Coordinated action will help safeguard critical water infrastructure,' said John Yarbrough, Deputy Director for the State Water Project. 'We can't afford to let this species spread unchecked.' To report sightings or learn more about the state's response, visit
CBS News
11-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Fewer boats on Folsom Lake as quarantines continue due to invasive golden mussels
FOLSOM – California State Parks is trying to keep invasive golden mussels out of Folsom Lake. On April 14, mandatory inspections and a 30-day quarantine of boats not already in the water went into place. Temperatures reached the 90s Saturday, but Folsom Lake boat launch ramps were empty. Boaters who have already gone through the inspection process have just a few more days to wait until they can get their boats back in the water. "The golden mussel sounds like a nasty thing, so I hope it doesn't make its way into Folsom because I heard it can take over entire ecosystems," said boater Bobby Clements. The invasive golden mussel was first spotted in the Port of Stockton back in October. Now, officials want to keep them out of our waterways because they can drive out native species and clog up engines. "It was a beautiful day, very nice out. Not many boats out, especially for a Saturday this time of year," said boater Stephen Hankins, "I kinda knew that would be the case today just based on the 30-day quarantine for the mussel inspection." California State Parks has implemented a prevention program as directed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to help prevent the spread of the mussels. It involves boat inspection and a 30-day quarantine. "People are really frustrated with the timing of it and there were very few inspection stations, the long waits," said Hankins. "Obviously, we're moving into probably the biggest weekend of the year, right? So I'm sure it didn't come down easy, but on the flip side, they're just trying to make it so they can start the summer season on as clean as slate as they can," said boater Todd Kincaid. State parks didn't get back to a CBS Sacramento request on Saturday. But on Tuesday, a boat inspected at Folsom Lake was found to have the mussels, but the boat didn't make it into the water and is being stored for further inspection. Meanwhile, some lucky boaters already had their boats in the water prior to the April 14 cutoff. "We were able to get our boat in early and not have to quarantine it, so it's kind of a homerun for us this year," said Clements. "It's kind of surprising to me. We thought today was going to be crazy, like this place empty and all the boats on the lake. But, there's really only a couple boaters out there," said Kincaid. State parks will continue with inspections and quarantines at all open boat launches at the lake. Inspections don't apply to kayakers and paddleboarders. There were people all over the beaches everywhere, so people were still out enjoying the lake, having a good time. On the shores, it was very busy, but yeah, on the lake, people are suffering a bit," said Clements. The earliest new boats can enter Folsom Lake is May 15.
CBS News
08-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
East Bay Regional Parks' lake-specific band policy for boat inspections now in effect
Fight is on in East Bay to prevent spread of the golden mussel Fight is on in East Bay to prevent spread of the golden mussel Fight is on in East Bay to prevent spread of the golden mussel The East Bay Regional Parks District's change to its boat inspection policy, which uses lake-specific bands, is now in effect. East Bay Municipal Utility District bands will no longer be accepted as of Wednesday, May 7. Instead, East Bay Parks will use color-coded, lake-specific bands. Boaters will not have to pay an inspection fee again and get a shorter inspection if they have that lake's or reservoir's corresponding band intact and a copy of the prior inspection form. If the band on the boat does not correspond to the lake being visited, a full inspection will be done, and an inspection fee will have to be paid again. The inspection fee cost is $7 for motorized vessels, $4 for car-top watercraft or inflatables. People in both situations will still have to pay entrance and launching fees. The inspections for kayaks, canoes, inflatables and other car-top watercraft have not changed. The changes to the boat inspection policies comes as the Parks District and other water-related agencies try to prevent the invasive golden mussel from getting into waterways.
