LAKEPORT?The city of Lakeport is about to get into the decontaminating boat business. It”s all part of the countywide plan to protect Clear Lake from the infestation of quagga mussels
On Tuesday the Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved giving Lakeport one of the two remaining decontamination units that the county purchased last year. The county originally purchased four units at a cost of $22,000 each with plans to install them at locations around the county. The purpose being that the county wanted the ability to decontaminate boats that were suspected of being contaminated with the mussel or its larva. That plan was abandoned and the county decided to sell two of the units to Los Angeles County for $16,000 each and to keep two units. The city of Lakeport requested one of the units and the county agreed.
According to Lakeport City council member Suzanne Lyons, Lakeport has two different private businesses that have agreed to operate the decontamination unit at public events at the boat ramps at Library Park. These events would include bass tournaments and other boating events. The units are completely portable and self contained which include spray washers, the ability to heat water to 160 degrees and to recover the waste water. Scientists say that hot water will kill the mussels.
“We want to make Lakeport the model when it comes to protecting the lake from the quagga mussel and by having the decontamination unit at the public ramps where it will create a high profile for visiting boaters. We want it known that we mean to stop the mussels from getting into the lake,” Lyons said. She went on to say that Lakeport has budgeted money for an outreach awareness program to educate the public.
Several board members asked County Public Works Director Brent Siemer if the city of Clearlake wanted the remaining decontamination unit. He said, that Clearlake officials told him they have no desire to have the unit.
At the present time there are no facilities in the county to decontaminate an infected boat. If a boat is found to have the mussels the Department of Fish and Game is notified and they will quarantine the boat for up to 30 days. Boats that would be decontaminated are the ones that have the mussel or the ones that were recently in a lake that have the mussels such as Lake Mead. Boats that require decontamination would be charged a fee depending on the size of the boat. The entire quagga mussel program is to be on the agenda during the Aug. 4 board of supervisors regular scheduled meeting.
