LAKEPORT — The Lake County Invasive Species Council will hold a meeting on Monday, May 16, starting at 10 a.m. in the Lakeport City Council Chamber located at 225 Park in Lakeport. The meeting is open to the public.
The agenda will include an update on the enforcement efforts pertaining to the boat quagga mussel sticker ordinance, an update on the volunteer boat inspection program and outreach efforts to inform the public on the importance of keeping the mussel out of Lake County waters. There will also be a discussion on the future of the Invasive Species Council.
According to council chairman Greg Giusti, the meeting is open to the public and input is welcome.
The quagga mussel ordinance took effect on Feb 24. Resident boats are be issued an annual sticker and out-of-county boats will be issued a monthly sticker. The cost for both resident and non-resident stickers is $10.
The ordinance also calls for a mandatory fine of $1,000 if a boater is cited by law enforcement authorities for not having a current quagga mussel sticker.
The procedure is that a boat must first be screened and if it passes screening the boat owner will be issued a current sticker. If the screener determines the boat poses a risk because it came from mussel infested waters or from a county that has infested waters then it must undergo an inspection.
A list of the locations where a boat can be screened is available from the county”s website at www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Water_Resources/Mussel_Prevention or call 263-2344.
