LAKE COUNTY — The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced Monday county officials have suspended the use of a written test for residents as part of the invasive mussel prevention program.
County boat owners will still need to complete a screening form before receiving their annual stickers, but they will not be required to pass a written examination, which had been instituted earlier this year, according to DWR. The exam was not a requirement for visiting boaters.
The department said feedback from boat screeners and community members indicated a new test should be developed in order to attain the program”s goals of increasing awareness and protecting county water bodies.
DWR encouraged people to further educate themselves about the threat of invasive mussels, reminding boaters to “clean, drain and dry” their watercrafts.
Residents and visitors must obtain stickers before launching certain vessels into Lake County water bodies. Violators are subject to a misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $1,000.
For more information, visit www.nomussels.com or call DWR at 263-2344.
