By Jim Steele —
Instead of writing about blue-green algae as promised, I can”t resist the opportunity to first respond to the thoughtful and well-written quagga commentary written by Skip Simkins published in the Record-Bee.
Here are several items for the mix.
First, the recent attempt to begin an invasive species test process was not an education program as much as a determination of knowledge issue.
We may trust all our pilots and electricians, but have greater confidence in those who pass a test. The troves of education materials touted as protecting the West were unfortunately not effective. Boaters were trusted but, no-one was required to know or do what was suggested.
Times have changed and more responsibility rests with traveling boaters than ever before.
A certain level of knowledge is required such as: Which are high-risk boats, why even neighboring lakes require certain care and the most important final step before re-launch into Lake County.
Studying information necessary to know these things before attempting the test make the questions appear reasonable.
By the way, no one could fail because the answers were to be handed out with rationale for each answer as a re-enforcer for this first year.
Who were we trying to reach? Not the responsible boater who would study what steps are important, but the one who won”t even try. It takes just one of more than 6,000 resident boaters to change this lake and the economy surrounding it. The more than 58,000 non-boating residents depend on boaters knowing what they are doing and should have that confidence, don”t you think?
Those who won”t try can go through the screening process with the visitors.
Early steps in the test”s roll-out, such as mailers, community outreach, online e-testing option and question review were not done.
Before you congratulate the Board of Supervisors (BOS), questions might be asked about this underfunded and understaffed vital program.
Questions might also be asked of the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) go-to-meeting program. I worked there in a management capacity for 30 years and know they can”t inspect thousands of boats at hundreds of exit points in the mussel-infected Colorado River system or guard all remote Sierra Mountain lakes.
Knowledgeable experts believe it”s just a matter of time under the present circumstances.
DFG”s code section needs revision to include greater protections from boats that might travel to Northern California lakes. Changes were drafted that need support-lobbying by the BOS. Ask if that coordination is being done. You might also ask why DFG is taking the low hanging fruit of looking at tournament bass boaters where the organizers are already assured of compliance from these knowledgeable and motivated people. We need this effort to look at high-risk visitors not so motivated.
I know opinions vary on this one.
The thought that Clear Lake is not a lake susceptible to mussel infection must be debunked. Shellfish already in this lake indicate appropriate pH and calcium. In addition, a sidebar of a study to be released in May indicates that quagga thrive better in our water than Lake Mead water.
In the thousands of articles that I have read and sorted through I found examples with mussels existing at lower levels of calcium than Clear Lake. Let”s just not get the wrong thought started.
I was asked to review the invasive species program and it”s my view that Lake County is out of compliance with the DFG code. The test was one low-cost option to fill the gap.
The honey to make this work should be supplied by opinion leaders who understand why it”s necessary and effective. But then, this is just my opinion.
Jim Steele is a retired Cal Fish and Game scientist, registered professional forester, part-time consultant and full-time Lake County resident-volunteer.
