I like to keep up with local issues regarding the health of Clear Lake because it is the geographical feature that most defines our lives here. And the thing that would be most detrimental to the health of the lake would be the introduction of the quagga mussel into it.
I like to listen to KPFZ because it often has programs that relate to our local issues, including the lake itself. I was very struck by an argument I recently heard on one of the programs that really made a lot of sense to me.
The woman, forgive me for not recalling her name, said that it doesn”t matter how much inspection stickers are required to launch your boat, it is still a voluntary program.
The present regulations state that one must get an inspection sticker or face heavy fines if caught, but since there are perhaps 70 or more boat launches around the lake it really doesn”t matter. You could launch from dozens of them and have virtually no chance of getting caught.
The chosen method to stop the introduction of quagga mussels by the present Lake County Board of Supervisors is simply deterrence.
They want to make information available to boaters that it is illegal not to get your boat inspected and that there will be punishment if not complied with.
This would be a reasonable solution if the lake ecosystem would not be permanently altered in an irreversible way by their introduction.
One only has to look at the devastating effect on Lake Mead to know what the consequences would be to Clear Lake. Google it. You simply cannot let any mussels get into the lake.
It doesn”t matter how much you fine somebody after the fact for not having an inspection sticker, the damage will have been done. Again, it is most likely irreversible and would cause catastrophic damage to the lake and the tourist industry.
The only way to stop their introduction is to close down all of the public and private boat launches except for maybe five boat launches around the lake. Those five or so boat launches must be manned with a gatekeeper and/or inspection program before any boat is launched. They must also be gated close when no personnel is around, from say 11 at night to 7 in the morning.
Refinements are also possible in these requirements that might maintain the efficacy while lessening the manning requirements. Automation that reads an inspection card might be one idea.
So far the Board of Supervisors won”t even listen to this argument. They insist on using deterrence as their weapon of choice in this battle.
It will be effective until it isn”t and then we will all suffer for their short-sightedness.
Let them know that in this battle for the health of the lake that they will not be able to satisfy both sides, private boat launch owners and the general citizenry who live in the county.
If they continue to go with the 1-percenters (or more accurately for Lake County, 10-percenters) they will eventually ruin things for all of us.
Eric Habegger
Lakeport
