LAKEPORT >> A grant application that would help fund a number of Quagga mussel prevention programs was unanimously approved by the Lake County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
Originally part of the consent agenda, the item was removed for discussion at the request of Lakeport resident Phil Murphy.
If the application is approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a total of nearly $43,000 will be used to purchase two portable decontamination units, four educational banners, return the Lake County Quagga boat from Lake Mead in a sealed display container and cover the cost of 5,000 brochures.
The educational banners would be placed at boat ramps on Fifth Street in Lakeport, Redbud Park in Clearlake, Lucerne Harbor and Clearlake Oaks.
No matching funds from the county are required for the grant.
Murphy inquired about the cost of the decontamination units, which would be approximately $15,000 each, according to Lake County Water Resources Director Scott De Leon. However, the county would be required to submit a request for proposals to know the actual cost. Board Chairman Anthony Farrington pointed out that a more precise figure would be available at that point.
“So that would leave $12,000 and some change to get a boat up here on a trailer?” Murphy asked.
Approximately two years ago, an inoperable boat was placed in Lake Mead where Quagga mussels were discovered in early 2007.
The boat will be used as a portable display to show off at local fairs, at other water bodies in the region and at sportsman expositions.
“It is an absolutely excellent resource,” District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele said. “It has been in the water a long time and has a lot of mussels on it.”
However, because of requirements from the California Fish and Wildlife Service for safe transportation, the boat has not been able to be moved from its current location.
“It will be sealed up in such a way to not create a problem,” Steele explained. “All of that is necessary because of the concerns of the state.”
When Murphy asked why the state isn’t paying for the transportation, District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown said the state has been asked for help with “other things that were probably more important that they’re not doing. So I’m assuming that they wouldn’t do this.”
The board was sitting as the Lake County Watershed Protection District Board of Directors during the discussion.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
