Mark Miller of the Lake County Water Resources Department wants to remind boaters to get their 2016 quagga mussel prevention sticker before using their vessel in any Lake County water body. The 2016 Stickers are now available at all screening locations.
The Lake County Sticker is required in addition to your DMV sticker for all Lake County motorized vessels. Also, remember to check in with a participating screener when you return from an out-of-county trip with your boat. The screeners stay up-to-date with those counties in the western United States that are infested. The re-screening, inspection or decontamination if needed is free.
Miller says to support the program that’s keeping Lake County mussel free.
“Spread the word to anyone who may not know about the most serious befouling pest ever to be introduced to North American freshwater systems.”
A few facts about the mussels:
·Quagga mussels can colonize hard and soft surfaces, mud, plants, docks, boat engine cooling systems, water pipes.
·They potentially produce millions of offspring in a season.
·Densities in Lake Mead since the first introduction in 2005 have grown to > 10,000 m2. Forty percent of the animal population in Lake Mead is now quagga mussels.
.Common densities in the Great Lakes are 700,000 m2.
.Beaches become littered with piles of glass-sharp shells.
·They alter the chemistry and biology of the water ecosystem.
·The basis of the aquatic food chain, plankton, is removed by these voracious feeders.
Prevention results from education. Do your bit to spread the word.
Miller says a big thank you to the 27 participating screeners for continuing their vital role in the prevention program. For the latest list of screeners see www.nomussels.com or call Lake County Water Resources at 707 263-2344.
