Department of Water Resources
255 North Forbes Street
Lakeport, California 95453-5406
Telephone (707) 263-2344
Fax (707) 263-1965 / www.nomussels.com
CONTACT:
Scott DeLeon (707) 263-2344
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2013
STATE VESSEL REGISTRATION RENEWAL INCLUDES A QUAGGA/ZEBRA MUSSEL FEE PARTICIPATION IN THE LAKE COUNTY MUSSEL PREVENTION PROGRAM STILL REQUIRED
LAKE COUNTY, CA — Due to an overwhelming response from concerned citizens regarding invasive mussel infestations in California’s bodies of water, boat owners will now see an additional fee on their California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) vessel registration. This fee is a result of AB2443 that was signed into law by Governor Brown in 2012.
Scott De Leon, County of Lake Public Works Director explains, “The money collected by the DMV will go to California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways to make grants available to local agencies to fund Quagga and Zebra mussel prevention plans.”
Since 2008, the County of Lake has taken a positive, proactive and aggressive approach to the threat of an invasive mussel infestation because of the huge impact it could have on the ecosystem of Clear Lake and the local economy. This approach has been funded largely by the fees received from the County’s sticker program.
In order to keep Clear Lake free of invasive mussels and keep its ecosystem intact, boat owners are still required to participate in Lake County’s mussel prevention plan. This will include the annual requirement of purchasing a Lake County Quagga Mussel Sticker, as there is no guarantee that monies collected through the DMV will be awarded for use in Lake County.
Please continue to support the Lake County program by showing your current mussel sticker and remember to check in with a participating screener when you return from an out-of-county trip with your boat. Rescreening and any necessary decontamination are FREE!
The Lake County program is the reason Clear Lake is still FREE of Quagga and Zebra mussels. Let’s keep it that way.
Thank you to all our mussel screeners for the success we have achieved. For the latest list of screeners see www.nomussels.com or call 707-263-2344.
2014 mussel stickers are now available.