Camanche Lake Closed- Golden Mussels?

[NorcalBassin]

The East Bay Utility District has shut down the ramp at Camanche. Sounds like it's preventative after golden mussels were apparently found in the Delta. Sure hope other foothill lakes don't follow suit with more closures.

 

https://www.ebmud.com/recreation/sierra-foothills/camanche-reservoir

NOTICE - Temporary Closure of Camanche Reservoir Boat Launch
Effective immediately, the Camanche Reservoir boat launch will be temporarily closed. The closure is necessary to help prevent the spread of a harmful species of mussel to Camanche Reservoir and other water bodies. The invasive Golden Mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) has now been identified in North America for the first time and has been discovered in the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta. This harmful, non-native species poses a significant threat to natural ecosystems, water infrastructure, and water quality. Golden Mussels are similar to quagga and zebra mussels; they are invasive and proliferate quickly - but the Golden Mussel can thrive in a greater variety of conditions including waters with lower calcium levels , making them an even more significant concern.  We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this important precautionary measure.

[Tim Kelly]

Not sure what closing the boat launch is supposed to achieve? Is there something particularly vulnerable in Camanche? 

[looking45]

Berryessa has been closed to all boating until they can figure out how they want to check boats 

[J._Bricker]

8 hours ago, Tim Kelly said:

Not sure what closing the boat launch is supposed to achieve? Is there something particularly vulnerable in Camanche? 

I believe EBMUD made the announcement because Camanche is just one part of the network of reservoirs, rivers, and aquifers that provide drinking water to the San Francisco Bay Area. I think it’s just a matter of time before Hetch Hetchy and the State and Federal water projects follow suit. As @looking45 mentioned above as I type this Berryessa has already done something similar.

 

To answer your first question @Tim Kelly, EBMUD is trying to be proactive and doesn’t want boats and kayaks that have been recently used in the delta transporting clams/larvae to the foothill lakes. The golden mussels are similar to zebra or quagga mussels in the problems they pose to municipal water systems.

[Darth-Baiter]

They are performing a hard stop to figure out a plan.  A deep breath so to speak. 

Happy it’s winter.  
 

maybe I need lake dedicated kayaks.  A four kayak fleet!  

[WRB]

The Quagga mussel problem raised it’s ugly head in CA 2008.

The 1st step was Clean & Dry inspection and sticker. Then lake Casitas raised the bar adding a 35 day quarantine period with a cable to lock the boat to the trailer to reenter the lake.

Most SoCal lakes today have the Clean & Dry sticker requirement listed a 7 day quarantine period initially plus a cable tag to the enter lakes. A few lakes honor the same Clean & Dry cable tag system so you are not locked onto 1 lake.

NorCal is just starting the SoCal protocol do to new invasive mussels being discovered.

Berryessa appears to be adopting the Casitas protocol except 30 days and looking at lake Cachuma’s steam wash technique. 
The Delta like the Colorado River lakes are beyond saving, the Clean & Dry protocol is an attempt to prevent the spread.
Total PIA,

Tom

[Darth-Baiter]

So did the measures mitigate the issue down south?

[WRB]

Worked about 50% of the lakes because by the time the protocols were instituted Quagga mussels from the Colorado River water supplied lakes and before  boaters were inspected for Clean & Dry the spores were already spread.

Lot of finger pointing and claims water fowl were the problem.

Tom

[Darth-Baiter]

22 hours ago, WRB said:

Worked about 50% of the lakes because by the time the protocols were instituted Quagga mussels from the Colorado River water supplied lakes and before  boaters were inspected for Clean & Dry the spores were already spread.

Lot of finger pointing and claims water fowl were the problem.

Tom

Thank you. I’m hopeful authorities measures work.  …..but people….people are the wildcard 

[NorcalBassin]

Dang it. Just as I suspected, now my home lake is shut down just as I was about to finally get back out there again. Going to be interesting to see how this changes the tournament circuit out here.

https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/3468417/bor-temporarily-suspends-new-melones-lake-boat-launches.html

[WRB]

It looks lake closures are spreading faster then Golden mussels.

The problem is each county tends to have a different protocol and don’t share or honor other county lakes system.

This makes tournament lake choices very difficult.

We have lived with this since 2008 with Quagga mussels in SoCal boat locked  onto 1 or 2 lakes PIA!
Tom

[Caliyak]

Pyramid lake has the dry checks. Many have been turned away at the boat ramps, 2-3 drops found. So they drive down to the central valley and fish the lakes in the Bakersfield area.