Boat U.S. - January 2009 - (Page 23)

billion over the last decade fighting these invasive species. “If we don’t control the quaggas, it’ll be a disaster,” says Gloria Sandoval, public information officer for California’s Department of Boating and Waterways. “It’s a very serious threat.” Current treatment of clogged intakes usually involves chlorination, which not only kills the invasive mussels, but also affects other species such as fish. While a nontoxic solution to this invasive problem is currently being tested (see sidebar), for now officials will focus on preventing the spread of these species. Boats are seen as one of the primary conveyors of mussels, either as microscopic larvae, known as veligers, or as adults, attached to the hull or hidden in a live well or bilge. Adult quagga mussels aren’t much bigger than your thumbnail, but in their larval stage, they’re almost invisible. “Veligers feel like sandpaper on a boat’s hull,” says Sandoval, “they’re microscopic at that stage.” A mussel veliger. you should expect to wait in line to have a trained officer go over your boat, or you may even have to schedule an inspection appointment to get a sticker before being allowed to launch your boat. Details vary by county. “We’re highly advising that you call the lake ahead of time and find out what restrictions are in place before you go,” says Sandoval. Inspectors will open hatches, live wells, and bilge accesses, looking for standing water or wet areas. Veligers can survive in even a small amount of water for days or even weeks in certain conditions. Adult mussels can live out of the water for five to 30 days depending on temperature. Inspectors will also run their hands over the hull of a boat, feeling for rough patches indicating the presence of tiny mussels. Boats found with water in holds or wells may BoatU.S. Magazine January 2009 Get Them Off California’s Department of Boating and Waterways has prepared a 20-page pamphlet, downloadable on the Internet, on invasive mussels and how to clean your boat before moving it to a different water body. The guide is divided by type of boat (ski, pontoon, fishing, etc.), offering advice specific to each type. “We want boaters to know that there are steps to take before going boating,” says Sandoval. California’s approach leans heavily on inspection of boats at roadside inspection stations near borders on interstates, and at boat ramps. At nearly two dozen reservoirs and lakes, photo courtesy univ. of melbourne (top left), photo d. blankenship (right)

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - January 2009

BoatU.S. - January 2009 Contents At The Helm Reader Forum BoatU.S. Reports Brokerage Boats Invasion Of The Access Snatchers Don’t Move A Mussel Tech Connection BoatsGearWheels A Defect And Its Aftermath Obama Onboard? Fast-Water Fly-Fishing How I Got That Shot A Loop Through The Heartland Why Boats Sink At The Dock Install Your Own Trim Tabs BoatU.S. Exchange At Your Service/Mbr. Benefits

Boat U.S. - January 2009

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