EBMUD extends boat launch ramp closures in effort to prevent spread of invasive mussel

[WB Staff]

EBMUD extends boat launch ramp closures in effort to prevent spread of invasive mussel

Boat launches at all East Bay Municipal Utility District reservoirs will remain closed in an effort to keep invasive golden mussels from infesting the public water supply, the agency said.

Golden mussels haven’t been detected in EBMUD’s seven raw water reservoirs, and the boat launch closures announced this past Thursday are a pre-emptive measure to keep them at bay.
Last October, the invasive bivalves were discovered in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta — the first known occurrence of the species in North America, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The mussels, or Limnoperna fortunei, originated in Southeast Asia and are a freshwater species that inhabit shallow waters. The mussels colonize hard surfaces such as water intakes, impeding water flow, clogging pipes, and damaging equipment, including boat motors.

In addition, dense colonies of the mussel consume large quantities of microscopic plants and animals that are critical to native species and sport fish.

READ IT ALL: https://localnewsmatters.org/2025/02/19 ... ve-mussel/

[896]

East bay mud has no plans to open the lakes to boating.
The California land commission, told me in a email that they feel they did everything in their power to prevent the Golden mussels from entering the delta( yes I got a good laugh out of that)))
They knew this could happen and said it was only a matter of time before it happened.
Only thing you can do now is start e mailing your congress representatives now and bring light to the fact that California is spreading the mussels to Southern California drinking water.

[JVGondal]

According to that link the golden mussel lives to about 10 meters deep. 30 feet or so ?

Every year they draw the water down in all the lakes by that much or more.
Won’t that kill them and keep them under control?

[896]

I believe they also die in 46 degree water temp

[bassrippin365]

Out of curiosity, was these watersheds created on BLM land or did the water districts purchase the land outright. I got to believe that they entered into a contract with the federal government and there were stipulations that access must be provided to the public. What is everyone's thoughts?

[JVGondal]

I know that when new Melones dam was created part of the deal was to have free recreation and it did
Up until several years ago
it use to cost nothing to launch a boat

[hydro]

Way back when in California Assembly Bill "AB 286 Sponsored by Assemblyman Masterson " passed the house vote on 5-7-1959 . It was signed into law on 5-21-1959 by Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown ran for Gov with this idea as a campaign pledge .
Provisions of the law included that any lake or reservoir built in California using public money "Must" be made open to the public for recreation purposes . Lake Pardee which had been closed to public access since it was filled in 1913 (due to being made for drinking water )was then forced to open to the public for recreation . Other formally closed lakes were also opened at that time .
Another provision of this law was that access to use the Recreation Areas had to be free of charge to the public . Not sure if this law is still in force as written ?
With the state of things now it would appear they got around those laws somehow? I tried researching this online but got nowhere ?
Maybe you have to be a Lawyer ?

[JVGondal]

Yes we need lawyers now
EBMUD has always been very restrictive and created many laws to keep us out and or restrict use. They are the same way with the land and equestrian use
Don’t even consider a motorized vehicle. A mountain bike in designated areas. Dogs? Haha. Not where they think a kit fox might live.
They take advantage of any development they can
In this case it’s the golden mussel. It’s an opportunity to crack down on us.
The powers in charge slowly take a small piece of our freedoms until we have nothing left and conditioned to it.
edge into a complete permanent shut down.
Progressively one small step at a time
Like a puppy on a 25 foot chain. Remove one link at a time slowly. In a couple years when the chain is only 5 feet long the dog will be happy to the confined space and afraid to go beyond 5 feet
You could cut the chain and it would remain in the 5 foot area
We are that dog
Some of us see this and complain or according to those who say these closures are necessary we cry
The rest are already comfortable with the conditioning and believe short chains are for the greater good

[stickbait]

According to that link the golden mussel lives to about 10 meters deep. 30 feet or so ?

Every year they draw the water down in all the lakes by that much or more.
Won’t that kill them and keep them under control?

yes but what about marinas, docks, houseboats, other slipped boats, buoy lines, floating logs.....

my question is ...how long have the mussels been in the delta... if its been 2 or 3 years...all these closers are useless as the mussels/larva have been moved already !!!

[JVGondal]

According to that link the golden mussel lives to about 10 meters deep. 30 feet or so ?

Every year they draw the water down in all the lakes by that much or more.
Won’t that kill them and keep them under control?

yes but what about marinas, docks, houseboats, other slipped boats, buoy lines, floating logs.....

my question is ...how long have the mussels been in the delta... if its been 2 or 3 years...all these closers are useless as the mussels/larva have been moved already !!!

True. I had not considered that.
Seems a couple docks would not be terribly hard to decontaminate once a year. But what do I know

[Whoopbass]

According to that link the golden mussel lives to about 10 meters deep. 30 feet or so ?

Every year they draw the water down in all the lakes by that much or more.
Won’t that kill them and keep them under control?

yes but what about marinas, docks, houseboats, other slipped boats, buoy lines, floating logs.....

my question is ...how long have the mussels been in the delta... if its been 2 or 3 years...all these closers are useless as the mussels/larva have been moved already !!!

We don't know how long they've been there or if their even there. We're just taking the states word for it and we all know they don't give a damn about us or our rights.

[DeltaBassPimp]

Anyone else find it strange that the one place where they "supposedly" found these mussels continues to be wide open, but the places that are 100% mussel free are all closing? Has anyone even seen actual proof of golden mussels in the delta? I'm out there quite often and have yet to see any sign of a mussel. Golden, quagga or any other type.

[896]

The California Constitution's Article X, Section 4 guarantees the public's right to access and use navigable waters. This includes the right to use the water for recreation, fishing, and transportation.
(((This is why they can’t shut the delta down))))

[JVGondal]

The California Constitution's Article X, Section 4 guarantees the public's right to access and use navigable waters. This includes the right to use the water for recreation, fishing, and transportation.
(((This is why they can’t shut the delta down))))

Back in the 1980s the marina at camanche was fighting to stay open. There are certain powers that have wanted these water closed for a very long time

[Whoopbass]

Anyone else find it strange that the one place where they "supposedly" found these mussels continues to be wide open, but the places that are 100% mussel free are all closing? Has anyone even seen actual proof of golden mussels in the delta? I'm out there quite often and have yet to see any sign of a mussel. Golden, quagga or any other type.

I'm not sure if they exist or not.
I will be in the port area often this year and I will check it out. They should be everywhere and not just confined to some pipe. I'm betting I find nothing.

[MT]

The Basshound tackle shop in Clearlake has a link to the website that tracks the mussels in the Delta. There's been over 30 discoveries all over the Delta. You can click on each dot on the map and see pictures of the location and of the mussels themselves. So obviously they didn't just magically appear in October. They've been here awhile. Most of them are little bastards and I bet the redears love them.

[Whoopbass]

https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/In ... den-Mussel

Supposedly there's some around the ramp at Ladd's/Buckley Cove. Should be easy enough to spot some at low tide.
You think the powers that be would shut that ramp down.

They even spotted them over 200 miles away in the aqueduct. If true then they have to be all over the state.

[jiggin4bass]

Pine flat, Eastman and Hensley all lakes are all open 24/7 army corp lakes. Millerton state run open by 6 am not sure when you have to be off the water.
Saturday traffic was study on Eastman last sat and sun. Trout plants were last week bank fisherman were everywhere both days A 9 1/2 lb bass was reported on sat. The bank fisherman using a lipless crank bait for the catch.
Hensley at 29%
Eastman at 51%
Anything over 50% at Eastman is good fishing
The fish are moving up and cruzin.

[Chris_B]

EBMUD updated their website deleting any mention of plans to reopen to boaters. They are using golden mussel as an opportunity to prohibit recreational boating, something they've wanted to do for decades. They won't change course unless they are sued and lose. Any attorneys with public trust doctrine and California constitution expertise want to take this on? Unfortunately, EBMUD has a legal war chest to fight off recreation in their watersheds and a 100% progressive liberal Board of directors and executive management. The Recreational Boaters of California organization protects boater rights and has a lobby but they seem to only be focused on salt and yacht owners. Classic case of little guys getting screwed (again)...

[straightsixes]

So why isn’t anyone doing anything to eradicate the mussels that are located?

It’s pretty much standard procedure to see the state killing off plant life for months at a time. Why can’t they attack the mussels to slow/minimize this process as well? I understand that 100,000s of eggs per “female” but kill what you can at low tide while you can. Right?

Why not investigate making a “hybrid” male that causes infertility in next generation.

There are options. It seems the state and other authorities and throwing their hands up and claiming they can’t do anything.

[JVGondal]

Recreation has always been last priority around here

Time for new leadership

[jiggin4bass]

You might give Trump and his Fed buddys a call they are in control.

[Chris_B]

So why isn’t anyone doing anything to eradicate the mussels that are located?

It’s pretty much standard procedure to see the state killing off plant life for months at a time. Why can’t they attack the mussels to slow/minimize this process as well? I understand that 100,000s of eggs per “female” but kill what you can at low tide while you can. Right?

Why not investigate making a “hybrid” male that causes infertility in next generation.

There are options. It seems the state and other authorities and throwing their hands up and claiming they can’t do anything.

This sums it up. EBMUD's ambiguous, full and apparently permanent prohibition of boating requires A LOT of explanation. Relying on a state declaration of invasive species emergency does not give them a free pass. I still see tanker ships coming up the river..

The Mokelumne is a water of the State, which the California constitution has "public trust" assurances to prevent this kind of abuse. The State (Water Resources Control Board - Division of Water Rights) has a legal obligation to investigate this violation of their surface water permit and force EBMUD to correct course.

Other lake operators have their eye on this and if it goes unchecked we could lose most of our inland fishing opportunities and the Delta will be packed. The implications are menacing.

If EBMUD does not have bad intentions why dont they publicly disclose why their closure isn't overly broad, is appropriate and reasonable for the risk they are trying to control, and is proportional to the actual or theoretical risk of golden mussel? These are basic questions that need to be answered before stripping the public of their rights to waters of the State.

[jiggin4bass]

Sound like chris_B wants to go fishing really bad.

[JVGondal]

Sound like chris_B wants to go fishing really bad.

He is right. All we see over our lives is less and less outdoor opportunities
I can compile a lengthy list of closed trails camp grounds waters that never open
I can not list any new opportunities. Certainly none for 4x4 trails or boat launching

[896]

Hopefully more lakes don’t follow suit…
Lake camanche won’t refund your money on their annual passes either!!!!
On a side note,( not trying to piss in someone Cheerios ) it’s not ideal that people make videos on the delta than make another one on a lake. I would bet the powers that be will use it against us.

[jiggin4bass]

It's most likely going to happen to Central Ca lakes and stretch to Southern Ca.lakes everything happens in cycles. The delta will never close because it can't and as long as democrats run this state nothing is going to change. So good luck with all your fancy talk and legal explanations to try to get them to reverse there decisions. It's not going to happen anytime soon.

[Bayarea-bassin]

The mussels have been around for at least a couple years. I keep my boat in a wet berth in franks tract. It’s an older 17 ft. aluminum boat and when I pulled it out August/2022 to do some work on it I noticed mussels on the transom right under the motor mount. I scrapped them off, but was surprised to see that. I still keep it in a wet berth because that is my delta boat and I only use it for fishing the delta.

[JVGondal]

If you had them on your boat they know about them being in the delta that long
If they are not in the lakes yet they won’t get there

The whole thing is bull ****. Just another way to restrict and keep us out .

[hydro]

Perhaps the State could make a "California Golden Mussel Boating card" akin to the "Boater operators card" and after taking a class you would be qualified to launch your boat all over the state after proving you know all about invasive mussels and what must be done to prevent them spreading .

[Chris_B]

According to a presentation to EBMUD Planning Committee today (3/11/25), boats might still be permitted. I wish they made this information easier to find..

Here is a excerpt from EBMUD staff's slide show (no timeline for re-opening provided):

• Staff is gathering information toward developing a plan to re-open District reservoirs to boats.

• The plan would likely require the following of all boats launching at District facilities:
o Vessel history
o Visual inspection
o 30-day quarantine

• Staff are still collecting information to determine if decontamination methods used to control quagga and zebra mussels are effective for golden
mussels.

• Any boat launch reopening plan would likely change boating and PWC usage. Therefore, staff recommends a pause in the PWC prohibition.

https://www.ebmud.com/application/files ... ations.pdf

[JVGondal]

• Any boat launch reopening plan would likely change boating and PWC usage. Therefore, staff recommends a pause in the PWC prohibition.

https://www.ebmud.com/application/files ... ations.pdf

What do they mean by PWC ? Jet skis or Does that include boats?

[monte300]

To me it means personal watercraft so I assume it includes boats, jet skis and kayaks?

[JVGondal]

Yes not sure either Monte. But if not mistaken some place define personal water craft as jet skis

[monte300]

I looked it up and you’re right JV, it refers to jet skis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_ ... 0%20miles).

[Popper]

According to that link the golden mussel lives to about 10 meters deep. 30 feet or so ?

Every year they draw the water down in all the lakes by that much or more.
Won’t that kill them and keep them under control?

Mussels will continue to spread as water recedes from full capacity, and vice versa.
Time to implement the same quarantine procedures and protocols as in Lake Berryessa for all lakes.
No,
There's no silver bullet to mitigate the spread but Berryessa immediate response/actions is the best one in place.

Clear Lake county is screwed...........
It's not a matter of "if" but "when", and at that point it'll be too late.
Mussels will cluster on every wood, metal piling, retaining wall, all rocks and rock piles on the lake. Launch ramps on the lake will be filled with mussels, and won't surprise me to see Tulles begin to die off.
Fisherman will bitch on the environmental changes and drastic weight reductions, and business around the lake will take a major blow in the pocketbooks.

They should have been the 1st to jump on the Berryessa Quarantine procedures.
Yeah.... it's probably too late.

[JVGondal]

Isn’t there a vaccine for this?


You just want your own private clear lake

[stickbait]

According to that link the golden mussel lives to about 10 meters deep. 30 feet or so ?

Every year they draw the water down in all the lakes by that much or more.
Won’t that kill them and keep them under control?

yes but what about marinas, docks, houseboats, other slipped boats, buoy lines, floating logs.....

my question is ...how long have the mussels been in the delta... if its been 2 or 3 years...all these closers are useless as the mussels/larva have been moved already !!!

We don't know how long they've been there or if their even there. We're just taking the states word for it and we all know they don't give a damn about us or our rights.

https://calmatters.org/environment/2024 ... ter-ships/

Ruiz, who has studied California’s data on ship arrival and locations of the mussels, said it’s probable the golden mussel entered the Delta at least a year ago and even possible that it’s been there for a decade or more, adding that “it could even have happened in the pre-treatment (of ballast water) era.”

[jiggin4bass]

Prevent the spread of Democrats will take care of the problem. It's all on them.

[896]

If the state was that worried about the invasion they should have made all ships off load in San Diego, and other ports in Southern California.
Like the report states they checked a very small percentage of ships entering the state waters.
Probably told each other what a wonderful job they did.
I would bet they will be asking for a butt load of cash from the feds to do something, that will no doubt never go to anything to do with golden mussels.