Department of Wildlife Inspects Boat for invasive mussels
A first-weekend tryout of Bruce Shaffer and Dana Mason’s new boat was scuttled Saturday when inspectors working for county parks found possible signs of invasive mussels on the couple’s new ride. The larvae of the zebra and quagga mussels are too small to see with the naked eye, so inspectors at all Santa Clara County lakes on Saturday were combing through boats, jet skis and other watercraft, looking for any kind of water - even dampness - that could nurture the tiny mollusks. Inspectors found water in the bilge pump of the boat Mason and Shaffer bought used a week ago. It spewed onto the parking lot at Anderson Lake County Park when Mason cranked the motor. “So much for the maiden voyage,” she said, leaning over the prow. The inspections that ended the couple’s weekend boating dreams started May 23, when county officials initiated the special searches to keep the invasive mussels out of county waters. They can disrupt the food chain and clog the pipes that take water from reservoirs to homes. They can hitch a ride with excess water in a boat and end up in lakes and streams. The distantly related species were first found in Northern California this winter by a fisherman in a lake near Hollister. The tiny mussels quickly breed into large colonies. “We are talking about protecting pretty precious resources,” senior park ranger Mike Bacon said. But, he said, it is a careful balance between recreation and clean drinking water. “People get frustrated. They just want to use a public park,” he said. “But if these things get in the water, it is the public that is going to have to pay.” By 2 p.m. Saturday, inspectors at Anderson Lake had climbed into and crawled under about 56 boats. They sent about 13 away after finding water in the hull or the motor. Some were also sent back with other problems. Boats like the one owned by Mason and Shaffer will be in quarantine for five days. The couple can bring it back to county waters after it dries out. Boats that clear the inspection and are tagged as approved can slide back into county waters without an inspection. County parks and the water department are each spending about $250,000 on the program for the year. A $7 non-refundable inspection fee helps cover the labor costs of the outside contracting firm. Michael Mendoza likes to hit the lakes with his son Elijah and their chocolate lab, Choco. But with the new restrictions, he said Saturday, he brought a slightly dirtier boat than usual. No wet boats “If you keep it outside, you can’t hose it down anymore” to get rid of the leaves and stuff that gets into it, he said. If a boat is at all wet, inspectors will reject it. “Wet means wet,” Bacon said, adding that the mussels can live in any dark, wet place for up to 30 days. Because the regulations are new, Bacon said, some boaters are staying away. He hopes that the more they learn about the process, the more likely they’ll be to show up. But at least one boater in the know said the inspections weren’t much of a bother. “It’s really a piece of cake,” said Peter Carlino of San Jose. He’s been boating for about 20 years, and loves the serenity of being out on the water. He said he is willing to take the time to protect it. “Fifteen minutes of inconvenience is worth it to keep the mussels out of the water,” he said after his boat was cleared to launch. As for Mason and Shaffer, they had to make new plans for their Saturday afternoon. “We’ll dry out the boat,” Mason said, “and then maybe play with the dogs.” There’s always next weekend.