Lake County sheriff's deputies are warning boaters who want to use Clear Lake over the Labor Day weekend to make sure their vessels are clear of invasive quagga and zebra mussels.
A county ordinance was revised in February requiring all vessels be screened and have stickers proving they are clear of the mussels.
A violation is now a misdemeanor instead of an infraction, which increases the base fine from $100 to $1,000. By the time court fines and fees are added to that, the cost reaches about $2,700 for failing to have a current inspection sticker.
Since February, 19 citations have been issued and Lake County authorities say they will cite every violator they catch.
The law requires screening of all vessels prior to launching in a Lake County water body. It applies to all registered vessels such as boats or personal watercraft. It does not apply to canoes, kayaks, rafts, floats, paddle boats or sail boats shorter than 8 feet in length.
The law also bans the disposal of live bait and any liquid that contains or has contained live bait into Lake County water bodies. Keeping the invasive mussels at bay is important because Clear Lake is crucial to the county's economy, attracting visitors to boat, swim and bird watch.
The mussels, which infiltrated Southern California waters in 2008, have been steadily making their way across the United States since first spotted in the East 22 years ago.
They foul waters and clog engines and water systems, causing millions of dollars in damage. Despite that, there are few mandatory regulations aimed at stopping the pests, which hitchhike between waterways on boats and fishing equipment. Compliance is voluntary at lakes Sonoma and Mendocino.
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