The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has approved a vessel inspection program to re-open four reservoirs to recreational boating. The board approved the program on the basis of sharing the $560,000 program costs equally with the Santa Clara Valley Water District. The county will use Parks Department funds to cover program costs through July 27, 2008. The water district's willingness to share in program costs will allow inspections, and recreational boating, to continue after July 27.
Boating at all 10 county reservoirs was suspended by the Santa Clara Valley Water District on May 13 in response to the emerging threat of infestation from Quagga and Zebra mussels. While mussels have not been sighted in Santa Clara County, the vessel inspection program will address introduction of mussel infestation by boating in reservoirs. Mussel infestation in reservoirs can occur through multiple avenues including boating and water importation.
"This is a delicate balancing act between protecting our water system and ensuring recreational boating activities continue on our waterways," said Supervisor Don Gage, chair of the board's Housing Land Use, Environment and Transportation Committee. "Inspections for Quagga/Zebra mussels
The water district last week approved of the cost-sharing plan.
Santa Clara County parks provide recreational services at the reservoirs under a lease from the water district and will implement the inspection program seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to a half-hour before sunset, at three power boating reservoirs including Anderson, Calero and Coyote and one non-power boating reservoir at Stevens Creek. All other reservoirs will remain closed under the district's moratorium.
The inspection program calls for all vessels to undergo inspection prior to launching. Boats connected to trailers will have the option to be banded. The tamper-resistant band goes between the boat and the trailer. If the band is intact when the vessel returns to a Santa Clara County reservoir it will be allowed to launch without an additional inspection. If the band has been broken or tampered with the vessel will be required to undergo another inspection prior to launching and pay an additional inspection fee. Once a vessel has left the water for that day a band will be attached to the vessel between the winch hook of the trailer and the eyebolt of the bow of the boat. If this band is broken upon reentry into the reservoir, that vessel will have to be re-inspected before entering county reservoirs and an inspection fee will be collected.
Out-of-state boaters as well as any boat registered in San Benito County and all counties south of the Tehachapi Mountains will be banned from Santa Clara County reservoirs. Any boat registered in Santa Clara County that has been recently launched in infected waters will be quarantined and re-inspected.
The Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department will implement a $7 fee per inspection with the option to purchase a $35 annual inspection pass to help offset the cost of the program.
Quagga and Zebra mussels are known to be invasive and destructive. The mussels attach themselves to boats and can spread from one body of water to another. They can clog water pipes, boat piers, and ruin boat motors. Typically they are the same size as a fingernail, and can grow up to about two inches long. Quagga mussels inhabit fresh water at depths from 4 to 180 feet (most commonly 6 to 12 feet) and prefer hard surfaces.
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