Memorandum
Date: July 29, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Pawan Upadhyay, PhD, Water Resources Director
Matthew T. Rothstein, Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer
Subject: (a) Consideration of an Update Regarding Disruption to Critical Quagga and Zebra Mussel Funding and Next Steps, Including Affirmation of Appeal of Grant Decision; (b) Consideration of Board and Staff Letters Requesting Action by Governor Newsom and our State Legislative Delegation to Restore Funding for the Clear Lake Mussel Prevention Project; (c) Consideration of Authorizing Staff to Partner with Nielsen Merksamer for Additional State-Level Advocacy; (d) Consideration of a Resolution Amending the Motion by the Board Approving the Recommended Budget for FY 2025-2026 by Adjusting Revenues in Budget Unit 1072 (Cannabis) and 8109 (Watershed Protection District)
Executive Summary:
For your Board’s and the public’s awareness, the Lake County Watershed Protection District was recently notified our 2025 Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Application, facilitated by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, will not be funded. the Lake County Watershed Protection District was recently notified our 2025 Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Application, facilitated by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways, will not be funded. This was a $399,520 request to support the Clear Lake Mussel Prevention Project, and the majority of the funding would have gone to support ramp monitor staffing costs.
On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, I contacted program staff, emphasizing the potentially profound consequences of disruption to this critical funding. Our Application was denied due to a clerical oversight (exclusion of a Letter documenting California Department of Fish and Wildlife review of the County’s Dreissenid Mussel Prevention Plan, received in 2019), as opposed to any substantive concern or deficiency. A Formal Appeal was filed Thursday, July 24, 2025, with the Division of Boating and Waterways’ Executive, Deputy Director, Ramona Fernandez; as of this writing, no response has been received.
In large measure because of the work of our trained ramp monitors, introduction of Quagga and Zebra Mussels to Clear Lake has been mitigated, to date. Particularly with increased complexities associated with recent infestations of Golden Mussels in California waterbodies, remaining vigilant in is essential to the health of the ecosystem surrounding our County’s defining geographic feature.
You will be aware, California’s Delta Region is likewise a bass fishing haven, and fisherman commonly travel between the two water bodies. Should monitoring for Quagga, Zebra and Golden Mussels be suspended, it may just be a matter of time before infestation occurs, due to introduction by vessels visiting Clear Lake.
This is a significant threat, and loss of Clear Lake as a vibrant fishery and habitat would have dramatic implications for our County and the State. Once introduced, Dreissenid mussels significantly alter lake ecology by displacing native species, destroying native habitats and the species that depend on natural habitats, blocking water delivery, disrupting recreational and commercial fishing, undermining docks and all other structures in the water, impeding navigation and enjoyment of the country's waterways. These mussels have caused devastating impacts on municipal water systems, recreation and fisheries in other areas of the country; we must collectively remain vigilant (<https://www.nomussels.com/>).
As previously stated, Lake County Watershed Protection District/Water Resources Department staff are already appealing this highly regrettable Division of Boating and Waterways decision. In addition to this action, staff recommends your Board consider three additional steps:
1) Authorize me, as Water Resources Director, and the County Administrative Officer to co-sign a Letter to Governor Newsom, State Senate President pro Tempore McGuire, and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, strongly encouraging them to intervene in the State’s interest, and fund the Clear Lake Mussel Prevention Project; and/or Authorize a Letter from your Board.
2) Authorize Water Resources and County Administrative Office staff to partner with the County’s State Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy Firm, Nielsen Merksamer, to support our Representatives in urging the Division of Boating and Waterways to reconsider their decision.
3) As of this writing, the Water Resources Department has approximately $13,000 in Quagga and Zebra Mussel Inspection Sticker Revenue, and an urgent increase of available funding is required, due to the Division of Boating and Waterways’ decision. With your Board’s approval, $266,445.86 in available Cannabis funds dedicated to Water Resources, Planning, Code Enforcement and similar purposes can likewise be utilized to continue ramp monitoring. Staff additionally recommend allocating $75,000 in Economic Development-focused Cannabis funds. The attached Resolution will execute the necessary amendments to your Board’s Recommended Budget for FY 2025-26 by adjusting revenues in Budget Unit 1072, Cannabis, and 8109, Lake County Watershed Protection District. This will provide $341,445.86 in interim funding for continued monitoring until the Department can re-apply for grant funding in the Spring, should the Formal Appeal prove unsuccessful.
Screening for Quagga, Zebra and Golden Mussels is essential to shielding gains made by recent County and State investments in the health of Clear Lake investments and providing the best possible future for all Lake County residents and visitors.
Staff recommend your Board affirm continuation of the Formal Appeal process, and authorize the additional actions detailed above.
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Recommended Action:
1) Affirm your Board’s support for continuation of the Formal Appeal process associated with Lake County Watershed Protection District’s “Clear Lake Mussel Prevention Project” Grant Application; 2) Authorize Pawan Upadhyay, Water Resources Director, and Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer, to co-sign a Letter to Governor Newsom, State Senate President pro Tempore McGuire, and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, strongly requesting they intervene in the State’s interest, and fund the Clear Lake Mussel Prevention Project; and/or Authorize a Letter from your Board; 3) Authorize Water Resources and County Administrative Office staff to partner with the County’s State Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy Firm, Nielsen Merksamer, to support our Representatives in urging the Division of Boating and Waterways to reconsider their decision; and 4) Adopt the Resolution Amending the Motion by the Board Approving the Recommended Budget for FY 2025-2026 by Adjusting Revenues in Budget Unit 1072 (Cannabis) and 8109 (Watershed Protection District)