Memorandum
Date: April 8, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Pawan Upadhyay, Water Resources Director
Subject: 9:30 A.M. - Public Hearing - Consideration of an Ordinance Amending Article IX, Chapter 15 of the Lake County Code - Updating Water Vessel Inspection Program
Executive Summary:
The Water Vessel Inspection Program, as outlined in Article IX, Chapter 15 of the Lake County Code, was originally established to protect Lake County's water bodies from the invasive Quagga and Zebra Mussels. These species pose a severe ecological and economic threat to local water resources, infrastructure, and aquatic ecosystems.
With the recent discovery of Golden Mussels in the Bay Area, there is a pressing need to expand the scope of our county ordinance to proactively address this new invasive threat, along with any other future freshwater mussel invasions. Updating the Water Vessel Inspection Program is a necessary step to safeguard Lake County's water resources from the expanding threat of invasive mussels. Staff has revised the ordinance accordingly and requests the Board of Supervisors adopt the proposed amendment to strengthen the County's invasive species prevention efforts.
Proposed Amendment:
The amendment to Article IX, Chapter 15 of the Lake County Code will:
1) Expand the Water Vessel Inspection Program to include Golden Mussels and other invasive freshwater mussels.
2) Provide a legal framework for enforcement and prevention efforts.
3) Ensure the County is proactively protecting its water bodies against emerging aquatic invasive species.
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