LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER
LADWP Taking Steps to Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels
To help prevent the spread of invasive mussels that can impact the fishery and damage water conveyance systems, all boats entering Crowley Lake will be thoroughly inspected.
Boats showing signs of contamination with invasive mussels, or found to contain any water or debris that could harbor mussels will not be allowed to launch into Crowley Lake. Boats that pass the inspection will be issued an Inspection Certification and allowed to launch.
Invasive mussels, which include quagga and zebra mussels, are small shellfish that were first introduced into the Great Lakes area in 1988 by cargo ships traveling from Eastern Europe. They quickly spread to 12 states within ten years and have since spread through the Metropolitan Water District’s (MWD) Colorado River Aqueduct to reservoirs in Southern California. Currently 15 reservoirs in San Diego and Riverside Counties, as well as a small reservoir in San Benito County have been infested by these aquatic hitch hikers. Many of the infested reservoirs have been closed to public access and additional non-infested water bodies in southern California are instituting mandatory inspections and quarantine periods as well.
Monitoring sites at LADWP facilities have tested negative for these mussels. There is currently no way to eradicate these invasive mussels, so preventing them from becoming established is key.
Boat Inspection Procedure
All boats, kayaks, and canoes planning to launch at Crowley Lake must enter through the main gate at the South Landing and must be inspected. No boat access will be available at any other area of Crowley Lake. Non-motorized vessels may be launched at other accessible areas outside of the South Landing launch ramp after they have been inspected.
Boats showing signs of contamination with invasive mussels, or found to contain any water or debris that could harbor invasive mussels, will not be allowed to launch into Crowley Lake. LADWP and Crowley Lake Fish Camp (CLFC) have instituted a “seal locking system” for repeat users. When a boat leaves Crowley Lake an inspection seal can be requested and attached to the boat and trailer. If an inspection seal is in place on a return visit a boat will NOT need to be re-inspected. Float tubes do not need to be inspected but any fishing equipment used must be clean and dry before use in Crowley Lake to prevent invasion of aquatic hitch hikers.
If you are planning on launching a boat into Lake Crowley please keep the following in mind:
• All boat owners are required to fill out a written questionnaire concerning the past use of the boat. Download a questionnaire to fill out at the following link:
Crowley Lake Boat Questionnaire
• All boats will be thoroughly inspected.
• All boats and trailers must be CLEAN and DRY or they will be denied access.
• All DRAIN PLUGS must be pulled or opened prior to boat transport that day.
• All vehicles towing boats will be required to have a visible Inspection Certification during boat launching at Crowley Lake.
• Wakeboard and ski boats with ballast tanks or “Fat SacsTM” must demonstrate these tanks are dry prior to entry.
If you own a boat you can take the following actions to help prevent the further spread of invasive mussels whenever moving a boat to a new water body:
• Inspect boats and trailers thoroughly, and remove any trash, mussels or aquatic weeds before leaving any water body.
• Mussels and other items removed from the boat should be properly disposed of in a trash container.
• Drain water from the motor, live-well, bilge and transom wells, and any other water from the boat and equipment before leaving any water body.
• Wash boats, trailers and equipment thoroughly with a pressurized power sprayer and hot water.
• Rinse live-wells, bilge and cooling systems with 140°F hot water or a 6% chlorine bleach solution.
• Dry boats, motors, trailers and equipment thoroughly in the hot sun for at least two weeks before using them again.
Click on the following links to learn more about invasive mussels:
300 Mandich Street
Bishop, CA 93514
760-872-1104