While paranoia, financial or otherwise, drives water agencies to demand boat inspections, quarantines and “seals” to try to curb the spread of quagga mussels in California, much of the world looks on with curiosity.
Take what appears to be a launch ramp, fully extended down into the water, even at the current low level at Lake Wohlford. It looks like a ramp, but the barriers at the top say it’s not. No inspections, no seals, no nothing will get you on.
Instead, officials are waiting for “nature” to take its course, all the while holding their breath. After all, nearby Lake Dixon in the same city already has the mussels.
So wouldn’t you know it, any day now the environmentally protected cormorant (or unprotected seagull, heron or egret for that matter) will lift off and fly over the hill from the infested lake and land on Wohlford’s pristine waters. The clock is ticking.
Now I have no particular desire to pay more for my tap water because a water district will claim extra costs in delivery due to annual treating of their pumping systems, that’s just the way it is. Or the way it will most certainly be in Escondido, and everywhere else.
So for now, yes, you might miss the morning topwater bite waiting for the inspectors on your favorite lake.
But it could be worse. At least by following the rules you can still get in.
Look at the Clear Lake mess. Just charge a bunch more money and everything will be solved.
I have a question. Is there ANY documented case of a day use boat contaminating a lake? Everything I have seen has come from a freighter, moored houseboat or a water district pipe.