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Golden Mussel Infestation: Lake Berryessa Boat Launch Rules

Updated: Nov 27

As you may have seen on social media, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Solano County Water District have implemented drastic changes to boat launch rules at Lake Berryessa. This sudden development has left the local fishing community, including us here at Sweeney's Sports, scrambling to adjust.


To make matters more challenging, we’ve confirmed that Lake Hennessey and Lake Camanche are now completely closed to boat launches, as of today, according to Drew Ganter, Supervising Water Resource Specialist with the Solano County Water Agency.


Like many of you, we were shocked and blindsided by these rapid changes. After reading posts and comments online, it became clear that reliable information was scarce. So, we decided to take action, separating fact from fiction to understand what’s happening and how we can adapt.


Our business relies heavily on the fishing community, and this situation has the potential to significantly impact us. Even a sustained 10% drop in sales could seriously threaten our ability to stay open. That’s why we’ve jumped into action, contacting the Bureau of Reclamation and working closely with Drew to get the facts straight.


Fast Facts About the Golden Mussel


  • What happened?Golden Mussels (Limnoperna fortunei) were discovered at Rough & Ready Island near Stockton, California, on October 17, 2024.

  • Global threat:The Golden Mussel is considered one of the highest-risk invasive species globally.

  • First in North America:This is the first-ever detection of the Golden Mussel in North America.

  • Rapid spread potential:In Brazil, Golden Mussels have spread at a rate of over 240 km/year, posing an urgent threat to both ecosystems and water infrastructure.


What Are Golden Mussels?


Golden Mussels are invasive freshwater mussels that, like Zebra and Quagga Mussels in the Great Lakes, are capable of causing catastrophic environmental changes. These mussels can dramatically reduce plankton populations, disrupting the food web and harming fish populations. Additionally, they colonize surfaces rapidly, threatening water-based infrastructure.


Why Are Golden Mussels Dangerous?


1. They Can Kill Fish

Golden Mussels feed on plankton, a crucial food source for fish like Bass, Trout, Catfish, and Kokanee fry (juveniles).


  • How much do they consume?

    An adult mussel can filter up to 1 liter of water per day, and 1 square meter of surface can host up to 200,000 mussels.

  • Impact:

    10 square feet of Golden Mussels can remove plankton from 1.5 million gallons of water per month, starving fish and damaging fisheries.


2. They Damage Water Infrastructure

Golden Mussels clog pipes, filters, and other water systems, causing costly damage to water treatment plants and hydroelectric facilities. Their attachment to surfaces also leads to corrosion and degradation of infrastructure.





3. They Multiply Rapidly

Golden Mussels can spread up to 150 miles per year, as seen in Brazil, making containment efforts especially challenging.


What Is Being Done?


Lake Berryessa Boat Launch Rules

Currently, Lake Berryessa has strict new boat launch rules in place to prevent the spread of Golden Mussels.


Options for Launching Your Boat

  1. 30-Day Quarantine

    • Your boat must be sealed by authorized personnel and quarantined for 30 days. This involves running a metal wire to connect the boat to the trailer and a tamper-proof seal being applied. Unfortunately, you won't be able to use the boats for the full 30 days to pass the quarantine.

    • After the quarantine period, you can launch at Lake Berryessa and receive a green seal upon retrieval.

    • If the seal remains unbroken, you can launch again without re-quarantining.


  2. Decontamination Process

    • Boats can be decontaminated by authorized staff at the Steel Canyon Recreation Area.

    • Appointments are required and can be scheduled here.

    • The process involves a thorough hot-water pressure wash, inside and out, and takes about one hour.


Without completing one of these steps, launching our boats at Lake Berryessa is not permitted.


Other Closures


  • Lake Hennessey and Lake Camanche are completely closed to boat launches until further notice.


Our Efforts at Sweeney’s


We’re working closely with the Solano County Water Agency to become an authorized seal and decontamination site at Sweeney’s Sports. Stay tuned for updates as we aim to make this process more convenient for our customers.


What’s Next?


This appears to be a permanent change for our lakes. In the future, seals from one lake may be honored at others, but for now, these rules are specific to Lake Berryessa.

We understand the challenges this creates for our fishing community and our customers. Please share your questions in the comments or give us a call at the shop. We’re here to support you through this transition.

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1 Comment


ogandonuts
6 days ago

Thank you for your reasearch

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