DFG News Archive

MEDIA ADVISORY:
DFG Hosts Quagga Mussel Boat Inspection Demonstration

What: The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will demonstrate quagga/zebra mussel inspections for boats. DFG is training Game Wardens and biologists, along with staff from other agencies, in an effort to help boaters prevent the contamination of California waters.

Where:
City of San Diego Water Department
Employee Training and Development Center
5510 Kiowa Drive,
La Mesa, CA 91942

When: Tuesday, Oct. 16, 1:15 p.m.

Why: Quagga mussels were discovered in Lake Mead, NV in January 2007 and have since been found in the Colorado River system, San Diego County in San Vicente Reservoir, Lake Murray Reservoir, Lower Otay Reservoir, and Lake Dixon and in Riverside County in Lake Skinner and Lake Mathews. They present a serious threat to California’s environment, water delivery systems and recreational boating. Quagga and zebra mussels clog water intake structures such as pipelines and screen, impair plumbing operations at power and water treatment plants, and contaminate vessels. They alter the food web by filtering out substantial amounts of phytoplankton necessary for fish and other species, and changing the pH of the waters they infest with their wastes.

Visual Opportunities: DFG staff performing inspections, items contaminated with quagga mussels, quagga expert for interviewing.

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