Board of Supervisors Tues Mtg 11-03-26 · Quagga Mussel Prevention Program

At the November 3, 2026, Lake County Board of Supervisors meeting, Water Resources staff presented revised proposals to fund the Quagga mussel prevention program. Staff proposed raising resident stickers from $20 to $30 per year and nonresident stickers from $20 to $30 per month, with further increases previously contemplated. After public and board feedback, staff withdrew the proposed $900 mussel-dog fee for large tournaments. No fee schedule was formally adopted at this meeting; the discussion indicated staff would bring the $30 fees forward through the master fee schedule process and a public hearing. The Board also directed staff to return with information on tournament fee tiers or sliding scales and a possible annual pass for frequent nonresident boaters. A tournament permit fee was discussed, including a possible $50 minimum, but no amount was approved.

Staff reported that the program has relied increasingly on sticker revenue as grants become less predictable; dog services cost about $90,000 last year, and a $400,000 boating and waterways grant was received for dog inspections. The Board discussed identifying a reliable fallback funding source, with cannabis-tax funding and future budget discussions mentioned, but did not approve a dedicated allocation. Staff also reported preliminary work with state agencies, Public Works, and potential contractors to assess a contained boat decontamination station, including possible sites and costs; no site, contract, or funding was approved. Vendors currently receive $7 per sticker, and the proposal would raise their share to $9 at the $30 fee level; vendor compensation and possible vendor participation in the inspection database remain under consideration.