The Tahoe Resource Conservation District says this was a really good find. Inspectors at Tahoe Keys were able to find the mussels right on the 30 foot boat. It looks like a speck of dust, but from those in the know, these can translate into a heap of trouble. The mussels are no bigger than a pinky nail, but their propagation could compromise Lake Tahoe in a matter of months.

“They reproduce in the millions per one of those little guys. So we are talking drastic numbers to try and combat,” says Jonelle Bright a lead watercraft inspector

The owner of the boat brought it in from Arizona, and knew his boat was most likely contaminated. California fish and game wardens have specially trained dogs that sniff out, among other things, Quagga and Zebra mussels.

Ruger the dog confirms the boat owner's suspicions with a sit and bark at the location where the mussels were found by inspectors It is not an easy process on a watercraft this size. 12 lines need to be flushed; so does the holding tank. But what may surprise you is what is coming out of this hose, water heated to 150 degrees.

“Bleaching, bromide detergents don't actually kill these mussels. Not only are the adults mussels able to shut down. They are also sending out a signal to all other little mussels to shut down. They found out 140 degrees on contact means an instant kill,” says Chris Kilian another water craft inspector.

The decontamination is free to boat owners in hopes they will step up instead of hide their compromised vessels.
In Nevada, the fish and game division has final say as to whether a boat can be launched after the decontamination.

In California it’s up to the game warden to decide if that boat gets in to Lake Tahoe. And he will base part of his decision on what Rugar find at the end of the power wash.

If you’d like more information on your boat’s risk, prevention, or what Quagga Mussels and Zebra Mussels look like, go to our web channel at kolotv.com