Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-110resolution CALIFORNIA REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR DECLARE A STATEWIDE EMERGENCY RESULTING FORM INFESTATION OF DREISSENID MUSSELS INTO THE WATER BODIES OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WHEREAS, the quagga mussel and zebra mussel, (collectively referred to as Dreissenids are among the most devastating invasive species to invade North American fresh waters; and WHEREAS, the Dreissenids first arrived from Europe in the 1980's and spread to many water bodies in the eastern and Midwestern United States and have now been found in several of the western states; and WHEREAS, the arrival of quagga and zebra mussels in a region creates sever ecological and economic impacts because, once established, these mussels can clog water intake and delivery pipes, infest hydro power infrastructure, adhere to boats and pilings, fou! recreational beaches and damage and forever change fisheries; and WHEREAS, the Dreissenids have now infiltrated the State of California, having been found in San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, San Benito County, and Orange County; and WHEREAS, aver eighty percent (8C%) of the water used by farms, businesses, and the 38 million strong population of California originates in rural northern California counties making preventing the infestation of these headwaters of paramount importance; and WHEREAS, efforts to date have not stopped the mussels' advance once in a water system. The primary methods of advance between water systems is by water flow (connected waterwaysy and trailered watercraft (non-connected waterways} and that advance has not been stopped by present methods, only slowed; and WHEREAS, although these mussels are making inexorable progress into the water bodies of California, there is still the opportunity to prevent significant damage if coordinated and extensive action is taken immediately. Without increased and immediate action, these mussels will cause irreparable ecological and economic damage to California water bodies and long-term costs could be in the billions. A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF WHEREAS, while the County of Butte wishes to prevent the infestation of these mussels in Butte County water bodies, including Lake Oroville; and WHEREAS, even counties in this State without recreational water bodies are at risk from the impacts of the destruction of water systems and the sever harm to the environment caused by these mussels; and WHEREAS, both the State and Federal governments must provide the necessary enforcement authority and funding to all local jurisdictions in California for the implementation of such a strategy. NOW, THEREFORE, BE lT RESOLVED that: 1. The Butte County Board of Supervisors does hereby formally entreat the State of California to declare a statewide State of Emergency due to the infestation of Dreissenid mussels into the water bodies of the state of California and that the Governor request a similar Presidential Proclamation. ~. The Butte County Board of Supervisors requests that the State take the following action in furtherance of the prevention of Dreissenid mussels into California water bodies; a. Enact legislation to allowing the State Department of Fish and Game to tag and quarantine boats which present a particular source of possible infestation, such as boats coming from out-of-state or coming from diseased fakes and water bodies within the State of California. b. Increase prevention funding through mechanisms such as enacting legislation to increase State Department of Motor Vehicles registration fees for all watercraft and adding fees to water distribution billings. Require that the monies accrued from such an increase be utilized solely and only for the prevention of Dreissenid mussels in California water bodies. c. Implement a statewide program which acknowledges watercraft as a vector far disease, identifies and imposes athirty-day quarantine on those watercraft which cannot be adequately decontaminated due to their configuration and/or type and which includes a long-range plan to achieve the goal of ultimately allowing only watercraft which can be classified as "vector-free" into any water bodies in the State of California. d. Encourage collaboration among all local jurisdictions and the State Department of Fish and Game. e. Include in the statewide program an aggressive educational component to ensure that the dangers of infestation by these mussels are well-understood by all who seek to enjoy and/ar benefit from the water badies of this State. f. Enact legislation requiring the State Department of Fish and Game to impose a thirty-day quarantine on all watercraft leaving those jurisdictions jurisdictions that has been infested with Dreissenids, including the banding ofwatercraft to trailers. g. Maintain high mussel awareness 24/7 coverage at all existing State border inspection stations. Establish inspection stations on major south to north roadways (e.g. US 101, 99, 1-5, 395} within the State of California. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Butte County Board of Supervisors this 11t~' day of October, 2011 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Connelly, Wahi, Kirk, Yamaguchi and Chair Lambert NOES: None ABSENT: None NOT VOTING: None n Steve Lambe hair Butte Coun Board of Supervisors ATTEST: Paul Hah Chi Administrativ ff' and Cle~lc ~f ~,B'~a,~d of Sup rvis rs By: putt'