Local eradication at San Justo has been delayed for years
While Gov. Jerry Brown showed support for a program that targets
invasive mussel species, such as the ones contaminating San Justo
Reservoir since at least January 2008, the action does little for
San Benito County officials’ efforts to eradicate them from the
local waterway and prevent further spreading.
Local eradication at San Justo has been delayed for years
While Gov. Jerry Brown showed support for a program that targets invasive mussel species, such as the ones contaminating San Justo Reservoir since at least January 2008, the action does little for San Benito County officials’ efforts to eradicate them from the local waterway and prevent further spreading.
Brown announced the signing of the legislation last week. It aims to combat the spread of zebra and quagga mussels, which can do massive harm to pipe systems by clogging them and requiring costly repairs, but the county water district manager underscored that it doesn’t do much here because its focus is on prevention.
“And since we already have a problem, there’s not much to prevent,” said Jeff Cattaneo, manager of the San Benito County Water District, which is working with state and federal authorities on an eradication plan for San Justo Reservoir.
The local reservoir has been closed since the discovery of zebra mussels there in early 2008, the first such find in California of the invasive mussel. Other mussel species, such as the quagga, have been found in the state as well, prompting multi-level cooperation in attempts to halt its spread.
Locally, Cattaneo noted that attempts have been made to temporarily decrease the population or halt its growth at San Justo. Last summer, the water district drew down the reservoir as far as possible to kill off many of the zebra mussels. And the district has made a habit in the late summer/early fall period of the year to move the naturally occurring, low-oxygen water in the reservoir into the local water system.
Despite those efforts, which have worked in the short term, the species multiplies rapidly and finds a way to keep growing.
“The only fluctuation we’ve noticed is that there’s more of them every year,” Cattaneo said. “The population is growing.”
While other counties are trying to prevent the presence of mussels, San Benito County officials are in a different mode – controlling the existing population.
They are already in the local water system, but have not managed to cause damage to this point because of control efforts, Cattaneo said.
“The wild card in the whole thing right now is if, and when, and everybody you talk to that knows much, it’s more when, they show up in the Delta and the state water system,” he said. “If that happens, there’s not much point to eradicate at San Justo Reservoir.”
State leaders are starting to get the picture about the urgency, he asserted.
“I think more and more, because the water agencies are bringing it up at the elected official level, that they’re becoming more aware of it,” he said.
Part of the reason for such a long closure at San Justo has been delays due to permitting. The water district expects to use a natural potash substance that only one other place has used. Because it’s so rarely used, the permitting has taken several years.
Plus, there’s a cost factor. “It’s not going to be cheap,” he said, “two or three million dollars.”
It remains to be seen where that funding will originate.
“That’s what everybody wants to know,” he said.
Statement from bill supporter:
Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Executive Director Timothy Quinn issued the following statement on the signing of ACWA-sponsored legislation to combat the spread of quagga mussels. SB 215 by Sen. Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) extends the sunset of the successful mussel inspection program led by the Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Food and Agriculture.
“We are pleased that Governor Brown and the Legislature recognized the importance of continuing this aggressive program to combat the spread of invasive quagga mussels. This prolific, non-native species multiplies very quickly, has no known predators and can quickly colonize new waterways. Once they infest a water body, they cover piers, boat launches, and water intake facilities. There is no effective eradication method, and the cost to manually remove these mussels from water intake screens and pipes is millions of dollars per year for state and local water systems.
“While California is clearly in a difficult budget year, ACWA commends the Governor and Legislature for recognizing that a short-term investment is worth the cost to help avoid a long-term serious infestation of state and local water bodies that could cost billions of dollars in damage and repair costs. SB 215 will ensure that the current and effective efforts continue uninterrupted.”
