Remote Surveillance Trailer in Folsom, CA

Faced with the rapid spread of golden mussels across California waterways, state and federal officials are imposing strict new measures at Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine to prevent the invasive species from taking hold.

Beginning Monday, all trailered or motorized boats at the two popular Sacramento-area lakes will be required to undergo inspection and a mandatory 30-day quarantine before launching.

“California State Parks is working with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and numerous state agencies to take critical steps to prevent golden mussels from infesting Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine,” said Mike Howard, superintendent of Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. “We thank boaters for their understanding as we implement the new procedures and are working to make the inspection processes as efficient as possible.”

Golden mussels, native to Asia, were first detected in California waters last fall in the Port of Stockton. Since then, they have spread rapidly through connected waterways, reaching as far south as Bakersfield. Officials warn that the freshwater mollusks threaten California’s water infrastructure, power systems and aquatic ecosystems by clogging pipes, outcompeting native species and damaging boats by attaching to hulls and clogging engines.

“Golden mussels are a greater threat to Tahoe than other aquatic invasive species,” said Dennis Zabaglo, aquatic invasive species program manager for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, which recently adopted mandatory decontaminations for all visiting motorized boats in the Sierra waterway. “Boaters and paddlers have a key role in protecting the waters they enjoy.”

Down the hill, State Parks officials emphasized the stakes were high. Without intervention, golden mussels could disrupt water deliveries from the reservoirs and compromise power generation at Folsom Dam.

“These prevention measures are a far better alternative to closing the lakes to vessels or a golden mussel infestation,” Howard said.

The Folsom and Clementine program mirrors restrictions adopted across Northern California with boaters wishing to launch having a red quarantine seal for at least 30 days after a mandatory inspection. Boats exiting the lakes can be sealed by inspectors to avoid future quarantines, provided the cabled seal remains intact.

Trailered vessels, meanwhile, will not be permitted on Lake Natoma, and only hand-launched watercraft will be allowed.

On all three waterways, officials said all boaters, including paddlers and rowers, must arrive with their watercraft clean, drained and dry.

Similar precautions are already in place at Rancho Seco Lake in southeast Sacramento County, where the Sacramento Municipal Utility District enacted emergency rules late last month.

Boaters across the region are urged to follow the “Clean, Drain and Dry” guidance and check local rules before visiting lakes and reservoirs. Details for the Sacramento-area program, including inspection locations and hours, are available at parks.ca.gov/FolsomLakeGoldenMussels.

This story was originally published April 8, 2025 at 8:25 AM.

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Daniel Hunt is a news editor for The Sacramento Bee; he joined the newspaper in 2013.

Contact:Newsroom@parks.ca.gov

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Boaters at Folsom Lake SRA. Bottom right: Once a vessel passes inspection, it will receive a red quarantine seal that cannot be removed during the 30-day quarantine. Photos from California State Parks.

FOLSOM – Effective Monday, April 14, 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will require all trailered or motorized vessels launching at Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine to participate in a vessel inspection/quarantine program to help prevent the spread of golden mussels. This highly invasive aquatic species was recently identified in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the first known occurrence of golden mussels in North America. Golden mussels pose a significant threat to the ecological health of all waters of the state, its water conveyance systems, infrastructure, and water quality.

A media availability will be held this afternoon at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area (SRA). Media outlets interested in attending must RSVP to State Parks at newsroom@parks.ca.gov.

“California State Parks is working with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and numerous state agencies to take critical steps to prevent golden mussels from infesting Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine,” said Folsom Lake SRA Superintendent Mike Howard. “We thank boaters for their understanding as we implement the new procedures and are working to make the inspection processes as efficient as possible. These prevention measures are a far better alternative to closing the lakes to vessels or a golden mussel infestation, which would not only cause substantial damage to the ecosystem and fishery but also impact the power generation and water delivery systems at Folsom Dam and Reservoir.”

These invasive mussels can also cause significant damage to boats by attaching to hulls and clogging engines, which will lead to increased costs for boat owners.

Here are the new requirements:Beginning April 14, Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine will be temporarily closed to all trailered or motorized vessel launching. Vessel owners wishing to launch at Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine at Auburn SRA must have their vessels inspected and a quarantine seal (watercraft band) applied for 30 days. During the quarantine, the vessel will not be permitted to launch. Vessel inspections will be conducted at Beals Point beginning April 14, Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.. This process is expected to take 15 to 30 minutes depending on the vessel. This does not include wait time.

Beginning May 14, vessels completing the 30-day quarantine may return to the two lakes, have the seal removed by authorized staff, and be allowed to launch. Boaters wishing to return to the lakes in the future will have the option to have their boat sealed upon exiting the water and will not be required to quarantine thereafter as long as the seal remains intact.

All trailered vessels are subject to the inspection, quarantine and seal program. Hand-launched, non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, rowing shells, outrigger canoes and rowboats are not subject to the inspection, quarantine and decontamination requirements. Hand-launched watercraft with electric trolling motors, such as fishing kayaks, are also exempt from these requirements.

As part of this new golden mussel prevention program, only hand-launched boats will be permitted on Lake Natoma. Trailered vessels will not be permitted. The existing 5 mph speed limit on Lake Natoma for motorized craft will remain in effect. All boaters, including paddlers and rowers, must arrive with their watercraft clean, drained, and dry.

“Recreational boating is a significant contributor to California’s economy, and California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is working diligently with allied industry and agency partners to provide outreach and educational information to boaters and waterbody managers on the importance of the Clean, Drain and Dry message to help protect the state’s waterways from invasive species,” said DBW Deputy Director Ramona Fernandez. “DBW recommends boaters contact the waterbody manager to learn of any updated requirements before they head out.”

DBW maintains a list of contacts at: https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/inspections.

Additional information on the golden mussel prevention program including inspection site locations, frequently asked questions and hours can be found at www.parks.ca.gov/FolsomLakeGoldenMussels.

Subscribe to California State Parks News via e-mail at NewsRoom@parks.ca.gov

California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.

Effective April 14, 2025, Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine will be closed to all trailered or motorized vessels. All boats wishing to launch into Folsom Lake or Lake Clementine are required to go through a mandatory 30-day quarantine.

After May 14, 2025 all trailered or motorized vessels entering Folsom Lake or Lake Clementine will be required to have a quarantine, and/or decontamination seal intact and verified prior to entering the water.

As required by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to help prevent the spread of the highly invasive golden mussel (limnoperna fortunei), effective April 14, 2025, all trailered or motorized vessel owners wishing to launch at Folsom Lake or Lake Clementine will be subject to an inspection, quarantine for Aquatic Invasive Species.

Golden mussels were recently discovered in the Port of Stockton in October 2024, the first known occurrence in North America. This highly invasive non-native species poses a significant immediate threat to the ecological health of the waters of the state, water intake and conveyance systems and water quality. Golden mussels can survive in a wider range of conditions than quagga or zebra mussels. Golden mussels can dramatically reduce the abundance of both zooplankton and phytoplankton, leading to widespread food web impacts, including to fisheries. Mussel invasions elsewhere have been associated with an increased frequency of potentially-toxic blooms of Microcystis. Their propensity to rapidly colonize any available hard surface jeopardizes built infrastructure in any infested water bodies. They can cause significant damage to boats by attaching to hulls and clogging engines, which will lead to increased costs for boat owners.

Rather than close Folsom Lake to recreation boating, Reclamation and State Parks are opting for a prevention program. This action is necessary as a golden mussel infestation at Folsom Lake could cause substantial damage not only to the ecosystem but could also impact the power generation and water delivery systems at Folsom Dam and Reservoir.

Caption: Golden mussels colonizing a water pipe at a hydroelectric plan in Brazin (Mountinho, 2021).

There will be staff inspecting boats at all OPEN boat launch facilities at Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine.

As per standard operating procedure, in the event that parking areas meet maximum capacity all vehicles will be denied entry.

Boat Launch Cable Seal Protocol

Effective April 14, 2025, Folsom Lake SRA and Auburn SRA will be implementing new protocols for boat launching at Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine. All boats meeting the requirements for the inspection procedures will be quarantined and an inspection seal will be applied. Vessels in compliance will be verified on site and permitted to launch. Every time a seal is applied or removed, information regarding the waterbody, date, CF number and other pertinent data will be entered into the Watercraft Inspection Database (WID).

Vessel Inspection Site

Vessel inspections will be conducted at Beals Point beginning April 14, 2025, Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM. This process is expected to take 15 to 30 minutes depending on the vessel. This does not include wait time.

Quarantine Red Cable Seal

Trained State Parks staff will inspect each vessel for the presence of mussels and onboard water. Once a vessel passes inspection a red quarantine seal will be applied for 30 days during which the vessel will not be permitted to launch. The seal will include a cable through the bow eye of the vessel and around the frame of the trailer to insure it is not launched. The seals are tamper evident and serialized. Each seal application will be entered into a database to confirm the date, vessel/seal numbers and the location. Vessels that have finished the 30-day quarantine may launch and have the seal removed by authorized staff or may return to obtain a green seal.

Caption: Example of Quarantine Red Cable Seal

Decontamination Green Cable Seal

After May 14, 2025, any vessel wishing to launch sooner than the required 30-day quarantine period must have a hot-water decontamination performed by an approved decontamination station. These vessels are allowed to launch immediately following decontamination and will have a green seal applied. Each seal application will be entered into a database to confirm the date, vessel/seal numbers and the location.

Green Seal Placement When Exiting Lake

Upon exit from the Lake, all vessels must have a green seal attached by authorized staff to be allowed to freely launch at Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine. Staff will ensure the vessel is clean, drained and dry before applying the outbound green seal. If a seal is not applied for any reason, the vessel will need to undergo another 30-day quarantine or decontamination.

Clean, Drain, and Dry Policy

Quagga and Zebra (Dreissenid) mussels and the recently identified Golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) pose a serious threat to California's waters and fisheries. The spread of these freshwater mussels threatens recreational boating and fishing, aquatic ecosystems and fisheries, water delivery systems, hydroelectric facilities, agriculture and the environment in general. As a means to stop the spread of these harmful invasive mussels, California is asking boaters to clean, drain and dry their boats!

To clean, drain, and dry means to take the following steps:

Boaters should be prepared for inspections throughout the state designed to help ensure California's waterbodies remain mussel-free. Properly cleaning and drying can help protect boats and help boaters avoid quarantines or being turned away from a water destination. In addition to being sure to clean, drain and dry watercraft, the Division of Boating and Waterways urges boaters to plan for possible launch restrictions and inspections by calling waterbodies before leaving home. Programs and requirements vary and can change rapidly.

EXEMPT Watercraft

Hand-launched, non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, outrigger canoes, rowing shells and row boats are not subject to the inspection, quarantine and seal program. Hand launched boats with electric trolling motors, such as fishing kayaks, are also exempt from the inspection, quarantine or decontamination and seal program. All exempt watercraft must follow the Clean, Drain, and Dry guidelines.

As part of implementing this new golden mussel prevention program, at Lake Natoma, only hand launched boats will be permitted, either non-motorized craft or hand launched boats with small electric trolling motors. Trailered boats will not be permitted at Lake Natoma. The existing 5 mph speed limit on Lake Natoma for motorized craft will remain in effect. All boaters, including paddlers and rowers, must arrive with their craft: Clean, Drained, and Dry.

For questions about this new boat launching rule at Folsom Lake SRA and Auburn SRA contact GFD.GoldenMussel@parks.ca.gov.

Press Releases

Background

Golden mussels have been discovered at Rough and Ready Island, just west of the Port of Stockton and further downstream at a location known as Turner Cut in October 2024. This is a rapidly developing situation, and reports continue to come in and are being followed up on. These mussels were likely introduced to California by a ship traveling from an international port. This discovery of golden mussels in the Delta is the first known occurrence in North America. Visit California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s webpage for more information and for a map of verified sightings.

Posted Orders

FAQs

View the Golden Mussel Prevention Program FAQs page.

Links

Contact

If you have any questions about the program, please contact GFD.GoldenMussel@parks.ca.gov.

GRANITE BAY, Calif. —

Federal and California state officials announced Monday a set of new inspection and quarantine requirements for the launch of boats at Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine later this month.

The rules are aimed at preventing an infestation of golden mussels, which were recently identified in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and that “pose a significant threat to the ecological health of all waters of the state, its water conveyance systems, infrastructure, and water quality,” California State Parks said.

Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine in the Auburn State Recreation Area will be temporarily closed to all trailered or motorized vessel launching for a month, from April 14 until May 14.

During this time, owners must have their vessels inspected and a quarantine seal applied for 30 days.

"As a boater, it cuts me off from my spring time bass fishing and starts to get into the front of my catfish, even if it's 30 days," said boater Robert Cooper.

Cooper said he's been fishing at Folsom Lake since he was 4 years old.

"I think it's pretty ridiculous, especially if you only bring your boat to Folsom," he said.

Boaters who have completed the 30-day quarantine may then return to the lakes and have their seal removed by staff before launching, California State Parks said.

"We'll inspect it again, make sure that the seals intact, enter that vessel's information into the database, and then that person will be free to launch their boat," Mike Howard, superintendent of Folsom Lake.

Boaters who are planning to return to the lakes in the future will have the option to have their boat sealed again upon exiting the water. As long as the seal remains intact, they won’t have to quarantine again.

The new rules do not apply to hand-launched, non-motorized watercraft like kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and rowboats. Fishing kayaks with electric trolling motors are also exempt.

California State Parks said that the vessel inspections will be conducted at Beals Point starting April 14, Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The inspection process itself takes about 15-30 minutes, depending on the vessel.

If the boat passes inspection, red quarantine seals will be applied, indicating the watercraft is undergoing the mandatory 30-day quarantine.

The seals include a cable through the bow eye of the vessel and around the frame of the trailer to ensure it is not launched, according to California State Parks.

After those 30 days, the boat is allowed to launch. After that first launch, the vessel owner can have a green seal applied at the launch ramp when exiting, indicating the boat is mussel-free and won’t need to quarantine again.

Those who don’t get a green seal applied to their boats will have to go through another 30-day quarantine or decontamination, the state says.

California State Parks also said that after May 14, any vessel that wants to launch sooner than the 30-day quarantine must have a hot-water decontamination performed by an approved decontamination station.

“These vessels are allowed to launch immediately following decontamination and will have a green seal applied,” the state said.

It was not immediately clear if red or green seals would be accepted at other lakes.

“Although California State Parks is working in tandem with other agencies and lake managers to streamline this process, we recommend calling ahead to see if the lake you are visiting will accept the red 30-day quarantine seal or green seal issued for Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine,” California State Parks said.

If a vessel with a seal does launch at another lake, the seal will be broken.

"A boater may choose to do this but would then be required to restart the 30-day quarantine," California State Parks spokesperson Adeline Yee said.

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Starting April 14, boaters wanting to enter the water must subject their craft to quarantine due to the golden mussels, which can damage waterways and boats.

CALIFORNIA, USA — A required inspection and quarantine program will go into effect next week for trailered and motorized vessels being launched at Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine to eradicate invasive golden mussels, state officials said.

Starting April 14, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will require watercraft to participate in the program to help prevent the spread of golden mussels, according to California State Parks. The highly-invasive species was recently identified in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, marking the first known occurrence of golden mussels in North America, parks officials said.

Golden mussels pose a significant threat to the ecological health of all waters in California, its water conveyance systems, infrastructure and water quality, the state said. These invasive mussels can also reportedly cause significant damage to boats by attaching to hulls and clogging engines, which may increase costs for boat owners.

Credit: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine will be temporarily closed to all trailered or motorized vessels beginning April 14.

Vehicle owners wishing to launch at both bodies of water must have their craft inspected and a quarantine seal applied for 30 days, according to California State Parks. Vessels cannot launch during this period.

Starting May 14, craft completing their 30-day quarantine may return to either of the two lakes to have the seal removed by authorized staff and can enter the water, officials said. A boat can be sealed upon exiting the water and — provided the seal remains intact — would not be required to quarantine after that.

Credit: California State Parks

Hand-launched, non-motorized craft, such as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, rowing shells, outrigger canoes and rowboats, are not subject to the inspection and quarantine process, according to the state. Hand-launched watercraft with electric trolling motors, such as fishing kayaks, are also exempt from these requirements.

Only hand-launched boats will be permitted on Lake Natoma as part of this prevention program, state officials said.

The existing 5 mph speed limit on Lake Natoma for motorized craft will remain in effect, and all boaters, including paddlers and rowers, must arrive with their watercraft clean, drained and dry, California State Parks said.

Proper cleaning, draining and drying can help protect boats and waterways, according to the state.

California State Parks posted the following steps as part of a clean, drain, and dry campaign:

“We thank boaters for their understanding as we implement the new procedures and are working to make the inspection processes as efficient as possible,” said Folsom Lake State Recreation Area Superintendent Mike Howard. “These prevention measures are a far better alternative to closing the lakes to vessels or a golden mussel infestation, which would not only cause substantial damage to the ecosystem and fishery but also impact the power generation and water delivery systems at Folsom Dam and Reservoir.”

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