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Vote to close Lake Casitas for one year set
Protection from invasive mussels hoped
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More from County NewsThe decision of whether to temporarily close Lake Casitas to outside boats to protect it from invasive mussels is scheduled to be decided Tuesday amid heated debate.
Fishermen who love the lake for its trophy bass hope to convince the board of the Casitas Municipal Water District that the lake should remain open. Others say it should be closed to protect the water resource.
The tiny critter causing all the commotion is the quagga mussel, which has been found in waterways along the Colorado River.
Officials fear that if a mussel attached to a boat gets into Lake Casitas, it could cause millions of dollars in damage by clogging pipes and other infrastructure as well as destroy the fishery there. Casitas provides water to more than 60,000 people in western Ventura County.
The board is expected to vote on whether to close the lake to outside personal boats for one year but still allow fishing and continue boat rentals. Board members would use the time to figure out how to keep the mussels at bay.
Fishermen who love Casitas for its prized bass have been organizing in the hopes of persuading the board to keep the lake open.
"We are hoping that if they see that all of us are doing everything we can to save the lake that they will recognize that and support us," said Scott Sweet, vice president of the California Bass Federation.
Board member Russ Baggerly said the board doesn't relish the thought of having to close the lake, though it could be necessary.
"The protection of this water resource is essential to this area," he said.
Casitas General Manager Steve Wickstrum is calculating how much a closure would cost versus the price of a mussel infestation.
The mussels could cost the district as much as $600,000 annually on top of $300,000 in capital costs, preliminary estimates show.
The effect of the loss of fishing is harder to measure, Wickstrum said.
The district would lose at least $220,000 in entry fees with untold economic effects on the surrounding community, he said.
The meeting is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Nordhoff High School cafeteria, 1401 Maricopa Highway, Ojai.
Posted by SF1943 on March 3, 2008 at 1:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Your headline is very misleading, stating that the entire lake will be closed as opposed to closing it to personal boats. Twice, Mr. Barlow states that fishermen love the trophy sized bass in the lake. I could most likely write a better article than this when I was in my freshman English class years ago.
Posted by smithjc on March 3, 2008 at 3:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
since we can't ski on it, they can drain it for all i care.
Posted by CamarilloMan on March 3, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What the.... is there current infestation or are we speculating that there may be? This board needs to get a real problem.
Posted by luv2sail on March 3, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I imagine the life span of the mussel is relatively short out of the water. The mussel could be trapped inside the boats cooling system. I believe they could set up a washdown and containment system where water is introduced to the cooling system with some sort of chemical in it to kill the mussel. There would be a fee charged for this and there should also be rental space available for dry store so the boat could be left there and not have to flush once again.
Just a thought.
Posted by B8R_N4MD on March 3, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember reading that if someone was to store their boat at the lake, they would be allowed to use it on the lake. But the boat would not be allowed to leave the lake property. I believe the life span of the mussel out of the water is less than 7 days. As fast as the mussel multiplies and has invaded the Colorado River system, I dont think it will be an if, but when it settles in the local lakes.
Posted by carexpritch on March 3, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is the primary purpose of the reservoir?
Is the purpose recreational fishing for outsiders, or water supply for locals?
What would be the public reaction if this exotic mussel infestation grew to clog the water supply pipes?
Does not the water District spend enough ratepayer money on its Quixotic pursuit appealing a Federal judicial ruling about a mythical water rights taking?
How many black holes sucking up local ratepayer money are enough for this water District? That is how so much money will be spent dealing with exotic mussels clogging the pipes.
Posted by ReadMyLipsNoNewTaxes on March 3, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with the skiing statement....
As it sits now the lake is a waste. The greenies would never let you ski on it.
Posted by smithd_d on March 3, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
what if someone transported a mussel into the lake and threw it in there just to get back or to cause all this problem. would it be possible? Then they could drain the lake or whats left and find fish dead bodies and all the other things thats in that pond.
Posted by sunnbear on March 3, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep an eye on that smithd_d. He sounds like he could be a terrorist! If the lake becomes infested, they're coming for you!
What I'm really trying to say is that there are some very idiotic postings here!
Posted by jeff93024 on March 3, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Joking publicly in front of witnesses -- here on this blog, for instance -- about contaminating & endangering a municipal and/or state and/or federal water supply can wind up bringing the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI down on your head, just as would joking about harming an elected official. If you think that a pseudonym or a proxy make you impossible to trace, think again.
As far as "greenies" not allowing you to ski on the lake, the majority of the fishermen don't want you skiing there, either.
Posted by ReadMyLipsNoNewTaxes on March 3, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thats true (the comment about the fishermen), it is just silly that you can have a 'no-contact' lake but you can drive a gas powered boat on it.
Posted by Tom_Johnston on March 3, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Folks....this may be a "lake" but it's no natural born lake, it's a created reservoir, created to ensure a steady supply of potable water in a region where that is a scarce commodity.
Fishing from a boat..optional.
Skiing...VERY optional.
Frankly, I've got a problem with any gas-powered boat on the reservoir at any time. Let folks use electrics, sails or good old manpower rowing if they want to fish. If there has to be gas engines, cut them down to 3-4 hp engines...make the lake a lot quieter I bet. NO engine should ever discharge pollutants directly into the reservoir at any time!
oh..and "smithd_d" WOW what a dumb remark! Besides the obvious "terrorist" sort of issues pointed out by "jeff93024", I gotta say, you and "smithjc" are about tied up for the "Dumb and Dumber" remark category.
Posted by trojanclimber on March 4, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
skiers should care....depending on what Casitas does Piru will follow
Posted by leesinojai on March 5, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What I really want to know is, do i get reimbursed for my lake pass? I paid for the whole year (12 Months), to be able to take my boat on that lake. I have 5 months left on my pass. When do i get reimbursed?
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