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Boat inspection fees coming to Lake Chabot, other sites
From staff reports
Article Launched: 07/02/2008 04:44:06 PM PDT


OAKLAND — Beginning next Thursday, water craft inspection fees will be imposed on boats launched at Lake Chabot Regional Park and two other lakes in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

The fees at all 3 recreation areas will be $6 for boats brought in on trailers and $3 for boats fastened to car tops. A vehicle bringing in two kayaks will be charged $3.

The fees, approved Tuesday by directors of the East Bay Regional Park District, will in part offset the cost of a pilot inspection program for the invasive quagga mussel and zebra mussel species. Infestations of the species have resulted in mussel colonies forming on boats, pipes, buoys, ladders and beaches.

The colonies can plug water pipes and intake screens, requiring maintenance and repairs, and also reduce fish populations placed in lakes for sports fishing, district officials have said.

Inspections, but not fees, already are in effect at Castro Valley's Lake Chabot.

Inspections will begin today at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore and Contra Loma Regional Park in Antioch, said district spokeswoman Shelly Lewis.

Lewis said similar inspections and fees are under consideration for Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area in Fremont and Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area in Pleasanton.

Trailered boats leaving each lake will be tagged or banded to eliminate the need for other inspections. Boats brought in on car tops will not be tagged, and will be inspected and charged at each visit.


If fees are assessed at all five lakes, the park district estimates it will raise about $20,000 for the balance of 2008, and more than $40,000 in 2009.