WATERCRAFT INSPECTION AND DECONTAMINATION TRAINING (WIT)
FOR ZEBRA/QUAGGA MUSSELS
BACKGROUND
Quagga and zebra mussels are extremely harmful invasive species capable of destroying aquatic ecosystems, harming fisheries and severely impacting all types of water delivery systems. Since their introduction in 1988, it is estimated that zebra and quagga mussels in the eastern U.S. alone have cost raw water users (such as water treatment plants and power generation facilities) billions of dollars.
2008 marks the 20th anniversary of the discovery of zebra mussels in North America. The zebra mussel’s recent range expansion into Colorado (November 2007) and Central California (San Justo Reservoir, January 2008) and the closely related quagga mussel discoveries in Arizona, Nevada (January 2007), Southern California (August 2007) and Colorado (Lake Granby, July 2008) are of grave concern to the Western U.S. The threat from zebra and quagga mussels has never been greater, with contaminated watercraft now entering uncontaminated watersheds from not only the eastern U.S., but also from the Colorado Basin and Southern California. For the current distribution map of quagga and zebra mussels in North America, go to http://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/mollusks/zebramussel/
These newly established and continually expanding quagga and zebra mussel populations in Nevada, California, Colorado and Arizona have already created serious problems for recreation, irrigation, power production, domestic water supply, transportation and hatchery production in the Colorado Basin and in 2007 forced the temporary shutdown of Southern California Aqueduct which is the primary source of irrigation, industrial, and domestic water for all of Southern California. Power and water providers in the lower Colorado River and California have already spent millions of dollars controlling quagga mussels.
This cost and rapid expansion of the quagga and zebra mussels has sent shudders through the halls of state governments throughout the west with new emergency legislation being passed in most western states in the past nine months with more to come in 2009.
Zebra and quagga mussels are spread on trailered watercraft moving from an infested to uninfested waterway. A number of national, regional and local program are in place to educate the public on how to avoid transporting them on their boats, including the PSMFC sponsored Watercraft Inspection Training (WIT) program. WIT began in 2006, with USFWS and Bonneville Power Administration funding, to train boating law enforcement personnel in the western US on the background, biology and impacts of zebra mussels; how to identify high risk watercraft and conduct an inspection of all types of watercraft; how to perform a vessel decontamination; and what their legal authority is to stop, detain, and require decontamination of watercraft suspected of harboring zebra mussels. Between April 2007 – April 2008 25 trainings took place reaching over 1000 individuals and more than 80 entities in the following locations: Lake Powell (2); Salt Lake City; Ellensburg WA; Tok Alaska (2); Kansas City; Lake Tahoe; Denver, Grand junction and Brighton CO; Salem and Hood River OR; Los Alamitos, Ontario, Yountville, Clear Lake, Stockton, Monterey, San Diego, Hemet Redding, Sacramento and Fresno CA.
Beginning in April 2007, trainings were broken into “Level One” and “Level Two.” Below is a description of the training programs, including information on how to participate in these trainings.
TRAINING PROGRAM
We are offering two levels of Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination training:
Level One:
This training is directed at state, federal and local natural resource and boating agency personnel, water users of all types, law makers and border/lake inspection personnel
This training program gives a thorough overview of the species and problems caused and includes information on outreach and education programs, basic mussel biology, distribution, transport vectors, mussel impacts and focuses on how to inspect for and decontaminated trailered watercraft suspected of having zebra or quagga mussels on-board.
For the past year this training has consisted of 4-5 hours of classroom and hands-on watercraft inspection instruction.
Beginning in April of 2008, this level of training was streamlined to three hours and one instructor by taking advantage of a new two-part education and training video produced for this purpose, a question and answer session and a hands-on watercraft inspection exercise.
This training is less costly, can be inserted into any meeting agenda and is still comprehensive enough to satisfy the needs of most personnel that will become involved with the mussel issue at a secondary level.
The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and its state, federal, tribal and local partners will provide an instructor for this course upon request.
The primary instructor for this training will be Bill Zook (See information below). As graduates from the Level Two training become available, they will become Level One trainers.
Bill Zook:
Bill is a retired Fisheries Program Manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and now works as a contract consultant for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission responsible for zebra/quagga mussel outreach and education in the western U.S. With WDFW, he established Washington’s Aquatic Nuisance Species Program in the mid-1990’s, a program now considered to be the model for the rest of the west. He developed the watercraft inspection and decontamination training program in 2004 and has conducted dozens of trainings since. Bill lives and works in Olympia Washington.
How to schedule a Level One Training for your organization:
Level One Training is provided at no charge to Federal, State and Local Government agencies for groups of 20 or more and at cost ($500-$1,000 depending on travel) for non government organizations.
The agency or organization that hosts a Level One training needs to provide the training facility and is responsible for recruiting and notifying course participants. In addition, the host provides one trailered watercraft for every 10-15 people attending the class that will be used for the hands-on inspection exercise portion of the training.
Everything else needed for the training is provided by PSMFC and the trainer.
To schedule a Level One training, please contact:
Bill Zook, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
(360) 427-7676
Bjzook2@msn.com
Level Two:
This training is intensive and designed for professionals in all fields that expect to be actively involved in the inspection and decontamination of trailered watercraft and for those who wish to become trainers within their state or work group
Level two training will be delivered over two days (12 hours) at Lake Mead located on the Nevada/Arizona Border near Las Vegas. It will focus on actual field inspection of various types of watercraft leaving the lake which may or may not be contaminated with quagga mussels and the decontamination of those watercraft requiring it. The instruction will include the use of portable (low-cost) temperature controlled power wash units and a large semi-permanent self-contained power washer operated by Callville Marina for the National Park Service.
The class will be limited to 10-12 students and will be provided at no cost to qualified applicants. Travel to Las Vegas and per diem will be the responsibility of each student. PSMFC and its partners will cover the cost of providing the training and provide ground transportation from Las Vegas to and from Lake Mead.
Graduates of this training will be certified by the 100th Meridian Initiative as lead incident responders and Level One trainers and may be called upon to do either in their work area in the future
The primary Trainer for Level Two is Wen Baldwin (See Below)
Wen Baldwin:
Wen is the long-time President of the Lake Mead Boat Owners Association and ANS Technical Representative for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and consultant for natural resource agencies throughout the west. He is generally considered to be the leading expert on the inspection and decontamination of trailered watercraft in the western US. He has inspected hundreds and decontaminated dozens of quagga mussel infested watercraft in the Colorado Basin and conducted dozens of trainings on this topic all over the west. He lives and works in Henderson Nevada.
How to sign-up for a Level Two Training:
All Level Two trainings are held at Lake Mead because of the opportunity afforded by year-round boating activity, infested watercraft and the availability of equipment and facilities. The training is offered at no charge, but each attendee is responsible for their own travel and per diem. Travel to and from your hotel in the Las Vegas area will be provided.
The next scheduled Level Two Trainings are:
October 7-8, 2008
November 4-5, 2008
These trainings are scheduled on an as-needed basis so please contact Bill Zook for information on future Level Two Training. Generally speaking, we expect 3-4 additional Level Two Trainings will be scheduled in 2009.
General Information and Schedule for Level Two Training:
You will need to book your own rooms and flights.
Recommended Lodging:
Sunset Station Hotel & Casino
1301 West Sunset Rd
Henderson, NV 89014
www.sunsetstation.com
888-786-7389
Rooms are available for $59.00 plus tax per night. When making reservation, mention that you are part of the “WIT Responder Training” group to get rate.
Airport shuttle is available
Sunset Station offers daily complimentary shuttle service to and from McCarran International Airport. It runs on the ½ hour between the hours of 7:30AM to 10:30 PM. Incoming airport passengers may board the White Shuttle Van at Ground Zero located adjacent to the Baggage Claim area. The Shuttle will be parked across the street from stall number 23.
Transportation to and from the training site
Transportation to and from The Sunset Station Hotel and the Lake Mead training location will be provided. The van will pick you up at the Sunset Station Hotel at 9:00 AM each morning and will return to the hotel after the day’s session is over. For those needing to go right to the airport after Wednesday’s session, you will be dropped off there instead if you wish.
The only supplied transportation to and from the training site will be from Sunset Station.
Clothing
Dress for the training should be work clothes. There will be some crawling under boats on both dirt and pavement. You will also be operating boat washing equipment on Wednesday and could (surely will) get some splash. The instructor will supply everyone with a pair of disposable/reusable coveralls that you can wear if you so desire. Footwear should have non-marking outsoles (so you don’t leave marks on the boats while inspecting them) and be able to get wet without being damaged.
Lunch on the 7th will be from a menu at Las Vegas Boat Harbor. It will be Dutch.
Lunch on the 8th will be from a menu at Callville Bay Marina. Again, Dutch.
SCHEDULE
(Subject to change)
Lake Mead Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Training
Responder and Trainer Training
Level Two
Day One:
8:00 AM Shuttle from group rate Hotel to Lake Mead Water Safety Center Lake Mead National Recreation Area
8:30 AM Sign-in & Coffee and doughnuts
9:00 AM Introduction
9:15 AM Basic inspection procedures – PP
10:15 AM Break
10:30 AM Decontamination procedures - PP
12:00 Lunch at Las Vegas Boat Harbor
1:15 PM Watercraft inspections
Hemenway
2:15 PM Boulder Harbor
NPS lot
3:00 PM (approx) Shuttle back to hotel – Have a good evening
Day Two:
8:00 AM Shuttle from group rate hotel to Callville Bay Marina
9:00 AM Boat inspections and decontaminations
12:00 Noon Lunch at Callville Bay
12:45 PM More inspection and decontamination at Callville
2:30 PM Evaluations and Certificate hand out
3:00 PM Shuttle back to hotel and/or airport
To register for Level Two training, please contact:
Bill Zook, Pacific State Marine Fisheries Commission
(360) 427-7676
Bjzook2@msn.com
Remember
The potential impacts of these invasive species in the west are almost unfathomable. It could severely impact fisheries of all types, greatly increase the cost of power, aggravate already difficult water supply issues and change the quality of life for western residents for all time should they become established in your waterways. Prevention is the only answer. Eradication is almost never an option. That’s why everyone has a stake in learning how to prevent an inadvertent introduction of these mussels on trailered watercraft.
Please join the fight!
WIT is sponsored by:
