Invasive Mussel News

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)'s Invasive Mussel Control Plan Guidance document is intended to provide guidance on developing an invasive mussel control plan (Control Plan) to public and private agencies that operate a water supply system where invasive mussels have been detected. The Control Plan Template (Appendix A) is offered as a tool to assist water supply system agencies, and others, in developing a Control Plan that complies with the requirements under Fish and Game Code Section 2301 and California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 672 and 672.1. Use of the template, while recommended, is not required for compliance.

The guidance is available on CDFW's Quagga/Zebra Mussel webpage under the heading Invasive Mussel Control Plan Development and on the Golden Mussel webpage under the heading Additional Information, Waterbody Managers.

CDFW staff are available to assist throughout the development of a Control Plan. Please contact the CDFW Invasive Mussel Regional Scientist (PDF) based on the CDFW Region where the water supply system is located. If the water supply system spans multiple CDFW regions contact invasive@wildlife.ca.gov for assistance.

Hello Water Managers,

This is a friendly reminder that Division of Boating and Waterways' Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention grant period close tomorrow, April 18, 2025 at 5 p.m. If you submitted your grants early, we encourage you to review your submission for completeness.

Thank you!

California Department of Fish and Wildlife is relaying the following information received from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). CDFW anticipates the following changes to CDFA's Border Protection Stations program operations will impact the interdiction and inspection of overland conveyances that may carry invasive mussels. Questions can be directed to CDFW via Invasives@wildlife.ca.gov or (866) 440-9530 and will be shared with CDFA.

The following information is being forwarded on behalf of the CDFA:

The State of California is currently facing a significant and ongoing budget deficit, and programs across CDFA are being required to implement budget reductions. In accordance with the budget reductions, the Border Protection Stations (BPS) Program will be reducing scheduled staffing levels to the minimum necessary to maintain safe operations for all working shifts, and will be reducing the hours of operation at multiple stations.

The following schedules of operation will be implemented effective April 1, 2025:

• Alturas: Open daylight hours
• Benton: Open daylight hours
• Blythe: Open 24/7
• Dorris: Open 24/7
• Hornbrook: Open 24/7
• Long Valley: Open 24/7
• Meyers: Open 8 hours per day
• Mt. Pass: Open 24/7
• Needles: Open 24/7
• Redwood Highway: Open daylight hours
• Smith River: Open daylight hours
• Topaz: Open 8 hours per day
• Truckee: Open 24/7
• Tulelake: Open daylight hours
• Vidal: Open 24/7
• Winterhaven: Open 24/7

For the stations open during daylight hours, they will be open for two shifts, which may vary seasonally from 14-16 hours.

Additionally, all stations are being instructed to focus on commercial traffic, with a primary focus on the compliance of high-risk agricultural commodities and the Program’s responsibilities for its cooperative agency agreements. Private vehicle inspections will be impacted by the reduced staffing levels, and should continue to be conducted as traffic and/or staffing allows.

And while all stations will continue to be scheduled for operation seven days per week, with the reduced available staffing there may be days where Station Managers will need to close operations for a day to ensure the safety of both program staff and the traveling public.

This message is being forwarded on behalf of California State Parks, Division of Boating and Waterways:

Save-The-Date Grant Announcement

California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW)

QZ Grant Program has the following announcement:

The application period for the 2025 cycle will open on March 10, 2025 and will close on April 18, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Up to $2M is expected to be awarded, pending available funding. If a reservoir is currently covered by a two-year 2024 QZ Grant, that reservoir will not be considered for a QZ Grant until the 2026 solicitation.

A presentation will be conducted via MS Teams on March 13, 2025; information will be posted on our webpage at: QZGrant@parks.ca.gov. The 2025 QZ grants are expected to begin in August, and will span two years.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

Grant applicant must own/manage any aspect of the water in a reservoir; The reservoir must be open to the public for recreation; and Grant applicant must demonstrate that the reservoir is uninfested with dreissenid mussels

To demonstrate that the reservoir is uninfested, applicants must provide mussel monitoring data collected since March 2024. Monitoring data can be from surface surveys, artificial substrates, and plankton tows.

Tier 2 Implementation Grant:

To be eligible for an implementation grant, applicants must provide a letter from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) at the time of application that states CDFW has reviewed and accepted a prevention plan for the reservoir (per Fish and Game Code Section 2302 and California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 672.1(b)).

Tier 1 Planning and Assessment Grant:

Applicants that do not already have a CDFW-accepted prevention plan can apply for a planning and assessment grant in order to develop a CDFW-accepted prevention plan for the reservoir.

For questions regarding quagga/zebra mussel monitoring, or for prevention planning, including how to obtain a letter from CDFW, contact CDFW at Invasives@wildlife.ca.gov or Telephone: (866) 440-9530.

Additional information will be sent prior to opening of the grant application window. This notice will also be posted on the DBW website.

The following information is being forwarded on behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

The Funding Opportunity for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife QZAP FY2023 has officially been posted. The total funding amount for projects is approximately $2,200,000.00, which is similar to last year. There has been significant change in the application process over the past three years, resulting from our transition to GrantSolutions.gov. This opportunity will be open for application through June 12, 2023.

Applications will need to be submitted through grantsolutions.gov, and you will need to create a login and password to access the system. There are recipient tutorials online linked below. Below are the steps you will need to take to access and locate the funding announcement. The funding announcement number is F23AS00319 and the full title is "F23AS00319 FY2023 Implementation of the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Action Plan (QZAP) in the Western United States - 2023".

Please disseminate this opportunity to all interested parties. Please feel free to reach out to Barak Shemai, USFWS Invasive Species Coordinator, at barak_shemai@fws.gov. The opportunity can also be found at grants.gov but applications may NOT be submitted through grants.gov.

2023 QZAP GRANT

PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS AFTER CREATING A GRANTSOLUTIONS.GOV LOGIN AND PASSWORD

• Sign into grantsolutions.gov
• Go to the Funding Opportunities page
• Once there use CTRL + F to search the name of the opportunity "name in full" or "QZAP"
• You should see the QZAP opportunity - Select Apply on the far right

Links to the recipient training videos:

• https://www.doi.gov/grants/grantsolutions
• GS Recipient Training Videos

Link to general information:

• FWS GrantSolutions

DO NOT SUBMIT APPLICATIONS THROUGH GRANTS.GOV