Quagga/Zebra Mussel News

On April 9, California Department of Wildlife (CDFW) Invasive Species Program staff detected 12 veligers using cross-polarized microscopy in a plankton tow sample collected on February 23 at Castaic Lagoon, which is downstream of Castaic Lake. On April 10, CDFW staff also detected 33 veligers in a plankton tow sample collected on March 30 in Castaic Lagoon. The veligers in Castaic Lagoon have been confirmed to be quagga mussel via PCR and DNA sequencing.  

Castaic Lagoon is located near the unincorporated community of Castaic in Los Angeles County. It is immediately downstream of Castaic Lake and used for non-powered boating, canoeing, and swimming. Castaic Lake and Castaic Lagoon are part of the State Water Project and of the Castaic Lake State Recreation Area. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is the water manager for Castaic Lagoon and the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation manages recreational access.

Adult quagga mussels were discovered in Castaic Lake in 2021. Pyramid Lake, known to have quagga mussels since 2016, is upstream of Castaic Lake. Castaic Lagoon is immediately downstream of Castaic Lake and has been presumed to be exposed to mussels.

Castaic Lagoon discharges to Castaic Creek, a tributary to the Santa Clara River. Quagga mussels were discovered in the Santa Clara River downstream of Castaic Creek below the confluence with Piru Creek in 2017.

For questions that are specific to DWR’s response, please contact Maggie Macias, DWR Information Officer at (916) 902-7405. For questions regarding CDFW’s response, please contact CDFW’s hotline at (866) 440-9530.

The following information is being forwarded on behalf of Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission:

Virtual watercraft inspection and decontamination classes start in January! Registration is required. For class dates and to register, please visit the links below. Once registered, more information will be sent to you via email. There is no cost to attend.

• Level 1 Inspector Training
  Level 1 - Inspector Training | westernais
• Level 2 Inspector and Decontaminator Training
  Level 2 - Inspection and Decon Training | westernais
• Level 3 Trainer Training
  Level 3 - Trainer Training | westernais

For more information, please contact Elizabeth Brown at elizabeth@widtraining.com.  

The deadline to submit a proposal for CDFW’s Boating Access Grant Program has been extended to Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. PST.

For more information, please see the 2024 Boating Access Proposal Solicitation Notice (PDF). All proposals must be submitted via CDFW WebGrants portal.

The recording of the October 4, 2023, Boating Access Public Workshop (Video) is now available, along with a copy of the presentation slides (PDF). Additionally, A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (PDF) is available.

Please contact BoatingAccess@wildlife.ca.gov with any questions.

Friday, June 2, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.: Secretary Speaker Series: Defending the Golden State - Safeguarding California from Invasive Species.

Please join the California Natural Resources Agency for a webinar to kick off California Invasive Species Action Week!  Invasive plants and animals can wreak havoc on California’s environment, farms and economy. They threaten biodiversity, clog waterways, damage crops, and weaken levees and other structures. Join us for a discussion of how invasive species drive multiple challenges and what we can do to reduce their impacts. Moderated by California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot.

Panelists:

• California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross
• California Invasive Plant Council Executive Director Doug Johnson
• University of California, Davis Professor and Specialist in Cooperative Extension in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy Dr. Ted Grosholz
• Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks Chief of Resources Management & Science Dr. Christy Brigham
• California State University, Chico Professor of Geography and Planning Don Hankins

Register for the Zoom Webinar

After the event a recording will be posted at resources.ca.gov/About-Us/Secretary-Speaker-Series

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

The following information is being forwarded on behalf of the California State Parks' Division of Boating and Waterways:

2023 QZ GRANT SOLICITATION NOTICE AND PRESENTATION

A Presentation will be conducted via MS Teams on:

April 13, 2023 10:00 a.m. to noon

The application window is

April 10, 2023 to May 19, 2023

The Solicitation Notice, pre-registration for the On-Line Grant Application (OLGA) system, Guidelines, Presentation materials, and other QZ Grant documents for the 2023 Grant Cycle, are now available on the DBW website: dbw.ca.gov/QZGrant.

Presentation: The Presentation will give an overview of the QZ Grant Program, including eligibility requirements and information related to the utilization of the OLGA system.

RSVP: As a courtesy, please RSVP for the Presentation by April 7, 2023, to QZGrant@parks.ca.gov with the following information:

1. Name of Attendee(s)
2. Agency
3. Phone Number
4. E-mail address
5. Questions (submitting questions in advance is appreciated)

Preparation: Interested applicants should do the following with the information available on our web page:

• Pre-register for OLGA access following the OLGA Step-by-Step Instructions.
  • Review "Application Materials," including the pre-recorded OLGA Instructional Webinar.
  • Access the 2023 Presentation Notice and QZ Grant Presentation slides under "Grant Announcements."

For questions specific to quagga/zebra mussel monitoring, or for prevention planning, contact our sister agency, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, at Invasives@wildlife.ca.gov or (866) 440-9530.

Deadline May 1, 2023

Theme: "Think Ahead; Stop the Spread"

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce the 10th annual California Invasive Species Youth Art and Video Contest. This year’s theme, “Think Ahead; Stop the Spread,” encourages students to research ways to prevent the spread and impacts of invasive species and promote actions to protect the environment.

The contest is offered by CDFW’s Invasive Species Program in conjunction with California Invasive Species Action Week, June 3-11.

The art contest has three age divisions for youth in grades 2-4, 5-8 and 9-12. All types of art are welcome and encouraged, including (but not limited to): drawings, paintings and comic strips. Entries must reflect the 2023 theme: “Think Ahead; Stop the Spread.” The top three winners in each division will have entries announced on CDFW’s social media. All entrants will receive a certificate of participation.

The new video portion, open to grades 5-12, allows students to submit a 60 second video on the theme. Winning videos will be posted on CDFW’s YouTube channel.

The deadline for contest entries is May 1. All entries must be submitted electronically. Submission instructions can be found on CDFW’s Invasive Species Program website.

The goal of California Invasive Species Action Week is to increase public awareness of invasive species issues and encourage public participation in the fight against California’s invasive species and their impacts on our state’s natural resources and biodiversity.

The following information is being forwarded on behalf of the California State Parks' Division of Boating and Waterways:

GRANT ANNOUNCEMENT

California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) will accept applications for the 2023 Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Grant Program: April 10, 2023 - May 19, 2023, subject to available funds.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

1. Grant applicant must own/manage any aspect of the water in a reservoir where recreational activities are permitted.
2. The reservoir must be open to the public.
3. 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 2022. Monitoring data can be from surface surveys, artificial substrates, and plankton tows.

Tier 1 Planning and Assessment Grant:

• For preparing or updating a Prevention Plan: Applicants that do not already have a CDFW-accepted prevention plan can apply for a planning and assessment grant in order to develop or update a CDFW-accepted prevention plan for the reservoir.

Tier 2 Implementation Grant:

• For implementing activities in a current Prevention Plan: 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)).

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

A Solicitation Notice including application and Workshop/Webinar information will be sent prior to opening of the grant application window. The Notice will also be posted on DBW's QZ Grant Program website.

On January 6, 2023, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) detected a single quagga mussel veliger using cross-polarized microscopy in a large volume plankton net sample collected at Metropolitan’s Foothill Feeder Pressure Control Structure, which is downstream of Castaic Lake. The veliger was confirmed as a quagga mussel by PCR and DNA sequencing.

Adult quagga mussels were previously detected by the California Department of Water Resources in Castaic Lake in August 2021.

For questions specific to Metropolitan’s facilities and response, please contact Paul Rochelle, Water Quality Section Manager, at (909) 392-5155.

For questions regarding CDFW’s response, please contact CDFW’s hotline at (866) 440-9530.

The following grant opportunity may be a way to support quagga/zebra mussel programs at waters in California. Please see California Grant Portal for eligibility requirements. Application deadline 12/31/2021.

Division of Boating and Waterways Law Enforcement Financial Aid Program

• Grantor: Department of Parks and Recreation
• Departmental Grant ID: 22SUB000-00 Through 22SUB000-39
• Portal ID: 7901
• Status: Active
• Opportunity Type: Grant
• Purpose: Assist local government agencies with funding for marine law enforcement.
• Description: This program provides state financial aid to local government agencies whose waterways have high usage of boaters and insufficient tax base to fully fund a marine law enforcement boating safety program.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

• Public Agency
• Local government agencies (counties and/or cities that fall within that county)

Eligible Geographies: California