04/29/2026
Hopefully, other lakes will look into this and see if the inspections/tagging is necessary.
Great news today from the Department of Water Resources! The mandatory inspections for boats launching at Lake Oroville to screen for golden mussels are over, starting today.
The alarming news about the spread of highly invasive golden mussels in California led the department — and other reservoir managers — to require the inspections last spring. This was a hassle for boaters, but it was an important precaution to protect Oroville Dam and all the infrastructure associated with it.
Better scientific understanding of the golden mussel's life cycle has lead DWR to conclude that the water is cold enough, and the rise and fall of the shoreline consistent enough, that mussels are unlikely to become established.
Golden mussels remain a serious threat in warmer waters in the Delta and elsewhere. The advice to clean, drain and dry your boat remains, and inspections might still be required elsewhere.
But launching into Oroville is a lot easier, with no more inspections and all ramps — including those closed for the past year — back open to users.
