Golden Mussel Prevention Program
Mandatory Decontamination, Quarantine and Inspection

Thursday, May 1, 2025, vessel inspections at Beals Point will only be available from 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM. The hours have changed on this day to allow for training of additional staff. 

Vessel inspections will be conducted at Beals Point beginning April 14, 2025, Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM. To ensure that all vessels can be inspected in time, no new vessels will be permited to enter after 6:00 PM. This process is expected to take up to 15 minutes depending on the vessel. This does not include wait time. Vessel inspections at Beals Point are done at no cost to owner. 

Vessels must arrive Clean, Drained, and Dry.

If Beals Point Parking Facility reaches capacity, State Parks will direct visitors to Granite Bay for queue. Please check the Folsom Lake Facebook or Instagram for traffic updates.

If it is raining the vessel inspection site will be CLOSED for the day. 

The following locations are authorized to conduct the 30-day quarantine inspections and place the red seal on vessels:

Mello Marine

Marine Service Center

Uph Yoars

Trained State Parks staff will inspect each vessel for the presence of mussels and onboard water. Once a vessel passes inspection a red quarantine seal will be applied for 30 days during which the vessel will not be permitted to launch. The seal will include a cable through the bow eye of the vessel and around the frame of the trailer to insure it is not launched. The seals are tamper evident and serialized. Each seal application will be entered into a database to confirm the date, vessel/seal numbers and the location. Vessels that have finished the 30-day quarantine may launch and have the seal removed by authorized staff or may return to obtain a green seal.

Caption: Example of Quarantine Red Cable Seal

After May 14, 2025, any vessel wishing to launch sooner than the required 30-day quarantine period must have a hot-water decontamination performed by an approved decontamination station. These vessels are allowed to launch immediately following decontamination and will have a green seal applied. Each seal application will be entered into a database to confirm the date, vessel/seal numbers and the location.

Upon exit from the Lake, all vessels must have a green seal attached by authorized staff to be allowed to freely launch at Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine. Staff will ensure there is no debris on the vessel, no standing water in the vessel, and that the ballasts and live wells are emptied before applying the outbound green seal.  If a seal is not applied for any reason, the vessel will need to undergo another 30-day quarantine or decontamination.

Quagga and Zebra (Dreissenid) mussels and the recently identified Golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) pose a serious threat to California's waters and fisheries. The spread of these freshwater mussels threatens recreational boating and fishing, aquatic ecosystems and fisheries, water delivery systems, hydroelectric facilities, agriculture and the environment in general. As a means to stop the spread of these harmful invasive mussels, California is asking boaters to clean, drain and dry their boats!

To clean, drain, and dry means to take the following steps:

• Inspect all watercraft and equipment.
• Clean any visible mud, plants, fish or animals from watercraft and equipment.
• Drain all water, including from lower outboard unit, ballast, live-well, buckets, and anything else that contains water.
  • Collect any bilge water that contains petroleum products, while draining water from vessel. If absorbents were used and the bilge water contains petroleum products, the absorbents should be disposed of at a county household hazardous waste collection facility.
• It is recommended to dry everything for at least five days before reuse.
• Dispose of debris and unwanted bait, worms, and fish parts in the trash.

Boaters should be prepared for inspections throughout the state designed to help ensure California's waterbodies remain mussel-free. Properly cleaning and drying can help protect boats and help boaters avoid quarantines or being turned away from a water destination. In addition to being sure to clean, drain and dry watercraft, the Division of Boating and Waterways urges boaters to plan for possible launch restrictions and inspections by calling waterbodies before leaving home. Programs and requirements vary and can change rapidly.

Hand-launched, non-motorized watercraft, such as kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, outrigger canoes, rowing shells and row boats are not subject to the inspection, quarantine and seal program. Hand launched boats with electric trolling motors, such as fishing kayaks, and eFoils are also exempt from the inspection, quarantine or decontamination and seal program. All exempt watercraft must follow the Clean, Drain, and Dry guidelines.

As part of implementing this new golden mussel prevention program, at Lake Natoma, only hand launched boats will be permitted, either non-motorized craft or hand launched boats with small electric trolling motors. Trailered boats will not be permitted at Lake Natoma. The existing 5 mph speed limit on Lake Natoma for motorized craft will remain in effect. All boaters, including paddlers and rowers, must arrive with their craft: Clean, Drained, and Dry.

For questions about this new boat launching rule at Folsom Lake SRA and Auburn SRA contact GFD.GoldenMussel@parks.ca.gov.