By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. — PLACERVILLE, Calif. (April 22, 2025) — In response to the growing threat of invasive golden mussels, the El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) has implemented new boating restrictions at Jenkinson Lake within the Sly Park Recreation Area. Effective April 21, 2025, only boats with an intact decontamination seal and a receipt from an approved inspection station are permitted to launch.
Boaters without an approved inspection must undergo a 30-day quarantine period, during which boats must remain sealed with a District tag and out of the water. After verification of decontamination or completion of the quarantine, boats that last launched at Sly Park Recreation Area may be sealed before exiting and may re-enter without additional quarantine if the seal remains intact.
Non-motorized vessels such as kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are exempt from these restrictions if determined to be clean, drained, and dry.
EID staff are available to conduct quarantine inspections and tagging daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sly Park Recreation Area in Pollock Pines and Monday through Friday during the same hours at EID’s headquarters in Placerville.
The golden mussel, native to East and Southeast Asia, poses a significant threat to California’s freshwater ecosystems and infrastructure. The species was first detected in North America in October 2024 in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Golden mussels can form dense colonies that clog water intake pipes, impede water flow, and damage watercraft motors.
“Golden mussels pose a serious risk to freshwater ecosystems and the infrastructure that support our community’s water supply,” said EID General Manager Jim Abercrombie. “By actively managing boat launching at Sly Park Recreation Area, we’re protecting District infrastructure while doing our part to support a broader regional effort.”
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has also taken action, offering $1 million in grant funding to boating facility operators to enhance efforts against invasive mussels. This funding supports projects that help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive mussels in lakes, reservoirs, and waterways.
For more information on the new boating restrictions and inspection procedures, visit the El Dorado Irrigation District’s official website at www.eid.org/recreation/invasive-mussels/boating-restrictions-at-sly-park-recreation-area-jenkinson-lake.
