NID director calls for closing lakes to stop mussels

Board president George Leipzig thinks Nevada Irrigation District should close recreation at seven high mountain lakes for a year to stop zebra mussels from invading Western Nevada County’s drinking water system.

The mussels, native to the Black Sea hitch a ride on the sides of boats and have become an expensive nuisance since they were first introduced to the U.S. 20 years ago.

A fisherman detected the mollusks in California earlier this year.

On Wednesday, the board approved writing letters to Governor Schwarzenegger, Assemblyman Rick Keene and Senator Sam Aanestad, urging them to consider amending emergency mussel legislation to relax cost and inspection responsibilities for water agencies like NID.