Frequently Asked Questions

Solano County Water Agency regularly samples the waters of Lake Berryessa and the Solano Project for the presence of larval and adult zebra, quagga or golden mussels as part of our early detection monitoring program. There are biologists on staff who are trained in the microscopic evaluation of plankton samples for the detection of larval mussels in our water supply. CDFW and USBR also conduct tests to ensure Lake Berryessa is negative for zebra, quagga or golden mussels.

The best way to keep Lake Berryessa mussel free is to ensure each boat entering the water does not pose a risk of harboring mussels. This is done through applying a custody seal connecting the boat to the trailer. The seals can be applied by Lake Berryessa staff including SCWA Watercraft Inspectors, USBR Rangers, Concessionaire employees as well as other businesses listed on our wesbite. The red seals indicate the watrcraft is underging the mandatory quarantine prior to launching at Lake Berryessa. After 30 days, these watercraft are free to launch and can have a green seal applied at the launch ramp when they leave the lake. The green watercraft seals are intended to identify boats who last launched at Lake Berryessa that are mussel free, eliminating the need for future quarantine.

Any motorized watercraft even brand new vessels will be required to be clean, drained, and dry. Vessels including new watercraft that have an electric motor will require either a 30-day quarantine or a hot-water decontamination (pleasure boats, pontoon boats, fishing boats, bass boats, wakeboards, ski boats, jet boats, pleasure boats, and jet skis). Canoes or kayaks with motors will be asked to be inspected and be cleaned, drained, and dry.

Due to the presence of golden mussels in the Delta and the thousands of boats that travel from the Delta to Lake Berryessa every year, RED seals are required for any vessel wishing to enter Lake Berryessa, regardless of the watercraft history.

After 30 days, the watercraft quarantine period will be lifted, and the watercraft will be allowed to launch into Lake Berryessa. When the watercraft leaves the lake, please stop at the boat launch office and a GREEN seal will be applied to the watercraft.

You can get a RED seal at the following locations: 

• Gone Fishin’ Marine: 1880 N Lincoln St, Dixon, CA 95620, Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-4pm.
• Family Marine: 265 Benton Court, Suisun City, CA 94585, Monday- Friday 9am-3pm, Saturday by appointment only (Please call ahead at 707-673-2700)
• Sweeney’s Sports: 835 Lincoln Avenue, Napa, CA 94558, Tuesday-Saturday by appointment only, 2pm-5pm. (Please call ahead to make an appointment at 707-255-5544)
• A Small Fishing Boat: 11383 Pyrites Way, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, Tuesday – Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm, Saturday: 10:00am – 4:00pm (Please call ahead at 916-737-2628 to make sure that the store is open).
• Built Rite Marine, Santa Rosa (Please call ahead to schedule a time to receive your red seal at 707-623-3755). 
• Solano County Water Agency Office Parking Lot: 810 Vaca Valley Pkwy #202, Vacaville, CA 95688, Mon-Fri 9am-3pm
• Jensen Marine: 1237 Fortna Ave, Woodland, CA, 95776, Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm (Please call ahead at 530-662-7755 to make sure that the store is open). 
• A-Team Marine: Please call ahead at 530-304-5379 to schedule a time to receive your red seal
• Hillside Powersports & Marine, 2575 So Main Street, Lakeport, CA, 95453, 707-263-9000, Tues-Sat 9am-5pm
• All boat launches around Lake Berryessa
• Pleasure Cove
• • Spanish Flat
  • Putah Canyon
  • Markley Cove
  • Steele Canyon

Although Solano County Water Agency is working in tandem with other agencies and lake managers to streamline this process, we recommend calling ahead to see if the lake you are visiting will accept the RED 30-day quarantine seal or GREEN seal issued for Lake Berryessa. We cannot guarantee reciporcity of seals at other lakes.

If your watercraft has received a RED seal from another lake and is currently under a 30-day quarantine, it will not be allowed to launch at Berryessa. However, if a RED seal is applied at another lake and the 30-day quarantine is over, the Watercraft will be allowed to launch as long as one of the following criteria are met:

• The watercraft information has been added to the Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination (WID) database. Many lakes applying seals use this system.
• A paper receipt is available to prove the date and location of the application of the seal.
• The lake you received the seal from has not tested positive for quagga, zebra, or golden mussels.

Blue tags from Lake Tahoe will be accepted at Lake Berryessa. Lake Tahoe’s quarantine and decontamination processes are thoroughly vetted. As long as your reciept shows proof of a recent decontamination or that your CF number is logged in the WID database, you will be allowed to launch in Lake Berryessa with a Tahoe Blue tag. 

Please be aware that Lake Tahoe will not accept seals from outside Lake Tahoe. If you plan on going back to Lake Tahoe, they will require you to undergo a decontamination process.

The decontamination process can take 30 minutes to an hour depending upon the size and type of the vessel.

Click on the videos below to learn more about what to expect during a vessel decontamination.

• Golden Mussel and Decontamination Explanation 
• Inboard Engine Decontamination
• Ballast Bag Decontamination
• Inboard/Outboard Engine Decontamination