Existing law requires any person, or federal, state, or local agency, district, or authority that owns or manages a reservoir, as defined, where recreational, boating, or fishing activities are permitted, except a privately owned reservoir that is not open to the public, to assess the vulnerability of the reservoir for the introduction of nonnative dreissenid mussel species and to develop and implement a program designed to prevent the introduction of that species, as prescribed.

Existing law requires the owner of a vessel, as described, to register the vessel in accordance with prescribed requirements governing the registration and transfer of vessels. Existing law establishes a registration fee for vessels, and imposes an additional fee, known as the quagga and zebra mussel infestation prevention fee, in specified amounts, as determined by the Division of Boating and Waterways in the Department of Parks and Recreation, on a vessel required to pay that fee. Existing law requires that all revenues from the additional prevention fee be deposited into the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund, and, upon appropriation, be expended for certain purposes relating to the prevention, control, and management of dreissenid mussel infestations. Existing law requires that a specified percentage of those revenues deposited into the fund from the prevention fee be made available to entities subject to the above-described requirements for reservoirs to be used for grants for the reasonable regulatory costs incident to the implementation of a dreissenid mussel infestation prevention plan.

This bill would additionally make any person or entity that manages any aspect of the water in a reservoir, as defined, where recreational, boating, or fishing activities are permitted, eligible for a grant to be used for the reasonable regulatory costs of implementation of a dreissenid mussel infestation prevention plan.