Boat Inspections & Quagga Mussel Prevention 🛑

To help protect Lake Casitas and surrounding waterways, all trailered boats, canoes, and hard shell kayaks must complete a mandatory inspection and 35-day quarantine before being allowed to launch.

🔍 Inspection & Quarantine Process:

Step 1: Prepping for Inspection
Before arrival, your vessel must be:

• Clean – No mud, weeds, sand, fish scales, or debris
• Drained – All compartments, live wells, bilges, and motors must be empty
• Dry – No moisture anywhere, including ropes, carpet, storage bins, or coolers

💡 Tip: “Bone dry” means absolutely no water or dampness anywhere.

Step 2: Onsite Inspection
Staff will conduct a thorough visual and physical inspection of your boat, trailer, gear, and vehicle.
If your vessel passes:

• It will be cabled and sealed with a tamper-proof tag through a solid part of the vessel and trailer
• You’ll be placed on a 35-day quarantine hold

If your vessel fails, it must remain dry and you will be placed on a 7-day wait list before re-inspection.

Step 3: Quarantine Period
During the 35-day hold, your tagged vessel must stay:

• Completely out of water (including hose rinses or wet conditions)
• Dry and untampered — cable and tag must remain intact and unaltered

You can complete the quarantine:

• At home under the Tamper-Proof Tag Program — this is the standard method and must be fully dry and out of water for the full 35 days
• In a designated storage area inside the park — must be arranged in advance through Guest Services and is subject to availability

👉 Learn more about Trailer & Boat Storage

(Space is limited and not guaranteed — approval required)

Step 4: Tag Verification & Launch
Once 35 days have passed, return to the park for tag verification.
If the tag and cable are still intact, your vessel will be cleared for launch without re-inspection.

⚠️ If the tag is cut, broken, or shows signs of tampering, the process restarts — including a new inspection and 35-day hold.

📋 Boating Restriction Checklist:

For a complete list of inspection points, download our official checklist:

This includes inspection criteria for:

• Hulls and trailers
• Anchor lines
• Bait/live wells
• Motors, plugs, and compartments
• Watercraft gear and accessories

🌊 About the Invasive Mussel Program:

Lake Casitas is part of California’s Invasive Mussel Prevention Program. Quagga and Zebra mussels can cause serious damage to:

• Water systems and pipelines
• Local ecosystems
• Boats and trailers
• Lake infrastructure

Our inspection and quarantine program is in place to prevent infestation and ensure the long-term health of the lake.

💧 Thank you for doing your part to protect the water, wildlife, and recreation we all enjoy.

Learn more at CA Division of Boating and Waterways Aquatic Invasive Species Program

📅 Schedule Your Inspection Appointment:

All inspection scheduling is handled by email only and coordinated directly by our inspection lead.

To request an appointment or ask questions, please email:
📧 boatinspection@casitaswater.com

 In your email, please include your phone number so we can contact you directly to confirm your inspection and explain the process in detail.