Schedule a Boat Inspection Appointment - Quagga Muscle Prevention

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:
Quagga Boating RestrictionsThis 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.