San Luis Obispo County Parks, Environmental Determination ED26-0116

The County of San Luis Obispo Department of Parks and Recreation is continuing efforts to prevent the spread of quagga mussels at Lopez Lake Recreation Area through an established public outreach and detection program. This includes the ongoing operation of a Resource Protection Team featuring a WIT 1-certified inspector and a K9 unit to conduct thorough watercraft inspections at primary and secondary checkpoints, ensuring no mussels or veligers are transported into or out of the lake. Environmental monitoring remains a key component, with regular plankton tow sampling and substrate checks coordinated with the County Department of Public Works to enable early detection of invasive species without altering the natural landscape. The initiative also extends to public education, with an interactive booth at the California Mid-State Fair staffed by a Park Ranger and K9 team, offering educational activities, boater surveys, and quizzes to gauge public awareness and evaluate program effectiveness. All activities are strictly limited to inspection, monitoring, and outreach, with no physical changes to the environment, including no ground disturbance, vegetation removal, or grading. The project is situated within the Recreation land use category at Lopez Lake Recreation Area, approximately ten miles east of Arroyo Grande, in the Huasna-Lopez Sub Area of South County.