Oakland, February 6, 2026
Boat inspections begin at San Pablo Reservoir for season opening
The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) will begin on-site boat inspections at San Pablo Reservoir on Sunday, Feb. 8, to start the 2026 recreation season. San Pablo will be the first of two EBMUD reservoirs that will reopen to boats since EBMUD closed its launches in 2025 due to the detection of the invasive golden mussel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in October 2024.
After essential preparations including increased sampling and analysis through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Golden Mussel Framework, EBMUD is now prepared to re-open boating at San Pablo this month, and at Camanche Reservoir South Shore in the Sierra Nevada Foothills in May. Inspections at Camanche South Shore are now underway.
At both locations, boat owners must present a clean, drained and dry vessel for inspection, banding and a 30-day quarantine prior to launch. Kayaks must be clean, drained and dry for launch. EBMUD will not accept bands from other reservoirs and maintains the right to close the launches if conditions surrounding the invasive mussel change.
- What: Qualified watercraft inspectors perform onsite boat inspections for invasive species on opening day of the San Pablo Reservoir boat launch.
- When: Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026; 10 a.m. to noon.
- Where: San Pablo Boat Launch 534 Old San Pablo Road, Martinez, CA.
- Background:
- Nov. 20, 2025 – “EBMUD to reopen boat launches for the 2026 season.”
- Jan. 31, 2025 – “EBMUD takes steps to prevent golden mussel from infesting public water supply.”
- Additional opportunity: Shoreline Trout Derby Saturday, Feb. 7; park opens at 6:30 a.m.