Oakland, November 20, 2025
EBMUD to reopen boat launches for 2026 season
The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) plans to reopen boat launches on a limited basis at two of its reservoirs in 2026, following a yearlong closure. The closure provided the EBMUD the time needed to evaluate the threat from the invasive golden mussel and devise a plan to protect the East Bay’s public water supply and billions of dollars in public infrastructure. The EBMUD Board of Directors unanimously approved the reopening plan at its regular meeting on November 12, 2025.
To date, the destructive species has not been detected at any of EBMUD’s reservoirs. However, detections have spread quickly throughout the state since the golden mussel was first identified in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in October 2024, and the mussel’s presence has been reported near EBMUD’s vital infrastructure.
The reopening plan requires inspection of all trailered vessels and a mandatory 30-day quarantine and banding before they will be allowed to launch at Camanche Reservoir South Shore in the Sierra foothills and San Pablo Reservoir in the East Bay. The plan also allows EBMUD the ability to close the launches if conditions change.
Pardee Reservoir, which collects 90 percent of the drinking water supplied to EBMUD’s more than 1.4 million customers, will not reopen to recreational boats in 2026.
EBMUD’s plan requires that boaters clean, drain and dry their vessels prior to inspection. At the inspection, a tamper-proof band will be attached to the boats that have been cleared for a 30-day quarantine. The plan also addresses unique customer demands and resources at each reservoir:
- San Pablo Reservoir: Boat launches will open from February 8 through October 31, 2026.
- Camanche Reservoir: Boat launches at the South Shore will be open from May 1 through October 1, 2026. The North Shore boat launch will not open in 2026.
- Car-top: Vessels that cannot be banded, such as car-top boats, kayaks and canoes, will be inspected and cleared prior to launch at Camanche, San Pablo, Lafayette and Chabot reservoirs. Boats are permitted only via special permit at Briones Reservoir and are not permitted at Upper San Leandro Reservoir.
- Boat rentals are available at the following reservoirs: Pardee (16), Camanche (30), San Pablo (53), Lafayette (40), and Chabot (75).
EBMUD is working to create an appointment schedule for boat inspections and quarantines at Camanche Reservoir where demand is highest. Inspections and quarantines at San Pablo Reservoir will be on a first-come, first-served basis during regular boat launch hours. More plan details here.
The golden mussel originated in Asia and was first detected in North America – in Stockton, Calif. – in late 2024. EBMUD closed its boat launches soon after to prevent golden mussel introduction to its reservoirs by boat, which is among the most likely ways mussels spread.
The mussel presents a significant threat to the environment, ecosystems and infrastructure. They reproduce quickly, attach themselves to hard surfaces, clog pipes and pumps, and feed on plankton that fish rely on, disrupting the natural food chain. An invasive species risk analysis shows that the mussel would thrive in EBMUD waters due to favorable calcium levels and temperatures.
The mussel has since spread throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and to southern California. View the California Department of Fish and Wildlife detection map.
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The East Bay Municipal Utility District has a proud history of providing high-quality drinking water for 1.4 million customers in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. EBMUD’s wastewater system serves 740,000 customers and helps protect the ecosystem of San Francisco Bay. EBMUD is a not-for-profit public agency established in 1923.
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