Aquatic Plant Management

Fee Notice

Fees have changed, please see the 2022 Clear Lake Aquatic Plant Management Permit Application for updated fees. Also, a map needs to be attached to show the outline of treatment area with calculated square footage for new permit fee.

Program Information

Most property owners will not possess the machinery for mechanical harvest or the requisite licenses for pesticide application. The Water Resources Department maintains a list of 2021 Aquatic Plant Management Operators with approved harvest equipment and licensed commercial pesticide applicators (the list is not intended as an endorsement of any business or individual). Usually, an agreement is reached between the lakeshore property owner and/or contractor, and the contractor then applies for the permit.

The Lake County Water Resources Department will serve as the single point source for obtaining a permit to control nuisance aquatic plants on Clear Lake. Receiving approval to conduct nuisance aquatic plant control operations on public property can be very complicated, but the knowledgeable staff at Water Resources will be able to help coordinate and expedite the process:

• Permission to control nuisance aquatic plants (Water Resources Department)
• Enforcement of herbicide regulations (County Agricultural Commissioner)
• Clearance for aquatic plant control activities in hydrilla infested areas (California Department of Food and Agriculture)
• Permission to alter fish and wildlife habitat (California Department of Fish and Game)
• Permission to discharge a potential pollutant (aquatic herbicide) into public waters (California State Water Resources Control Board)

Permit Application

All aquatic plant management activities, regardless of extent or method, require a permit and must be approved in advance. In order to obtain permission to control nuisance aquatic plants in Clear Lake, a person may apply at the Water Resources counter or print the 2023 Clear Lake Aquatic Plant Management Permit Application (PDF).

The Department provides a 2023 Quick Guide(PDF) to the Clear Lake Aquatic Plant Management Permit. All permit applications must be accompanied by a GIS/Aerial/Lakebed Map of the proposed treatment area along the shore of Clear Lake (scale 1 inch=50 feet), with the treatment area highlighted or clearly designated with appropriate square footage, and requisite fees, when necessary. The complete application is processed within Water Resources Department and a copy is circulated to the CDFA Hydrilla Eradication field office and the Lake County Agricultural Commissioner's Office for approval or denial based on their jurisdictional authority.

Permits will be issued by the Department of Water Resources upon review and approval of the appropriate agencies. The Department will notify the applicant when the application is ready for pickup, usually within 48 hours of initial receipt of permit. The permit must be picked up at the Water Resources Department and the applicant must sign the permit committing to compliance with all programmatic and specific conditions.

The Clear Lake Integrated Aquatic Plant Management Program is guided by Lake County Ordinance and County Code Chapter 26. If you have questions or concerns regarding this program please call our Invasive Species Coordinator, Angela De Palma-Dow at 707-263-2344 or by email.

Learn more by viewing the Aquatic Plant Management Letter of Intent - May 2023 (PDF)