Here is the thing that gets me... the entire state -- shoot multiple states --- are all inspecting for mussels. No one wants them in the lakes because of the damage they do. But each governing entity has their own rules and regs. I can go to big bear lake, or piru, or pyramid, get inspected and get a seal. But if I then go to Perris with a seal, they re-inspect. Seems to me if they wanted to put that cash we all spend to good use, they would govern all california lakes the same. Have a standardized inspection and seal process. Once your boat is inspected an sealed from ANY quagga free lake, you would be free to launch and re-seal at will.
It just really doesn't make sense. I regularly dry my boat -- to extremes! I have adapters for my piping to my livewells so that I can use a compressor to blow them out. I have fans that i put in the bilge and livewells to dry them out. But water lurks. I recently fished the ocean, cleaned my boat, did the dry thing and then 4 weeks later went to Perris. During the drive, some water that must have been stuck somewhere behind a bulkhead dribbled out to my bilge. The inspector (who would have made a good doctor) jammed her finger to the hilt up the bilge hole and detected a bit of moisture. FAILED. Does the state not know that lower units, cooling systems, and internal livewell piping hold cups and cups of water??
Sigh. This is one of the only times that i wish that government was a tiny bit bigger and could manage a statewide problem well.