October 21 - 22, 2010

LOCATION:  
Lions Gate Hotel & Cottage Suites
3410 Westover Street
Sacramento, (McClellan Park) CA 95652

Dreissenid mussels, a recognized and accepted threat to aquatic resources, have become established in several waterbodies throughout California with the potential threat of expansion to other sites recognized by Federal, State, municipal and private interests.  A need exists to coordinate a shared dialog between the myriad of interests currently involved in the prevention and control of mussel expansion in the attempt to identify potential collaborative and reciprocal efforts to maximize individual program efforts.

Furthermore, given the transitory nature of the pest and the importance of increasing boater awareness in their potential role of serving as a catalyst for mussel expansion, a thorough examination of newly expanded social networking communication technologies that allow for “real-time” exchange of information is warranted to maximize information exchange between stakeholders.

The summit is intended to bring together people who are actively involved in mussel prevention and control programs.  Their knowledge and expertise will be captured and collected to provide the basis of a report to the California Department of Fish and Game that identifies possible actions that will;

1) honor existing programs

2) identify possible paths to reciprocity that could alleviate demands on under-funded prevention programs

3) identify future steps to strengthen municipal and community-based mussel prevention programs.

Secondly, the summit will explore possible collaborative communication tools to allow better inter-program sharing of information.  This should support the ability of participants to share “real time” needs and discoveries in a way that could identify future actions to strengthen existing programs and identify gaps that could prevent future mussel expansion.