Law Aims To Clear Out Delta's Derelict Boats

Abandoned Boats Clogging Delta Waterways

KCRA 3
12/12/2007

On Tuesday, San Joaquin County supervisors introduced a new law that will force boats to move every 30 days.

Often, squatters take up a residence on old houseboats and then abandon them, clogging the waterways.

There are about 50 abandoned or sunken boats in the San Joaquin County portion of the delta. The county will remove about half of them, but it will cost taxpayers about $180,000.

San Joaquin County Sheriff Steve Moore said people who are living on boats that are substandard are not taking their sewage to a marina and dumping it appropriately, causing pollution in the water.

Contra Costa County passed a similar law last year. Consequently, many squatters floated to neighboring counties and brought their problems with them.