Braxton Taylor
Coast Guard Station Rio Vista, California, has a mouse problem.
So much so, that this small outpost on the Sacramento River has closed temporarily as the service evaluates the cost to address the infestation and make the repairs needed to ensure the furry freeloaders don’t return.
In an Oct. 7 press release, the Coast Guard said the small boat station has “temporarily assumed a degraded readiness posture” for at least 30 days to make emergency repairs to address “habitability concerns,” although officials did not say why.
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District 11 Public Affairs Officer Lt. SondraKay Kneen told Military.com Oct. 9 that the concerns stemmed from unsanitary conditions caused by mice.
According to Kneen, the station sits in a rural area next to an abandoned property, two circumstances that likely contributed to infestation.
Other unnamed environmental issues and the age of the buildings, which were constructed in the early 1970s, also “appear to be contributing factors,” Kneen said in an email.
Station Rio Vista has 25 active-duty personnel and 13 reserve members. Kneen said the issue has not displaced anyone living in nearby housing units.
The Government Accountability Office estimated in 2021 that the Coast Guard had a maintenance backlog for its shore infrastructure of more than $2.6 billion. More than half its shore infrastructure is operating beyond its service life, and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan has made addressing the shortfalls a top priority.
In its Unfunded Priority List for fiscal 2025, the service said it had facility-related maintenance needs of more than $282 million, including not only money for depot maintenance and repair projects but housing and barracks in various locations across the U.S.
“The quality of our facilities and ships not only impacts mission readiness; it’s an important factor in potential recruits when they consider the Coast Guard,” Fagan said in her State of the Coast Guard address on March 20.
The issues at Rio Vista are emblematic of the service’s maintenance struggles.
“The Coast Guard continues to experience growing maintenance shortfalls for shore facilities which are critical to preparing and maintaining our operational assets, as well as training and sustaining our workforce and their families,” Kneen said.
While Rio Vista is closed, the service will use other resources, including aircraft from Air Station San Francisco and assets from Sector San Francisco to cover the area, officials said.
“The public’s safety is a primary concern for the Coast Guard,” said Capt. Jordan Baldueza, Coast Guard Sector San Francisco commander. “We appreciate the public’s support and understanding while we work to ensure the safety of our members as well.”
The Coast Guard has closed or temporarily closed a number of units as a result of a workforce shortage of more than 10% of its enlisted workforce. Fagan announced in March that it needed to prioritize operations and shift personnel to focus primarily on its life-saving mission and protection of the Marine Transportation System.
“These temporary changes are not a permanent solution. Americans want more Coast Guard, not less,” she said.
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