One year after their discovery, State of California working to stop spread of invasive golden mussel | News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The State of California has been actively working to combat the spread of golden mussels since their discovery one year ago.

The California Department of Water Resources, in partnership with California State Parks and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), has taken significant steps over the past year to address the issue. These groups are working together to protect California’s essential water infrastructure from the invasive species.

Golden mussels pose a major threat to the State Water Project, which provides water to 27 million residents and 750,000 acres of farmland across California.

Golden mussels range from three-quarters of an inch to two inches in size and have yellowish-brown shells. They reproduce quickly and spread easily through infested waters.

According to the DWR, if left unchecked, golden mussels can alter aquatic ecosystems by filter-feeding on planktonic algae and changing the habitat structure which can damage fisheries, impact water delivery systems by clogging small-diameter pipelines, screens, and filters, and impact recreation by fouling boat hulls and motors and clogging intakes and cooling lines.

To counter this, the California Department of Water Resources has implemented proactive measures around the state to reduce the mussels’ impact on the California’s water system.