BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) Golden mussels and the threat they pose to Kern County’s water systems drew farmers, water districts and other community stakeholders to a forum Wednesday aimed at coordinating a response and pushing for broader state action.
The Kern County Farm Bureau and the Water Association of Kern County co-hosted the Golden Mussels Forum, which featured a panel of five experts discussing the growing threat of the invasive species.
Rachel Nettleton, executive director of the Kern County Farm Bureau, said the event brought together people working on multiple fronts, including treatment and government response.
Kern County groups host forum on growing threat of invasive golden mussels (Photo: FOX26 Photojournalist Bert Montelongo)
“We have those that are helping from the treatment perspective as well. The county is in attendance. We have some politicians in attendance as well that are helping spearhead showcasing their emergency to the state,” Nettleton said.
Kern County has already declared a state of local emergency, but officials said more needs to be done.
Nettleton said the Farm Bureau has asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand the response statewide.
“And the Kern County Farm Bureau, we have been in the process and sent a letter to Governor Newsom to file a state of emergency for all of California,” she said.
During the forum, panelists discussed ways to treat golden mussels, including chemical solutions. Justin Rowe, general manager of the Westside Water Authority, said research helped guide local treatment choices.
“We were looking to what research DWR had done and that pointed us to some copper-based compounds,” Rowe said.
Kern County groups host forum on growing threat of invasive golden mussels (KBAK/KBFX)
Rowe said the treatment plan produced strong results.
“And as we were treating, we were checking mortality rates. And so, within thirteen to seventeen days we reached one hundred percent mortality rates,” he said.
Officials said chemical treatments are only part of the response, and that monitoring is also being used to evaluate what works. David Hampton, general manager of the North Kern Water Storage District, described one method used to track impacts on the mussels.
Kern County groups host forum on growing threat of invasive golden mussels (CA Dept. of Water Resources)
“We had sample bags. Mesh bags that we put golden muscles in for controlled samples in so we can monitor and see how it was impacting mortality,” Hampton said.