Invasive Species

San Francisco Chronicle
The industrial area along the Port of Stockton, a deepwater shipping channel located on an island in the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta, on May 22, 2023, in Stockton, Calif.
George Rose/Getty ImagesLast October, an invasive species never before seen in North America was discovered in the deep waters of the Port of Stockton, about 92 miles east of San Francisco. No larger than the size of a paperclip, the seemingly innocuous, caramel-colored shells of golden mussels clinging to buoys and monitoring equipment in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta — and subsequently found at O’Neill Forebay in the San Luis Reservoir near Los Banos — have left California officials scrambling to stop the spread.
On Wednesday, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife released its plan to address what it’s calling an “urgent invasive species threat,” with strategies to prevent further distribution of golden mussels and to minimize their impact on the environment, recreation, agriculture and, notably, drinking water infrastructure. 
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad

Two-thirds of California residents depend on water from the San Joaquin Delta, as SFGATE previously reported. Krysten Kellum, a spokesperson for the CDFW, said the mollusks are “highly efficient filter feeders that can form dense colonies,” and if they were to spread to the Bay Area, they could clog pipes, impede water flow and damage watercraft motors. 
“These impacts necessitate ongoing, costly removal to maintain operational function,” Kellum said, which can lead to “economic impacts to water conveyances, energy production, recreation, agriculture and ultimately, the public.”
Golden mussels are an invasive species from China and Southeast Asia and were first identified outside of their native range in South America in the 1990s. Experts suspect the mussels were likely introduced to California by a ship traveling from an international port. 
“The discovery of golden mussels in California is a serious challenge that requires coordinated action and a long-term commitment,” CDFW Director Charlton Bonham said in a news release. “This response framework recommends critical steps that must be taken across state, regional and local levels to limit the spread and mitigate the impacts of this invasive species.”
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad

The agency also plans to offer $1 million in grant funding to boating facility operators to help prevent any new introductions of the species and ensure the long-term ecological health of California’s lakes, reservoirs and other waterways. Reservoir managers are also introducing new guidelines to swimmers and boaters before the busy summer months.
Folsom Lake at the base of the Sierra Foothills and Lake Clementine just outside of Auburn closed to all trailered and motorized vessels on Monday, and people who want to launch their boats there will be required to go through a mandatory 30-day quarantine, per California State Parks. After May 14, visitors will be “required to have a quarantine, and/or decontamination seal intact and verified prior to entering the water,” officials said. Lake Berryessa, similarly, requires hot water decontamination or a 30-day quarantine.
Officials are trying to control the spread of golden mussels in California waterways.
California Department of Fish and WildlifeCurrent rules for other Bay Area waterways are as follows, per a map from KCRA-TV:
Advertisement
Article continues below this ad…

Read the full article at San Francisco Chronicle

ca.gov
In response to the recent detection of golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the state of California has developed a comprehensive Golden Mussel Response Framework(opens in new tab) to address this urgent invasive species threat. The discovery in October 2024 marked the first known occurrence of golden mussel in North America. To combat this threat, the framework provides coordinated strategies by multiple California departments to prevent further introduction and spread of golden mussels, as well as to contain and suppress infestations to minimize their impact on the environment, water conveyance, recreation and agriculture.

In addition, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is offering $1 million in grant funding to boating facility operators to enhance efforts against invasive mussels, particularly the threat of golden mussels. This funding supports projects that help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive mussels in lakes, reservoirs and waterways, ensuring the long-term health of state waters. The grant solicitation and application link can be found on CDFW’s website.

Native to East and Southeast Asia, golden mussels pose a significant threat to California’s natural ecosystems, water infrastructure, agriculture, and economy. The invasive species has already caused major disruptions in other parts of the world, including heavy biofouling of water intake systems, and negative impacts to habitat and wildlife.

“The discovery of golden mussels in California is a serious challenge that requires coordinated action and a long-term commitment,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “This response framework recommends critical steps that must be taken across state, regional and local levels to limit the spread and mitigate the impacts of this invasive species.”

“Taking coordinated action to address this invasive species will help safeguard critical water infrastructure like the State Water Project from the negative impacts golden mussels can pose to water delivery systems,” said John Yarbrough, DWR Deputy Director for the State Water Project. “Using this new framework and close collaboration with partner agencies, DWR will implement strategies to address this invasive species and minimize impacts by monitoring for the mussels in SWP waters and developing a mitigation plan.”

Reservoir managers across the state are adjusting their recreational plans for the upcoming boating season to address concerns for the golden mussel.

DBW maintains a list of contacts at: https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/inspections(opens in new tab).

The response framework developed by the Golden Mussel Task Force is composed of key state and federal agencies, including CDFW, DWR, California State Parks, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and several other federal and local partners. It outlines a comprehensive strategy to respond to the invasive species, focusing on preventing further introduction, containing mussels within currently infested waters and reducing population within the invaded range where feasible.

Key recommendations in the response framework include:

Containment and Prevention Measures

Development of a map of Delta launch sites to prioritize management at high-use sites.
Investigation of pathways of spread, such as watercraft and overland movement, aquaculture trade, etc.
Increased inspection and decontamination capacity for watercraft, with expanded training for inspectors.

Education and Outreach
Launch of education campaigns to inform the public about the golden mussel threat and how they can help prevent its spread.
Posting of signage at waterbodies where golden mussels are present promoting the “Clean, Drain, Dry” practice following and ending every outing.
Collaboration with businesses that provide watercraft cleaning services to promote industry standards.

Incentives and Partnerships
Promotion of watercraft cleaning services within and around the Delta to assist in controlling the spread of the mussels.

The Golden Mussel Task Force will continue to collaborate to mitigate the impacts of this invasive species and protect the state’s water resources. The Golden Mussel Framework is a dynamic document, evolving with new information and adaptive management strategies.

For more information or to learn how you can help prevent the spread of golden mussel and report sightings visit: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Invasives/Species/Golden-Mussel.

Media Contacts:
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Maggie Macias, DWR Public Affairs Office, (916) 902-7405…

Read the full article at ca.gov