One Year Later How California is Combating Golden Mussels
California Department of Water Resources Senior Environmental Scientist Specialist Brianne Sakata (center), with the Division of Operations and Maintenance, works with California State Parks staff to collect invasive golden mussels from buoys in O'Neill Forebay in Merced County, California. Photo November 13, 2024.
It’s been a year since golden mussels were first discovered in California—and the state’s response has been swift and strategic. In partnership with California State Parks and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, DWR is taking decisive action to combat the spread of this invasive species and safeguard California’s vital water infrastructure.
Golden mussels pose a serious threat to the State Water Project (SWP), which delivers water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. To protect this critical infrastructure, DWR has launched a series of proactive measures aimed at minimizing the mussels’ impact on our water conveyance system.
Watch the video below to learn how DWR and its partners are tackling this challenge head-on, including:
- Impacts of invasive mussels on water delivery systems
- Mitigation measures underway to protect the SWP
- How to identify golden mussels
- How recreationalists can help stop the spread
For additional information, visit DWR's Invasive Mussel Mitigation webpage.