California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
Plans are underway to protect California’s waterways from the spread of the invasive golden mussel.
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has developed a comprehensive Golden Mussel Response Framework to address the threat.
“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.”
Native to East and Southeast Asia, 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.
Golden mussels pose a significant threat to California’s natural ecosystems, water infrastructure, agriculture, and economy. 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.
Officials say that boaters are urged to clean and dry their equipment to prevent the spread of mussels. According to DWR, cleaning aquatic plants and animal material from your boat, trailer, or equipment along with draining water from water-containing devices can help stop the spread of the invasive mussels.
For more information regarding the golden mussel, visit DWR’s website.
