A rapid invasion of golden mussels is wreaking havoc on California’s water infrastructure, triggering local emergencies and prompting urgent action at the state Capitol.
First discovered in California in 2024, the invasive species has since spread throughout a district’s water system in less than a year.
To deal with it, authorities have launched a 30-day chemical eradication campaign that costs about $3 million. Additionally, local emergencies have been declared in Kern and San Joaquin counties.
What are golden mussels?
Golden mussels, known scientifically as Limnoperna fortunei, are freshwater molluscs native to China and Southeast Asia. They measure up to 1.75 inches and have wedge-shaped shells that range in color from golden yellow to dark brown.
Golden mussels attach themselves to hard surfaces underwater using byssal threads. Due to their dense, pointed colonies, they clog water intake pipes, dam grates, hydroelectric installations and boat engines, causing significant damage to infrastructure.
They also consume significant amounts of microscopic plants and animals, triggering an ecological disaster when native fish and shellfish starve.
This is not an isolated case either; Nationally, federal agencies estimate the cost of damage from invasive species to be well over $120 billion annually. Nearly 14,700 non-native species have been recorded in the United States.
Assemblymember Rhodia Ransom at the California State Capitol introduced Assembly Bill 2032 to strengthen the state’s response. For now, agencies are faced with lengthy permitting procedures before they can even remove the mussels from infrastructure.
Ransom said, “The water managers on the ground are ready to go. »
“They want to remove the molds and test new treatments, but they can’t do that without the passage of a bill like this bill.”
Officials are asking the public to help by thoroughly cleaning boats and equipment before traveling between waterways, never releasing exotic animals into the wild and avoiding transporting plants and firewood across state lines.
