Commentary: Protecting California’s water from invasive golden mussels requires a unified state and federal response
California’s water systems are facing an existential threat, and in the communities we represent, we’ve seen firsthand just how serious it has become. Since they were first detected in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta near the Port of Stockton in 2024, golden mussels have spread rapidly across California’s State Water Project, creating a growing challenge for water managers across the state. These small mussels reproduce quickly, attach to critical infrastructure, and clog the pipes, pumps, and equipment responsible for delivering water to homes, farms, and businesses.
