"Golden mussels, an invasive species of mollusk known to wreak havoc on water infrastructure and aquatic habitats, were detected in the Friant-Kern Canal south of Delano on Jan. 13. The canal is a 152-mile-long, gravity-fed aqueduct that transports water from the San Joaquin River to farmland and millions of residents throughout Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties."
"According to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the mussels are quick to colonize any body of water they inhabit and eat large amounts of plants and animals that native aquatic species depend on. Their diet mainly consists of microscopic plant and animal matter, such as phytoplankton and zooplankton."
"Golden mussels also latch onto human water infrastructure, which 'impedes water flow, clogs pipes, and fouls watercraft motors, and necessitates ongoing, costly removal to maintain operational function,' the agency wrote."
Golden mussels, an invasive mollusk species native to East and Southeast Asia, were first detected in North America in 2024 at California's Port of Stockton. Within less than two years, they spread to the Friant-Kern Canal, a 152-mile aqueduct supplying water to millions of residents across Fresno, Tulare, and Kern counties. The mussels rapidly colonize waterways, consuming plankton that native species depend on. They also attach to water infrastructure, clogging pipes, impeding water flow, and fouling motors, requiring costly removal efforts. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife established a Golden Mussel Framework to combat their spread, while water agencies in the San Joaquin Valley developed task forces to mitigate their presence.
Read at SFGATE
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