Golden mussels are no longer just a potential threat in California’s Central Valley — they’re an immediate threat.
Officials in Kern County warned this week that the invasive species has already reached water systems used every day by local communities, farms, and industries — raising concerns about damaged equipment and rising costs to keep water flowing.
What happened?
At a Tuesday meeting of the Kern County Board of Supervisors, county officials said the spread of golden mussels is now an immediate problem, according to KBAK/KBFX.
Thomas Brown, Kern County’s chief intergovernmental and legislative affairs official, told supervisors that the infestation is present in systems used daily by communities, farms, and industries. He said the mussels can attach to infrastructure, clog equipment, reduce water-conveyance capacity, and drive up maintenance costs…