State Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton) warned Wednesday that California is quickly running out of time to contain the rapid spread of invasive golden mussels, an emerging threat to the state’s water infrastructure, agriculture, recreation and ratepayers.
Golden mussels, first detected in California near the Port of Stockton in 2024, are small invasive mollusks that attach to boats, piers, water intake pipes and other surfaces. They form dense colonies that can clog pipes, damage infrastructure and disrupt water deliveries for farms and cities.
Ransom addressed the issue during a budget hearing, urging immediate state action before the problem becomes far more expensive and difficult to manage…