The invasive golden mussel problem in California just escalated. Sacramento County has declared a local emergency.
County leaders formally declared the emergency as the species continues to spread through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Golden mussels were first detected in North America in October 2024, and the situation has been moving fast since. The declaration allows the county to access additional resources and coordinate a more aggressive response.
Golden mussels are freshwater mollusks native to East Asia that can devastate water infrastructure and lake ecosystems. They clog intake pipes, foul boat hulls, alter nutrient cycles and outcompete native species. Once established, they are virtually impossible to eradicate.
The emergency declaration comes just a week after the state Department of Water Resources ended its mandatory boat inspection program at Lake Oroville, a decision that invasive species experts called alarming. Meanwhile, Lake Tahoe’s inspection program has intercepted two boats carrying golden mussels this year alone…