An invasive freshwater mussel is prompting officials in California’s capital region to intensify their response, as leaders warn the tiny species could create major problems for water systems people rely on every day.
Sacramento County said the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors issued a local emergency declaration Tuesday, June 16, in response to the spread of the golden mussel, a move intended to strengthen coordination with regional, state, and federal agencies.
What’s happening?
Officials have grown increasingly concerned about how quickly golden mussels could move through California waterways since the Asian species, Limnoperna fortunei, was first detected in North America in October 2024.
One reason the species worries water managers is its ability to multiply rapidly and form dense clusters on hard surfaces…