Stockton, CA – Today, the Board of Supervisors Ad Hoc Golden Mussels Committee took experts on the water for a firsthand look at the threat in an effort to sound the alarm and garner additional regional and national support in the fight against golden mussels in the Delta.
“Golden mussels are here to stay. There’s no eliminating the threat, only managing it,” said First District Supervisor Mario Gardea. “We need all of our State and Federal partners to understand the severity of this issue and what is at stake for San Joaquin County. Having experts here, seeing the mussels and the infrastructure they threaten, gives us an opportunity to grow the partnerships we need to protect our water systems, our agricultural economy and the Delta.”
The Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species brings together state, provincial, federal, tribal, non-governmental, academic, and industry representatives working to limit the spread and impacts of aquatic nuisance species throughout western North America and Canada. Members were in Sacramento this week for the group’s annual meeting hosted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife before traveling to San Joaquin County for the Delta tour.
“This is an opportunity to bring experts from across the West into the Delta to see firsthand the challenges we face with aquatic invasive species,” said Second District Supervisor Paul Canepa. “The Port of Stockton is at the center of this threat. Bringing scientists, academics, and water and policy leaders together allows us to better understand the impacts, strengthen partnerships, and work together to find resources and solutions.”
The tour launched at Buckley Cove in Stockton and included a firsthand look at the cleaning of the Smith Canal gates, golden mussels at the Port of Stockton and additional locations where the species can be observed from land and water.
Golden mussels were first discovered in the Delta at the Port of Stockton in 2024. The aggressive spread of the mollusk can clog water pipes and irrigation systems impacting flood control and creating widespread damage to the agricultural economy and environment. The Delta is particularly vulnerable because of its extensive network of waterways and its importance to California’s water supply, agriculture, recreation, and natural ecosystems.
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