Overview
- State wildlife officials announced in late June that tests by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife genetics lab verified golden mussels collected in and around the Port of West Sacramento.
- Follow-up surveys turned up multiple specimens at sites including docks in Washington Lake and near the Jefferson Boulevard overpass and Boathouse Road, suggesting a local, established population rather than a single contaminated vessel.
- Golden mussels reproduce quickly and attach to hard surfaces, posing risks of clogged water intake pipes, damaged municipal infrastructure, and disruption to native aquatic ecosystems.
- CDFW has notified West Sacramento, Sacramento and Yolo counties, is expanding monitoring and outreach, and urges boaters and recreationists to follow 'Clean, Drain, Dry' steps and report suspected mussels through its reporting portal, email, or hotline.
- The discovery follows the species’ first California detection in Stockton in October 2024, a prior outbreak that strained drinking water systems, and officials warn the West Sacramento find could expand pressure on Delta water infrastructure if spread is not slowed.