Monday April 28, 2025
CBS News —
All across Northern California, the fight is on to prevent the spread of an invasive shellfish called the golden mussel. It has the potential to do billions of dollars in damage to water infrastructure and, as a result, the East Bay Regional Park District has announced changes to the way boaters can operate on its lakes.
When golden mussels were first discovered on a float near the Port of Stockton last year, it sent shockwaves through Northern California water agencies.
The invasive mollusk, native to Asia, can thrive in most kinds of water and reproduces rapidly, fouling pipes and motors and just about anything it gets a hold of. And that spells bad news for fishermen like Ali Moayedi.
“It just feels like the ecosystem is really fragile and any minute you could lose whatever lake you’re fishing at. So, it’s kind of … it is scary, to say the least,” said Ali. “I’m scared to go to the Delta because then I might not be let back into here. Which is kind of scary, too!”