Friday July 31, 2026
CDWR —
Golden mussels pose a serious and fast-growing threat to California’s water infrastructure. As the operator of the State Water Project (SWP), DWR is deploying a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the impact of golden mussel infestation and prevent further colonization. DWR is attacking the problem through several immediate response measures, concentrated investments to strengthen infrastructure, and long-term research and partnerships to improve the state’s ability to manage golden mussels.
Immediate Actions: Protecting State Water Project Operations Today
- Vigilant scheduling of inspections, monitoring, and early detection throughout the SWP, including expanded eDNA analysis for golden mussels.
- Implementing low-dose and sustainable copper treatments as the primary mitigation strategy at facilities. Increasing maintenance, including manual cleaning, flushing pipelines, power washing, and hand-scraping mussels from vulnerable infrastructure.
- Some of DWR’s field divisions are installing replacement equipment as needed to limit interruptions in operations.
- Preventing further spread through exit watercraft inspections at mussel-infested SWP reservoirs, decontamination programs, and public outreach encouraging boaters to Clean, Drain, Dry.