Friday August 21, 2026
CBS —
The first known detection of the invasive golden mussel in all of North America happened in California.
This invasive species has prompted states of emergency, both in San Joaquin County, where they were found at the Port of Stockton, and in Yolo County, where they were found to have spread to the Port of West Sacramento. It’s posing a huge threat to Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta waterways.
It’s threatening billions of dollars in losses for farmers and could choke California’s water supply. Working to help stop it is the Davis-based Invasive Species Corporation, which is stepping up with a possible solution.
Research scientist Brady Hirschfeld studies how to stop the rapid golden mussel invasion.
“It’s really rewarding to be on this side of things,” Hirschfeld said. “I’m really proud to be part of the solution to kill golden mussels.”
The patent-protected product being tested is zequanox, created first to kill other invasive zebra and quagga mussels. Now, it’s being redeveloped and retested to root out the goldens, which are notoriously resilient and hard to kill.
Also trying to slow down the spread is Pam Marrone.