Invasive Golden Mussels found in California Delta, first time in North America

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(FOX40.COM) — Water officials around Lake Tahoe are on high alert after an invasive species of mussel was found near Stockton and for the first time in North America, according to the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.

Golden Mussels were found in the California Delta near Stockton last week and pose a serious threat to the ecology of the delta and Lake Tahoe.

“While this discovery is concerning because of the proximity to Lake Tahoe, our watercraft inspection program is robust and we will continue our existing protocols to prevent its spread to the Lake Tahoe Region,” said Dennis Zabaglo, aquatic invasive species program manager at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA).

Officials believe the invasive species, native to China and Southeast Asia, was possibly brought to North American waters through international shipping.

“This species is known to have similarly negative ecological and recreational impacts as quagga and zebra mussels, both of which have never been detected in Lake Tahoe,” Lake Tahoe EIP writes.

The California Department of Water Resources is preparing a rapid response that includes additional monitoring to determine the extent of the population and manage potential vectors.

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Matthew Nobert

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