Invasive Mussels Top Agenda at Kern Water Summit

Experts warn golden mussels are likely here to stay, posing ongoing maintenance challenges for water managers

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Destructive golden mussels that have invaded the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta were a major focus at this year's Kern County Water Summit. Biologists warned the invasive mollusks are nearly impossible to eradicate and will require constant maintenance to keep them from clogging water infrastructure. Water managers expressed concerns about the high costs of treating the mussels, while also discussing ways state and federal agencies can work together to bring more certainty to California's water supplies.

Why it matters

The golden mussels pose a significant threat to California's vast water delivery networks, potentially clogging pipes and equipment. Their rapid spread and ability to thrive in a wide range of conditions make them extremely difficult to control, forcing water managers to grapple with an ongoing and expensive maintenance challenge.

The details

Biologists from the consulting firm Dudek told the summit that the golden mussels, which are native to Southeast Asia, have spread throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and made their way into local water systems in Kern County. They compared the mussels to Kevlar, able to withstand a variety of water conditions and attach to any surface. Water managers expressed dismay at finding the mussels as far south as Arvin, with one biologist saying 'It's hard to treat a natural water body like the Delta' and that 'we will most likely always have to deal with golden mussels'.

  • The golden mussels were first detected in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta about two years ago.
  • In November 2025, water managers in Kern County discovered the mussels had made their way into local water systems as far south as Arvin.

The players

Valerie Goodwin

A biologist with the consulting firm Dudek.

Stephen Burkholder

A biologist with the consulting firm Dudek.

Joaquin Esquivel

Chairman of the California State Water Resources Control Board.

Johnny Amaral

The new Executive Director of the Friant Water Authority.

Paul Gosselin

Deputy Director of the California Department of Water Resources Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Unfortunately there is no silver bullet.”

— Valerie Goodwin, Biologist, Dudek (sjvwater.org)

“It's hard to treat a natural water body like the Delta. There are nooks and crannies where they can settle and grow. Every year, new veligers (offspring) will move their way down the state. They grow and settle so fast that there will always be a breeding population.”

— Valerie Goodwin, Biologist, Dudek (sjvwater.org)

“We can work together and we have the receipts to prove it. When they say their interests are fixing the woes of California water, then it's up to us to hold their feet to the fire.”

— Johnny Amaral, Executive Director, Friant Water Authority (sjvwater.org)

What’s next

Water managers will continue to grapple with the ongoing challenge of controlling the invasive golden mussels, which have become established in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and spread into local water systems. Experts say there is no easy solution, and water agencies will likely have to devote significant resources to maintaining and treating their infrastructure to prevent the mussels from clogging pipes and equipment.

The takeaway

The golden mussel invasion highlights the growing threats facing California's complex water infrastructure and delivery systems. Water managers must find ways to adapt and respond to these challenges, which will require collaboration between state, federal, and local agencies as well as ongoing vigilance and investment to protect the state's vital water resources.