Introduction
CDFW’s Invasive Species Program is enlisting the help of communities throughout the state in invasive species monitoring and management. “What is community science?” you ask? Community science is groups or individuals participating in scientific efforts, like invasive species monitoring, and contributing to conservation. For example, a local marina, neighborhood watch group, or passionate scientist, can conduct invasive species surveys, collect data, and report observations.
How can you join the effort? We welcome you to participate in the following:
Invasive Mussel Monitoring
Invasive mussels, like quagga, zebra, and golden mussel, continue to threaten waterbodies throughout California. While local agencies and CDFW work to monitor many of these waters each year, the more eyes looking improves the chance of detecting mussels, if they are present.
To contribute to the statewide effort, first choose how you would like to monitor. There are two options:
- Visit a waterbody and conduct a surface survey. This involves walking along the shoreline and looking for mussels on the undersides of hard surfaces like docks, rocks, vegetation, and other substrates. Surface surveys are a great monitoring method for those that visit different waterbodies throughout the year. For more information on how to conduct surface surveys, review our surface survey protocol (PDF).
- Construct an artificial substrate and monitor it monthly. This involves constructing a monitoring tool, called an artificial substrate. This tool is comprised of hard PVC plates that act as an available surface which mussels can attach to and live on. Artificial substrates are left in the water and pulled up monthly to be inspected for any mussels have attached to the undersides of the plates. Artificial substrate monitoring is an excellent option for those looking to monitor the same spot every month. For more information on how to construct and monitor your own artificial substrate, review our artificial substrate protocol (PDF).
Important: Be sure to abide by all rules and regulations when you are monitoring. After you have selected your monitoring method and collected data, submit your findings to our program whether you found mussels or not. Remember, we want to know where invasive mussels are not found, too! This information is useful for tracking populations over time. Please report your data here.