Invasive Mussel News

On July 7, 2025, Department of Water Resources staff found a single golden mussel attached to an intake stop log at John R Teerink Wheeler Ridge Pumping Plant. This pumping plant is located on the California Aqueduct near Mettler and it is the southernmost detection to date of an adult golden mussel in California. Water from the California Aqueduct flows south of here and splits into the East and West Branches of the Aqueduct. Water in the Western Branch of the Aqueduct flows into Quail Lake, where golden mussel veligers were detected in May and June 2025. Water from Quail Lake is released via the Lower Quail Canal, passes through the Warne Powerplant, and flows to Pyramid Lake. Water from Pyramid Lake flows into Elderberry Forebay, and Castaic Lake, which is the terminus of the West Branch. Water from Castaic Lake flows into Castaic Lagoon, Castaic Creek, and the Santa Clara River. Pyramid Lake also releases water to Middle Piru Creek which flows to Lake Piru, Lower Piru Creek, and Santa Clara River. Quagga mussels have been detected in Pyramid Lake and downstream waters.

Water in the East Branch of the Aqueduct flows into Silverwood Lake and Lake Perris. Lake Perris is the terminus of the East Branch.

In response to the detection of golden mussel in California waterways, the state of California has developed a comprehensive Golden Mussel Response Framework (PDF) to address this invasive species threat. DWR, in coordination with partner agencies, has implemented regular inspections and maintenance at State Water Project facilities to minimize the effects of golden mussels. The discovery of golden mussels poses no imminent impacts to water quality or DWR’s ability to deliver water to 27 million Californians.& DWR continues to work diligently to implement protective measures to minimize the spread of this invasive species, prevent the fouling of equipment, and maintain operational capacity.

For specific questions about DWR’s response, please contact Maggie Macias, DWR Information Officer at (916) 902-7405. For questions regarding CDFW’s response, please contact CDFW’s hotline at (866) 440-9530.

Golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) veligers have been detected in Quail Lake, Los Angeles County, following testing of plankton samples collected by California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

On June 9, DWR detected golden mussel veligers in plankton tow samples that were collected at the Quail Lake outlet location on June 3 and analyzed with cross-polarized light microscopy (CPLM). The veligers were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis as golden mussel.

On June 16, CDFW’s Invasive Species Program (ISP) detected 12 veligers using CPLM in plankton tow samples collected at the inlet and outlet of Quail Lake on May 8 and May 29. The veligers were confirmed by PCR analysis and DNA sequencing as golden mussels.

Quail Lake, part of the State Water Project’s West Branch, only allows shoreline fishing and no boating. The lake is located downstream of Check 24, previously the southern-most sighting of golden mussel.

Water from Quail Lake is released via the Lower Quail Canal, passes through the Warne Powerplant, and flows to Pyramid Lake. Water from Pyramid Lake flows into Elderberry Forebay, and Castaic Lake, which is the terminus of the West Branch. Water from Castaic Lake flows into Castaic Lagoon, Castaic Creek, and the Santa Clara River. Pyramid Lake also releases water to Middle Piru Creek which flows to Lake Piru, Lower Piru Creek, and Santa Clara River. Quagga mussels have been detected in Pyramid Lake and downstream waters.

In response to the detection of golden mussel in California waterways, the state of California has developed a comprehensive Golden Mussel Response Framework (PDF) to address this invasive species threat. DWR, in coordination with partner agencies, has implemented regular inspections and maintenance at State Water Project facilities to minimize the effects of golden mussels. The discovery of golden mussels poses no imminent impacts to water quality or DWR’s ability to deliver water to 27 million Californians. DWR continues to work diligently to implement protective measures to minimize the spread of this invasive species, prevent the fouling of equipment, and maintain operational capacity.

For specific questions about DWR’s response, contact Maggie Macias, DWR Information Officer, at (916) 902-7405. For questions regarding CDFW’s response, contact CDFW’s hotline at (866) 440-9530.

This message is being forwarded on behalf of the US Fish and Wildlife Service:

The Funding Opportunity for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife QZAP FY2025 has officially been posted. The total funding amount for projects $1.75 M. There has been significant change in the application process over the past three years, resulting from our transition to GrantSolutions.gov. This opportunity will be open for application through September 5, 2025.

Applications will need to be submitted through grantsolutions.gov, and you will need to create a login and password to access the system. There are recipient tutorials online linked below. Below are the steps you will need to take to access and locate the funding announcement. The funding announcement number is F25AS00313 and the full title is "F25AS00313 FY2025 Implementation of the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Action Plan (QZAP) in the Western United States"

Please disseminate this opportunity to all interested parties. Feel free to reach out to barak_shemai@fws.gov. The opportunity can also be found at grants.gov, but applications may NOT be submitted through grants.gov. The grants.gov announcement: 2025 QZAP Grant Announcement.

Please follow these instructions after creating a GrantSolutions.gov username and password.

• Sign into grantsolutions.gov
• Go to the Funding Opportunities page
• Once there use CTRL + F to search the name of the opportunity "name in full" or "QZAP"
• You should see the QZAP opportunity - Select Apply on the far right

Recipient training videos:

• https://www.doi.gov/grants/grantsolutions
• GS Recipient Training Videos

General information:

• FWS GrantSolutions

Do NOT submit applications through Grants.gov.