Invasive Mussels

Notice of Department Rulemaking: Invasive Mussels (Amend Sections 650, 672, 672.1, and 672.2, Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR))

July 3, 2026

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) has published the Notice of Proposed Action to amend sections 650, 672, 672.1, and 672.2 to Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR).

Fish and Game Code Section 2301 authorizes the Department to adopt regulations regarding the management of invasive mussels.

The Department proposes to amend sections 650, 672, 672.1, and 672.2 to Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations. Amendments include management measures for watercraft removed from invasive mussel infested waters, such as mandating the inspection of watercraft that have been launched in infested water for four or more consecutive nights. Additionally, the proposed changes establish a departmental list of conveyance service providers that adhere to industry standards for inspection and decontamination. This is necessary to expand the scope of the existing regulations to encompass all invasive mussel species, thereby ensuring consistency with the revised Fish and Game Code (FGC) established by Assembly Bill 149. The proposed amendments are intended to align regulations with current conditions and to incorporate a proactive component that addresses potential invasive mussel threats not presently identified within the California or the United States.

In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, the Department provided notice of the proposed regulatory action with the Office of Administrative Law for publication in the California Regulatory Notice Register on July 3, 2026.

Written Comment Period

Any interested person, or their authorized representative, may submit written comments on the proposed action to the Department. All written comments must be received by the Department via mail or email no later than Tuesday August 18, 2026, to the contact as follows:

California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Regulations Unit
Attn: Daphne Nandino, Analyst
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
Email: Regulations@wildlife.ca.gov

Public Hearing

A virtual public hearing is scheduled by as follows:
Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom Teleconference/Webinar

The current rulemaking file for this proposal consists of the following documents: