Memorandum
Date: March 25, 2025
To: The Honorable E.J. Crandell, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Pawan Upadhyay, Director Water Resources
Angela De Palma-Dow, Invasive Species Program Coordinator
Subject: 1:30 P.M. - Consideration of a) Update on Golden Mussel Prevention Programming; b) Approval of funding request to support Fiscal Year 2024-25 Golden Mussel prevention activities for Lake County in the amount of $25,000
Executive Summary:
On October 17, 2024 the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) reported finding attached, adult invasive Golden Mussels (Limnoperna fortunei) at a sample site location in the Port of Stockton. Mussel specimens were sent to UC Davis Genomic Variation Laboratory and confirmed to be Golden Mussels, originally from China; the species had not previously been detected in North America.
County of Lake and Regional water body managers are highly concerned about the spread of Golden Mussels (Limnoperna fortunei), which have been detected throughout the Sacramento Delta within the last 6 months. While similar in appearance, biology, and potential ecosystem effects to Quagga and Zebra Mussels (the current focus of invasive mussel prevention programs in Lake County), Golden Mussels pose a greater threat due to their rapid recolonization rate as adults and wider tolerance of preferred substrates.
On December 10, 2024, staff from the Water Resources Department (WRD) presented on the heightened threat of Golden Mussels to Clear Lake and other Lake County water bodies and proposed several prevention strategies and measures. This presentation will refine information earlier presented. Staff are additionally seeking your approval to fund Golden Mussel prevention planning and response to protect Lake County waterbodies (today’s request is limited to funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year, FY, 2024-25):
1) WRD will present current updates on the golden mussel and updates to the current Lake County prevention program as response to the threat of Golden Mussel. Staff will be available to answer any questions from the BOS or the public and facilitate any discussion.
2) WRD staff are requesting approval of funds to be allocated to golden mussel prevention programming, in an amount not to exceed $25,000 for the remainder FY 2024-25.
It is anticipated an additional request for funds in the amount of $245,000 will be presented during FY 2025-26 Budget Hearings.
These funds will provide valuable resources and capacity to maintain and improve invasive mussel prevention efforts in Lake County, during a time when alternative state or federal sources are not available. WRD staff will continue to seek funding, as applicable, to sustain the Golden Mussel prevention program.
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Recommended Action:
a) Presentation only, no action required.
b) Approve funding request to support Fiscal Year 2024-25 Golden Mussel prevention activities for Lake County in an amount not-to exceed $25,000.