Invasive Golden Mussel Detected at Silverwood Lake and Pyramid Lake

New Boating Protocols Implemented and Effective Immediately at Silverwood Lake

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— The Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and California State Parks have confirmed presence of the invasive golden mussel at Pyramid Lake in Los Angeles County and  Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County. These lakes are the southernmost State Water Project (SWP) reservoirs the place golden mussels have been detected. The invasive species was lately found throughout a routine water take a look at by DWR; in response, State Parks has up to date Silverwood Lake’s boat inspection protocols, efficient instantly. Pyramid Lake, which is managed by DWR, carried out exit inspections following the invention of quagga mussels in 2016.

The golden mussel, native to China and Southeast Asia, was initially detected within the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and O’Neill Forebay in October 2024 and has subsequently unfold south. This small freshwater bivalve is understood for its speedy copy and skill to clog water infrastructures, disrupt ecosystems, and outcompete native species. These invasive mussels may trigger important injury to boats by attaching to hulls and clogging engines, resulting in elevated prices for boaters and different motorized vessel house owners. Currently, there aren’t any efficient strategies to deal with or get rid of the golden mussel from infested waterways, making prevention of additional unfold to non-infested waterways a high precedence.

Through a sequence of coordinated actions with state and native companions, DWR has expanded its actions to guard SWP amenities towards this harmful species whereas sustaining operational capability to ship water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland. Actions to mitigate the unfold of golden mussels embody ongoing analysis to raised perceive and suppress the species, in addition to designing and implementing new measures to guard pumping vegetation, hydroelectric vegetation, and water provide deliveries.

New Boating Protocols at Silverwood Lake

Due to the confirmed presence of golden mussels in Silverwood Lake, the next adjustments to boating protocols at the moment are in impact:

• Vessel inspections upon arrival are discontinued: As the lake is now infested with golden mussels, necessary inspections for invasive mussels upon entry are now not required.
• Drain plug elimination/outbound inspection: Drain plugs needs to be pulled on all vessels previous to exiting Silverwood Lake to forestall the transport of lake water, which can comprise microscopic golden mussel larvae or veligers.
• Clean and dry advisory: Boaters are strongly suggested to make sure their vessels are completely cleaned, drained, and dried after recreating on Silverwood Lake. For vessels that can’t be utterly drained of water, comparable to boats with ballast tanks, boaters are suggested to examine with the particular physique of water they plan to recreate for decontamination tips earlier than launching in different lakes or our bodies of water not but infested with invasive mussels. These measures purpose to cut back the danger of spreading golden mussels to different California waterways not impacted by invasive mussels. An inventory of reservoirs contact and watercraft inspection info may be discovered here.

Potential Impact on Lake Perris

While close by Lake Perris State Recreation Area (SRA) has not but examined constructive for golden mussels, the day by day switch of thousands and thousands of gallons of water from Silverwood Lake to Lake Perris, mixed with the invasive mussel’s speedy copy, makes the unfold to Lake Perris extremely seemingly. Monitoring efforts are ongoing, and the general public shall be notified of any updates. Lake Perris is continuous inspections for now and can discontinue incoming inspections if Lake Perris assessments constructive for golden mussels and can undertake this exit inspection protocol.

For extra info on invasive species prevention or to report suspected sightings of golden mussels, go to the CDFW’s golden mussel webpage, name (866) 440-9530 or electronic mail [email protected].

For details about SWP golden mussel mitigation, go to DWR’s web site.

Contacts:

[email protected]
California State Parks

[email protected]
California Department of Water Resources