1. Golden Mussel Infestation Discovered in District Infrastructure
The district confirmed the presence of golden mussels during winter maintenance, with mild biofouling in the N1 lateral and more extensive buildup in the N55 lateral and associated stand tanks. These Asian mussels reproduce rapidly (over 1 million eggs per female) and have already spread throughout California's State Water Project and Delta systems. Staff is evaluating treatment options including chemical control (chlorine, copper solutions), biological treatments, and UV filtration, and are prioritizing the issue because unchecked growth could clog smaller pipes and affect water deliveries. With much of the system dewatered for winter maintenance, directors emphasized the need to move quickly and asked staff to continue developing and refining a treatment strategy.
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