The california department of fish and wildlife (cdfw) invasive species program (ISP) seeks to augment and strengthen its existing invasive mussel program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Region 8, awarded $738,067 to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605) for the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. This Formula Grant supports CDFW's Invasive Species Program (ISP), which focuses on preventing and controlling the spread of invasive mussels—specifically quagga, zebra, and golden mussels—throughout California's waterways and preventing their introduction to other states and countries. The award will augment existing statewide prevention and management efforts that have been in place since 2007, enabling CDFW to coordinate across multiple government levels and stakeholders, support headquarters and regional staff across six inland regions, and maintain laboratory services essential to the department's invasive mussel management operations.

The funding will strengthen CDFW's capacity to conduct inspections, monitoring, and control activities to protect California's aquatic environments and preserve recreational boating access to state waters. Since the initial detection of dreissenid mussels in 2007, infestations have necessitated temporary and permanent water closures and boating restrictions at multiple California reservoirs and lakes. The addition of golden mussels—first detected in California in 2024 and representing the first known detection in North America—underscores the critical need for expanded prevention and response capabilities that this award will provide.

The invasive mussel program has been in place since 2007 to prevent and control the spread of quagga and zebra mussels within the state of california and into other states and countries. In 2024, golden mussels were detected in california. This is the first known detection of golden mussels in north america. Golden mussels are an invasive species that is as problematic as quagga and zebra mussels. Dreissenid (quagga and zebra) mussels were first discovered in california in 2007. An incident command system (ICS) was established to determine the extent of the infestation and develop a strategic approach to future management efforts, followed shortly thereafter by authority (fish and game code 2301 and 2302) and funding for the statewide program (harbors and watercraft revolving fund). These funds, currently totaling approximately $3M annually, support staff in headquarters and each of the departments six inland regions to prevent the introduction and further spread of mussels, thereby protecting the environment, and preserving recreational access to the waters of the state. Since 2007 the presence of dreissenid mussels has resulted in temporary and permanent closures and restricted boating access in california, including SAN justo reservoir (SAN benito county closed since 2008), and pyramid lake (LOS angeles county closed for approximately two weeks in 2016), and prohibitions on public launching of watercraft (rentals only) and limiting access to day-use boating only (sunrise to sunset prohibiting overnight use) at several southern california waterbodies.since 2007, staff in headquarters have worked to coordinate across all levels of government and with all stakeholders to develop policy, regulations, and laboratory services to support the departments management efforts. Region staff work directly with water managers (federal, state, local, and private) to develop and implement prevention programs at waters not infested with mussels, and control (containment) programs at mussel-infested waters. In addition, they respond to infested watercraft (quarantine and or decontaminate) so they do not pose a threat for introducing mussels in california, or any other state or canadian province. Regional staff also provide expertise, support, and training to agencies on early-detection monitoring for mussels and watercraft inspection and decontamination, conduct early detection monitoring at areas that lack a designated managing authority, and provide outreach and education to a range of audiences. The existing program has developed the expertise and capacity to analyze early detection monitoring samples, ensuring quality control and appropriate turn-around time on results. In addition, the departments law enforcement division supports the departments efforts by responding to requests from regional staff and water managers for assistance and maintains scent detection dogs trained to detect dreissenid mussels.