A new species of mussels discovered in California’s waterways earlier this month could have massive ramifications for the entire state if it’s not contained, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Thursday. The California Department of Water Resources discovered golden mussels, which are native to China and Southeast Asia, while doing routine maintenance in the Port of Stockton, marking the first-ever appearance of the species in North America. The mussels likely reached California by clinging to the bottom of an international vessel, Fish and Wildlife officials said, announcing the discovery. The department said the species poses a significant, immediate threat to the ecological health of all of California’s waters, not just the Sacramento-Joaquin Delta where it was discovered.

Related articles and news release:

• San Francisco Chronicle: Major California water source faces ‘immediate threat’ from new invasive species
• CalMatters: Mussel invades California’s Delta, first time in North America
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife news release: Invasive Non-Native Golden Mussel Discovered in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta