The recent discovery of a new type of invasive mussel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is raising concerns that the non-native species could cause major ecological harm and inflict costly complications for the infrastructure California relies on to deliver water across the state. … After finding the golden mussels in O’Neill Forebay, state workers have begun surveys to determine the extent of the infestation in the State Water Project system, including the California Aqueduct, which transports water pumped from the Delta to cities and farmlands. The increased monitoring and maintenance that will be required is expected to have an economic impact for the State Water Project, increasing water delivery costs, said Tanya Veldhuizen, manager of the Department of Water Resources’ Special Projects Section.

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