00:05Golden Muscles Invade North America Through California's Sacramento San Joaquin Delta
00:10California officials found Golden Muscles in the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta
00:14where ships, docks, and river channels carry water across the state.
00:18Golden Muscles cling to hard surfaces in dense clusters covering boat hulls, dock pilings,
00:23pipes, and underwater equipment with sharp shells.
00:25The Port of Stockton discovery alarmed California agencies because Golden Muscles had never been
00:30documented in North America before 2024. Golden Muscle larvae drift through Delta Water as tiny
00:35plankton, spreading before boaters or inspectors can see shells with bare eyes. Adult Golden Muscles
00:41filter huge volumes of water, stripping plankton that young fish and native muscles need for food.
00:46California water managers worry Golden Muscles can clog pumps, canals, and drinking water systems
00:51that move Delta Water to farms and cities. Boaters can carry Golden Muscles on anchors, trailers,
00:56bilges, and live wells when boats move from one lake or river to another. Inspectors ask boat owners
01:02to clean, drain, and dry equipment before launching in reservoirs, marinas, or freshwater channels.
01:07The Sacramento San Joaquin Delta already faces invasive clams, weeds, and fish,
01:11and Golden Muscles add another fast-spreading threat. One small shell on a trailer can ride
01:16from Stockton water into a new California lake. A quiet boat ramp can become the next place Golden
01:23Muscles take hold.
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