Golden Mussels Have Reached Our Water System
A fast-spreading invasive species was confirmed in Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District infrastructure this spring — and Brite Lake sits right in its path. Here's what's happening, and what every boater and angler needs to do before launching.
Clean, Drain, Dry
Step 01- Clean
Remove all plants, mud, and visible debris from your boat, trailer, and gear before leaving any launch site.
Step 02- Drain
Drain all water from your boat, live wells, ballast tanks, bilge, and any other equipment that held lake water.
Step 03-Dry
Let everything dry completely before launching in a different body of water — mussels can survive out of water for days.
The golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) is a small, fast-reproducing freshwater bivalve native to rivers and creeks in China and Southeast Asia. It was first found in North America in October 2024, discovered by state water resources staff monitoring equipment in the Port of Stockton.
In the time since, it has spread through the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta and outward into connected water systems across the state — including, this spring, into TCCWD's own water delivery infrastructure here in Tehachapi.
Unlike native species, golden mussels clump into dense colonies on almost any hard, dark surface — rock, concrete, steel, boat hulls, dock pilings — and reproduce fast enough to choke a pipe shut within months of first contact.
Learn More & Request Signage
dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=31927
The state's Invasive Mussels Toolkit — signage templates, videos, and public education materials.
GoldenMusselFactSheet_rev05282025.pdf