Governor signs Huff’s SB 215

SB 215, which allows the California Department of Fish and Game to proceed with a hard-hitting strategy to combat the spread of dreissenid mussels in state waterways, was signed by Governor Jerry Brown today.

The measure was authored by Senator Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar), and is aimed specifically at quagga and zebra mussels. 

“My thanks to the Governor for his support and recognition that California needs an aggressive program that has shown success with eradicating the mussel threat before they can become uncontrollable and destructive,” said Huff in a statement.  “If we didn’t allow the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to continue with this aggressive control strategy, dreissenid mussels will colonize with alarming speed and cause major harm to our state waterways.”

Dreissenid mussels have been found in aqueducts, waterways, and reservoirs in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Imperial and San Benito Counties. The mussels attach themselves to boat hulls, water intake pipes, and piers, and colonize quickly. Trouble starts when the mussels clog water intake pipes.

The U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife says that quagga mussels could collapse entire food webs, as they are filter feeders that have no natural predators in North America.

“Prevention, early detection and rapid response are the most cost effective solutions to combat the spread of an invasive species like the dreissenid mussel,” said Huff. “My measure gives the DFG continued authority to conduct inspections and order disinfections, closures and quarantines if necessary to prevent the spread of this invasive species.  It also requires water supply operators to implement plans to prevent and control infestations.”