Local Emergency Declaration
Due to the Golden Mussel
(Limnoperna Fortunei) Infestation
City Council Meeting
June 23, 2026
Agenda
Item 10.5
Golden Mussels
Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Golden Mussels (Detection)
▪ First detected at the Port of Stockton (October 2024) ▪ Detected at City of Stockton Intake Pump Station (September 2025) ▪ Dive Inspection Confirmed Golden Mussels (November 2025) ▪ Found in Wet Well, Fish Screens, and attached to containment buoys
Golden Mussels (Actions)
▪ Staff Observed Golden Mussels at Intake Pump Station
▪ City Contracted Dive Inspector
▪ Dive Inspector Confirmed GM
▪ Staff Developed a Work Plan to Clean IPS (Remove GM)
▪ City Hired a Firm to Clean/Repair Fish Screens and Clean Wet Well ▪ Staff is Developing Long-Term Plan
▪ Chemical Treatment, UV System, Increasing Onsite Maintenance and More Frequent Monitoring
Golden Mussels (Financial Impact)
▪ Dive Inspections -$35k
▪ Underwater Drone - $5k
▪ Golden Mussel Removal and Fish Screen Repair - $209K
▪ Chemical Treatment System – TBD
▪ UV System – TBD
▪ Permits – TBD
▪ Engineering – TBD
▪ Environmental Clearance –TBD
▪ Staff Time – TBD
▪ This is just Intake Pump Station.
▪ Also Consider other City Facilities:
▪ Stormwater Discharge
▪ Treated Wastewater Effluent
SJC Golden Mussel Ad Hoc Committee
Objectives & Composition
Protect:
• Agricultural irrigation and water
conveyance infrastructure
• Water systems and reclamation district
infrastructure
• Hydropower and pumping facilities
• Ecosystems vital to fisheries and
recreation
6 15 Stakeholder
Agencies/Organizations
Board of Supervisors
County Administrator’s Office
Delta Marine Yacht Center
California State Assembly
California State Senate
City of Stockton
KSN
Port of Stockton
Public Works
San Joaquin Area Flood Contral Area (SJAFCA)
San Joaquin Delta Neighborhood Watch
San Joaquin Farm Bureau
Proclamation of Existence of Local Emergency
Acting as the City's Director of Emergency Services, the City Manager issued a Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency on June 19th, 2026, in response to the detection of the invasive golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) in Stockton's Delta waters, which poses an immediate threat to municipal water conveyance, operational equipment, and critical flood infrastructure.
Emergency Declaration
Moving forward with this emergency declaration and associated project funding provides several critical benefits to the city:
1. Prevents Catastrophic Failure: Allows immediate intervention to maintain capacity of the City’s Water Supply.
2. Grants city departments the statutory authority under the California Emergency Services Act to bypass time-consuming public bidding, allowing hardware and contractors to be secured immediately.
3. Activates CEQA Exemptions: Legally classify the remediation efforts as "Emergency Projects," bypassing lengthy environmental impact reports that would stall infrastructure defense.
4. Unlocks direct emergency funding streams, positioning the City to seek State (California Disaster Assistance Act) and Federal cost- recovery reimbursements.
Recommendations
It is recommended that Council adopt a resolution to:
1. Ratify the Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency from June 19th, 2026;
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute contracts and make purchases related to public health and safety, utilizing the City’s Emergency Procurement Policy;
3. Authorize the City Manager to utilize General Fund
Contingency as needed to cover emergency response
expenses; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to take all necessary and appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this resolution.