BC NEWS
Invasive Golden Mussel Emerges as New Threat to B.C. Waterways
A newly identified invasive species—known as the golden mussel—is raising fresh concerns for the health and stability of British Columbia’s aquatic ecosystems, particularly the Okanagan watershed. While regional authorities have long focused on stopping the spread of quagga and zebra mussels, experts now warn that this newly emerging invader may pose an even greater risk.
Golden Mussels Spreading Rapidly From Global Waterways
Native to China and Southeast Asia, the golden mussel has already established itself in multiple regions around the world, including Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, and South America’s Plata Basin. Its arrival in U.S. waters—specifically the Sacramento Delta—has alarmed environmental agencies throughout the Pacific Northwest due to the extensive water networks connected to Canadian systems.
According to James Littley, chief operating officer of the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB), the golden mussel exhibits greater adaptability to varying water temperatures, oxygen levels, and calcium concentrations than previously known invasive mussels. This flexibility makes its potential impact on ecosystems like the Okanagan significantly more dangerous.
Massive Economic and Ecological Impacts Expected
Studies already estimate annual economic damages of $64 million to $129 million from quagga and zebra mussels, and adding golden mussels to the mix could multiply that burden. Once introduced, they quickly form dense colonies—up to 80,000 mussels per square metre—clogging pipes, intakes, filtration systems, and hydropower infrastructure.
Beyond infrastructure damage, the mussels outcompete native species, degrade water quality, and release foul odours when they decay. Their rapid reproduction threatens to destabilize entire freshwater ecosystems.
Heightened Monitoring and Cross-Border Coordination
Since 2015, B.C.’s border inspection program has intercepted 180 mussel-fouled watercraft. Concerns intensified after an infestation appeared in Idaho’s Snake River—part of the same Columbia River Basin that connects to the Okanagan. Although Idaho has used copper-based treatments to curb the spread, the long-term effectiveness remains uncertain and the chemical has caused significant fish die-offs.
Officials caution that confirming eradication requires five consecutive years of zero detections, an increasingly difficult standard as invasive species continue to evolve and spread.