A tiny invasive species is a big threat to CA water

When thimble-sized mussels were first detected last year in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, biologists quickly rang the alarm over how severely this invasive species could threaten the state’s water supply systems. 

Now, nine months after the mollusks’ appearance near Stockton, officials are in a race to rein in golden mussels as their larvae spread through the state’s network of pumps, pipes and canals, reports CalMatters’ Rachel Becker.

Native to China and Southeast Asia, these freshwater mussels can attach themselves to underwater surfaces and form “reefs” that can grow as fast as 150 miles a year. The mollusks have already infiltrated California’s two major water systems that send Delta water south to 30 million people and millions of acres of farmland.

To curb their spread, some water managers are requiring inspections that include quarantining and decontaminating boats before they can enter certain lakes and reservoirs. California’s fish and wildlife agency also has a handful of dogs trained to detect the mollusk.

But the wildlife department is understaffed, and the recently passed state budget includes no funding to combat the mussels. Oversight is also patchy, leaving many lakes with no protection. The federally-managed Shasta Lake, for example, is the biggest reservoir in the state and frequented by boaters — but it does not have a mandatory inspection program. 

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In other environmental news: To save an estimated $499 billion within the next decade, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping budget bill earlier this month that included changes to federal tax incentives that could dampen California’s clean-energy ambitions.

As CalMatters’ Alejandro Lazo explains, developers of wind and solar projects now face a shorter deadline for securing tax credits, and companies that rely on China for machine parts are barred from accessing the credits. In the face of these new rules, nearly a dozen solar projects across California could be delayed or canceled.

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At a board meeting Monday, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System reported that it has exceeded its investment targets and has rebounded from the economic hit it took from the pandemic, writes CalMatters’ Adam Ashton.

CalPERS is the nation’s largest public pension fund, and finances the retirement plans of about 2 million people. As of Monday evening, it is worth about $556 billion. CalPERS set out to gain 6.8% on its investments this past financial year, and instead reported that it made 11.6%.

The gains come after a dramatic loss in its portfolio in April, when Trump’s inconsistent rollout of new tariff policies caused a $6.6 trillion stock market wipeout. By May the pension fund recovered from its April low of $508 million, but it still remains underfunded since it’s worth less than what it owes over time to government workers and retirees.

During the meeting, CalPERS leaders also received a number of comments from the public urging the fund to divest from the electric car company Tesla. Though calls to divest from Tesla aren’t new, the involvement of its CEO, Elon Musk, in Trump’s administration — such as his time leading the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency — has sparked renewed pressure to divest.

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Joining a coalition of 23 other states, California is suing the Trump administration over its withholding of $6.8 billion dollars in educational funding weeks before the start of the new school year.

Citing that nearly $940 million of federal funding has been frozen for California, Attorney General Rob Bonta unveiled the lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education on Monday. He and three other state attorneys general at a news conference argued that withholding the money undermines Congress’ authority over the budget. 

• Bonta: “Our states are owed the billions in federal funding that Trump and (U.S. Secretary Linda) McMahon have frozen, and we’re going to court to see that it’s reinstated.”

Congress had already set aside the money for schools in March, which schools took in consideration for their own budgets. But rather than the federal education department releasing the funds on July 1 as expected, the department instead notified schools that it was reviewing the money. Among other services, the money goes toward teacher professional development and after school programs.

Monday’s announcement marks the 31st lawsuit the state has filed against the current Trump administration. In another lawsuit, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Trump administration can fire federal workers at the education department, clearing a path to dismantle the agency completely.