The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 21 voted to form an ad hoc committee to coordinate with state and federal agencies on the 'golden mussel' invasive species response. The committee will be chaired by Board Chair Tom Canepa with Supervisor Ricardo Guardia serving as the other member; the motion passed 5-0.

Supervisor Guardia said photos and recent field reports show mussel growth on intake pipes and other water infrastructure, and he urged faster coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, which the board heard has $20 million in state funding for response work. County staff and supervisors also said the federal government has identified roughly $15 million in potential funding, and they want to make sure applications and strategy are aligned so local infrastructure and agricultural water supplies can be protected.

The board heard public comment from a local boat-owner and Stockton Yacht Club vice president, who volunteered to participate in coordination and public outreach about the threat to marinas and recreational boaters.

Supervisors discussed starting with the state and CSAC (California State Association of Counties) to identify available grant deadlines and technical-response options; staff noted some grant deadlines in early November and urged rapid action. The ad hoc committee will meet with staff and external stakeholders and report back to the board with recommendations on grant applications, species removal approaches and public outreach.

Ending: The board authorized the ad hoc committee to begin coordination work and asked staff to begin immediate outreach to state and federal partners; supervisors signaled broad support for using grant funds and county resources in a coordinated response.