HR3717-119

What This Bill Does

The Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act. The Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, with state and local entities, port authorities, industry partners, universities, and nonprofits, must develop a demonstration program for prevention, monitoring, control, eradication, education, and research on the golden mussel. The program must research biology, environmental tolerances, effects on fisheries, water quality, and ecosystems, control technologies, dispersal tracking, early warning systems, methods and plans for derelict vessels, public infrastructure, fish screens, waterways, hull inspections, and technical assistance. It applies in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and any other U.S. waters the Task Force finds infested or likely to become infested. The Task Force must share control and eradication information with state and local entities and port authorities, issue guidelines within one year including watercraft inspection stations, establish competitive grants for state and local entities, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and industry partners to test control and removal technologies or study golden mussel biology, and may enter agreements for use or sale of new technologies. It can delegate implementation to qualified agencies or entities and authorizes $15 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Who Benefits and How

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water users benefit from prevention, monitoring, early warning, and eradication work targeting golden mussels. Water infrastructure operators benefit from technologies to remove mussels from intakes, conveyance infrastructure, fish screens, and waterways. State invasive-species agencies benefit from federal guidelines, technical assistance, grants, and shared control methods. Universities and nonprofits benefit from grant opportunities for containment science and control technology research.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force staff must develop the demonstration program, guidelines, grants, reports, and delegation decisions. Port authorities and local agencies may need to implement watercraft inspection and control plans. Industry partners receiving grants must test technologies and comply with agreements for use or sale. Federal taxpayers fund $15 million per year through fiscal year 2030.

Key Provisions

• Creates a golden mussel demonstration program for prevention, monitoring, control, eradication, education, and research.
• Requires implementation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and other infested or at-risk waters.
• Requires guidelines within one year, including watercraft inspection stations.
• Creates competitive grants for control technology, removal methods, biology, and containment science.
• Authorizes $15 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.