Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2025

This bill, the Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2025, would amend the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to establish a dedicated Golden Mussel Demonstration Program. Led by a Task Force and in partnership with states, local entities, port authorities, industry, colleges, and local nonprofits, the program would pursue prevention, monitoring, control, eradication, education, and research related to the golden mussel. It would focus on biology, environmental tolerances, impacts on fisheries and water quality, and the effectiveness of control technologies; establish an early warning/dispersal-tracking system; and develop control plans (including around derelict vessels, public infrastructure, fish screens, hull inspections). The program would operate initially in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and other waters at risk of infestation. The bill also creates a grant program to fund research and technology transfer for containment and eradication, facilitates information sharing, sets a one-year deadline for guidelines (including watercraft inspection stations), and authorizes funding of $15 million per year from 2026 through 2030. Coordination and possible delegation of tasks to capable entities are allowed to improve efficiency.