A state of emergency has been declared in San Joaquin County, California, due to the threat posed by golden mussels, an invasive species that is threatening California's critical water systems. The Board of Supervisor's voted to declare the emergency, citing current state-level efforts as inadequate. Local leaders have urged Governor Gavin Newsom to expand the emergency statewide and called for federal agencies to assist. The species, named Limnoperna fortunei, was first discovered in October 2024 at the Port of Stockton and has spread through the Delta. If left unchecked, the infestation could damage California's fragile water infrastructure and supply.