Fish & G. Code, § 2301.5

(a) The department’s Invasive Species Program shall develop, by April 1, 2027, guidance for public and private agencies that operate water supply systems to develop effective control plans pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 2301. The guidance shall include relevant protocols, example standards, and statutory requirements of a control plan. Other than the statutory requirements of a control plan contained in the guidance, the guidance is voluntary for a public or private agency that operates a water supply system to comply with.

(b) The department’s Invasive Species Program shall develop and publish on the department’s internet website, by April 1, 2027, guidance for scientific research conducted by or for public and private agencies that operate water supply systems that is conducted outside of an infested water supply system and that includes mussel handling procedures to prevent and control the spread of invasive mussels, including biology, ecology, and feasibility studies for invasive mussel prevention, mitigation, control, and eradication methods. The guidance shall also include mussel handling standards for mussel handling to minimize any potential negative impacts of the possession, transportation, and disposal of invasive mussels.

(c) The department shall update the spatial distribution maps of invasive mussel-infested water bodies posted on its internet website no less than quarterly based on monitoring and reported detections. The maps shall distinguish between reported and confirmed detections of invasive mussels and include the date of the most recent map update to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information.