BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: Title
Adopt Recommended Positions on Federal Legislation: H.R. 3717 (Harder) / S. 4603 (Schiff) - Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act; S. 4536 (Rosen) - Protecting America’s Drinking Water from Extreme Temperatures Act; And Other Legislation That May Require Consideration by the Board.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
A. Adopt a Position of “Support and Amend” on H.R. 3717 (Harder) / S. 4603 (Schiff) - Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act; and
B. Adopt a Position of “Support” on S. 4536 (Rosen) - Protecting America’s Drinking Water from Extreme Temperatures Act.
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SUMMARY:
A. H.R. 3717 (Harder) / S. 4603 (Schiff) - Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act
Recommended Position: Support and Amend
Priority Recommendation: 2
This bill would establish a federal program to address the growing problem of golden mussel infestation in waterways and infrastructure. This bill would create a specific task force under the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 dedicated to golden mussels. Specifically, the bill would:
• Establish a demonstration program to prevent, monitor, control, eradicate, research, and educate on golden mussels;
• Track dispersal and establishment of an early warning system to alert likely areas of future infestations;
• Establish a grant program, on a competitive basis, to state and local entities, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners to carry out similar projects that control and eradicate golden mussels; and
• Invest in new technology developed under the grant program.
The bill would authorize $15 million for each of fiscal years 2026-2030 for the program.
Proposed Amendment:
Staff recommends language to make funding eligible for grantees to conduct water infrastructure vulnerability assessments and to increase the total authorized funding level for the program.
Status:
H.R. 3717 was introduced in the House on June 4, 2025, and it was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Natural Resources. S. 4603 was introduced in the Senate on May 20, 2026, and it was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) is an original cosponsor.
Importance to Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water):
Since their first detection in California in October 2024, golden mussels have become a growing threat to water infrastructure throughout the state. They can rapidly reproduce and colonize hard surfaces such as pipes, intakes, and screens, clogging those structures and threatening the long-term viability of water conveyance infrastructure. As an invasive species, they also threaten native species and damage natural ecosystems. The presence of this species in California waterways poses significant operational risks to Valley Water infrastructure and our county’s aquatic ecosystems.
Since 2008, Valley Water has maintained a partnership with Santa Clara County Parks to implement an invasive species prevention program to address infestation from two other invasive mussel species, quagga and zebra mussels. Once golden mussels were discovered in 2024, Valley Water has developed a multi-pronged response that includes expanded monitoring, suspending imported water transfers during golden mussel breeding season, launching a comprehensive public education and outreach campaign, and conducting a comprehensive infrastructure vulnerability assessment.
This bill would complement these and other state and local efforts, recognizing the growing threat that golden mussels pose to critical water infrastructure and ecosystems, and providing federal financial support for eradication efforts.
Pros:
• Provides federal support and coordination for golden mussel eradication efforts, complementing existing work through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• The proposed amendment would make funding eligible for grantees to conduct water infrastructure vulnerability assessments, which Valley Water already does, and increase the total authorized funding.
Cons:
• As written, the bill only authorizes $15 million per year for the program and does not appropriate any funding.
B. S. 4536 (Rosen) - Protecting America’s Drinking Water from Extreme Temperatures Act
Recommended Position: Support
Priority Recommendation: 3
This bipartisan bill would reauthorize the Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program and expand eligibility to projects that address extreme temperatures. Under the program, EPA provides competitive grants to community water systems serving more than 10,000 people that increase system resilience to natural hazards, mitigate extreme weather impacts, reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and form regional water partnerships to collaboratively address water shortages. Examples of projects funded under this program include those that conserve water or increase water efficiency; modify or relocate existing drinking water infrastructure impaired by natural hazards; enhance water supply through watershed management and source water protection; reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities; and more. This bill would add extreme temperatures, either heat or cold, to the list of natural hazards that an eligible project aims to address.
Status:
The bill was introduced in the Senate on May 14, 2026, and it was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Importance to Valley Water:
The Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program offers funding that Valley Water could access to finance a range of infrastructure upgrades that increase resilience to natural hazards. With a changing climate producing more extreme temperatures and weather events across the West, the resulting natural hazards are placing greater stress on Valley Water infrastructure. Expanding this grant program to cover extreme temperatures could help Valley Water access the funds for a wider range of infrastructure upgrades.
Pros:
• Expands eligibility for federal water infrastructure funding to projects that improve resiliency to extreme temperatures.
• Could help more Valley Water projects qualify for the grant program.
Cons:
• Expands eligibility without increasing the amount of authorized funding. This would make the grant program even more competitive.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
There is no environmental justice impact associated with this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with this item.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have the potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER: Manager
Marta Lugo, 408-630-2237