Research library

Water-quality intelligence

Vendor-neutral research on the Golden Mussel crisis, water-treatment economics, and irrigation-water chemistry — written for California water districts, growers, and PCAs.

Golden Mussel — cross-cutting

A-cross
Golden Mussel & California Agriculture: What Growers and PCAs Should Know
How the golden mussel fouls California ag water delivery — canals, intakes, pumps, and drip — and what growers and PCAs should watch for and prevent.
Audience
growers / PCAs (mussel-aware)
Intent
informational

Golden Mussel — status & spread

A1
Golden Mussel in California: Current Status & Spread (2026 Tracker)
Live tracker for the golden mussel in California: detection timeline, spread along the State Water Project, county emergencies, and the federal response.
Audience
water districts / DWR / operators; general
Intent
informational

Golden Mussel — biology & comparison

A2
How the Golden Mussel Differs From Zebra & Quagga Mussels (and Why Existing Tools Struggle)
Golden mussel vs zebra and quagga: calcium tolerance, salinity, temperature, veligers, and why dreissenid-calibrated control tools under-perform.
Audience
water districts / operators; growers / PCAs
Intent
informational

Golden Mussel — treatment & costs

A3
Golden Mussel Treatment Methods & What California Water Districts Are Spending
What California water districts spend on golden mussel response, plus a vendor-neutral comparison of copper, chlorine, hot water, UV, and other named methods.
Audience
water districts / operators / procurement
Intent
commercial-investigational

Golden Mussel — biological approaches

A4
Biological & Copper-Free Approaches to Golden Mussel Control: State of the Field
A vendor-neutral survey of biological and copper-free approaches to golden mussel control in California: what exists, what is registered, and the honest gaps.
Audience
water districts / operators
Intent
commercial-investigational

Golden Mussel — regulation

A5
Is There a Registered Molluscicide for Golden Mussel? A Plain-Language Regulatory Guide
Plain-language guide to molluscicide registration for golden mussel: FIFRA's pesticide definition, Section 18 vs 24(c), CA DPR's role, CEQA, NSF-60, NPDES.
Audience
water districts / operators / procurement
Intent
commercial / high-intent

Golden Mussel — funding

A6
Funding the Golden Mussel Response: Grants, Emergency Procurement & S.4603
A funding navigator for California water districts facing golden mussel: S.4603 federal grants, state programs, emergency reimbursement, and procurement basics.
Audience
water districts / operators / agency finance
Intent
commercial

Golden Mussel — prevention

A7
Golden Mussel & Boaters: Clean, Drain, Dry and California's 2026 Inspection Rules
How boats spread the golden mussel, the Clean-Drain-Dry steps, and where to check 2026 California reservoir inspection rules before you launch.
Audience
general / recreation / boaters
Intent
informational

Irrigation water — bicarbonate & alkalinity

B1
High-Bicarbonate & Alkaline Irrigation Water: A PCA's Field Guide
A PCA's field guide to high-bicarbonate, alkaline irrigation water: thresholds, symptoms, how to read a water test, and your correction options.
Audience
growers / PCAs
Intent
informational -> commercial

Irrigation water — emitter & scale

B2
Drip Emitter Clogging & Scale: Causes and Fixes for Hard, Alkaline Water
Why drip emitters clog on hard, alkaline water — physical, chemical (lime scale), and biological causes — plus how to diagnose, prevent, and clear it.
Audience
growers / PCAs
Intent
informational

Irrigation water — pH management

B3
Lowering Irrigation Water pH Without Sulfuric Acid: Options Compared
Vendor-neutral comparison of ways to lower irrigation pH and manage bicarbonate without continuous sulfuric acid: acids, RO, blending, conditioners.
Audience
growers / PCAs / CCAs / agronomists
Intent
commercial-investigational

Irrigation water — soil & infiltration

B4
Improving Soil Infiltration & Managing Salinity: Gypsum and the Alternatives
How sodium (SAR) and salinity (EC/TDS) cut soil infiltration, and how gypsum and its alternatives — calcium, acid+lime, organics, water conditioners — compare.
Audience
growers / PCAs
Intent
commercial

Irrigation water — organic & certification

B5
Organic & CDFA-OIM Water Conditioning: What Counts and How to Verify
What CDFA OIM registration means for an irrigation water conditioner, how it differs from OMRI and USDA organic, and how to verify a product yourself.
Audience
growers / PCAs (organic / regenerative)
Intent
commercial

Irrigation water — assessment

B6
How to Read a California Irrigation Water Test (SAR, EC, Bicarbonate)
How to read a California irrigation water test — pH, EC, bicarbonate, SAR, chloride, boron thresholds and what each means for clogging, infiltration, and crop.
Audience
growers / PCAs
Intent
informational -> lead