Found at the bottom of most medium and large rivers and streams, freshwater mussels, known also as nature’s water filters, are a large and diverse group of mollusks that play a significant role in the health of freshwater ecosystems.
As mussels breathe and feed, they clean rivers and streams by removing sediments, bacteria and pollutants from the water.
Depending upon species, a single adult mussel can filter approximately 10 gallons of water per day.
Mussels = Healthy Water
The presence of large numbers of native mussels in a river or stream indicates good water quality and a healthy, functioning waterbody.
However, their absence could signal potentially serious environmental issues.
The Ohio River watershed has the highest mussel species diversity of any watershed in Pennsylvania, while French Creek in Erie, Crawford, Mercer and Venango counties provides habitat for numerous rare and endangered species, including six species of federally listed mussels.
Long-lived and sedentary, mussels are one of nature’s early warning systems of water quality and conditions, as many cannot survive high levels of pollution.
“Even with their ecological importance,” says Eric Chapman, the senior director of aquatic science at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, “freshwater mussels are among the most imperiled groups of animals, with their populations rapidly declining in North America.”
There are more than 300 native freshwater mussel species in North America, but nearly 70 percent of the continent’s mussel species are considered endangered, threatened or vulnerable due to a number of factors, including industrial pollution, acid mine drainage, dredging, dam construction, invasive species and climate change.
Those environmental stressors are also true for Pennsylvania’s 67 mussel species, of which 12 are considered state or federally endangered or threatened.
To address these challenges, Eric, along with other Conservancy aquatic scientists and conservation partners, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, waded in several miles of the state’s rivers and streams over the past four years to conduct comprehensive mussel surveys.
These field studies involve detailed mapping, cataloging, tagging and species identification to assess and collect data on mussels by species, habitat conditions, age and abundance.
“This is one of the most important projects I’ve worked on in my career,” says Eric, who has been working at the Conservancy for 20 years. “This work is critical in the protection of this important group of species, ultimately in an effort to prevent their further decline and extinction.”
The surveys and data collection have informed a new, first-of-its-kind statewide strategic management plan for protecting and restoring mussel populations in the Commonwealth.
Mussel Conservation Plan
The Pennsylvania Freshwater Mussel Conservation Plan recommends strategies and actions that conservationists, scientists and resource managers should prioritize and implement to benefit and protect freshwater mussel populations across the Commonwealth.
The plan, which was recently released to the public offers proactive management strategies for habitat protection, watershed restoration best practices such as streambank restoration, riparian tree plantings and dam removals, and for pollution and sediment control. It also identifies areas for potential mussel reintroduction.
Eric says this plan is critical for the survival of these little-known, resilient animals.
“This plan is also a critical call to action and roadmap for how we can naturally maintain and improve water quality in Pennsylvania. When we protect and improve habitat for freshwater mussels, other organisms including fish, crayfish and damselflies benefit, too,” Eric adds.
“Through this plan, funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation,” he says, “the Conservancy and its partners are providing guidance on how to manage our river systems in a way that supports mussel health to minimize ecological imbalance to help this important group of species thrive.”
“We also hope this plan helps raise awareness about the role mussels play in our ecosystem—and the threats they face—to build support for these essential conservation efforts and inspire a sense of shared responsibility for stewarding for nature’s smallest aquatic filters,” Eric adds.
The plan, along with detailed maps and other information about mussels’ lifecycle, reproduction and their ecosystem services, is available for review on the Conservancy’s Pennsylvania Freshwater Mussel Conservation Plan webpage.
Nov. 16 Webinar
To learn more about this plan, join the Conservancy for a free webinar, “Pennsylvania’s New ‘River Livers’ Plan,” on November 16 at Noon.
Hear directly from Eric and others about this pioneering effort to protect and restore freshwater mussels in our state.
Click here to register and for more information.
More information is available on programs, initiatives and special events at the Western PA Conservancy website. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy, Like them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, join them on Instagram, visit the Conservancy’s YouTube Channel or add them to your network on Linkedin. Click Here to support their work.
(Photos: Western PA Conservancy Senior Director of Aquatic Science Eric Chapman (right, in tan wader pants), along with other WPC staff and partners, assess mussels in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in York County; Yellow lampmussel (Lampsilis cariosa) mussel is native to the Susquehanna River/Chesapeake Bay watershed.)
(Contributed by the Western PA Conservancy.)
Related Articles This Week:
-- Wildlife Leadership Academy Celebrates 20 Years Of Inspiring The Next Generation Of Conservation Leaders Nov. 1 At The Rowland Theater In Philipsburg [PaEN]
-- French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust Partners With Landowners Bernie & Kathleen McElroy To Preserve 13 Acres In Chester County [PaEN]
-- New Freshwater Mussel Conservation Plan To Help Guide Conservation Efforts In Pennsylvania; Nov. 16 Webinar On Mussel Plan [PaEN]
-- Western PA Conservancy, Partners To Improve Fish Habitat On South Branch French Creek In Erie County [PaEN]
-- Swarthmore College Hosts The Swarthmore Fungi Fest Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 [PaEN]
[Posted: September 16, 2026] PA Environment Digest
No comments:
Post a Comment