The Care of Freshwater Mussels

Freshwater mussels filter water at the rate of several gallons per day, they provide food for animals and indicate good water quality by their presence. Yet over half of mussel species are endangered and dams, human land use and exotic mussel species are creating dangerous conditions for many more. Taking better care of freshwater mussels is imperative to their survival and the continuation of the many benefits they provide for our environment.

Instructions

• 1

  Land use can impact mussel habitats.

  Create a more stable environment of rocks and sand on stream bottoms where freshwater mussels live by studying the impact of land use near mussel habitats. They cannot survive the shifting stream floors that have resulted from urbanization and other practices that have negatively impacted their habitat and resulted in unstable watersheds.

• 2

  Decrease the heavy silt and gravel that results from land that is badly disturbed by human use. This silt overcomes and kills young mussels and creates problems for adults as they filter water and feed.

• 3

  Participate with state governments, local universities and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in their efforts to increase freshwater mussel populations. Freshwater mussels are endangered throughout the United States but attempts are being made to breed them and introduce them back to their natural habitats.

• 4

  Consider the impact of dams on freshwater mussel survival.

  Prevent dams from harming mussel habitats. Freshwater mussels often need the movement of the water to carry away silt, to maintain host fish and to oxygenate their water. Without these benefits, they die off.