How do Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s scientists know that there is good water quality in a stream or river? Or how can conservationists tell that a waterway or watershed is experiencing long-term improvements and recovering from years of industrial waste and mine drainage pollution?
One surefire, effective and natural way is to survey the bottom of a river or stream for the presence of freshwater mussels.
As natures filter feeders, freshwater mussels shape aquatic ecosystems by purifying water as they breathe and feed, providing food for wildlife and living up to 100 years.
As such, the presence of many different mussel species can tell us a lot about the water quality of a waterway and other important factors, especially when mussel populations are found in various stages of life.
In this Earth Day webinar, you’ll discover more about the importance of freshwater mussels, learn about some of the projects where the Conservancy and its partners are working to protect mussel populations, and find out about efforts to move mussels to improve water quality.
Join Conservancy staff, Director of Aquatic Science Eric Chapman and Aquatic Zoology Coordinator Mary Walsh, for this lively discussion on the history of our work with and importance of freshwater mussels in local rivers and streams.
We’ll also share how you can help.
Click Here to register for this free program.
To learn more about mussels, visit WPC’s Freshwater Mussels webpage.
Click Here for WPC’s latest newsletter.
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.
The Conservancy has helped to establish 11 state parks, conserved more than 250,000 acres of natural lands and protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams, maintains 132 community gardens and other green spaces that are planted with the help of more than 11,000 volunteers and the support of more than 9,000 members.
[Posted: April 1, 2022] PA Environment Digest
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