Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division
10/29/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/29/2024 05:05
Monitoring Georgia’s Mussels
By scuba, snorkel and hand, recent freshwater mussel surveys ranging from the Conasauga and Savannah rivers to southwest Georgia's Spring Creek collected data on a number of rare species.
The work not only highlighted the continuing recovery of Spring Creek - over 3,500 mussels were found this summer compared to about 600 after drought sapped the region 2010-11 and Hurricane Michael rolled through in 2018 - it also helped create a monitoring protocol for mussels and snails on the Conasauga in northwest Georgia.
Endangered rayed kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus foremanianus) from the Conasauga River (Alan Cressler)
Freshwater mussels are a natural and vital part of Georgia's aquatic ecosystems. These often-overlooked animals fill ecological roles such as filtering water, stabilizing fine sediments in streams, providing habit and even food for other wildlife, and serving as bioindicators of water quality.
Healthy mussel populations usually equal healthy waterways. And that means healthier water for wildlife and people.
Top: Mussel survey on the Conasauga (Alan Cressler)
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