MASSENA, New York (WWNY) – Hundreds of thousands of mussels moved years ago during a cleanup of the Grasse River are heading back to the area.
Freshwater mussels are important for healthy river ecosystems. According to the New York State Museum, they help remove suspended particles from the water, recycle nutrients and stabilize streambeds.
In the lower part of the Grasse River, near Massena, nearly 500,000 mussels were relocated years ago.
“All these mussels that live in this section of water are part of the environment. They’re part of the habitats,” said Don Meissner, Massena director of outdoor tourism.
Why the mussels were moved
For decades, the river sediment had been contaminated with hazardous chemicals caused by past industrial operations.
Work was done to clean the river, but that work threatened the mussels living in the riverbed. Nearly half a million of them were moved into protected holding areas so they could eventually be returned.
The New York State Museum has been awarded a grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to lead the effort to restore the freshwater mussel population in the lower Grasse River, returning 500,000 of them to the area.
Reaction
The Grasse River flows into the St. Lawrence River.
“This is really exciting that they’re actually going to make this move. It’s always heartwarming to hear that people care. Any sign of a native mussel is a good sign,” said Save the River executive director Bridget Wright.
Meissner said anglers will be happy to see the mussels return.
“Once these mussels rebuild their population, they become such a natural part of this river, and I do think there’s a potential for that part of the Grasse River to become much more viable in the outdoor value that this water system is to our area,” Meissner said.
Efforts to restore the freshwater mussel population will happen over five years.
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