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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In the lower part of the Grasse River, near Massena, nearly 500,000 mussels were relocated years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll these mussels that live in this section of water are part of the environment. They\u2019re part of the habitats,\u201d said Don Meissner, Massena director of outdoor tourism.<\/p>\n
Why the mussels were moved<\/p>\n
For decades, the river sediment had been contaminated with hazardous chemicals caused by past industrial operations. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Reaction <\/p>\n
The Grasse River flows into the St. Lawrence River.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is really exciting that they\u2019re actually going to make this move. It\u2019s always heartwarming to hear that people care. Any sign of a native mussel is a good sign,\u201d said Save the River executive director Bridget Wright.<\/p>\n
Meissner said anglers will be happy to see the mussels return.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce these mussels rebuild their population, they become such a natural part of this river, and I do think there\u2019s 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,\u201d Meissner said.<\/p>\n
Efforts to restore the freshwater mussel population will happen over five years.<\/p>\n
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