Mussel Restoration
The PFBC has been helping restore mussel colonies in Commonwealth waters for many years. For the last 5 years, that has included propagating the mussels that will be stocked in Pennsylvania.
But, these mollusks can make it tough to get them to grow.
“So when they’re little, I don’t think they’re as finicky. But, once they become adults, just like us, they are like ‘I like did hot dogs and hamburgers’ instead of eating, you know, vegetables or whatever.”
- Scott Ray, PFBC Fisheries Biologist
Getting them to eat is all important given that they must grow from microscopic to at least 1 inch to be stocked, a process that takes at least 3 years.
More than 12,000 mussels have been stocked into three different watersheds this year, and like many restoration processes, it requires time-consuming human involvement. With the help of volunteers, staff must place each mussel in a certain position and depth one at a time. Since the program’s beginning, over 40,000 mussels have been stocked. And, perhaps most promising, PFBC scientists have sighted previously stocked mussels reproducing in the waters where they were placed, giving hope for a self-sustaining future for Pennsylvania mussels.
Restoration Timeline
2017
PFBC began process to convert the Union City State Fish Hatchery to mussel propagation.
2019
The Hatchery staff repurpose fish production tanks and equipment to build appropriate systems to raise mussels.
May 2020
First trials of mussel propagation begin.
August 2022
The Hatchery is renamed to the Union City Aquatic Conservation Center (UC ACC) to focus solely on the conservation of non-game animals in Pennsylvania, including mussels, non-game fishes, amphibians, snakes and turtles.
October 2022
Commission staff with the help of DEP, Western PA Conservancy and volunteers gave just under 500 juvenile Plain Pocketbook and Fatmucket Mussels a new home in Dunkard Creek.
Flexing Our Mussels - Stocking Pennsylvania-Raised Mussels
In some western Pennsylvania waterways, mussels have endured more than a century of environmental destruction. In 2017, the PFBC came to their rescue, and this year brought mussel reinforcements to Dunkard Creek in Greene County on the PA/WV border. The Commission grew the mussels in the Union City Aquatic Conservation Center (UC ACC), which was converted from a State Fish Hatchery and retrofitted with mussel propagation systems with funds from a 2009 fish and mussel kill settlement. In October, Commission staff with the help of DEP gave just under 500 juvenile Plain Pocketbook and Fatmucket Mussels a new home in Dunkard Creek. And over the next year, the Commission will grow and stock another 40K mussels to invigorate mussel populations and improve waterways across the state. PFBC anticipates future stockings of greater numbers of mussels, more species and working towards eventual recovery of state endangered and threatened species. To learn more visit us online at FishandBoat.com
2023
Commission staff with the help of partners and volunteers stock over 10,000 juvenile mussels into Dunkard Creek.
Restoring Mussel Populations in PA
In October, the PFBC stocked over 10,000 mussels in Dunkard Creek, PA. This comes one year after the momentous day in 2022 when the PFBC stocked mussels in this same stream for the first time in over a century. The aim is to restore this stream to it's original state of flourishing mussels and high quality water. Biologists will continue this work as years go on, in the hopes of restoring other streams throughout the Commonwealth back to their natural state.
2024
Commission staff, partners and volunteers continue their restorative work and stock over 40,000 juvenile mussels into Dunkard Creek. While stocking and assessing the river, staff discovered a mature female mussel tagged with glitter and displaying her lure. This find proves the restorative work of stocking mussels can improve water quality and provide new life to a stream.
A Polluted Stream Gets New Life
Celebrate Pennsylvania's mighty mussels and the success of our conservation efforts to repopulate mussels in our state. This creek, once devastated by industrial pollution, is now shimmering with new life.
Looking Ahead
The Commission will grow and stock approximately 40,000 mussels to invigorate mussel populations and improve waterways across the state.
A Plain Pocketbook mussel displaying her lure on the Kiskiminetas River
Check out this amazing find on the Kiskiminetas River. An angler spotted this female Plain Pocketbook mussel actively displaying her silver peach lure, resembling a minnow, to attract fish to help her reproduce. It’s a positive sign for restoration efforts of the PFBC and partners to bring back healthy water quality and fisheries.
