Grant Awarded to Restore Freshwater Mussels in Clarion and Kiski Rivers – Tech Cyber Internet

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Fee (PFBC) is happy to announce that it has obtained a Nationwide Fish and Wildlife Basis Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program grant as a part of a collaborative effort to revive freshwater mussel populations within the Clarion and Kiskiminetas rivers.

Funds from this grant will likely be used for ongoing, complete species and river restoration efforts which embrace analysis, neighborhood training, and outreach.  The PFBC has partnered with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) and PennWest Clarion College to revive riparian areas alongside each rivers and to interact college students and the general public’s participation on this restoration effort.

“We couldn’t be extra excited to obtain this grant and to companion with different conservation organizations to proceed the important work of restoring freshwater mussels in these recovering rivers,” mentioned Tim Schaeffer, PFBC Government Director.  “The Allegheny River basin is certainly one of North America’s most various and essential freshwater mussel river programs.  Pennsylvania has a accountability to keep up and restore the well being of the aquatic species that decision it residence whereas enhancing general water high quality for the area and downstream.”

Traditionally, the Clarion River was one of the closely polluted streams in western Pennsylvania.  Its waters have been described by Dr. Arnold Ortmann, curator on the Carnegie Museum, as “one of many worst within the state” with waters operating “black like ink” because of the unregulated discharges from the tanning and mining industries that have been compounded by widespread deforestation.  No dwelling mussels have been ever reported from the Clarion River till not too long ago, and 37,000 widespread mussels have been stocked from relocation initiatives to assist enhance restoration.

The Kiskiminetas River was likewise devastated by poor water high quality situations related to in depth and unregulated coal mining and deforestation.  Dr. Ortmann described “that in virtually all the drainage basin of the Kiskiminetas fresh-water life is extinct.”  State and federal companies and their conservation companions have made large strides in each river basins to enhance the panorama and water high quality in order that they’ll now help freshwater mussels and vibrant fish communities for good thing about anglers, river customers, and all people who take pleasure in clear water.

The water high quality of those two rivers have improved, permitting fish to naturally colonize the decrease reaches of the Clarion and Kiskiminetas rivers.  These improved situations have restricted advantages to the Clarion upstream of the reservoir due to the impassable barrier that’s Piney Dam.  Dams act as limitations that stop the pure restoration of native mussels, which require attachment to a fish host so as to disperse and full their distinctive life cycle.

This mission goals to proceed Clarion River mussel restoration efforts and to start Kiskiminetas River restoration efforts by reintroducing mussels upstream of Piney Dam or reintroducing Kiski River populations upstream of their identified restoration limits.  The mission staff producing mussels on the PFBC Aquatic Conservation Middle in Union Metropolis, Pennsylvania will likely be supported by WPC tree-planting efforts and obtain educational help from PennWest Clarion College.

“We’re excited to companion with PFBC and WPC to revive native freshwater mussel populations in these traditionally defaunated streams,” mentioned Dr. Andrew Turner, professor at PennWest Clarion College.