30. Re-Populating Freshwater Mussels in the Potomac River

Emily Franc is the Vice President of Development & Philanthropy at Potomac Riverkeeper Network. Freshwater mussels like Eastern Lampmussel, and Alewife floaters are among 16 species native to the Potomac River and its Maryland tributaries, and they once existed in the millions, similar to the oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay. Like oysters, mussels are effective at removing nutrients and toxins, filtering out sediments and improving water quality. The mussels population in the Potomac has suffered due to climate change, increased urbanization, and stormwater erosion. Scientific opinion is unanimous that mussel recovery is an important part of improving the water quality in the Chesapeake Bay; both Maryland and Virginia’s departments of environment have expanded their commitment to the recovery of mussel populations. With Emily we talk about the history and significance of the Potomac River, why mussels are a vital part of our ecosystem, why we’ve seen a decrease in them, their mussel restoration work, and how we can support this work. Contact and connect with Emily: [email protected]  Potomac Riverkeeper Network: https://www.potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/ https://www.potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/50-million-mussel-project/