Mysterious Mussels
Tiny superheroes live in the rivers. They don’t wear capes, but they help keep the water clean. These heroes are called mussels. They have an important job – filtering water!
What are Mussels
Mussels are small shellfish that live in rivers and lakes. They spend most of their lives buried in sand or mud.
Mussels are filter feeders. That means they clean water by eating tiny particles. Mussels remove dirt and tiny organisms. That makes the water cleaner for fish and for people. One mussel can filter up to 15 gallons of water a day!
The Mystery
Some types of mussels started to disappear from the Tennessee River.
- Dams changed how the water flowed.
- Pollution from factories and farms made it hard for mussels to live.
- Invasive species like zebra mussels started eating their food.
TVA scientists worked to help the native mussels make a comeback. It takes a lot of teamwork to help endangered mussels.
TVA had to change how it managed the rivers:
- Increase oxygen in the water
- Keep water flowing
- Regulate the water temperature
But that was just part of the puzzle!
TVA worked with others to help improve the shore around the river. They planted trees and plants that helped keep too much soil from washing into the water.
They also needed fish that helped the mussels survive. Some baby mussels were cared for in labs and then released into the river.