TVA Releases Rare Appalachian Mussels to Help Clean Water
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is working to release over 100 rare Appalachian mussels into the Powell and Clinch Rivers.
“We are working in partnership with Tennessee and Virginia wildlife to release 100 young, extremely rare Appalachian rockshell mussels into the rocky bottom of the Powell and Clinch Rivers after successfully breeding them in a hatchery,”
These mussels play a crucial role in filtering water, with the ability to filter up to 15 gallons a day, which aids in power production. The project focuses on the Appalachian rockshell mussels, which are on the brink of extinction.
According to TVA,
“Some mussel populations have declined, requiring people to come together to restore them to the rivers that so many depend on for food, clean water and power,”
Author's summary: TVA releases rare mussels to help clean water.