Published: October 28, 2009 09:33 pm      

Group takes major step to protect rare mussels

CEDAR BLUFF, Va. — Wednesday was an important day in the history of the globally rare, tan riffleshell mussel, a freshwater mussel that is restricted to only one reproducing population in Virginia — the section of Indian Creek that flanks the town of Cedar Bluff to the West. The Nature Conservancy acquired a 25-acre hillside along Indian Creek to protect the Indian Creek drainage system, with the long term goal of giving the property to the town for the expansion of a public trail system.

Steve Lindeman, land protection manager for The Nature Conservancy said that Wednesday’s announcement represents a 20-year effort to join with local partners to protect the critical habitat for the tan riffleshell mussels. “The hillside is the backdrop of the town of Cedar Bluff,” Lindeman said. “We have been focusing more and more on Indian Creek.”

Indian Creek is an important tributary of the Clinch River system, and, according to a press release from The Nature Conservancy, “the Clinch Valley is one of the world’s hotspots for freshwater wildlife — more rare species of fish and mussels are found her than anywhere else in North America.” Lindeman stressed that the 20-year focus has involved the commitment and participation of “partners” in the work of protecting the environment. The acquisition was made possible by the financial support of the Virginia Division of Mines, Minerals and Energy and a grant from Spectra Energy.

“The significance to the DMME here is the importance of partnerships of agencies like ours to work together on critical waterways like the Clinch and Powell River valleys,” Mike Abbott, spokesman with the Virginia DMME said. “The survival and health of the tan riffleshell mussel is much like the way coal miners looked to canaries for protection in the early days of coal mining. If the water is pure enough for the continued survival of the tan riffleshell mussels, we are doing what we need to do to protect our environment.”

In a prepared statement, Butch Lambert, deputy director of the DMME said: “As a signatory to a Memorandum of Understanding on the Clinch and Powell rivers, our agency is delighted to be part of this effort to help protect Indian Creek and support Gov. (Timothy) Kaine’s Conservation Goal for Virginia. DMME maintains a consistent and sharp focus on efforts to improve and protect aquatic habitat for the globally significant biodiversity in these two rivers.”

Jim McGlothlin, Cedar Bluff town manager expressed pride in the fact that the community took efforts “to protect the unique environment we have here in Indian Creek,” long before there was a nationwide mandate to “go green” and protect the environment. “Ten years ago, you didn’t hear a lot about green initiatives, clear water and protecting the environment,” McGlothlin said.

“We have known for the last 20 years that we have the only reproducing population of tan riffleshell mussels in Virginia, and it’s a source of community pride,” McGlothlin said.

“This is the third preserve The Nature Conservancy has acquired here,” McGlothlin said, noting that the community already has trails on part of the Conservancy’s land, with plans in the works to place additional trails on the latest property. “This property is contiguous to the most critical section of the stream,” McGlothlin said.

According to the press release, “the presence of river mussels is an indicator of good water quality, as the mussels filter-feed what passes by them in the water. Pollution and a buildup of sediment in the water make it difficult for mussels to feed and reproduce.”

The tan riffleshell is listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com