The Mussel
A Hero’s
Mussel Rescue
Introduction Joseph Campbell’s monomyth, or the hero’s journey, is a basic pattern that is found in many narratives from around the world. This widely distributed pattern was described by Campbell in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces, which held that numerous myths share fundamental structures and stages. He argues that classic myths from many cultures follow this basic pattern that involves a hero who goes on an adventure, succeeds in overcoming a decisive test or crisis, and returns home changed.
There are many mussel species in peril right now, and federal/state/provincial agencies are tasked with maintaining these overlooked natural resources. Conservation of protected and listed mussel species is often necessary during dewatering of aquatic habitats, and therefore some dam owners may find themselves in a unique situation when it comes to endangered or at-risk mussel species in their jurisdictions as they approach needed dewatering for infrastructure maintenance and/or dam removal.
There is a hero amongst us in every river and stream system across North America, though discreet and unassuming, as it supports underwater ecosystems. This hero is most definitely one of the thousands of faces Campbell referenced. In the journey we are about to explore, our hero is the mighty freshwater mussel. Mussels are essential to aquatic environments and are considered “ecosystem engineers” due to their ability to modify aquatic habitat, making environmental conditions more suitable for themselves and other organisms. Mussels also act as indicator organisms, and their abundance, or decline, and condition, can inform us of the health of an aquatic system.
A common measure to protect mussel species during river/reservoir drawdowns is mussel relocation, where mussels are removed from danger during dewatering.
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In keeping with the theme of the monomyth, we would like to take you on the hero’s journey of the mussel in a typical ‘mussel rescue’ scenario that our subject matter experts are often tasked with. We begin with the ordinary world for our hero (the mussel habitat) and follow the hero’s journey into the ‘special world’ as its habitat is dewatered. The hero’s mentors (scientists) then begin their work to rescue the mussel from the dewatering scenario, and we end with our hero’s journey back at the habitat it calls home.
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What is our Hero’s superpower? They siphon organic matter from the water and process that matter to build their bodies and shells. This filtering cleans the water that they live in. The excreted nutrients are by-products that are immediately available to plant life and the remaining organic material is consumed by other invertebrates and fish. Mussels are an important food source for many terrestrial and aquatic species. Freshwater mussels are significant for many cultures, harvested for food, jewelry, and tools. Before the development of plastic, buttons were made from mussel shells.
When mussels are present in large numbers, they may become underwater ‘gardens’ that in turn attract fish to feed.
Undesirable particles and chemicals are bound in the mussels’ waste and deposited on the river bottom. Since mussels must firmly anchor themselves to the lake or stream bed, mussel beds can stabilize the lake or stream bottom, thus minimizing the effects of high flow or wave action. Mussel shells can provide substrate for algae and insect larvae to attach to.
A Hero’s Journey
Why is our Hero at risk?
The Mussel
Freshwater mussels are the most imperiled group of organisms in North America. Water pollution, deteriorated water quality, climate change and extreme weather events all wreak havoc on these clean water loving species. Another real danger to our hero comes from drying out (heat stress, desiccation) when humans or nature disrupt their surrounding environment. Risk to mussels can exist at projects that require placement of new infrastructure, dewatering at dams and Rescu necessary drawdowns due to in-water construction, maintenance ofMussel infrastructure, or dam safety.
A Hero’s
There is a hero amongst us in every river and stream system across North America
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What is a Mussel Rescue? As the water level recedes at a project site, Monomyth: mussels can become exposed to the air and
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lose connection to the main waterbody, which could result in harm to important species. A mussel rescue includes an organized teamPaper of environmental scientists White and dedicated stakeholders who plan and execute the removal of vulnerable mussel species when the mussel habitats must be dewatered. In some instances, mussels are manually removed from the area before dewatering and relocated to other areas with suitable habitat where they can thrive. Other methods may include temporarily holding mussels until their habitat is under water again, and then returning the mussels to their original habitat, or permanent relocation to suitable habitat within the same or nearby waterbody.
Why Consider a Mussel Rescue? Projects that require dewatering may or may not need a mussel rescue. If dewatering needs to happen, there are ways to mitigate how that will affect species at risk. For example, if a review of potentially affected habitat should reveal that the proposed dewatered zone may not provide suitable substrates for mussels, then a survey may not be necessary, or there may be adequate historic data to confirm whether mussels are known to be present in the affected area. The need for mussel relocation is typically dictated by the agency responsible for approving any required state, provincial, or federal permits.
A Hero’s Journey
The Mussel
A Hero’s
Mussel Rescue
“It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me” - Batman
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Ordinary World Monomyth: The hero of our story, the freshwater mussel,
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burrows in gravel, sand, or mud, on the bottoms of water bodies. Some species prefer to live in large rivers or lakes and reservoirs, while others are adapted to small creeks and ponds. In some White Paper healthy waterbodies, mussels will form dense concentrations called mussel beds. Mussel beds can have thousands of individuals, sometimes representing dozens of species all living as a community in one place. Other times, mussels may be less abundant and more spread out. Regardless of mussel density, these beds are the mussels’ safe place where they spend their adult lives. Mussels depend on the presence of other aquatic animals, especially fish, to help them complete their life cycle by distributing mussel larvae that temporarily attach to the fish’s gills. Mussels acts as important neighbors to other
species, both directly and indirectly. Mussels provide a source of food for fish, raccoons, river otters, mink, muskrats, and many other species. Mussel beds also help create habitat for invertebrates, who in turn serve as a food base in many aquatic ecosystems, supporting fish and other animals. As filter feeders, mussels clean harmful bacteria, parasites, and pollutants from the water. With so much to offer the aquatic community while having a safe place to live, why would a mussel ever want to leave the comforts of its mussel bed?
A Hero’s Journey
Call to Adventure
The Mussel
A Hero’s
Sometimes our hero may find itself in a situation, not by choice, where it must leave its comfortable habitat (home). Mussel habitat may be disturbed due to environmental factors (e.g., high flow events, changes in water surface elevation, degraded water quality) or during regular maintenance or construction activities that require drawing down the water level.
When these drawdowns occur, it is important to identify what actions are necessary to reduce the impact that the drawdown could have on these Mussel Rescue sessile aquatic species. The first step is to find a qualified expert who knows what to look for in mussel habitat characteristics and can help to develop an effective case-specific strategy to protect local populations.
Factors that should be considered when planning a mussel rescue include: •
The species and abundance of mussels located in the project area. Are there
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species of special interest with state or federal/provincial protections?
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Project specific risk(s) to the mussels
Access to the area of work and mussel survey/relocation area. Will a boat be needed to access the rescue area? Or can the rescuers safely wade or snorkel to collect the mussels?
(e.g., dewatering, burial, crushing). Physical risks are often confined to the area of work, but the effects of dewatering a work area often extend far beyond the area of activity. In many cases it is not practical to dewater an entire impoundment, and in such cases, work is done in the wet or coffer dams are employed to encircle a project site and minimize the extent of dewatering.
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The rate of draw down and exposure of substrates.
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Duration of the exposure or how long the area will remain dewatered.
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Suitable areas for potential temporary or permanent relocation of rescued mussels.
Bathymetric and substrate information is helpful to understand how much habitat may be exposed by the drawdown and how quickly, as well as inform on areas likely to have mussels present based on suitable substrate.
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Time of year and water temperature restrictions. Many states require drawdowns to occur when temperatures are mild to avoid thermal shock to exposed mussels.
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The level of effort should be evaluated to determine the appropriate resources needed to canvass the area and collect stranded mussels in a timely matter. The level of effort for a mussel rescue will be related to the amount of habitat that will be dewatered, and the potential number of individual mussels that will be targeted. There is a limited amount of time for scientists to respond to the action of saving the mussels. Many mussels, especially sensitive species, cannot survive for extended periods of time when exposed.
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The slower the rate of the drawdown, the more time that some mussels have to respond to the changes and volitionally move away from danger (yes mussels can crawl slowly). Mussels can sense the dewatering of their habitat and react due to the direct threat. This disruption to the comforts of the hero’s ordinary world presents a challenge, but it also presents an opportunity to avoid danger. Conversely the more rapid the rate of drawdown, the less likely the mussel can react effectively.
There are ways to reduce the impact of dam dewatering.
Refusal Even with a slow rate of dewatering, which gives the mussel more time to move and escape to deeper waters, it can be difficult for our hero to leave the home they have always known. Many mussels will decide to stay put, and some will even double down by burrowing deeper into the substrate, rather than following the waterline to safety. Depending on the climatic conditions (air temperature and sun exposure) and the duration of the drawdown, some mussels may be able to survive by burrowing deeper into the substrate that may remain wet and hospitable. But others will dry out and perish.
Mussels may also become confused on the path to safety and unintentionally move to a location that is not protective, ending up in an even worse situation. Hesitation to leave its habitat takes over our hero. The problem of its home being dewatered can seem insurmountable, and the urge to “dig in” could create more danger than facing the road ahead. Unfortunately, this lack of decision making can lead to the mussel no longer having a choice to leave as it becomes stuck in its existing location while the water levels are drawn down around it.
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The Mussel M
A Hero’s
Mussel Rescue
Meeting with the Mentor If the mussels stay in place during dewatering, refusing the call to action, they will perish at a quicker rate in extreme warm or cold conditions. The strategy developed by an expert consultant should target a preferred seasonal timing, from mid-summer, after nest building fishes have spawned, through early fall when temperatures are moderate and the risk of thermal stress is reduced. Planning a drawdown may also consider spring thaw/freshet, and ideal flow scenarios for construction windows. Regardless of the time of year, at this point in the hero’s story, it is a critical turning point, and the mussel will need guidance and help to persist. The mentors of our story are scientists with technical expertise who have the superhero ability to identify
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mussel species, using both visual and tactile inspections. A team of biologists, planners, and subject matter experts is responsible for the overall mussel rescue. Volunteers may also be organized and trained as mentors to help with the rescue as part of the plan. Mentors come in many shapes and sizes including divers, snorkelers, waders, paddlers, walkers, observers, and floaters. The mentors will methodically search the area to find mussels in need of rescuing. Large areas can be divided into smaller sections so that mentors can better focus on locating individuals, as it is easy to overlook mussels that blend in with their surroundings. Effort can be focused in areas of suitable habitat where mussels are likely to occur. The search often focuses on newly dewatered areas around the perimeter as the water recedes. This approach helps to minimize the duration in which mussels are subject to dewatered conditions.
Crossing the Threshold
Monomyth: The area being inspected can be daunting, particularly
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when trying to get into the middle of the dewatered area. Some of the locations may not have been dewatered for extended periods of time and can be physically hard to access due to sediment deposition. A risk management White Paper analysis or safety checklist must be developed at the beginning of the project. For safety, rescuers work in teams. Along with risk planning, effective logistical and communications planning is needed. An appropriately sized team to canvas the rescue area in a timely survey is crucial to a successful mussel collection. The rescue team brings along data sheets, notebooks, GPS, phones, cameras, buckets, and water bottles. In cases where the mud is impossible to walk through, they use sleds and flutter boards to gracefully shimmy their way across the mud plains on their stomachs. Flags and tags can be used to mark where they need to go or where they have been. Depending on the depth of the water, mentors may use kayaks and canoes to move over shallow water to reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Pre-rescue considerations include identification of which mussels are to be rescued, as not all species have the same protection considerations. Additionally, search effort (search-time per unit area) is often determined prior to the rescue effort to help plan the amount of resources needed to effectively rescue protected mussels.
Due to the nature of mud and the possibility of getting stuck, scientists have produced very technical approaches to saving the mussels.
In some cases, if the water must remain high, mussels can still be rescued. In these instances, professional divers who are mussel experts remove and relocate the mussels. Mussels can also be relocated through these methods prior to drawdown events, although diving surveys are generally more concentrated, and may cover a smaller area, as compared to the amount of habitat covered during a traditional drawdown rescue effort.
A Hero’s Journey
As the mussel is grasped by the mentor and pulled fromThe Mussel M the mud, it is called to adventure and begins its quest. The mussel has left the only home it has ever known, but enters the safe security of the mentor’s bucket. Mussel Rescue
A Hero’s
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Tests, Allies, Enemies The mentors ensure that our heroes are not left out of the water for too long. The rescued mussels are kept safe, with continuous water exposure as they move through a series of tests and paths. The mussels are identified by species, which requires an examination of the exterior shell. Rescuers must consider air temperatures, as the threat to exposed mussels increases during hot weather. Collection containers can be filled with water, or wet burlap and ice packs. When collection buckets, baskets, coolers, or bags get close
to mussel holding capacity, the mussels are transferred to a holding facility. This could be a tub full of water, or something similar where mussels can be temporarily held. Water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels are monitored, and fresh water is added as needed. If a containment is not available, or if the waterbody will not be completely dewatered, then mussels can be moved to an area that will remain watered for temporary holding or permanent relocation. This may include relocating mussels to adjacent waterbodies with suitable habitat.
A Hero’s Journey
In some cases, the project may include a baseline study, where scientists investigate the mussel assemblage, relative abundance, population densities and distribution during the rescue effort. In other cases, there may be an ongoing study that can identify changes to the mussel abundance and distribution over time and provide information that can be used for future dewatering events.
More common or resilient species may not be collected. Mussel surveys are often led by experienced biologists as identification of mussel species can be difficult. Laminated information sheets with reference photos of mussel species are often used in the field to help identify which mussel species need to be collected for relocation. If “mentors” are having trouble identifying a live mussel during the identification Mussel Rescue phase, an onsite expert is consulted. Empty shells can be kept as voucher specimens if the appropriate authorization is obtained. Data collection during mussel relocations could also include coordinates where mussels are found if the plan is to return them to their preferred habitats after the dewatering event.
The Mussel
A Hero’s
During processing, mussels are measured, counted, and sorted by species. They may also be tagged if movement back-and-forth between waterbodies will occur. Rare species are often the target of relocation efforts to minimize the chances of extirpation.
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Reward – (Seizing the ‘Sword’) Monomyth:
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Although the mentors try as much as they can to mitigate the effects dewatering can have on mussel populations, it is often impossible White Paper to save all during a rescue. Despite this unfortunate fact, there are many rewards in implementing a rescue, and the option to do nothing would certainly result in more loss.
The number one reward in conducting a rescue is saving mussels. This is particularly true for rare mussels that can’t afford losses to the population. Due to our hero’s direct link to a healthy ecosystem, the rescue of mussels
provides positive impacts to both the mussels themselves and the environments that they inhabit. Additionally, information collected during the rescue helps to inform on mussel abundance, distribution, and habitat. This information helps natural resource managers protect vulnerable populations. Valuable information obtained during a mussel relocation effort can also aid in future mitigation activates, both at that site and in other areas where sensitive mussel species are present.
“On many long journeys have I gone. And waited, too, for others to return from journeys of their own. Some return; some are broken; some come back so different only their names remain.” - Yoda, Star Wars
A Hero’s Journey
The Road Back
The Mussel
When the water is back, mussels may be returned to their original location or in proximity. Alternatively, mussels may be left in nearby areas that provide suitable habitat. The specific protocols are developed with agencies to ensure an efficient management of resources, while also giving the mussels their best chance for long-term survival and reproduction.
A Hero’s
Mussel Rescue
Resurrection
Placement of the mussels back into their habitat, or the movement of mussels to nearby habitat, is strategic and carefully implemented. The mussels should be placed in the substrate with their posterior end (siphons) up; roughly 2/3 of the mussel should be buried in the sediment. If the substrate is firm, the mentor must dig a hole to place the mussel in and replace sediment around it.
Return with Elixir As our hero returns to the habitat in which it came, and the journey concludes, our mentors can be comforted by the fact that the mussel rescue was a success. Throughout all the trials and tribulations, our hero has remained safe thanks to its mentors, and can now bury back into its mussel bed to continue its place in the ecosystem. Despite the challenges faced, our hero had to go through the journey in order to survive and, hopefully now thrive. The experience has also aided in an evolution through education on the power to implement such a rescue. Throughout the hero’s journey, the lessons taught are vast - taking the plunge when the call to action occurs, staying resilient through challenges, and ending in the same place that the adventure began.
Conclusion Joseph Campbell is arguably the greatest mythologist of the twentieth century. During his lifetime, Campbell explained that the hero’s journey is essentially a path of maturation that all evolving humans follow. “It’s a fundamental experience that everyone has to undergo”. If we look beyond ourselves, the path of maturation includes all evolving life forms, including the mighty freshwater mussel.
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Contributors: Monomyth:
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Bryan Apell
Brandon Kulik
Senior Fisheries Aquatic Ecologist Project Manager
Senior Science Advisor
Tracy Maynard
Tim Oakes
Stephanie Landers
Fisheries/Aquatic Section Manager
Business Sector Leader Power and Energy
Environmental Regulatory Consultant
About Kleinschmidt Kleinschmidt has performed many mussel studies and rescues across North America for both owners as well as public and private organizations. We perform and manage studies and analyses, and work with and/or for agencies, conservationists, and developers to mitigate adverse impacts on freshwater, estuarine, and marine aquatic resources. Our team of experts has the passion and experience to work with you to make your project a success. For more information or to schedule a consultation with one of our mussel mentors or to learn more about mussel rescue, please email us at solutions@kleinschmidtgroup.com Note: The purpose of this document is to provide general information in layman’s terms. It is not intended as legal advice, nor is it meant to be exhaustive of mussel rescue efforts. This document is property of Kleinschmidt Associates. No replication of its content is permitted without express permission from Kleinschmidt.
A Hero’s Journey
“What each must seek in his life never was on land or sea. It is something out of his own unique potentiality for experience, something that never has been and never could have been experienced by anyone else…One way or another, we all have to find what best fosters the flowering of our humanity in this contemporary life, and dedicate ourselves to that… The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature. “ - Joseph Campbell
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A Hero’s Journey