Freshwater Mussels: Unsung Heroes at Risk

In the rivers and streams of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, dozens of species of freshwater mussels do wild and wonderful things that remain hidden to almost everyone. A single mussel can filter up to 15 gallons of water a day, and mussel beds create habitat for a host of aquatic life. But as their populations plummet, we’re losing species before we even fully understand their many benefits.