Westside 'Mussels' Into Keeping Tennessee Rivers Beautiful

By Yetta Jager, Green Sanctuary Committee

he GS committee is excited about our new environmental partner, Keep TN River Beautiful (KTnRB), https://www.keeptnriverbeautiful.org/. The GS committee met with Executive Director Kathleen Gibi to discuss how we might participate beyond our [formerly] Share-the-plate contribution.

Kathleen offered to organize a river cleanup under the Adopt-a-River Mile program. We look forward to doing this in the fall after reservoir drawdown. KTnRB has the use of a barge to collect trash from the river mile that we choose (there's a list of river miles available for adoption here: https://www.keeptnriverbeautiful.org/tennessee-river-miles). By doing the clean-up, we will get a sense for what types of plastics and other wastes are ending up in our rivers.

Which leads me to the next option. We can pledge to eliminate at least one item to eliminate from our daily routine. You've got this – sign up today! It will only take a minute, I promise. I, myself, just pledged to eliminate the use of plastic bottles, styrofoam cups, and plastic straws. Please let me know if you do! https://www.keeptnriverbeautiful.org/pledge4rivers.

Image of Brokenray lampsilis (L)

used with permission from Dr. Chris Barnhart, Missouri State U.

As ecologists, Jerry and I are most drawn to the Adopt-a-Mussel program. The Tennessee River basin has the highest aquatic biodiversity in the US. Partly because the mountains and 'hollers' isolated populations that evolved into new species (especially darters). Our rivers and streams also support the highest diversity of freshwater mussels, fascinating creatures that disperse their larvae by hitching a ride on fishes. Mussels are also the most imperiled by threats to water quality and by disruptions to upstream migration by dams. For example, the Brokenray lampsilis was extirpated from Tennessee rivers. It evolved a lure in the shape of a less-than-healthy minnow (that contains its larvae) to attract bass. Is it not the coolest thing that such a lure could evolve, down to the little eye! Through this program we can support rearing and releasing of mussels above dams to restore rare and endangered species. If you would like to join with others to Adopt-a-Mussel, email to let me know how much you would like to pledge toward the $400 suggested donation by Saturday August 23rd (myjgoo@gmail.com).

In closing, we hope you share our enthusiasm about helping KTnRB improve habitat to support biodiversity in the clean waters of East Tennessee. Please join us to hear more when Kathleen Gibi speaks at the August 24 service.