Rachel Mair, WSSNFH, discusses the new mussel culture systems with visiting scientists. Photo by Matthew Patterson, USFWS.

Juvenile mussels held in upwellers. Photo by Matthew Patterson, USFWS.

In December, scientists with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University visited White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery to investigate the technology being used to grow baby freshwater mussels. The scientists were interested in the new "upweller" juvenile culture systems that have significantly increased growth rates for a range of mussel species including two federally endangered species, the northern riffleshell and oyster mussel. The culture systems, patterned after upwellers used in saltwater clam culture, draw water and algae up through a mesh screen holding the juvenile mussels. The scientists also were interested in the automated feeding system that delivers algae to the upwellers. The automated feeding system helps increase growth rates by providing food to the fast-growing, filter feeding juvenile mussels 24 hours a day.