Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 5

within the last 20 years, suggesting a fairly robust
population of snakes. Overall, the cadets learned a lot
about hunting and handling Timber Rattlesnakes and
contributed significantly to our efforts in a long-term
monitoring study.
Our agency removed the Timber Rattlesnake
from the list of candidate species in 2016, meaning its
numbers were headed in the correct direction away from
becoming threatened or endangered. This type of field
work in alignment with the intent of RAWA keeps the
species moving in the right direction.
A few weeks later, members of our Board of
Commissioners and staff from the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service visited the Union City State Fish
Hatchery to learn more about the incredible work
our team is doing to conserve freshwater mussels and
observe the entire sequence of mussel propagation procedures.
The process showed adult gravid (pregnant) females holding
baby mussels (glochidia).
Staff then performed a glochidia infestation of host
Scott Ray, Fish Culture Station Foreman, explains Union City State Fish
Hatchery mussel propagation to the PFBC commissioners.
fish (Largemouth Bass), which are needed to complete the
transformation from babies to juveniles. We were able to see the
various life stages: from newly transformed mussels to mussels
that are nearly an inch in length and almost ready to be stocked.
Visitors that day were also able to view how mussels are cultured
and the numerous technical systems needed to properly grow
mussels including the state-listed Round Hickorynut mussel
(which is also a candidate for federal listing)-being grown for
stocking in the Shenango and Allegheny rivers.
This cutting edge work and the recent improvements to
the Union City facility since starting the freshwater mussel
propagation in 2019 are perfect examples of the meaningful
conservation efforts that could be expanded with RAWA.
Arnold Ortmann, a preeminent naturalist of the early 20th
century and curator at the Carnegie Museum, described the
Clarion River as " possibly the worst stream in the state. " In one
of his publications, he expounded on how the industrialization
of the Clarion River and its tributaries made the river run " black
like ink " from impacts associated with logging, coal mining,
tanneries, paper mills, and other industrial processes. Thanks to
environmental regulations such as the Clean Water Act of 1972,
water quality in the Clarion River has improved to the point
where it once again supports aquatic life. However, the 139-foot
tall Piney Hydroelectric Dam constructed in 1924 on the lower
section of the river has prevented natural recolonization of
freshwater mussels from downstream source populations in the
Allegheny River.
A unique species recovery opportunity arose as the result of a
bridge and a pipeline replacement project that were to impact the
Allegheny River. In 2016 and 2018, several hundred thousand
freshwater mussels were salvaged from portions of the Allegheny
River that were to be impacted by instream construction. From
these molluscs, about 37,000 mussels representing 12 species
were translocated to the Clarion River in an attempt to restore
the mussel community, which has been largely absent since the
late 1800s.
In August, Commission staff and our project partners from
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, United States Forest Service,
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Elk and Jefferson
County Conservation Districts monitored the translocated
mussels, which were stocked at 14 sites along a 38-mile section of
the river. The monitoring was completed by recapturing stocked
individuals that had been marked with various tags to assess
how mussels had survived in new locations and by searching for
young mussels (less than 5 years old) to document any signs of
natural reproduction.
We found the translocated individuals survived well and
exhibited growth since being stocked in 2016 and 2018. We have
yet to document successful natural reproduction, which would be
an indicator of a self-sustaining population and another positive
sign the Clarion River's mussel community is on its way to
recovery. Again, RAWA has the potential to allow for more of this
work in more places, improving both mussel populations and all
species that rely on corresponding water quality.
As of this writing, more and more Pennsylvania members
The Clarion River mussel team in action.
www.fishandboat.com
of Congress are joining their colleagues from across the county
as co-sponsors of the House (H.R. 2773) and Senate (S. 2372)
RAWA bills. On behalf of our Board of Commissioners, staff, and
the species who do not have a voice, we thank our federal elected
officials for appreciating the value of proactive and collaborative
conservation and for recognizing this generationally significant
opportunity to finish the job of making RAWA a reality this
legislative session and ensuring the future of Pennsylvania's
natural heritage.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2021
5
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021

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