National Park Service Mussel Rehabilitation
Name:
National Park Service Mussel Rehabilitation
Date:
July 22, 2026
Time:
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM CDT
Event Description:
During this hands-on event National Park Service divers will bring up native mussels from the river bottom for the audience to scrape off the non-native zebra mussels. Explanations and equipment will be provided. Maximum of 40 people.
To learn more watch this video: 2026 St. Croix RiverFest: Native Mussel Conservation
Description: Join the St. Croix RiverFest and dive into the hidden world of freshwater mussels in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and discover why these unsung filter feeders are essential to healthy river ecosystems. Often functioning like freshwater coral reefs, native mussels improve water clarity and create vital habitats, but they are also among North America’s most imperiled animals due to pollution, historical harvesting, and fragmented waterways. This conservation update highlights the ongoing efforts of the multi-agency Mussel Coordination Team to protect these remarkable bivalves. Learn about their fascinating life cycle—which relies on specific host fish to reproduce—and explore recent conservation milestones, including first-of-its-kind propagation successes for the endangered Winged Mapleleaf, self-reproducing Higgins Eye populations, and exciting new species discoveries from the 2025 Namekagon River Comprehensive Mussel Survey.
Description: Join the St. Croix RiverFest and dive into the hidden world of freshwater mussels in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and discover why these unsung filter feeders are essential to healthy river ecosystems. Often functioning like freshwater coral reefs, native mussels improve water clarity and create vital habitats, but they are also among North America’s most imperiled animals due to pollution, historical harvesting, and fragmented waterways. This conservation update highlights the ongoing efforts of the multi-agency Mussel Coordination Team to protect these remarkable bivalves. Learn about their fascinating life cycle—which relies on specific host fish to reproduce—and explore recent conservation milestones, including first-of-its-kind propagation successes for the endangered Winged Mapleleaf, self-reproducing Higgins Eye populations, and exciting new species discoveries from the 2025 Namekagon River Comprehensive Mussel Survey.
