Experts Seek Answers To Mystery Of Mussel Deaths In Big Darby Creek

Biologists, river advocates and environmental officials are trying to figure out why mussels are dying in central Ohio's Big Darby Creek, which is known for its biodiversity. Anthony Sasson, freshwater conservation manager for the Nature Conservancy in Ohio, says dozens of dying or dead mussels have surfaced since October. John Tetzloff, Darby Creek Association president, says mussels are highly sensitive to environmental changes, making them "canaries in the coal mine" for ecosystems linked to the creek. Jo Ann Banda, with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, says at least two federally endangered mussel species have been affected: the clubshell and northern riffleshell. The creek is a designated National Scenic River and considered one of the most biodiverse streams in the region.