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Students return native mussels to Claytor Lake
![Mussel_crew23a Mussel_crew23a](/content/csat/home/biology/releases/2023/Students_return_mussels_to_Claytor_Lake/_jcr_content/par/textimage_904235980/image.img.jpg/1699295080063.jpg)
On November 4, students from Radford University joined scores of volunteer groups to assist in a mussel rescue that occurs every 2 years at Claytor Lake State Park.
Pictured: student volunteers toss native mussels back into the lake, allowing continueed survival of rare and common native species
![Mussel_crew23 Mussel_crew23](/content/csat/home/biology/releases/2023/Students_return_mussels_to_Claytor_Lake/_jcr_content/par/textimage/image.img.jpg/1699295121152.jpg)
In odd-numbered years, AEP draws down Claytor Lake by about 5 ft to allow landowners time to clean off boat docks and launches. This drawdown exposes tens of thousands of native mussels.
Pictured: student volunteers from RU biology courses and the student chapter of The Wildlife Society at RU.
![paper-pondshell23 paper-pondshell23](/content/csat/home/biology/releases/2023/Students_return_mussels_to_Claytor_Lake/_jcr_content/par/textimage_1139440156/image.img.jpg/1699295284840.jpg)
Across two crews who covered the north shoreline along Claytor Lake State Park (Dublin, VA), over 1200 native mussels were rescued. These mussels, by filter-feeding, improve the water quality of the lake.
Pictured: native paper pondshell mussel, actively filter-feeding (its "foot" is visible in the photo)
![Mussel_crew_two Mussel_crew_two](/content/csat/home/biology/releases/2023/Students_return_mussels_to_Claytor_Lake/_jcr_content/par/textimage_928708063/image.img.jpg/1699295303642.jpg)
Biology professors Dr. Lau (pictured) and Dr. Powers (not pictured) each led teams of Radford University students along the Claytor Lake State Park shoreline.
This is a great volunteer effort - glad that RU can give back to the community in this way.