Mussel Diving in Western PA: Using Scuba Diving as a Tool to Survey Freshwater Mussels

Name: Mussel Diving in Western PA: Using Scuba Diving as a Tool to Survey Freshwater Mussels
Start: 2026-03-18T19:00:00-04:00
Location: Scott's Scuba Service

Schedule

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026 at 07:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Scott's Scuba Service | Freeport, PA

WHAT: Mussel Diving in Western PA: Using Scuba Diving as a Tool to Survey Freshwater Mussels
WHERE: Scott's SCUBA Service
WHEN: RESCHEDULING to a date & time to be determined
WHO: Mikayla J. Bayto, Aquatic Biologist, Department of Environmental Protection - Clean Water Program
To sign up, visit https://scottsscuba.com/courses/mussel-diving-in-western-pa-using-scuba-diving-as-a-tool-to-survey-freshwater-mussels, call us at 724-295-3500, or email [email protected]
Surely, you have heard of or maybe even enjoyed with some hot sauce while ocean-side, saltwater clams and mussels, but have you ever heard of freshwater mussels? As it turns out, you may have bypassed these living, filtering beauties while diving around Western PA and never had known!
Though they go largely unnoticed, we owe many thanks to freshwater mussels. Freshwater mussels clean water by filtering bacteria, plankton, and sediment from our rivers and streams while also stabilizing the river and stream bottoms. Pennsylvania once supported 67 species of freshwater mussels, but due to pollution, the construction of dams, and dredging, freshwater mussels are the most imperiled group of organisms. In fact, many of Pennsylvania’s freshwater mussel species are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and many species are listed, in the U.S., as Federally and State Endangered or Threatened. Boost your awareness about freshwater mussels and see a few of Pennsylvania’s freshwater mussel species during a night of learning! Also, learn how local State agencies and other groups conduct mussel surveys in local rivers and streams!