Stow Company Moving Mussels in Cuyahoga River in Kent

Mussels found in the Cuyahoga River in 2012 will be relocated in preparation of replacing the Redmond Bridge. 

The freshwater mussels will be placed 50 feet upstream and downstream in 5-meter quadrants by biologists and divers from EnviroScience, Inc. in Stow. 

To save as many mussels as possible, the stream will be divided Friday with weighted transect lines to produce a grid of 5-meter by 5-meter cells while divers search for the mussels. Because of its relatively thin shell, this Eastern Pondmussel species has suffered from the zebra mussel invasion, according to a prepared statement.

The cost to carefully move the mussels is $5,500 — 80 percent is funded by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the remaining 20 percent is paid for by the parks and rec department. 

"Several measures of quality control will be implemented to ensure thorough mussel collection and accurate habitat assessment by divers," according to information released by the Kent Parks and Recreation Department. "Dr. Huehner and Ryan Schwegan, both freshwater mussel experts (malocologists) approved by the USFWS and ODNR will oversee the operation."