Big South Fork Mussels
The Big South Fork of the Cumberland River is a stretch of water with scenes of nature that will just take your breath away. Located on the Cumberland Plateau near the city of Jamestown, the river is untamed by man. But appearances can be deceiving. Wild Side Guide Alan Griggs shows us what’s going on beneath the surface and introduces us to small creatures with big problems...freshwater mussels. Because they live to be upwards of 60 years old, reside usually in one place on the river bottom, and are blessed with a sophisticated filtering system, the mussels are good indicators of water quality. Because of nearby mining operations, the water quality hasn’t been very good lately but there are signs of gradual improvement and a hope that nature is mending itself from the ravages wrought by man.
The Big South Fork covers 116,000 acres on the Plateau and offers abundant opportunities for the public to enjoy its natural beauty. For more information, be sure to visit these sites: www.nps.gov/biso/, www.bigsouthfork.com, www.appalachianfocus.org/_enviro2/00000166.htm.
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