Mussel May Kicks Off with a Deep Splash

Buzzard Point, Saturday May 6 - The Anacostia Watershed Society, joined by divers from One Ocean Scuba, kicked off Mussel May with an open house and survey that most certainly made a deep splash.

It was the perfect afternoon to perform a scuba survey of the thriving mussel bed at Buzzard Point.  With the roar of the crowd at the Washington Spirit game near us, guests and divers alike were reminded that we were right in downtown DC, but surrounded by nature including a muskrat who greeted the first arrivals.  Walkups to the open house helped to survey the mussels in the shallow shores, donning waders and grabbing aquascopes. There were more than a few friends and neighbors who dropped in while walking the trail there, including a gentleman who had been fishing the river for 40 years!

To cap off the successful day, divers found 117 freshwater mussels, with eight different species represented!

Check out the gallery of the divers below, and our many thanks to J. Elizabeth Clark for these wonderful photos. See more on her flickr stream.