Freshwater Mussel (Unionidae) Abundance and Diversity Upstream and Downstream of a Superfund Site on the North Fork Holston River, Saltville, Virginia

Abstract

ABSTRACT The North Fork Holston River (NFHR) historically supported 33 unionid mussel species downstream of Saltville, VA. Because of industrial contamination over decades from a chlor-alkali plant, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Site (SITE) was created with Hg and MeHg designated as contaminants of concern. Mussel surveys were conducted at 18 NFHR locations to determine abundance, species richness, and recruitment upstream and downstream of the SITE. Seventeen unionid species were collected, and mean species richness of upstream sites (8.8 species, n = 6 sites) was greater than the mean of downstream locations (3.8 species, n = 12). The catch-per-unit-effort mean from upstream sites (10.4 mussels/h, n = 3 sites) was greater than the mean of downstream sites (3.5 mussels/h, n = 12). Mean density of upstream (1.8 mussels/m2, n = 6 sites) sites was higher than observed at downstream (1.0 mussels/m2, n = 8) locations. Results show that species richness in the entire lower NFHR is less than ...