The mussel in the above picture, is that the maximum size or are they larger? If so how much larger. BE careful trying to ID a mussel from wikipedia and pictures. There are definate features on the shell to examine to determine the species with any confidence.
I think your mussel is too narrow (width:length ratio) to be the freshwater pearl mussel. FW Pearl occurs primarily in eastern Canada and New England. Also the front end is too pointed to be the "FW Pearl".
To determine the species one should first check to see if there are freshwater mussel pictures for the state of SC - Key to the SC Mussels. If so choose from that list. Your mussel looks similar to the midwestern mussel - the Black Sandshell (Ligumia recta) a narrow bodied, pointed end mussel. Not sure if it occurs in SC. Maximum size will also help with matching it to a name.
Any idea how much water is in the pond at low pool?. A good dose copper sulfate drug around in a sac on the bottom at the rate of could kill a lot of them in not all.
Biologist is probably correct. A large population depending on density of mussels can filter a lot of water and reduce the plankton.
Planting submerged plants will also promote clear water. Worst case - to eventually eliminate the mussels you may be looking at a major pond drawdown and retenone renovation.
My advice is stay away from transferring local plants unless you really know what you are doing. Even planting nursery plants can be risky due to the common presence of unwanted,nuisance and or exotic "piggy back plants".
Last edited by Bill Cody; 02/10/10 09:25 PM.
