The planned 2027 removal of Peninsular Dam in Ypsilanti, MI represents a major milestone for restoring the Huron River after more than 100 years of impoundment. Alongside the engineering and construction work, biologists and volunteers have been preparing to protect one of the river’s most overlooked groups of animals: freshwater mussels. In 2024 and 2026, the Huron River Watershed Council and its partners conducted mussel surveys and relocation efforts to help reduce risks associated with sediment movement during dam removal. Join us for this episode to learn more about the science, fieldwork, and volunteer experience behind the effort — including why mussel monitoring may be one of the most unexpectedly rewarding ways to spend a day in a river.
