July 19, 2004

Columbus Area Mussel Expert Receives Award for
Longtime Efforts at Helping Endangered Species

Columbus area resident Carson Stringfellow has received special recognition from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for his volunteer efforts at protecting endangered species and improving water quality in local streams and rivers.

Despite teaching responsibilities at Columbus State University and a full time position in industry, Stringfellow has devoted hundreds of volunteer hours since 1998 instructing Fish and Wildlife Service biologists how to accurately identify local mussel species facing possible extinction. USFWS Southeast Regional Director, Sam Hamilton, thanked Stringfellow during ceremonies in Atlanta for willingness to share his unique expertise despite the demands of a busy personal schedule.

Stringfellow is a recognized specialist in identifying native mussel species. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Sandy Abbott says that while finding someone with knowledge of freshwater mussels is often difficult, these same skills are becoming increasingly invaluable as biologists advise how proposed major construction projects may least affect water quality, aquatic habitat and endangered species.

Stationed at the USFWS Ecological Services office in Columbus, Abbott has joined Stringfellow on numerous mussel-finding missions and finds each adventure an invaluable learning experience. "He's absolutely irreplaceable, and genuinely concerned about mussels and their continued existence."

Small, mostly stationary and usually not very noticeable, mussels are an important component of healthy streams and rivers. Stringfellow, who has degrees in biology and environmental science, says, "Finding freshwater mussels is like finding a canary in a coal mine. If they're in your water, you can be confident you've got good water quality."

Abbott states, "The one thing that has impressed me most about Carson, is when we call him up to ask if he can go with us to check out a stream, he never tells us no, it's always "When are we going"? His dedication to the protection and recovery of these mussel species has been demonstrated time and time again over these past six years."

Along with serving as indicators for water quality, mussels are a food source for various species of fish, birds, and mammals. Just as important, mussels help clean rivers, creeks and lakes by constantly siphoning water into their partially opened shells. Using their gills as filters, mussels capture floating solid particles as food, removing in the process several forms of pollution such as heavy metals from a river or stream.

Unfortunately, mussels are environmentally sensitive and some species have declined in numbers as pollution increased in streams and rivers. In 1998, five freshwater mussel species normally found in West Georgia were officially listed as federally endangered or threatened. These include the shinyrayed pocketbook, Gulf moccasinshell, fat threeridge, Ochlockonee moccasinshell, and oval pigtoe. Two additional "threatened" mussel species are the Chipola slabshell and purple bankclimber.

To find these and other mussel species, biologists must wade or swim in sometimes dark or muddy water. He or she then kneels and mucks with fingers across sandy or mud bottoms that remain sight unseen due to the water's turbidity. Never mind the occasional broken glass or sunken beer can, the hours wading and crawling are well worth it for Stringfellow. "I feel like an explorer. Every time I reach down and feel a mussel, I don't know what I'm going to find."

When not leading biologists in the field, teaching students at Columbus State or working at his a full-time job with Swift Denim in Columbus, Carson still finds time to explore local streams for his own enjoyment. While searching Goat Rock Reservoir four years ago, Stringfellow spotted a federally threatened mussel species known as the purple bank climber. This species of mussel had not been seen in this area of the Chattahoochee River for over 150 years.

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