Oysters get a lot of buzz in the Chesapeake Bay region, but freshwater mussels provide many of the same ecosystem services in the 64,000-square-mile watershed that feeds into the Bay. These unsung water quality and habitat heroes are finally getting some mainstream recognition, with their inclusion in the 2025 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and restoration efforts ongoing in streambeds across the watershed.

Speakers:

• Evan Quinter, Staff Scientist, Potomac Riverkeeper Network
• Jamie Brunkow, Director of Advocacy and River Ecology, James River Association