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PDE's Mussel Hatchery Plans Taking Shape
This schematic drawing is one design that PDE and Bartram’s Garden are considering for new facilities in Southwest Philadelphia. The mussel hatchery is the larger wing to the left and the Bartram’s educational center is the adjacent building on the right. Construction could begin in 2022.
Construction could start later this year on the first freshwater mussel hatcherty in the United States that's built for the improvement of water quality. Once the hatchery is up and running, scientists from Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) aim to produce 500,000 freshwater mussels per year.
“Freshwater mussels are one of the most imperiled and depleted groups of animals in North America, and the loss of robust beds of mussels that help keep the water clean hampers our efforts to control pollution,” said PDE’s Science Director Danielle Kreeger, Ph.D. “The hatchery will supply the animals needed to rebuild natural beds of mussels in our streams, rivers, and lakes — to put nature back to work, especially in urban waters that are impaired for water quality.”
A lot has happened behind the scenes since early 2019 when PDE announced its plans to build the hatchery at Bartram’s Garden in Southwest Philadelphia, in partnership with the John Bartram Association. The announcement came after PDE signed a nearly $8 million funding agreement with the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). PDE’s goal to produce 500,000 mussels per year is to increase populations of native mussel species, mainly to help filter and purify water in the Delaware and Susquehanna rivers.
Freshwater mussels are one of nature’s best water filters. The new hatchery will supply mussels that will go back into streams, rivers, and lakes to help clean them naturally.
After the 2019 announcement, PDE and Bartram’s Garden got to work laying the groundwork — making sure the proposed building site is viable for development, and talking with engineers about project management and design.
Momentum on the project slowed during the height of the COVID pandemic, but PDE continued to work with construction managers at Urban Engineers and the design firm WRT on vetting building designs and working on lease agreements with the City of Philadelphia. Bartram’s Garden is coordinating its own plans to build an ecosystems education center alongside the hatchery building.
KATHY KLEIN, PDE Executive Director
NEXT STEPS
The hatchery building will be environmentally compliant and equipped with everything needed to achieve PDE’s hatchery’s research and production goals. A second floor will contain offices, laboratories, and a greenhouse for growing algae. In addition to the hatchery, PDE plans to have satellite mussel rearing locations with additional partners throughout the Delaware River Watershed.
“To know we are building something that’s a first of its kind in the United States is very exciting,” said PDE’s Executive Director Kathy Klein. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Bartram’s Garden and the City of Philadelphia to have the hatchery located at this historic site. The endless opportunities to engage with the local community and other partners from across the region is very exciting.”
HEALTHY HABITATS • GOAL H3.3
