The teams must collect, clean,

tag, and transport the mussels within forty-five minutes to an hour for

the creatures to survive. By manually relocating the mussels, Chase and

the teens will be speeding up a process that normally takes 60-100 years

naturally.

Why and how did these three

groups come together to transport clams? When a creek or any other water

source is contaminated, mussels are the first indication of a problem

with the water. Chase and these young people wish to prevent the freshwater

mussels from becoming endangered. What makes this project unique is that

these teens are doing something that normally college graduates would

attempt.

The Fayette County 4-H Homeschool

Group provides an opportunity for homeschoolers in the area to participate

in County 4-H activities.

The Campus is a Center for

Independent Study in Peachtree City. For a number of years The Campus

has been a part of the 4-H Homeschool Group, which meets once a month.

The main mission of the Line

Creek Association is simply to do what's best for the environment.

They do this through active research and observation.

For the last few years, Mr.

Chase has worked with the 4-H group to provide community service opportunities

for the 4-Hers.

What makes this project even

more special is that it has attracted interest from the tag supplier in

Australia who wants a report of the progress on the project. "They'll

be getting the opportunity of a lifetime," said Chase.

Mussel facts:

- During its entire lifetime,

the mussel doesn't move any farther than 100 yards from its egg due

to its slowness.

- Mussels and clams are

the same thing.

- Mussels filter out algae

and take in oxygen through a special tube.

(Editor's note: This story

was written by a student member of the Fayette County 4-H Homeschool Group

and Peachtree City Campus. Another student took the accompanying photographs.)

Back

to the Top of the Page