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Clinch River

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The Clinch River is a river that flows southwest for more than 300 miles (480 km) through the Great Appalachian Valley in the U.S. states of Virginia and Tennessee , gathering various tributaries , including the Powell River , before joining the Tennessee River in Kingston, Tennessee .

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72-709: The Clinch River is dammed twice: by Norris Dam , the first dam built by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA); and by the Melton Hill Dam , the only TVA dam with a navigation lock that is not located on the main channel of the Tennessee River . An important tributary of the Clinch River is the Powell River . The Clinch and Powell drainage basins are separated by Powell Mountain . Tributaries entering

144-1072: A FAO study. Within Europe, where mussels have been cultivated for centuries, Spain remained the industry leader. Aquaculture of mussels in North America began in the 1970s. In the US, the northeast and northwest have significant mussel aquaculture operations, where Mytilus edulis (blue mussel) is most commonly grown. While the mussel industry in the US has increased, in North America, 80% of cultured mussels are produced in Prince Edward Island in Canada. In Washington state , an estimated 2.9 million pounds of mussels were harvested in 2010, valued at roughly $ 4.3M. In New Zealand, Perna canaliculus (the New Zealand green-lipped mussel), industry produces over 140,000 metric tons (150,000 short tons) annually and in 2009

216-545: A 73-mile (117 km) stretch of the Clinch from the dam to River Ridge at the Claiborne-Grainger county line. The reservoir also covers the lower 56 miles (90 km) of the Powell River , which empties into the Clinch 10 miles (16 km) upstream from Norris Dam. The dam's tailwaters are part of Melton Hill Lake, which stretches for 56 miles (90 km) along the Clinch from Norris to Melton Hill Dam . Norris Freeway,

288-462: A dam at the Cove Creek site, although all were eventually withdrawn or rejected. Part of the opposition was from Senator Norris, who advocated a government-sponsored dam at the site, arguing that a private entity would be almost wholly concerned with power generation rather than flood control and coordination with projects elsewhere in the valley. Norris proposed constructing a network of dams throughout

360-456: A dam at the Cove Creek site. On July 30, TVA renamed the Cove Creek project for Senator Norris and began preparations for the dam's construction. As the agency lacked any engineering or dam construction experience, it relied heavily on the Army Corps' original design, and received ample consulting from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation . Hungarian-American architect Roland Wank (1898–1970) revised

432-461: A danger along some coastlines. For instance, mussels should be avoided during the warmer months along the west coast of the United States. This poisoning is usually due to a bloom of dinoflagellates (red tides), which contain toxins. The dinoflagellates and their toxin are harmless to mussels, even when concentrated by the mussel's filter feeding, but the concentrated toxins cause serious illness if

504-463: A hard surface as a young mussel. There, it is capable of moving slowly by means of attaching and detaching byssal threads to attain a better life position. Freshwater mussels reproduce sexually. Sperm is released by the male directly into the water and enters the female via the incurrent siphon. After fertilization, the eggs develop into a larval stage called a glochidium (plural glochidia), which temporarily parasitizes fish, attaching themselves to

576-455: A means to mitigate excess nutrients and complement traditional wastewater treatment programs. Out of 511 species assessed globally, 44% of freshwater mussels listed on the IUCN Red List are classified at some level of threatened. There are 297 known freshwater mussel taxa in the United States and Canada, which are home to the most diverse freshwater mussel fauna in the world, especially in

648-411: A more colorful account: the river received its name after a pioneer fell into it, and shouted "Clinch me! Clinch me!", supposedly meaning "clench me" or "grab me". An older name for the river, which appears on some early maps, was the "Pelisipi River", with such variant spellings as "Pelisippi" and "Pellissippi", and the variant form "Fiume Pelissipi". The Mitchell Map (1755–1757) labels a tributary of

720-417: A protein matrix; and the periostracum , an outer pigmented layer resembling a skin. The periostracum is composed of a protein called conchin , and its function is to protect the prismatic layer from abrasion and dissolution by acids (especially important in freshwater forms where the decay of leaf materials produces acids). Like most bivalves, mussels have a large organ called a foot . In freshwater mussels,

792-427: A section of U.S. Highway 441 widened in the 1930s to aid in dam construction, crosses the top of Norris Dam and connects the area to Interstate 75 at Rocky Top, Tennessee to the west and Knoxville, Tennessee to the south. Along with the reservation maintained by TVA for the operation of Norris Dam, most of the lower Norris Reservoir is surrounded by conservation lands, including Norris Dam State Park adjacent to

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864-471: A similar manner, using a byssus. They are classified with the Heterodonta , the taxonomic group which includes most of the bivalves commonly referred to as "clams". The mussel's external shell is composed of two hinged halves or "valves". The valves are joined on the outside by a ligament, and are closed when necessary by strong internal muscles (anterior and posterior adductor muscles). Mussel shells carry out

936-466: A spicy, favored delicacy. In coastal Karnataka Bearys prepare special rice balls stuffed with spicy fried mussels and steamed, locally known as "pachilede pindi". Mussels can be smoked, boiled, steamed, roasted, barbecued or fried in butter or vegetable oil. They can be used in soups, salads and sauces. As with all shellfish , except shrimp, mussels should be checked to ensure they are still alive just before they are cooked; enzymes quickly break down

1008-563: A stock of butter and white wine. Fries and Belgian beer sometimes are accompaniments. A similar style of preparation is commonly found in the Rhineland where mussels are customarily served in restaurants with a side of dark bread in "months containing an R", that is between September and April. In the Netherlands, mussels are sometimes served fried in batter or breadcrumbs , particularly at take-out food outlets or informal settings. In France,

1080-539: A treaty at Southwest Point to allow the capital of Tennessee to be moved there. The Tennessee General Assembly fulfilled this requirement technically by meeting in Kingston for one day and then voting to move the capital city elsewhere. It later was moved to Nashville . Clinch was the name of an 18th-century explorer of the area. Former variations of the name included "Clinch's River", "Clench River", "Clinches River" and " Fiume Clinchs". Folk etymology , however, provides

1152-401: A variety of functions, including support for soft tissues, protection from predators and protection against desiccation. The shell has three layers. In the pearly mussels there is an inner iridescent layer of nacre (mother-of-pearl) composed of calcium carbonate , which is continuously secreted by the mantle; the prismatic layer, a middle layer of chalky white crystals of calcium carbonate in

1224-447: Is 1.0% N and 0.1% P. When the mussels are harvested and removed, these nutrients are also removed from the system and recycled in the form of seafood or mussel biomass, which can be used as an organic fertilizer or animal feed-additive. These ecosystem services provided by mussels are of particular interest to those hoping to mitigate excess anthropogenic marine nutrients, particularly in eutrophic marine systems. While mussel aquaculture

1296-422: Is 2-3mm. The seed is then typically reared in a nursery environment, where it is transferred to a material with a suitable surface for later relocation to the growing area. After about three months in the nursery, mussel seed is "socked" (placed in a tube-like mesh material) and hung on longlines or rafts for grow-out. Within a few days, the mussels migrate to the outside of the sock for better access food sources in

1368-510: Is actually promoted in some countries such as Sweden as a water management strategy to address coastal eutrophication, mussel farming as a nutrient mitigation tool is still in its infancy in most parts of the world. Ongoing efforts in the Baltic Sea (Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Poland) and Long Island Sound and Puget Sound in the U.S. are currently examining nutrient uptake, cost-effectiveness, and potential environmental impacts of mussel farming as

1440-555: Is also sometimes used by mussels as a defensive measure, to tether predatory molluscs, such as dog whelks , that invade mussel beds, immobilising them and thus starving them to death. In cooking, the byssus of the mussel is known as the "beard" and is removed during preparation, often after cooking when the mussel has opened. Both marine and freshwater mussels are filter feeders ; they feed on plankton and other microscopic sea creatures which are free-floating in seawater. A mussel draws water in through its incurrent siphon . The water

1512-512: Is located along the Clinch River at Carbo in Russell County, Virginia . It was completed in 1957 and is owned by Appalachian Power, a part of American Electric Power . The coal-fired plant was converted to natural gas in 2016. The Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center , another coal-fired power plant that began operations in 2012, is a few miles away outside St. Paul in Wise County, Virginia . It

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1584-683: Is owned by Dominion Virginia Power . The Clinch River above Clinton, Tennessee (tailwaters of Norris Dam) is stocked with rainbow trout and brown trout by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency . Before being dammed, the Clinch River was a major producer of freshwater mussels and pearls . The rivers of the southern Appalachians are still notable for their unusually rich mussel biodiversity. The mussels were an important food source for Native Americans. Scots-Irish and later British settlers used mussels as bait and hog feed. The freshwater pearl industry thrived throughout

1656-579: Is silvery and somewhat nacreous . The common name "mussel" is also used for many freshwater bivalves, including the freshwater pearl mussels . Freshwater mussel species inhabit lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, canals, and they are classified in a different subclass of bivalves, despite some very superficial similarities in appearance. Freshwater zebra mussels and their relatives in the family Dreissenidae are not related to previously mentioned groups, even though they resemble many Mytilus species in shape, and live attached to rocks and other hard surfaces in

1728-447: Is stationary. In marine mussels, the foot is smaller, tongue-like in shape, with a groove on the ventral surface which is continuous with the byssus pit. In this pit, a viscous secretion is exuded, entering the groove and hardening gradually upon contact with sea water. This forms extremely tough, strong, elastic, byssal threads that secure the mussel to its substrate allowing it to remain sessile in areas of high flow. The byssal thread

1800-418: Is the common name used for members of several families of bivalve molluscs , from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which are often more or less rounded or oval. The word "mussel" is frequently used to mean the bivalves of the marine family Mytilidae , most of which live on exposed shores in

1872-403: Is then brought into the branchial chamber by the actions of the cilia located on the gills for ciliary-mucus feeding. The wastewater exits through the excurrent siphon. The labial palps finally funnel the food into the mouth, where digestion begins. Marine mussels are usually found clumping together on wave-washed rocks, each attached to the rock by its byssus. The clumping habit helps hold

1944-602: Is very popular among tourists and low classes, probably because of the hot climate that favours mussels reproduction. In India, mussels are popular in Kerala , Maharashtra , Karnataka - Bhatkal , and Goa . They are either prepared with drumsticks , breadfruit or other vegetables, or filled with rice and coconut paste with spices and served hot. Fried mussels ('Kadukka' കടുക്ക in Malayalam ) of north Kerala especially in Thalassery are

2016-461: The Éclade des Moules , or, locally, Terré de Moules , is a mussel bake that can be found along the beaches of the Bay of Biscay . In Italy, mussels are mixed with other seafood; they are most commonly eaten steamed, sometimes with white wine, herbs, and served with the remaining water and some lemon. In Spain, they are consumed mostly steamed, sometimes boiling white wine, onion and herbs, and served with

2088-741: The "Pelisipi River" as "Clinch's River". The word "Pellissippi" was long said to have been the Cherokee language name for the river and was purported to mean "winding waters". Research completed in 2017 concluded that the Miami-Illinois name Mosopeleacipi ("river of the Mosopelea " tribe) was first applied to what later European settlers called the Ohio River . Shortened in the Shawnee language to pelewa thiipi , spelewathiipi or peleewa thiipiiki ,

2160-441: The "bray" or boiling water as a supplementary hot drink. In Cantonese cuisine , mussels are cooked in a broth of garlic and fermented black bean. In New Zealand, they are served in a chilli or garlic-based vinaigrette , processed into fritters and fried, or used as the base for a chowder . In Brazil, it is common to see mussels being cooked and served with olive oil, usually accompanied by onion, garlic and other herbs. The plate

2232-549: The Clinch River below Norris Dam but above Melton Hill Dam include Coal Creek , Hinds Creek, Bull Run Creek, and Beaver Creek . Poplar Creek enters the river below the Melton Hill Dam. A peninsula located at the mouth of the Clinch River, later called Southwest Point, was important to generations of Native Americans . In the early colonial period, it was the site of a frontier fort . This structure has recently been reconstructed. The Cherokee and European settlers signed

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2304-454: The Clinch and Powell watershed has been argued by scholars and historians, specifically regarding the TVA's acquisition of roughly 150,000 acres (61,000 ha) of farmland, and the displacement of an estimated 3,000 families and 5,300 graves. Many of the dead buried in cemeteries that were to be flooded by the dam reservoir were disinterred and reburied in four "re-interment cemeteries" established by

2376-475: The TVA began cleaning the ash out of the river, in 2009 the EPA took over; they finished removing coal ash in 2010. The release of coal ash in rivers has been shown to result in increased sedimentation and the exposure of trace elements to aquatic organisms. A study done several months after the spill revealed that the river had increased amounts of trace metals such as mercury and arsenic, which are dangerous throughout

2448-603: The TVA: Baker's Forge Memorial Cemetery, Cumberland View Cemetery, Big Barren Memorial Cemetery, and New Loyston Memorial Cemetery. Union County , the most negatively impacted county of the Norris Project, would encounter the inundation of the unincorporated town of Loyston and other scarce communities of the Big Valley region of Union County. The town of Big Barren and the settlement of Baker's Forge were also inundated. After

2520-576: The United States during the Second World War , mussels were commonly served in diners and restaurants across the country. This was due to wartime rationing and shortages of red meat, such as beef and pork. Mussels became a popular substitute for most meats (with the exception of poultry). In Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, mussels are consumed with French fries ( mosselen met friet or moules-frites ) or bread. In Belgium, mussels are sometimes served with fresh herbs and flavorful vegetables in

2592-419: The agency. TVA subsequently purchased the assets of the former Tennessee Electric Power Company, including some dams which had been built before Norris Dam. The building of Norris Dam and the changes it brought to the region inspired films, books, stage plays, and songs. Folk songs from the construction period express enthusiasm for the benefits that the dam project brought to the region. Notable visitors to

2664-444: The construction of artificial tendons. Mussels are widely used as bio-indicators to monitor the health of aquatic environments in both fresh water and the marine environments. They are particularly useful since they are distributed worldwide and they are sessile. These characteristics ensure that they are representative of the environment where they are sampled or placed. Their population status or structure, physiology, behaviour or

2736-433: The correct fish host. Once the larval mussels attach to the fish, the fish body reacts to cover them with cells forming a cyst , where the glochidia remain for two to five weeks (depending on temperature). They grow, break free from the host, and drop to the bottom of the water to begin an independent life. Marine mussels are eaten by humans, starfish , seabirds, and by numerous species of predatory marine gastropods in

2808-512: The dam included President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt , French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre , journalist Ernie Pyle , Swiss architect Le Corbusier , track star Jesse Owens , and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru . In 1941, the dam was the subject of a photography exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The project's intent of providing aid to residents of

2880-610: The decline of freshwater mussels include destruction by dams, increased siltation, channel alteration and the introduction of invasive species such as the zebra mussel . Humans have used mussels as food for thousands of years. About 17 species are edible, of which the most commonly eaten are Mytilus edulis , M. galloprovincialis , M. trossulus and Perna canaliculus . Although freshwater mussels are edible, today they are widely considered unpalatable and are rarely consumed. Freshwater mussels were once eaten extensively by native peoples of North America and some still do today. In

2952-544: The design of peptide mimics that were well studied for surface bioengineering of medical implants. Self-assembling mussel-inspired peptides were also shown to form functional nanostructures. Also, a peptide derived from mussel foot protein-5, a key protein in mussel adhesion, displayed antibacterial properties and served as inspiration for the design of a new class of peptide-based antibacterial adhesive hydrogels, which are active against drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. Additionally byssal threads have provided insight into

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3024-738: The family Muricidae , such as the dog whelk , Nucella lapillus . Freshwater mussels are eaten by muskrats , otters , raccoons , ducks, baboons , humans, and geese. Marine mussels are abundant in the low and mid intertidal zone in temperate seas globally. Other species of marine mussel live in tropical intertidal areas, but not in the same huge numbers as in temperate zones. Certain species of marine mussels prefer salt marshes or quiet bays, while others thrive in pounding surf, completely covering wave-washed rocks. Some species have colonized abyssal depths near hydrothermal vents . The South African white mussel exceptionally does not bind itself to rocks but burrows into sandy beaches extending two tubes above

3096-404: The fish's fins or gills. Prior to their release, the glochidia grow in the gills of the host fish where they are constantly flushed with oxygen-rich water. In some species, release occurs when a fish attempts to attack the mussel's mantle flaps, which are shaped like minnows or other prey, an example of aggressive mimicry . Glochidia are generally species-specific, and will only live if they find

3168-580: The food chain. A study done a year after the spill showed that there was a possibility of food web accumulation of methylmercury , but this had not yet been shown. There are several state and local parks along the Clinch River in both Tennessee and Virginia. including: Norris Dam Norris Dam is a hydroelectric and flood control structure located on the Clinch River in Anderson County and Campbell County, Tennessee , United States. The dam

3240-407: The foot is large, muscular, and generally hatchet-shaped. It is used to pull the animal through the substrate (typically sand, gravel, or silt) in which it lies partially buried. It does this by repeatedly advancing the foot through the substrate, expanding the end so it serves as an anchor, and then pulling the rest of the animal with its shell forward. It also serves as a fleshy anchor when the animal

3312-741: The grow-out area and the rearing method being used. Dredges are currently used for on-bottom culture. Mussels grown on wooden poles can be harvested by hand or with a hydraulic powered system. For raft and longline culture, a platform is typically lowered under the mussel lines, which are then cut from the system and brought to the surface and dumped into containers on a nearby vessel. After harvest, mussels are typically placed in seawater tanks to rid them of impurities before marketing. Byssal threads, used to anchor mussels to substrates, are now recognized as superior bonding agents. A number of studies have investigated mussel "glues" for industrial and surgical applications. Further, mussel adhesive proteins inspired

3384-557: The highest species diversity in Southeast Asia), and 33 in Australasia. The species in these areas are not as well researched as in North America and Europe. Approximately 61% of freshwater mussels in Asia had not been assessed and conservation efforts were almost non-existent. No Asian mussels were protected internationally under legislation such as CITES . The main factors contributing to

3456-424: The initial plans from Bureau of Reclamation engineers, and gave the poured-concrete Norris Dam a modernist style , which was controversial and advanced for the era of construction, but the result would eventually succeed in elevating Roland Wank to the position of Chief Architect for TVA from 1933 through 1944. Construction began on October 1, 1933. The building of Norris Dam and its accompanying reservoir required

3528-411: The intertidal zone, attached by means of their strong byssal threads ("beard") to a firm substrate. A few species (in the genus Bathymodiolus ) have colonised hydrothermal vents associated with deep ocean ridges. In most marine mussels the shell is longer than it is wide, being wedge-shaped or asymmetrical. The external colour of the shell is often dark blue, blackish, or brown, while the interior

3600-524: The level of contamination with elements or compounds can indicate the status of the ecosystem. Transplanted caged mussel were used in a study to monitor heavy metal contamination in coastal waters. Marine nutrient bioextraction is the practice of farming and harvesting marine organisms such as shellfish and seaweed for the purpose of reducing nutrient pollution . Mussels and other bivalve shellfish consume phytoplankton containing nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). On average, one live mussel

3672-400: The meat and make them unpalatable or poisonous after dying or uncooked. Some mussels might contain toxins. A simple criterion is that live mussels, when in the air, will shut tightly when disturbed. Open, unresponsive mussels are dead, and must be discarded. Unusually heavy, wild-caught, closed mussels may be discarded as they may contain only mud or sand. (They can be tested by slightly opening

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3744-411: The mussels firm against the force of the waves. At low tide mussels in the middle of a clump will undergo less water loss because of water capture by the other mussels. Both marine and freshwater mussels are gonochoristic , with separate male and female individuals. In marine mussels, fertilization occurs outside the body, with a larval stage that drifts for three weeks to six months, before settling on

3816-549: The name evolved through other variant forms such as "Polesipi", "Peleson", "Pele Sipi" and "Pere Sipi". It was eventually stabilized to the "Pelisipi/Pelisippi/Pellissippi" form. These names were variously applied back and forth between the Ohio and Clinch rivers. The name Pellissippi has been used in proper names throughout East Tennessee, for example in Pellissippi Parkway and Pellissippi State Community College . A power plant

3888-418: The project called for the construction of recreational areas along the lakeshore, TVA built two supplemental dams—Caryville Dam and Big Ridge Dam—to impound Cove Lake and Big Ridge Lake, respectively, and ensure these small lakes would remain filled year-round. The Civilian Conservation Corps built recreational facilities and aided in the removal of various structures. The town of Norris, Tennessee

3960-497: The project's completion, the Big Valley region of Union County, promised its electrification by the project's end, would not receive electricity until the late 1940s and early 1950s. Some of the displaced in the aftermath of the Norris Project would commit suicide, unable to bear the stress of the loss of their lifestyles. Mussel Pteriomorphia (marine mussels) Palaeoheterodonta (freshwater mussels) Heterodonta ( zebra mussels ) Mussel ( / ˈ m ʌ s ə l / )

4032-504: The purchase of over 152,000 acres (62,000 ha) of land. 2,841 families and 5,226 graves were relocated. The community of Loyston , located about 20 miles (32 km) upstream from the dam site, was entirely inundated. Approximately one-third of Caryville, at the head of the reservoir's Cove Creek embayment, was flooded and a number of structures in the town had to be moved. Several smaller 30-foot (9.1 m) earthen dams were built along reservoir tributaries to house fish hatcheries. As

4104-710: The remaining water and some lemon. They can also be eaten as tigres , a sort of croquette using the mussel meat, shrimps and other pieces of fish in a thick bechamel then breaded and fried in the clean mussel shell. They are used in other sort of dishes such as rices or soups or commonly eaten canned in a pickling brine made of oil, vinegar, peppercorns, bay leaves and paprika. In Turkey, mussels are either covered with flour and fried on skewers ( midye tava ), or filled with rice and served cold ( midye dolma ) and are usually consumed after alcohol (mostly raki or beer). They are used in Ireland boiled and seasoned with vinegar, with

4176-548: The reservation, the Cove Creek Wildlife Management Area across the lake to the north, and the Chuck Swan State Forest, which protects a largely undeveloped area a few miles upstream. As early as 1911, the present site of Norris Dam—initially called the "Cove Creek site"—was identified as a prime location for a sizeable dam. Several government and private entities believed that a dam in

4248-524: The river. Some mussels were reintroduced to the Cleveland, Virginia , area from outside the state in the early 2000s. Pollution of the 20th century had destroyed much of the historic mussels species. In 2008, a large release of fly ash from the TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant deposited 2.6 million pounds of fly ash in the lower section of the river below the confluence of the Emory River . Although at first

4320-454: The rugged, sparsely populated hills of northeastern Tennessee before emptying into the Tennessee River near Kingston . Norris Dam is located at just over 79 miles (127 km) upstream from the mouth of the Clinch, immediately downstream from the river's confluence with Cove Creek, which joins the river from the northwest. The reservoir includes parts of Anderson, Campbell, Union , Claiborne , and Grainger counties. Norris Reservoir spans

4392-423: The sand surface for ingestion of food and water and exhausting wastes. Freshwater mussels inhabit permanent lakes, rivers, canals and streams throughout the world except in the polar regions. They require a constant source of cool, clean water. They prefer water with a substantial mineral content, using calcium carbonate to build their shells. In 2005, China accounted for 40% of the global mussel catch according to

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4464-742: The shell halves.) A thorough rinse in water and removal of "the beard" is suggested. Mussel shells usually open when cooked, revealing the cooked soft parts. Historically, it has been believed that after cooking all the mussels should have opened and those that have not are not safe to eat and should be discarded. However, according to marine biologist Nick Ruello, this advice may have arisen from an old, poorly researched cookbook's advice, which has now become an assumed truism for all shellfish. Ruello found 11.5% of all mussels failed to open during cooking, but when forced open, 100% were "both adequately cooked and safe to eat." Although mussels are valued as food, mussel poisoning due to toxic planktonic organisms can be

4536-815: The southeastern United States. Of the 297 known species, 213 (71.7%) taxa are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern. Approximately 37 North American species were considered extinct in 2004. Out of 16 recognized freshwater mussel species in Europe, 12 are considered threatened, with varying statuses from Near Threatened to Critically Endangered. 8 species are protected by the European Union Habitats Directive across all annexes. There are approximately 85 known species in Africa, 102 in Central America, 74 in South America, 228 in Asia (with

4608-503: The southern Appalachians in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The Clinch River and the Emory River were considered the economic heart of the pearl industry, and Tennessee was one of the top six states in the United States for pearl production. The mussel-based industries began to decline in the early 20th century and were effectively eliminated by the dams built by the TVA in the mid-20th century. The first major Tennessee River dam

4680-605: The upper Tennessee Valley, working in conjunction with dams at Muscle Shoals, Alabama , could provide badly needed flood control to East Tennessee and help keep the Tennessee River consistently navigable year-round. In the early 1920s, several entities—including the Tennessee Electric Power Company (TEPCo), the Knoxville Power & Light Company, and Union Carbide — applied for permits to build

4752-557: The valley to help regulate its outflow into the lower Mississippi River . Throughout the late 1920s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers made several proposals to build a dam at the site, but all were rejected by Congress or vetoed by President Calvin Coolidge . The Tennessee Valley Authority was formed in 1933 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal legislation. The act authorizing TVA's establishment (signed on May 18, 1933) authorized TVA to immediately begin construction on

4824-443: The water column. Mussels grow quickly and are usually ready for harvest in less than two years. Unlike other cultured bivalves, mussels use byssus threads (beard) to attach themselves to any firm substrate, which makes them suitable for a number of culture methods. There are a variety of techniques for growing mussels. In roughly 12–15 months, mussels reach marketable size (40mm) and are ready for harvest. Harvesting methods depend on

4896-476: Was Wilson Dam , built at a site known as Muscle Shoals, Alabama . The name may have referred to the freshwater mussels of the region (the shoals could also be named for the exertion necessary to move river traffic across them). Norris Dam and Norris Lake on the Clinch River flooded one of the other areas of mussel near Young's Island. Pollution of the river from mining in the region has caused great concern among environmentalists because several rare species inhabit

4968-407: Was initially built as a planned community to house the workers involved in the construction of this dam. Norris Dam was completed and the gates closed on March 4, 1936, constructed at a cost of $ 36 million (equivalent to $ 622 million in 2023 ). The dam's first generator went online on July 28, 1936. Although Norris was the first dam built by TVA, it is not the oldest dam owned and operated by

5040-630: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. Norris Dam is a straight concrete gravity-type dam. The dam is 1860 feet (570 m) long and 265 feet (81 m) high. Norris Lake, the largest reservoir on a tributary of the Tennessee River , has 33,840 acres (137 km ) of water surface and 809 miles (1302 km) of shoreline. The dam has a maximum generating capacity of 126 megawatts . The Clinch River flows southwestward for 300 miles (480 km) from its headwaters in Virginia through

5112-484: Was the first major project for the Tennessee Valley Authority , which had been created in 1933 to bring economic development to the region and control the rampant flooding that had long plagued the Tennessee Valley. The dam was named in honor of Nebraska Senator George Norris (1861–1944), a longtime supporter of government-owned utilities in general, and supporter of TVA in particular. The infrastructure project

5184-722: Was valued in excess of NZ$ 250 million. Freshwater mussels are used as host animals for the cultivation of freshwater pearls . Some species of marine mussel, including the blue mussel ( Mytilus edulis ) and the New Zealand green-lipped mussel ( Perna canaliculus ), are also cultivated as a source of food. In some areas of the world, mussel farmers collect naturally occurring marine mussel seed for transfer to more appropriate growing areas, however, most North American mussel farmers rely on hatchery-produced seed. Growers typically purchase seed after it has set (about 1mm in size) or after it has been nursed in upwellers for 3-6 additional weeks and

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