MASSENA — Grasse River Restoration Partners, a groundbreaking effort to preserve native mussels and their habitat in the Lower Grasse River in Massena, has received the Innovation Award from the state Department of Conservation’s Stewardship Appreciation Awards.

The local preservation effort, launched in 2017, was one of several stewardship programs recognized by the DEC around the state.

As part of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-led cleanup project to remove polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from river sediments, a seven-mile stretch of the lower Grasse River was dredged in 2019 and 2020, and capped starting in 2020 with an additional 200 acres to be capped this year.

In order to prevent widespread loss of the freshwater mussel community, DEC embarked on multiple efforts to collect mussels from the river bottom ahead of dredging/capping activities and temporarily placed these mussels in areas that were not subject to capping or dredging.

The New York State Museum and St. Regis Mohawk Tribe are collaborating with DEC on the project.

As of early 2021, 400,000 mussels have been saved because of this effort and 12 founder colonies of mussels have been placed back into remedial areas to jumpstart recovery.

The mussel relocation project is part of an ongoing partnership with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to address a legacy of contamination and improve habitat in the region.

“The New York State Museum is honored to receive this recognition with partners from Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe,” State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said. “The value of abundant and diverse communities of native mussels for the healthy functioning of freshwater ecosystems has been a focus in this project and we greatly appreciate DEC’s support. My congratulations and thanks go to our Museum staff for their ongoing efforts to preserve the native mussel community and their habitat in the Lower Grasse River.”

“The lower Grasse River is part of the Mohawk Indian Meadows, and projects like this demonstrate how meaningful State and Tribal partnerships with shared goals and restorative visions can protect the environment resources valued by all. We love the freshwater mussels, they provide a critical ecosystem service and benefit to our St. Lawrence River watershed. We’re honored to receive this stewardship award with our New York State DEC and Museum partners and look forward to our continued collaborations doing great things in the years to come,” said Jessica L. Jock, Remediation and Restoration Program Manager at the SRMT Environment Division.

The DEC Stewardship Appreciation Awards recognizes outstanding contributions of volunteers and partner organizations in stewardship, promotion, and maintenance of state lands, waters, and DEC facilities.

The announcement was made during the Department of Environmental Conservation’s week-long celebration of Earth Day 2021.

The Stewardship Appreciation Awards were launched in 2020 to recognize not-for-profit organizations, individuals, educational institutions, and municipalities that have formal agreements with DEC. This year’s winners were chosen for their commitment to stewardship, promotion of environmental education, and creativity in programming.