Mussel survey completed near Villa Louis boat landing
Matt Berg and his diving team prepare for the mussel survey.
By Peyton Meisner
The city of Prairie du Chien saw a mussel survey being completed at the Villa Louis Boat Landing Friday morning.
The survey was necessary to determine if any mussel populations will be negatively impacted by the city’s plans to refurbish the boat landing, which will include plans to build an additional boat ramp, two floating docks, a handicapped-accessible parking and fishing pier and a picnic shelter and parking area according to an Office of the Commissioner of Railroads (OCR) decision made on the city’s petition to create these changes.
Matt Berg, of Endangered Resource Services, LLC led the survey, which included diving underwater to scan for mussels and clams. “This is essentially a mitigation project to clear the water of all clams and mussels that can usually be found in the area,” Berg said.
Berg and his crew of three others scanned an area of 50 feet out into the river. “Usually in the last 10 feet of the total 50 feet is where we expect to find most of the mussels and clams to be found,” Berg explained.
After the diving search concludes, Berg and his team will gather and identify all of the mussels and clams found and will place them in another location. Berg will then put together a report of the findings for the city to look at before project plans continue.
