A busy night at the mouth of the Big Sandy

I went down to the boat ramp at the mouth of the Big Sandy yesterday evening before dark so I could get out of the house for a while. I got a few photos of boats. I knew a couple of boats were heading my way, but it was getting dark. I decided to stay anyway to see what I could get. This is one photo that I got last night.

So, yeah, things were busy at Catlettsburg, Kentucky, Kenova, West Virginia and South Point, Ohio.

A threatened species

 

Another species of mussel is in danger of disappearing from the Ohio River. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed protecting the pyramid pigtoe mussel as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

From the supporting documentation, it appears some of the most vulnerable remaining populations of the pyramid pigtoe mussel are in Ohio River tributaries instead of the big river itself. The culprits this native mussel must contend with the usual ones: invasive species such as the zebra mussel, black carp and Asian clam; development of rivers for navigation and transportation; and pollution from human activities.