Meet the freshwater mussels helping Minneapolis keep its drinking water clean—real-life nature-based climate heroes working 24/7 in a river-powered filtration system.
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April 9, 2025
Teach students how freshwater mussels are helping Minneapolis monitor water quality. This lesson explores nature-based climate solutions and real-world environmental science.
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Did you know mussels—not muscles—are helping protect the drinking water in one U.S. city?
In Minneapolis, a group of freshwater mussels are working 24/7 to monitor water quality using their natural filtering abilities. As climate change increases threats to clean water, cities are turning to nature for low-cost, sustainable solutions.
This unique approach is a perfect example of how cities use nature to clean water—something more and more communities are exploring in the face of environmental challenges.
So… can shellfish really help save the planet? Check out the discussion points below, then watch the video and continue on to the activities.
These mussels can live up to 50 years—and if they detect contaminants like gasoline or heavy metals, they “clam up,” triggering a real-time alert system.
Since 2008, Minneapolis has used fat mucket mussels, a native freshwater species, in a unique biomonitoring system inside its water treatment facility. These mussels sit in a tank that continuously pulls in water from the Mississippi River. Tiny sensors are attached to their shells. When the mussels sense pollutants, they close up, and the sensors alert city water managers instantly.
This real-world case of freshwater mussels and their ecosystem services shows how animals can play a vital role in maintaining clean water systems.
Minneapolis is the only U.S. city using this specific biological monitoring method, although similar systems are in place in Warsaw, Poland, and other locations around the world.
This system showcases biomimicry—using nature’s designs to solve human problems. Mussels are low-cost, low-maintenance and highly effective, making them ideal for climate-conscious water management. The mussels are also supported by high-tech monitoring systems, showing how natural and digital solutions can work together.
It’s also a standout natural water filtration example, blending science, technology, and sustainability in one powerful solution.
Prompt: Research another city or country using nature-based systems to clean water or fight climate change. Examples could include:
Have students present their findings in class or submit a short write-up.
Question: Would you rather use technology or nature to solve environmental problems? Why?
Write a journal entry from the point of view of a Minneapolis mussel living in the water tank. What do you see, hear or feel each day? This environmental science activity for students encourages creativity while deepening understanding of ecological relationships.
Watch this companion video on freshwater mussels and their ecological role: Mussels at Work: A Time Lapse Demonstration (4 minutes)
After watching, have students:
Explore more resources for educators to find a wide-range of relevant preK-12 lessons on climate change or supporting young people as they continue to lead the conversation around the climate change crisis.
