Freshwater Mussels Field and Monitoring - September 2025

Day 1: September 18th | 9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (7.5-hour Lecture/Practicum with 30 min. lunch)

Day 2: September 19th | 9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (7.5-hour Lecture/Practicum with 30 min. lunch)

*Alternate adverse weather date: In the event of adverse weather conditions, the field surveying portion of class on 9/19 may need to be rescheduled. Please block off 9/26 in your calendar in case rescheduling is necessary.

Lecture: Half-day lectures located at Lakeside Hall at Environmental Learning Center, Clackamas Community College, Oregon City Campus, 19600 Molalla Avenue, Oregon City, OR 97045

Field Sites: Half-day field trip sites:

• Thurs - Field sampling location (TBD)
• Fri- Field sampling location (TBD)

Clackamas Community College, 1.5 CEU (15 PDH), Award of Completion will be provided.

2-Day lecture/field experience

This hands-on course will provide an overview of freshwater mussel sampling in the Willamette Valley, including guidelines for using the resulting data for assessment of habitat condition and responses to restoration.

Limitations – uneven surfaces, not comfortable in stream, you can still participate and observe, etc

Lunch is provided.

Zee Searles Mazzacano, Ph.D. (they/them) is the Owner and Principal Scientist at CASM Environmental LLC, and a NAUI-certified scuba Instructor. Their work focuses on terrestrial and aquatic insects, freshwater mussels, and other invertebrates. Zee has a B.S. in Genetics & Cell Biology and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Minnesota. Their research and teaching has taken them from river bottoms to tree canopies and from universities to fish & wildlife agencies, non-profits, and independent consulting as they investigate and preserve invertebrate species, characterize their habitats, and develop management plans that protect the overall ecosystem. Zee has worked on freshwater mussels in the Pacific Northwest for almost 20 years, including snorkel, scuba, and eDNA surveys; population assessments; habitat management recommendations; and outreach and education.

Lecture + Field Practicum:

Standard $550, Student $275

Reduced Pricing: Thanks to sponsorship support, we have a limited amount of funds available that can reduce the cost of your registration by 30% for those eligible. These dollars are for those with limited resources. If you are interested in applying, please select the "Apply for Reduced Pricing" ticket and we will follow up with you.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this workshop, students should be able to:
· Understand life history, habitats, and ecological roles of freshwater mussels and their relationship to stream ecology
· Gain perspectives on cultural and historical aspects of native mussels
· Be able to identify native and invasive bivalves in the Pacific Northwest
· Understand mussel habitat needs and how to integrate them into restoration and management
· Be able to determine when salvage and relocation from a project site is warranted, and know alternatives that can preserve existing populations
· Be able to develop and implement an independent mussel monitoring program

Major Topics

Life cycles and habitat of freshwater mussels
Mussel identification
Habitat restoration
Salvage and relocation
Monitoring
Field practicum

Cancellations are allowed up to 1-day prior to the start of class, however, refund amounts vary based on when you notify us of your cancellation.

• >14 days prior to event: Full refund, excluding Eventbrite fees

• 1-14 days prior to event: 50% refund, excluding Eventbrite fees

Please contact YmV0aGFueSAhIHdyYXkgfCBjbGFja2FtYXMgISBlZHU= if the cancellation is due to illness or family emergency. We will work with you on a case by case basis, and may be able to apply your registration fee toward a future workshop.

Also check out other Workshops in Oregon City.