CU-Lock Haven biology graduate student revolutionizes stream restoration with rock-powered science
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (04/30/2026) — Natalie Brown, of Lock Haven, kneels beside a humming wet lab setup at Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, calipers in hand, measuring the promise of Pennsylvania's streams. The master's candidate in biology regularly tests how everyday rocks could supercharge freshwater mussel recovery in the West Branch Susquehanna River, blending her geology roots with cutting-edge experiments.
This ground-breaking graduate student is revolutionizing stream restoration with rock-powered science. Her lab experiments and GIS mapping - testing limestone's boost to mussel shell growth - has helped fuel the West Branch Susquehanna's $410,000 revival, where mussels filter waters clean.
Brown's work is directly supporting a landmark restoration project showing strong progress, positioning her for a breakout career in environmental science.
Freshwater mussels like the eastern elliptio are unsung heroes of aquatic ecosystems. As filter feeders, they strain plankton, sediments and pollutants from the water column, clarifying streams and creating ideal conditions for fish, invertebrates and other species to thrive. A single mussel can filter up to 15 gallons daily, but populations have plummeted - some by 90% - due to habitat loss, pollution, dams and climate pressures. Brown's thesis targets aragonite, a calcium carbonate mineral vital for shell growth, and how local geology influences its availability.
Her research feeds into the West Branch Susquehanna River Mussel Restoration Project, a three-year, $410,000-plus initiative funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Chesapeake WILD grant. CU-Lock Haven is partnering with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission to reintroduce eastern elliptio, eastern lampmussel and yellow lampmussel to over 40 miles upstream of Lock Haven's Tidlow Dam, where mussels vanished due to legacy pollution from mining and industry.
In Lock Haven's new wet lab, Brown oversees 16 meticulously crafted mesocosms - mini stream ecosystems in bins. Half feature limestone bags, a carbonate rock rich in aragonite precursors. The other half holds sandstone, which lacks aragonite precursors. She pumps in water sourced from nearby Buffalo and Pine Creeks, isolating variables to test her hypothesis that limestone elevates aragonite saturation, fueling faster mussel growth and survival in restoration sites.
The experiment, now several weeks in, runs through this spring. Brown took initial measurements of shell lengths and weights using precise calipers. In May, she'll recheck for changes.
"This controlled setup pinpoints rock chemistry's role - impossible in the field amid flow rates, temperature swings or invasives," said Brown, adding that the results will inform project partners on ideal release sites, ensuring juvenile mussels from silos and hatcheries thrive.
Field events last summer and fall highlighted the progress. Staff pulled mussel silos from the West Branch to measure juvenile survival and growth in real time. Early data confirms water quality has rebounded enough for reintroduction, thanks to mine remediation, reforestation and riparian buffers - a far cry from the river's "dead zone" past.
Brown amplifies her lab work with GIS analysis of decade-old Susquehanna Basin surveys spanning Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland. These results may highlight the importance of multiple interacting stressors (impoundments and acid mine drainage) and their impact on the health of the West Branch Susquehanna watershed.
"Money, resources and time limit everything," said Brown, pointing out that conservation faces tight budgets and timelines.
Once completed, her data will help partners prioritize sites for successful restoration, boosting success for the $985,000 total commitment (grant plus matches). Project tactics include infesting American eels with mussel larvae in Lock Haven labs - eels captured downstream, glochidia from broodstock and then releasing them to spread larvae naturally.
Dan Spooner, associate professor of biology and Brown's graduate research advisor, sourced her mussels and co-built mesocosms, embodying Lock Haven's role. "Few spots offer this space, support and proximity to restoration sites," Brown said.
Mid-experiment, Brown claimed Best Student Podium Presentation this spring at the American Fisheries Society Pennsylvania Chapter Conference at Bucknell University.
She pitched mussel-fish symbiosis (eels as hosts), prior studies and her setup to 80 experts, tying into the West Branch effort. Built on Celebration of Scholarship talks and class projects, it unlocked data offers - stream metrics, land-use records - supercharging her GIS.
It's all rooted in her geology undergraduate degree from Lock Haven, which sparked her career pivot. Aragonite, the mineral that connects rocks to shells, "bridged my worlds," said Brown, adding that Lock Haven's setting - surrounded by ridges and creeks - uniquely prepared her for projects like this.
Looking ahead, Brown eyes freshwater roles at agencies, fisheries or possibly pursuing a doctorate degree. Her toolkit equipped with lab skills, GIS and professional networks aligns perfectly with West Branch goals of self-sustaining beds, enhancing resiliency, water quality and habitat. As climate acidifies waters, dropping aragonite, Brown's work offers geology-based hope.
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Julie Stellfox, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, jms833@commonwealthu.edu, 570-484-2280Share this Story
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