DES MOINES, IOWA - Thursday, July 2, 2020 - Before replacement work can eventually begin on the Walnut Street Bridge in downtown Des Moines,  the City’s Engineering Department wants to make sure it is meeting all environmental regulations and protects the environment - and that includes protecting what is at the bottom of the Des Moines River.

 A team of ecological specialists from EcoAnalysts, Inc. out of O’Fallon, Missouri was on the river today downtown conducting an underwater survey of fresh water mussels. 

 Team members were looking for native mussels protected by Iowa law.  If found, that mussel population would be relocated before reconstruction work would begin on the bridge or the City will propose different construction methods to replace the bridge.

"Mussels play a key role in aquatic environments, it is important that we protect the environment during bridge construction," said City Engineer Steve Naber. 

CONTACT
Al Setka
Communications Manager, City Manager’s Office  
(515) 283-4057
AMSetka@dmgov.org

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