For her project this semester, Jay Clark, class of 2026 and a Wildlife and Fisheries Resources major, participated in research surrounding the potential use of Pleurotus ostreatus for improving water quality in acid mine drainage impacted waterways. Jay partnered with the Buckhannon River Watershed Association and Mushrooms are Your Allies (MAYA) for this project. This study is particularly important for the recovery of streams where conventional AMD treatment systems may not be possible due to scale, access, or cost. This project assessed various water quality measures in a waterway treated with fungus, and although no significant water quality improvements were noted during the early treatment phase, this project will be continuing through the summer of 2025 and more data will be gathered during this time. Look for Jay Clark at the 2025 fall semester Common Waters Symposium to see updated results with this project!