Mussels are a natural filter, cleaning up muddy water and allowing more sunlight into the water. A new hatchery hopes to raise a half a million mussels a year for the Delaware and Susquehanna watersheds.
The head of the National Wildlife Federation says "the wheels are in motion to have damage in the most pristine wilderness areas in the world for decades to come."
Fracking has eaten up nearly 1,800 acres of state forest, and reduced core forest area by 15,000 acres in Pennsylvania. The state is trying to figure out how to regrow forests on land once dedicated to gas production.
Once prized like fine art, thousands of dried and preserved plants specimens are being digitized to help answer questions about conservation, climate change and development.
The streams carry some of the cleanest water in the state, attracting tourists and providing drinking water to cities downstream. But resort owners worry that greater protections could hamper future development.
West Virginia is one of the best places around to find wild orchids. A couple of local enthusiasts even discovered a rare orchid there. "Some people play golf, we did North American orchids."