[Caitlin]

Mussel Conservation Activities

Ongoing Studies and Projects
Clam Chronicles – 2005

An account of activities associated with efforts to propagate and repatriate Lampsilis higginsii in the Mississippi River, Minnesota Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

(1.5 MB) 2005

Mike Davis, Minnesota DNR Freshwater Mussels of Minnesota: A Plan for Controlled Propagation, Reintroduction and Augmentation within the Mississippi River from St. Anthony Falls to Lake Pepin

Mike Davis, Minnesota DNR
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

(384 KB) March 2005Status of Implementation of Higgins Eye Pearlymussel (Lampsilis higgins) Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives and Reasonable and Prudent Measures, and Winged Mapleleaf (Quadrula fragosa) Reasonable and Prudent Measures

Mussel Coordination Team

(1.9 MB) November 2005

Distribution and Density of Zebra Mussel Veligers at Sites in the Upper Mississippi River System and its Major Tributaries, 2004

Mark D. Farr and Mark D. Antwine

(226 KB) July 2005

U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center
Environmental Laboratory
Vicksburg, Mississippi

[Caitlin]

This is another take on the mussel-thing LINK

Discover Freshwater Mussels:
America's Hidden Treasure
They make no sound. They cannot see. Some may live for decades,
but seldom move from a secure spot. Yet, freshwater mussels are causing a stir;
becoming noticed and making us ponder their future as we make plans for our own.

For the Record
No other country in the world equals the United States in freshwater mussel variety. While all of Europe supports only 12 species, nearly 300 kinds live here, mostly within the vast watershed of the Mississippi River. Unfortunately, these animals may be the most troubled natural resources in this country. It's estimated that 70% (Williams, et al. 1993) of our freshwater mussels are extinct, endangered, or in need of special protection. Many of their problems stem from how they live and changes that have occurred to their habitat during the past 200 years.

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by Caitlin William

Many of their(mussel) problems stem from how they live and changes that have occurred to their habitat during the past 200 years.

Correlates directed to how WE live and how WE have changed the environment in the last 200 years. Something very bad is going on with our creeks, brooks, ponds, lakes, rivers and oceans. It merits some very serious thought. Three hundred species of mussel affected! That's an incredibly regrettable situation we have put a beautiful natural and useful resource in.

Slraep

[boo]

I have been enjoying the USFWS site since you posted a link to it several months ago. I *love* the names, and enjoy trying to discover what mussels might be hanging around in the creeks and rivers near me (the Wabash in particular seems to be something of a hotbed of mussel-y goodness). I would be remiss in not sharing with our fellow Pearl-Guiders the joys of "Billie Button's life story":

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/mussel/te..._download.html

[Caitlin]

Previous mentions of Billie Button here, Post number 30 here, and the oringinal mention of Billie Button, here

That middle post is on a great thread. ZGE's best moment on this forum.....reciting Strack.

[boo]

Oops

Ah, yes - further proof that I have a mind like a steel sieve...

Still, the "Sicilian vendetta" line makes me laugh every time (but that probably goes back to the steel sieve issue!)

[Caitlin]

No ooops needed here- it's just another opportunity to get all the cross indexing or whatever it is called into one thread.