3.6 Freshwater Mussels
Several publications over the last decade have noted the absence or under-protectiveness of national water quality criteria for particular pollutants to which mussels are known to be sensitive (Augspurger et al. 2003; Wang et al. 2010; Haag and Williams 2014; Haag 2012) . To facilitate hab- itat evaluation, work is needed to better characterize chemical and contaminated sedi- ment exposure and provide benchmarks to defne acceptable pollutant concentrations. Researchers at NC State University, University of Georgia, and US Geological Survey have started work on testing additional classes of chemicals (Bringolf et al. 2010; Hazelton et al. 2012, 2013; Wang et al. 2012) . Te US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been an active partici- pant in designing and funding these studies, but more are needed. Publication of recom- mended benchmarks for pollutants of concern (e.g., metals, major ions) will be useful in developing water quality regulations. In addition to the SGCN priorities listed in Table 3.16, the species for which the Mussel Taxa Team determined there are research priorities because of knowledge gaps are identifed in Table 3.18.
T ABLE 3.18 Freshwater mussel knowledge-gap priority species
Federal/ State Status*
Scientifc Name
Common Name (Population)
Corbicula fuminea Elliptio fsheriana
Asian Clam [Exotic]
— — —
Northern Lance Variable Spike
Elliptio icterina
Elliptio roanokensis Lampsilis radiata
Roanoke Slabshell Eastern Lampmussel Eastern Pondmussel
—/T —/T —/T
Ligumia nasuta
Pyganodon cataracta Pyganodon grandis Strophitus undulatus
Eastern Floater Giant Floater
— —
Creeper
—/T
Taxolasma parvum (parvus) Uniomerus carolinianus
Lilliput [Exotic] Florida Pondhorn Paper Pondshell
— — —
Utterbackia imbecillis
* See Table 3.2 for abbreviations.
3.6.5 Management Needs Restoring mussels into areas where they have been extirpated is a high priority because degraded habitat is being reclaimed and restored in some watersheds. Propagation and release of mussels to augment existing populations will help reduce the risk of extinction and may increase genetic diversity among small populations. Removing barriers and other
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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