Conserving Ohio River mussels

Many regional teams are up and running under the guidance umbrella of a national strategy for the conservation on native freshwater mussels.  Within the Ohio River basin, there are at least three of these groups.  The Ohio River Valley Ecosystem Mollusk Group, formed in 1995, is a team of state, federal, private, and academic partners within the Ohio River basin which cooperates on research, monitoring, management activities, status reviews, and outreach.  The Ohio River Islands refuge spans almost 400 miles of the Ohio River, and works within the larger ecosystem framework to implement restoration activities.  The refuge’s Comprehensive Conservation Plan specifically addresses aquatic habitat and mussel restoration.  Key activities include habitat protection, long term monitoring, re-introduction of species into historic habitat, collection and holding of broodstock mussels for captive propagation, and public education programs.