| Cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata) |
1 |
1 |
Continue to utilize existing legislation and regulations to protect species and its habitat |
Ongoing Current |
Prior to FY 1995 |
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USFWS Regional Office 4, USFWS Regional Office 3, USFWS Regional Office 5, U.S. Fish and Wildlife enhancement, Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Illinois Department of Conservation, Tennessee Department of COnservation , Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency , Tennessee Valley Authority , Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service |
Other: Regulations |
Internal Field Assistance |
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| Cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata) |
1 |
10 |
Develop and implement cryopreservation |
Not Started |
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USFWS Regional Office 4, USFWS Regional Office 3, USFWS Regional Office 5, U.S. Fish and Wildlife enhancement, Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Illinois Department of Conservation, Tennessee Department of COnservation , Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency , Tennessee Valley Authority , Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service |
Work type not yet selected |
Labor type not yet selected |
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| Cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata) |
2 |
11 |
Develop and implement a monitoring program |
Ongoing Current |
FY 2012 |
|
USFWS Regional Office 4, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency , Tennessee Valley Authority , U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Research: Population Assessment, Research: Population Surveys, Research: Demographic Studies |
Species Expert, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Administrative |
TVA intends to initiate surveys to specifically target monitoring this species in the Elk River in FY 2012. Prior TVA surveys in the Elk River focused on monitoring all native mussels; this will continue, but with a more concerted effort to locate cracking pearlymussels. TVA is currently (FY 2011) developing survey protocols. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech.), USGS and the FWS with assistance from ohers have been monitoring cracking pearlymussel populations in the Clinch River in Hancock County, TN since 2000. Data from these surveys resides with Virgina Tech. and in the FWS' TN Field Office cracking pearly mussel species files. |
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| Cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata) |
3 |
12 |
Annually assess recovery program and modify program and plan where required |
Ongoing Current |
Prior to FY 1995 |
|
USFWS Regional Office 4, USFWS Regional Office 3, USFWS Regional Office 5, U.S. Fish and Wildlife enhancement, Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Illinois Department of Conservation, Tennessee Department of COnservation , Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency , Tennessee Valley Authority , Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service |
Management: Planning |
Internal Field Assistance |
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| Cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata) |
2 |
2 |
Meet with local governmental officials and business interests and elicit their support for recovery |
Ongoing Current |
Prior to FY 1995 |
|
USFWS Regional Office 4, USFWS Regional Office 3, USFWS Regional Office 5, U.S. Fish and Wildlife enhancement, Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Illinois Department of Conservation, Tennessee Department of COnservation , Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency , Tennessee Valley Authority , Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service |
Management: Planning |
Internal Field Assistance |
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| Cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata) |
1 |
3 |
Develop information and education program and present. |
Ongoing Current |
Prior to FY 1995 |
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National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Tennessee Valley Authority , Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency , Tennessee Department of COnservation , Illinois Department of Conservation, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Natural Heritage Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife enhancement, USFWS Regional Office 5, USFWS Regional Office 3, USFWS Regional Office 4 |
Other: Information and Education |
Internal Field Assistance |
Task duration: 1 year to develop, then continuous |
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| Cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata) |
2 |
4 |
Consider use of land acquisition to protect the species |
Ongoing Current |
Prior to FY 1995 |
|
National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Tennessee Valley Authority , Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency , Tennessee Department of COnservation , Illinois Department of Conservation, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Natural Heritage Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife enhancement, USFWS Regional Office 5, USFWS Regional Office 3, USFWS Regional Office 4 |
Acquisition: Fee Title |
Internal Field Assistance |
TWRA has purchased and is currently managing a property located at Kyle's Ford on the Clinch River in Hancock County, TN. This site is important because it has extremely high native mussel diversity (including cracking pearlymussels) and densities. Additional land aquisition opportunities will be identified and considered as they arise. |
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| Cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata) |
1 |
5 |
Conduct research necessary for species management and recovery; i.e., habitat requirements, biology, and threat analysis |
Ongoing Current |
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National Park Service, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Tennessee Valley Authority , Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency , Tennessee Department of COnservation , Illinois Department of Conservation, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Natural Heritage Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife enhancement, USFWS Regional Office 5, USFWS Regional Office 3, USFWS Regional Office 4 |
Research: General, Research: Habitat Status, Research: Habitat Requirements, Research: Propagation, Research: Genetics |
Species Expert, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance |
Virgina Tech., Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries and FWS staff at Virgina Tech. have obtained brood stock from the Clinch River and cultured these individuals. This work has involved identifying host fish species, studying the species reproductive cycle through juvenile mussel transformation, and determining necessary requirements (appropriate water temperatures, etc.) for successful reproduction. To date, only low numbers of glochidia have been produced in culture facilities. Dr. Paul Johnson, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ACDNR), collected four cracking pearlymussels from the Elk River during 2011 with plans to use them as brood; two of the four later perished. Dr. Johnson plans to conduct additional research on how to succesfully culture cracking pearlymussels for supplementing the diminished Elk River population. |
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| Cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata) |
1 |
6 |
Based on biological and threat analysis, investigate need for management and implement where needed. |
Ongoing Current |
FY 2008 |
|
Tennessee Department of COnservation , Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, National Park Service, USFWS Regional Office 5, Tennessee Valley Authority , USFWS Regional Office 4, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency , U.S. Fish and Wildlife enhancement, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Department of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy, Virginia Natural Heritage Program, USFWS Regional Office 3 |
Research: Habitat Status |
Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Administrative |
Priority 1, 2, or 3 (depending on result of 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4).
An adaptive management/structured decision making process has been underway since 2008 which is focusing on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) modifying operations at Tims Ford Dam; the intent of these changes is to improve habitat and water quality conditions for two listed species, the cracking pearlymussel and boulder darter, downstream of the dam in 133 miles of the Elk River in TN and AL. A post-doctorate was hired by USGS in 2011 with over $250,000 in TVA funds to develop and refine various models as part of the Tims Ford Dam adaptive management/structured decision making process; this effort has conitnued into 2012. In conjunction with this effort, the post-doctorate is coordinating with TVA to study the cracking pearlymussel population (distribution, habitat use, etc.) in the Elk River drainage. Information learned about the species from biological and physical surveys will assist TVA in selecting the best operational scenario, associated with hydropower generation at Tims Ford Dam, with the goal of warming spring and summer tailwater temperatures and lessening water level fluctuations year-round; these modifications should help recover the cracking pearlymussel. |
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| Cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata) |
3 |
7 |
Determine number of individuals required to maintain viable population |
Not Started |
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USFWS Regional Office 4, USFWS Regional Office 3, USFWS Regional Office 5, U.S. Fish and Wildlife enhancement, Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Illinois Department of Conservation, Tennessee Department of COnservation , Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency , Tennessee Valley Authority , Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service |
Work type not yet selected |
Labor type not yet selected |
|
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| Cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata) |
1 |
8 |
Search for additional populations and suitable habitat |
Complete |
FY 1995 - FY 1999 |
FY 2000 - FY 2004 |
USFWS Regional Office 4, USFWS Regional Office 3, USFWS Regional Office 5, U.S. Fish and Wildlife enhancement, Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Illinois Department of Conservation, Tennessee Department of COnservation , Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency , Tennessee Valley Authority , Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, National Park Service |
Research: Habitat Status, Research: Habitat Requirements |
Species Expert, Contract |
|
|
| Cracking pearlymussel (Hemistena lata) |
1 |
9 |
Develop techniques, select sites, reintroduce the species back into historic habitat, augment populations, and protect any populations established |
Ongoing Current |
FY 1995 - FY 1999 |
|
Illinois Department of Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife enhancement, The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee Department of COnservation , Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency , Virginia Natural Heritage Program, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, USFWS Regional Office 5, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, USFWS Regional Office 4, USFWS Regional Office 3, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Tennessee Valley Authority , Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, National Park Service |
Research: Propagation, Research: Reintroduction |
Species Expert, Contract, Internal Technical Assistance, Internal Field Assistance, Internal Administrative |
Virginia Tech., FWS staff at Virginia Tech and the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries have been collecting brood from the Clinch River since 2002 and culturing these individuals. As techniques are refined and higher numbers of glochidia are produced, those mussels will be released back into the Clinch to supplement the existing population and potentially in other watersheds where the species occurred historically. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) collected cracking pealymussel brood from the Elk River on August 11, 2011. Four mussels were found and taken to ACDNR's facility for culture with the intention of out-planting their offspring in the Elk River to augment the diminished population in that drainage. Two of the four mussels collected died several hours later (believed to be as a result of their feet being damaged during collection). |
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