WASHINGTON— Following litigation by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today protected 3,814 river miles in states from Minnesota to New York and Alabama to Virginia for four mussel species.

“I’m thrilled that these mussels and the rivers they need to survive are getting protection,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species co-director at the Center. “Mussels are the unsung heroes of clean water who tirelessly filter millions of gallons every day. But because of pollution, dams and development, they’re disappearing and they really need our help.”

The four colorfully named mussels — snuffbox, spectaclecase, sheepnose and rayed bean — need clean, flowing rivers to survive. Protecting the habitat these mussels need will also benefit people across the eastern United States who will enjoy cleaner water.

The mussels were protected under the Endangered Species Act in 2012, but the Service took no action to designate critical habitat for them until after the Center sued the agency in July 2018.

The eastern United States has more species of freshwater mussels than anywhere in the world, but the region has already lost more than 23 kinds to extinction. Freshwater mussels are highly sensitive to water quality. They feed by filtering small particles from the water, improving water quality but accumulating pollutants in their bodies.

Background
The rayed bean mussel, small and bean-shaped, was once found in 10 states, from Tennessee north into Canada. They’ve been lost from more than 70% of their former range and today are found only in small populations in Tennessee, West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. They have been declining for decades and were first placed on a federal waiting list for Endangered Species Act protection in 1984.

The snuffbox, medium-sized, yellow mussels, were once common in 18 states, ranging from Alabama to Canada. They’ve declined by more than 60% and have been lost from four states. They were first placed on a federal waiting list for Endangered Species Act protection in 1991.

The sheepnose are 5 inches long with oval shells. In the past they were commercially harvested to make jewelry and buttons. They’ve declined by 70% and were identified as being in need of federal protection in 2004. Sheepnose are currently found in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The spectaclecase are 7 inches long with narrow shells and are currently found in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Very few of their surviving populations are known to be reproducing. They have declined by 70% and were first identified as being in need of federal protection in 1984.