Freshwater Mussel Recovery

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently developing a strategy to address factors contributing to the decline of freshwater mussels, increase awareness of mussels and provide an outline for species recovery in the Northeastern Gulf Coastal watersheds.
	Chipola slabshell - A threatened freshwater mussel found on the Chipola River

Freshwater mussel decline is caused by habitat loss from bank erosion, sedimentation and impoundments. The loss of host fish and the introduction of non-native species also contribute to freshwater mussel declines. In order to survive, mussels need stream channel stability, water quantity and quality, as well as bank buffers to provide habitat stablility. A buffer is a strip of natural vegetation along the bank of a water body.

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Freshwater Mussel Recovery Plan
Mobile River Basin Aquatic Ecosystem Recovery Plan
Freshwater Mussel Fact Sheet
Freshwater Mussel Survey Protocol
Geographic Information Systems Database for Freshwater Mussel Sampling Sites
Habitat and Water Quality Assessments
Endangered, threatened, candidate or rare North Eastern Gulf Coast mussels

candidate species.
Ochlockonee River Fact Sheet