The first statewide survey for native mussels in 40 years in Wisconsin shows these water-cleaning clams are facing mixed fortunes.
Mussel populations and diversity were highest in the St. Croix River, with 24 different species found at one site and high species diversity also on the Manitowish, Chippewa and Peshtigo rivers.
The results in areas with more agriculture were not as good, according to Lisie Kitchel, a DNR conservation biologist...
"...We find mussel beds and we find a lot of old mussels but their not reproducing. But we find other places where they're doing fine. So we know it's the water quality on the landscape that's affecting those mussel beds that aren't reproducing..."
Kitchel says the problem is in areas with what's termed "non-point" pollution that runs off the land into water bodies. 70 percent of mussel species in the world are threatened or endangered and 30 species in America have gone extinct. Kitchel says mussels are the 'canaries in the coal mine' in terms of water quality. She says they perform a key function in water...
"...They siphon through gallons of water per day. They take out contaminants and they take out all kinds of things from the water that would be there otherwise..."
Biologists are encouraging paddlers, anglers, and other water lovers to take a few minutes to help photograph and report the native mussels they see while on the water. After photographing closed mussels with the hinge side up, volunteers are asked to return live mussels to the water, then report that information to DNR's Wisconsin Mussel Monitoring Program.
We have a link where you can report what you find while recreating.
