Our project will provide data that directly addresses the mollusk research and survey needs that benefit sgcn mussels in the red river watershed (e.g., obtain data on current status, distribution, and…

This Federal Formula Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the State Wildlife Grants (CFDA 15.634) program will provide $211,994 to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to conduct research and monitoring on the conservation status and habitat needs of four mussel species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) in the Red River watershed. The project will use standardized survey protocols to update historical occurrence records and obtain current data on the distributions and abundances of the SGCN mussels Pleurobema riddelli, Obovaria arkansasensis, Strophitus undulatus, and Truncilla donaciformes. Additionally, the grant will collect data on potential barriers to host fish passage related to roads, bridges, and culverts. This information will directly inform conservation actions identified in Louisiana's State Wildlife Action Plan. The project will run from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026.

Our project will provide data that directly addresses the mollusk research and survey needs that benefit sgcn mussels in the red river watershed (e.g., obtain data on current status, distribution, and abundance of all mussel sgcn, prioritized by s-rank, and develop and implement standardized monitoring protocols for mollusk sgcn), and address stream survey methodological development needs for the red river basin as outlined in the louisiana state wildlife action plan (swap holcomb ET AL 2015, 2019). Specifically, we will use standardized semi-quantitative and quantitative monitoring protocols to update historical occurrence records and obtain data regarding current distributions and abundances of pleurobema riddelli (S1 S2), obovaria arkansasensis (S1 S2), strophitus undulatus (S2), and truncilla donaciformes (S3) in an ecologically important watershed in the red river basin. In addition, out project provides critically needed data to inform several mollusk conservation actions identified by the louisiana swap. In particular, we will collect data on the characteristics and number of potential barriers to host fish passage related to roads, bridges, and culverts. Therefore, this project will provide data on mussels, their habitats, their threats, and methodologies for quantitative stream surveys in this basin.