The oklahoma department of wildlife conservation will subaward this grant to oklahoma state university

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $159,987.38 State Wildlife Grant (CFDA 15.634) to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) on January 1, 2025. ODWC will subaward this grant to Oklahoma State University (OSU) to conduct a survey of freshwater mussels in the Blue River in Oklahoma.

The project aims to provide an updated assessment of the mussel population in the Blue River, which was last surveyed over 30 years ago. The survey will use a combination of traditional methods (snorkeling, quadrat sampling) and next-generation tools (eDNA, side-scan sonar) to determine if mussels are still present in the lower portion of the river, where they were previously thought to be extirpated. The project will also update the species composition, relative abundance, and size structure of mussels in the upper reaches of the river. The findings will help determine the current conservation status of freshwater mussels, which are considered species of greatest conservation need in Oklahoma.

The blue river in oklahoma has historically supported 23 species of freshwater mussels but the latest assessment (over 30 years old) found that the lower portion of the river was devoid of mussels. This project will provide an update to the survey conducted in the early 1990S and seek to determine if the lower portion of the river is truly devoid of mussels by using a combination of traditional (snorkeling and quadrat sampling) and next generation tools (edna and side scan sonar).freshwater mussels consist of multiple species that are considered of conservation need in oklahoma. In the blue river the entire portion running through the plains ecoregion is thought to be extirpated of mussels since the 1970S when they were last observed there. Although declines in abundance are disconcerting a complete extirpation is alarming. Vaughn (1993) reported floating the lower section declaring that no live mussels currently exists and even failing to note shells of freshly dead individuals. However mussel assemblages do still occur in the upper reaches based on the last survey conducted over 30 years ago by vaughn in 1993). To understand the current state of mussels in the blue river a new survey is necessary to document the abundance and diversity of mussels that still exist as well as assess the status of mussel occurrence in the lower reaches where they have been thought to be extirpated. Previously the blue river harbored 23 species of freshwater mussels including some that are species of greatest conservation need. In the lower portion of the river this study will provide evidence to help conclude if mussels are truly extirpated with rapid and noninvasive techniques. In the upper portion of the river this study will update the species composition and relative abundance and size structure of extant native mussels.