This project will conduct a survey of federally-listed mussels in the kankakee river to provide robust and locally relevant evaluations of demographics and density

The Department of Natural Resources Illinois received a $107,889 project grant award from the Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 under the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund program (CFDA 15.615). The grant will support conducting a survey of federally-listed mussels in the Kankakee River from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025. The survey aims to provide robust, locally relevant evaluations of mussel demographics and density to the IL DNR, IN DNR, and USFWS. Results will inform the current status of federally-listed mussels and may be used to develop future status assessments and regulatory evaluations, as well as interstate management efforts for associated species. As the first such study in decades to include both the Indiana and Illinois portions of the Kankakee River, it could improve interstate conservation of listed mussels. No sub-awards were associated with this project.

Results from this study will provide IL DNR, in DNR, and USFWS with information on the current status of federally-listed mussels in the kankakee river. This information may be used to develop future status assessments and to aid regulatory evaluations and management of these species. This study will be the first in many decades to include both the indiana and illinois portions of the kankakee river and could improve interstate management of associated federally-listed mussels. This project is a partnership with the state of indiana. There are no sub-grantees associated with this project.