This project will target recovery activities for 6 exceptionally rare federally listed species in thetennessee river basin, with particular focus on priority taxa found historically in the ELK…

This $162,500 Project Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Recovery Implementation program (CFDA 15.657) will support recovery activities for 6 federally listed rare freshwater mussel species found in the Tennessee River Basin. The Wildlife Resources Agency of Tennessee (TWRA) and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) will collaborate on propagation, restoration, and reintroduction efforts for these priority mussel species, including Hemistena lata and Theliderma intermedia. Key activities will include in-vitro culture techniques, post-metamorphosis culture to enhance survival, and development of reintroduction plans. This project builds upon the agencies' ongoing joint recovery actions for multiple listed species in the region since 2010, leveraging existing expertise and infrastructure. The award period spans January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2028.

This project will target recovery activities for 6 exceptionally rare federally listed species in thetennessee river basin, with particular focus on priority taxa found historically in the ELK river, tennessee, and alabama. Both the twra, c-RAC and the adcnr, aabc have been involved in jointrecovery actions for multiple listed species both states since 2010. To date, c-RAC has propagated 2EXCEPTIONALLY rare species native to the ELK river, hemistena lata and theliderma intermedia, whileaabc has contributed to the production of two listed mussel species to support reintroduction efforts inthe ELK and duck rivers, tennessee. Twra has donated brood stock for 2 mussels in support ofreintroduction efforts for the paint rock river in alabama. Aabc and c-RAC have collaborated on thepropagation and restoration of toxolasma cylindrellus in the duck river, tennessee. This joint projectseeks to expand interstate recovery efforts of 7 rare mussel species native to the ELK river. Furthermore, c-RAC will focus on transforming exceptionally rare species, h. Lata and t. Intermedia, through in-vitroculture. Aabc will support c-RAC with post-metamorphosis culture to enhance overall survivorship andproduction numbers of target species. This project is an effort to continue established mussel recovery efforts and initiate new programs for raretennessee river basin freshwater mussels. Although recovery efforts have been underway for severalrare taxa, this project seeks to expand that effort and complete program development for 2 additionalspecies. Five mussel species considered in this proposal rank as tier 1 priority, one as tier 2 prioritiesand one as a tier 3 priority by the cumberlandian region mollusk restoration committee, 2010(crmrc, 2010). Mussel propagation efforts are always dependent upon successful acquisition of gravidfemales during the few weeks of the year they are available. Successful capture of gravid mussels isdependent upon favorable river levels during the 23-week period charged females can be found. To meetthis challenge, efforts for some species require additional field assistance from USFWS biologists andbiologists from cooperating state resource agencies to secure gravid females (e.g., h. Lata and t.intermedia). C-RAC will take the lead completing in vitro culture for several of the rare species.additionally, site reintroduction planning documents have been completed for two of these taxa (e.g.,lampsilis virescens and h. Lata), but 5 taxa targeted by this project do not. This project would initiateplanning documents for species successfully produced during the project timeline.