Regional partnerships can be used to identify actions at a scale relevant to conserving at risk species and to leverage resources for implementing actions that would not be possible for a single entity

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 awarded the Illinois Department of Natural Resources $330,800 on January 1, 2026, under the State Wildlife Grants program (CFDA 15.634) to conduct a regional status assessment of freshwater mussels in the Upper Mississippi River Basin.

The recipient will assess the distribution and status of mussel populations across Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to fill data gaps and provide context for state, regional, and federal partners to prioritize conservation actions for eight federally listed mussels and 29 Midwest species of greatest conservation need. The project will evaluate mussel assemblage responses to past dam removals and expand environmental DNA (eDNA) survey capabilities by sequencing male-transmitted mitochondrial DNA genomes to increase available genetic markers for detection. Work is performed in Illinois with a period of performance from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028. The source identifies no sub-recipients for this project.

The states of illinois minnesota and wisconsin will partner on a regional status assessment of freshwater mussels in the upper mississippi river basin UMR. Mussels as a group are highly imperiled and in need of continued conservation actions and many species have been identified as regional species of greatest conservation need rsgcn in the midwest region. This project will conduct an assessment of the distribution and status of mussel populations in the UMR to fill data gaps and provide added context for state regional and federal partners to prioritize needs and conservation actions for eight federally listed and 29 midwest rsgcn mussels. Additionally we will evaluate the response of mussel assemblages to past DAM removals and enhance the utility of edna as a survey tool by sequencing male transmitted mitochondrial DNA genomes to expand the range of available markers. This project will provide a unique opportunity to pilot new approaches to regional scale conservation and facilitate adaptive management to help advance mussel conservation. There are no expected subgrantees of this project.