Status of Three Species of Freshwater Snails (Gastropoda: Pleuroceridae) in the Lower Ohio River Basin, Illinois

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Preservation Fund Grant/Contract No: RC08-L20WWe report on a status survey of Lithasiaspp. (Gastropoda:Pleuroceridae) we conducted in the Ohio River basin, Illinois. Prior to oursurvey, only three Lithasiaspecies were known to occur in Illinois; however,through our efforts, we found a fourth species (Lithasia geniculata). Thedistribution of L. armigeraand L. verrucosadoes not appear to have changedwithin Illinois, whereas the distribution of L. obovataappears to be declining inIllinois, which prompted us to nominate it for inclusion on the state list ofendangered and threatened species for Illinois by the Illinois Endangered SpeciesProtection Board.Lithasia geniculatahas been recorded only in one location, andwe feel it should be considered for state endangeredINHS Technical Report Prepared for Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Preservation Fun

Mollusks of the Shawnee National Forest – Part II

North American native mollusks are among the most imperiled group of organisms in the world, however, not much was known of the mollusk fauna in the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. Our objective was to compile a list of historical and extant mollusks known from the western half of the area. Our data show 52 mollusk species are known from the western portion of the Shawnee National Forest and surroundings areas, including 23 native bivalves, one nonindigenous bivalve, six native aquatic snail species, and 55 native terrestrial snails.U.S. Forest Service Shawnee National Forest,unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Northern Riffleshell and Clubshell Translocation Effort and Post-Translocation Monitoring

Staff from the Illinois Natural History Survey participated in a joint project with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to collect two federally-endangered mussels species from the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania, and translocate them to the Vermilion River basin (Wabash River drainage), Vermilion County, Illinois.On 25August 2014, 750Northern Riffleshell (Epioblasma rangiana) and 808Clubshell (Pleurobema clava) were collected at the U.S. Highway 62bridge construction project in Allegheny River, Forest County, Pennsylvania. Animals were quarantined for four days at the INHS Aquatic Research Pond Facilities in Champaign-Urbana. While in quarantine, all individuals were affixed with a uniquePIT tag and a plastic shellfish tag. After the quarantine period, the animals were divided and translocated to four sites in the Vermilion River basin, Vermilion County, Illinois, on 29-30 August 2014. These translocated animals were monitored in October 2014 to assess performance of translocations. The mean site results (58% detection and 100% “survivorship” for Northern Riffleshell and 79% detection and 100% “survivorship” for Clubshell) were comparable to previous years in Illinois. This relocation project is being funded, in part, by a natural resource damage assessment settlement (Hegeler Zinc—Lyondell Basell Companies) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to the State of Illinois.Prepared for IDNR Division of Fisheriesunpublishednot peer reviewe

Northern Riffleshell and Clubshell 2015 Monitoring Results

In 2015, staff from the Illinois Natural History Survey continued to monitor translocated populations of two federally-endangered freshwater mussel species in the Vermilion River basin (Wabash River drainage). Between 2010 and 2014, a total of 2,099 Northern Riffleshell (Epioblasma rangiana) and 1,766 Clubshell (Pleurobema clava) have been translocated to eight sites in the Vermilion River basin, Champaign and Vermilion counties, Illinois. These translocated animals have been monitored seasonally since being moved to Illinois. For the 2015 calendar year, 36% (716) of the 1,991 available Northern Riffleshell were encountered, and of those physically examined, 61% (54 of 88) were alive. Conversely, 77% (1,359) of the 1,758 available Clubshell were encountered, and of those examined, 82% (106 of 129) were alive. The encounter and survival rates from the raw data collected in 2015 were comparable to previous years in Illinois. Throughout the duration of the project, both Northern Riffleshell and Clubshell have had higher encounter rates in the spring and autumn than summer. This relocation project is being funded, in part, by a natural resource damage assessment settlement (Hegeler Zinc—Lyondell Basell Companies) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to the State of Illinois, and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ohio River Basin Fish Habitat Partnership.IDNR Division of Natural HeritageU.S. Fish & Wildlife Serviceunpublishednot peer reviewe

Review of the Interactions between Catfishes and Freshwater Mollusks in North America

Catfishes are important in freshwater ecosystems not only as consumers, but also as essential partners in symbiotic relationships with other organisms. Freshwater mollusks are among the many organisms that have interactions with catfishes. For example, ictalurids are hosts for larvae of several native freshwater mussel species. The larvae, which attach briefly to gills or fins of fish to complete their development to the free-living juvenile stage, disperse via upstream and downstream movement of host fish. In turn, freshwater mussels serve as a food source for some catfish species while other catfish species may use spent mussel shells for habitat. Ictalurids also benefit from the conservation status of many freshwater mussel species. Federal and state laws protecting these invertebrates can preserve water quality and habitat and, at times, provide incentives and funding for conservation and restoration of stream and riparian habitats

Distribution of pleurocerids (Gastropoda) of Illinois

Freshwater mollusks are among the most rapidly declining groups of organisms on Earth. Several species of aquatic gastropods, especially those in the family Pleuroceridae, are rare globally, but not much was known about their distribution and status in Illinois. We inspected museum collection holdings, conducted literature reviews on Illinois mollusks, and sampled throughout the state to obtain data on distribution and abundance of the pleurocerid fauna with an emphasis on declining species. Eleven species of pleurocerids are known from Illinois. We collected eight species live during our three-year study, including the first collection of Lithasia geniculata in the state. We failed to find three species, one of which (Leptoxistrilineata) is believed to be extinct. In addition to the currently listed Lithasia obovata, we feel Leptoxis praerosa and L. geniculata should be listed as endangered at the state because of their limited distribution and small population size.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Preservation Fund / 10-L17Wunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Northern Riffleshell and Clubshell Reintroduction Project - Summary of Activities for 2017

In 2017, staff from the Illinois Natural History Survey continued to monitor translocated populations of two federally-endangered freshwater mussel species in the Vermilion River basin (Wabash River drainage). Through 2017, a total of 3,699 Northern Riffleshell (Epioblasma rangiana) and 4,166 Clubshell (Pleurobema clava) have been translocated to the Middle Fork and Salt Fork Vermilion rivers in the Vermilion River basin, Champaign and Vermilion counties, Illinois, and these translocated animals have been monitored since being moved to Illinois. This end-of-the-year report summarizes the activities for the 2017 calendar year, and includes two reprints and a galley of a third paper summarizing data from this project. This relocation project is being funded, in part, by a natural resource damage assessment settlement (Hegeler Zinc—Lyondell Basell Companies) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to the State of Illinois, and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ohio River Basin Fish Habitat Partnership.The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Damage Assessment, Restoration, and Implementation Project Number: IDNR-NRDA1504unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Danville Dam 2018 Salvage Report: Results of the fish and freshwater mussel surveys following the removal of the Danville Dam on the Vermilion River

The Danville Dam on the Vermilion River (Wabash River drainage) in the city of Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois, was removed during the summer and autumn of 2018. During the project, 1 fish and 905 live individuals of 23 species of freshwater mussels were relocated. These included : 1 Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu); 1 state-threatened Purple Wartyback (Cyclonaias tuberculata); 6 state-endangered Wavyrayed Lampmussel (Lampsilis fasciola); 1 state-endangered Rainbow (Villosa iris); 264 Mapleleaf (Quadrula quadrula); 217 Giant Floater (Pyganodon grandis); 130 Fragile Papershell (Leptodea fragilis); 91 Pink Heelsplitter (Potamilus alatus); 86 Plain Pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium). One side effect of dam removal is stranding, desiccation, and predation of mussels within the former impounded areas. In addition to the live individuals, 116 fresh-dead individuals representing 18 species were observed, including 1 fresh-dead Purple Wartyback; 2 fresh-dead Wavyrayed Lampmusselo1fresh-dead Rainbow; Nearly half of these individuals (e.g., 41 Giant Floater, 7 Mapleleaf, and 3 Plain Pocketbook) were observed during the last sampling eventand were found on the gravel bar that formed at the mouth of the North Fork. Given time, fishes and mussels should naturally recolonize the former impounded areas of the Danville Dam if habitat conditions are optimal and source populations are in close proximity.Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Endangered Species Programunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Northern Riffleshell and Clubshell Reintroduction Project Summary of Activities from 2014-2018

Staff from the Illinois Natural History Survey participated in a joint project with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reintroduce the federally-endangered Northern Riffleshell (Epioblasma rangiana) and Clubshell (Pleurobema clava) to Illinois. A salvage project in the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania provided an opportunity for the translocation of both species. Since the first translocation in 2010, a total of 3,699 Northern Riffleshell and 4,166 Clubshell were collected from the Allegheny River at the U.S. Highway 62 (=Hunter Station) Bridge, Tionesta Township, Forest County, Pennsylvania, and translocated to suitable habitat at eight sites in the Vermilion River basin (Wabash River drainage) in Champaign and Vermilion counties, Illinois. Our monitoring data suggest the Clubshell translocation has been more successful than the Northern Riffleshell translocation. We estimate that Clubshell have approximately 5 times greater survival rates compared to Northern Riffleshell. As a result, very few Northern Riffleshell likely remain. Survival also varied among translocation sites, likely a result of localscale differences such as substrate or gradient. Regardless, high discharge events posed the greatest threat for the long-term success of this project, as survival was significantly decreased following periods of abnormally high flows. Consequently, we believe that repeated translocations of individuals over a period of several years across several sites could be implemented to reduce the overall risk of failure due to high discharge events or local-scale differences. This translocation project is being funded, in part, by a natural resource damage assessment settlement (Hegeler Zinc—Lyondell Basell Companies) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to the State of Illinois.Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Resource Conservation, Contaminant Assessment Sectionunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Freshwater mussel survey prior to the Ellsworth Dam removal, Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois

This report is submitted in response to a request from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) to conduct a freshwater mussel survey in the North Fork Vermilion River (Wabash River drainage) in the vicinity of the Ellsworth Dam, Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois. IDNR proposes to remove this dam, and needs updated survey data prior to the removal per the requirements of Authorization item #7 in the Ellsworth Park Dam Removal Incidental Take Authorization. Freshwater mussels were collected by hand-­‐picking and visual detection (e.g., trails, siphons, exposed shell) in the three zones (Impounded area, Construction zone, and Plunge pool). One live individual was found alive in the construction zone in three person hours, whereas 372 individuals representing ten species were found alive in the impounded area upstream of the construction in approximately 25 person-­‐hours. A total of 46 individuals representing eight species were found alive in the plunge pool in 2.25 person-­‐hours. All species collected are common inhabitants of central Illinois streams that are not listed as endangered or threatened at the state or federal level, and all live individuals were relocated to areas outside the predicted zone of influence.Prepared for Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Water Resourcesunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe