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Project T-54-D1

Project Title: Developing a Propagation Technique for Native Illinois River CWCP Mussels

Community and/or Species Focus:

 Butterfly mussel

Goals/Objectives:
  1. Investigate Spunky Bottoms Preserve for mussel propagation
  2. Collect 20-40 gravid female mussels from the Mississippi River
  3. Propagate mussels with a host fish in cages at Spunky Bottoms
  4. Monitor and compare propagation treatments of mussels
  5. Determine possible reintroduction sites and reintroduce propagated mussels
  6. Analyze monitoring data to determine differences in propagation techniques
Achievements:
  1. ​The study site was changed from Spunky Bottoms to The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve
  2. Butterfly mussels were collected, but none were gravid; the study team decided to continue the propagation techniques on plain pocketbook mussels

Post-Project Survey (if applicable): The cages will be surveyed in the spring of 2013 for plain pocketbook mussels - the future goal is to develop a successful propagation technique to use on butterfly mussels.

Project Period: 5/1/08 - 12/31/12

Principle Investigator(s):

 Denim Perry, Tharran Hobson (The Nature Conservancy)

Final Report:
T-54-D1​