May 20, 2015 Unionoida Mussel and Non- Pulmonate Snail Survey and Status in the Jordan River, UT, 2014 Final Report Prepared for: Theron Miller, Ph.D. Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility Salt Lake City, UT and Leland Myers Central Davis Sewer District Kaysville, UT Prepared by: David C. Richards, Ph.D. OreoHelix Consulting P. O. Box 996 Moab, UT 84532 Phone: 406.580.7816 Email:
[email protected] May 20, 2015 Unionoida Mussel and Non- Pulmonate Snail Survey and Status in the Jordan River, UT SUMMARY North America supports the richest diversity of freshwater mollusks on the planet. Although the western USA is relatively mollusk depauperate, the one exception is the rich molluskan fauna of the Bonneville Basin area, including drainages that enter terminal Great Salt Lake (e.g. Utah Lake, Jordan River, Bear River, etc.). There are at least seventy freshwater mollusk taxa reported from UT, many of which are endemics to the Bonneville Basin and their evolution and distribution are strongly linked with the geological and geomorphic history of pluvial Lake Bonneville. These mollusk taxa serve vital ecosystem functions and are truly a Utah natural heritage. Unfortunately, freshwater mollusks are also the most imperiled animal groups in the world; including those found in UT. Despite this unique and irreplaceable natural heritage, the taxonomy, distribution, status, and ecologies of Utah’s freshwater mollusks are poorly known. Very few mollusk specific surveys have been conducted in UT. In addition, specialized training, survey methods, and identification of freshwater mollusks are required. EPA recently recommended changes in freshwater ammonia criteria based primarily on sensitive freshwater mollusks, including non-pulmonate snails and unionid taxa found in the eastern USA.