SWG Mussel Survey Report, December 2004

Minnesota Statewide Mussel (: ) Survey: 2003-04.

Prepared for: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ecological Services Division

December 2004 -

SWG Mussel Survey Report, December 2004

Tables and Figures

TABLES

Table 1. Number of sites sampled within each drainage by stream, river, or lake, July 2003 through December 2004.

Table 2. and relative abundance of mussels from the Drainage, July 2003 through December 2004.

Table 3. Species and relative abundance of mussels from the Red River of the North Drainage, July 2003 through December 2004.

Table 4. Species and relative abundance of mussels from the Upper (Headwaters) Drainage, July 2003 through December 2004.

Table 5. Species and relative abundance of mussels from the Lower Mississippi Drainage, July 2003 through December 2004.

FIGURES

Figure 1. Distribution of mussel survey sample sites, July 2003 through December 2004.

Figure 2. Species richness of mussels in sampled streams within the Minnesota River Drainage.

Figure 3. Catch per unit effort of mussels in sampled streams within the Minnesota River Drainage.

Figure 4. Species richness of mussels in sampled streams and lakes within the Red River of the North Drainage. Figure 5. Catch per unit effort of mussels in sampled streams and lakes within Red River of the North Drainage.

Figure 6. Species richness of mussels in sampled streams and lakes within the Upper Mississippi River Drainage. -

SWG Mussel Survey Report, December 2004

Figure 7. Catch per unit effort of mussels in sampled streams and lakes within the Upper Mississippi River Drainage.

Figure 8. Species richness of mussels in sampled streams within the Lower Mississippi River Drainage.

Figure 9. Catch per unit effort of mussels in sampled streams within the Lower Mississippi River Drainage.

ii SWG Mussel Survey Report, December 2004

Abstract The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources began a systematic survey of the state's freshwater mussel fauna in 1999. From July 2003 through October 2004, as part of this ongoing effort, and with funding provided by Minnesota's State Wildlife Grants Program, 386 stream and lake sites were sampled for mussels, primarily in the Minnesota, Red River of the North, Lower Mississippi, and Upper (Headwaters) Mississippi River drainages. A total of 37,233 live mussels of 20 species were documented, including live individuals of Minnesota Threatened Alasmidonta marginataand Venustaconcha ellipsiformis, and Minnesota Special Concern compressa, Lasmigona costata, and Ligtunia recta. Surveys during the project period demonstrated that the mussel fauna of the Minnesota River Drainage has been degraded as evidenced by the apparent loss of several species, the proportion of species found alive vs dead, and the relatively lower catch per unit effort of live mussels. Based on these same criteria, with some exceptions, the Red River of the North, and to a lesser extent the Upper Mississippi River Drainage have relatively healthy mussel faunas.

Acknowledgements This project was funded by the U.S.F.W.S through a State Wildlife Grant to the state of Minnesota.

iii SWG Mussel Survey Report, December 2004

Introduction In August 1999, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' (MNDNR) Division of Ecological Services began a freshwater mussel survey to determine the distribution and abundance of unionid mussels in Minnesota. Between August 1999 and June 2003, 1230 sites were sampled in various river systems, primarily in the southern and eastern portion of the state. More limited surveys were done in the Red River of the North and Upper Mississippi River (Headwaters). Completing surveys in the latter two drainages was a high priority areas based on expected species richness of mussels and presence state listed species. Therefore, a successful proposal was submitted to Minnesota's State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program for additional funding to survey for mussels in these drainages.

This report summarizes the results of the mussel survey effort funded by SWG from July 2003 through December 2004. Ultimately, these data will be used for a variety of conservation purposes, including land use and watershed management planning, review of proposed development projects so that they avoid or minimize impacts to mussel species, and evaluating state and federal mussel protection needs.

Methods The objectives outlined in the proposal were to complete sampling in the Upper Mississippi (Headwaters) Drainage and the Red River of the North Drainage. Although the majority of sites sampled were in these two drainages, high water during part of the 2003 field season prevented sampling in some areas of these drainages, and low water levels in some areas of the Minnesota River provided the opportunity for more intensive sampling of this drainage. A small number of sites were also sampled in the Lower Mississippi River Drainage (Root and Vermillion Rivers) and one lake each in the Lake of the Woods and St. Croix Drainages were sampled (Table 1).

Sample sites were located at bridges and other access points near roads, or accessed by boat on the larger rivers. At each site, up to four biologists did timed searches by wading, snorkeling or SCUBA. All live and dead mussels were collected by sweeping hands over the surface of the substrate and by probing the substrate by hand to find buried mussels. River banks and sand and gravel bars were also searched for empty shells. All microhabitats at each site were sampled to locate areas of high mussel density and to maximize the number of species documented. All live mussels collected were identified to species, their age estimated by counting external annuli to place SWG Mussel Survey Report, December 2004 them in one of three age classes; 1-5, 6-10, and >10 years old. Within each age class, minimum and maximum length were determined for each species (maximum shell length, anterior-posterior axis). Mussel species found only as dead shells were identified and shell condition was noted. Voucher specimens of live or dead mussels were collected from most sites and deposited at the University of Minnesota's James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History Mollusk Collection. All other live mussels were returned to the approximate location where collected. For each site, time spent searching and general habitat conditions (i.e., min. max. depth, substrate, and general riparian zone comments) were recorded. A GPS coordinate was recorded at each site to mark the site's general location. Results were summarized for comparison among streams and lakes as catch per unit effort (CPUE). Data were entered in the MNDNR's Natural Heritage Information System where they will be available to land managers, researchers, local, and state and federal agency staff.

Results and Discussion During the project period, 386 sites were sampled (Figure 1, Table 1). Overall, 37,233 live mussels of 20 species were found, and an additional 18 species were found only as empty shells. An overview of results for each sampled is given below.

Minnesota River Drainage A total of 51 sites from 13 streams were sampled in the Minnesota River Drainage (Table 1). The locations of these sites were selected to fill gaps left from previous sampling years. A total of 1,816 live mussels of 16 species were documented (Table 2). An additional 16 species were found as dead shells only. Among the dead-only species were the following state listed species: 5 endangered, 7 threatened, and 3 special concern species. Most of these state listed species were collected at a single mainstem Minnesota River site at Carver. The only live specimens of listed species from this drainage were one individual each of the Minnesota special concern Lasmigona compressa and Ligumia recta, from the Cottonwood and Maple Rivers, respectively. Dead individuals of Minnesota Threatened Pleurobemacoccineum and Actinonaias ligamentinawere found at six sites each (Table 2). The prevalence of dead shells indicates a decline in species richness from historical conditions in most of the streams sampled, but particularly in the mainstem Blue Earth and Minnesota Rivers (Figure 2). The Cottonwood, Maple, and Yellow Medicine Rivers had the highest live species richness in the drainage, with only 25 to 30% of their species represented by dead shells only. The Little Cobb and East Branch Blue Earth Rivers appear to have retained the majority of their historic species, although both richness and abundance in these streams is relatively low (Figure 2). The range of several species has also been reduced as shown by the frequency of occurrence of live and dead individuals (Table 2), including species that are relatively common

5 -

SWG Mussel Survey Report, December 2004 elsewhere, such as Amblema plicata, Anodontoidesfertssacianus,Fusconaiaflava, and siliquoidea. No stream in the drainage had an average CPUE of >50 mussels/hr (Figure 3), and the overall average CPUE of the drainage as a whole was 23.0 mussels/hr. This was among the lowest average CPUE of any drainage sampled.

Red River of the North Drainage

A total of 136 sites from 18 streams and 2 lakes were sampled in the Red River of the North Drainage, and 21,068 live mussels of 13 species were collected (Table 3). This represents the entire compliment of species historically known to occur in the drainage, indicating that no species have been lost (all species were found alive). Relatively few rivers exhibited a loss of species, and typically only one (or no) species were found as dead shells only in any river sampled (Figure 4). All species were found at considerably more sites live than dead, suggesting that they have stable populations in the drainage as a whole. No Minnesota Threatened or Endangered species were known to occur in the drainage prior to the current project, and none were found during the project; but live individuals of three Special Concern species (Lasmigona compressa, Lasmigona costata, and Ligurnia recta) were collected at 42, 26, and 41 sites, respectively (Table 3). L. costata was present only in the Red Lake and Otter Tail River drainages; the other Special Concern species were well represented throughout the drainage. Rivers with the richest and most abundant mussel communities included the Red Lake (and its tributaries, Clearwater, Lost, and Hill) and Otter Tail Rivers, and the lower reaches of the Buffalo and Wild Rice Rivers (Figures 4 and 5). By contrast, the Pelican River (tributary of the Otter Tail) appears to be somewhat degraded, as over half of the nine species were found dead only, and it ranked among the lowest in average CPUE (Figures 4 and 5). Mussels were abundant at several of the sample sites, and overall average CPUE was 115.7 mussels/hr. Although it flows through an agricultural landscape, this drainage harbors some of the most significant mussel concentrations in the state.

Upper (Headwaters) Mississippi River Drainage

A total of 185 sites from 39 streams and 11 lakes were sampled in the Upper Mississippi River Drainage (Table 1). Most sites were in tributaries to the Mississippi River; about 13% of sites were in the Mississippi River mainstem. A total of 14,206 live mussels of 11 species were collected (Table 4). This represents the entire complement of species that historically occurred in the drainage, and two additional species, Amblemaplicata and Fusconaiaflava,which were not documented historically and likely represent recent introductions. Fusconaiaflavawas found in low numbers at one upper mainstem Mississippi River site, and has surprisingly become the dominant mussel species in the lower Rum River. Amblemaplicata was found at one site on the Sauk River.

6 SWG Mussel Survey Report, December 2004

No Minnesota Threatened or Endangered species were known to occur in the drainage prior to the current project, and none were found during the project; but live individuals of two Special Concern species (Lasmigona compressa and Ligumia recta) were collected at 56 and 42 sites, respectively (Table 4). Most rivers and lakes retain populations of all or most species that historically occurred there, and 28 % of the water bodies sampled had six to ten live species (Figure 6). Overall average CPUE was 59.0 mussels/hr, which among the highest recorded for any drainage during the current study. Mussel abundance was variable among the rivers and lakes sampled, with 20% water bodies averaging >100 mussels/hr., and 48% averaging <25 mussels/hr (Figure 7). These data suggest that high quality mussel communities are present in this drainage, but there is also evidence of decline as well.

Lower Mississippi River Drainage A total of 12 sites from 2 rivers (Root R. and Vermillion R.) were sampled in the Lower Mississippi River Drainage during the study period (Table 1). A total of 143 live mussels of 10 species were collected (Table 5). An additional 16 species were found as dead shells. Two Minnesota Threatened, and two Minnesota Special Concern species were found alive, and nine eleven additional state listed species were found as dead shells (Table 5). Listed species found live in the Root River Drainage included Alasmidonta marginata,Lasingona compressa, Lasmigona costata, and Venzistaconcha ellipsiformis (Table 5). The population of L. costata found in the Root River is the third largest known in the state. The project revealed that the Root River has retained the majority of historic species, whereas the Vermillion River has lost many species (Figure 8). Average CPUE in the Root River system was only 17.3 mussels/hr (Figure 9), which may indicate poorer habitat conditions than in some of the other drainages surveyed.

7 Table 1. Number of sites sampled within each drainage by stream, river, or lake, July 2003 through December 2004. Drainage Stream Name # of Sites sampled n-mja.4.---- - _-. Big Cobb River 5 5 E Br Blue Earth River 5 Cedar Creek 1 Cottonwood River 6 Credit River l Elm Creek 4 High Lake Outlet/Martin Lake Inlet l Little Cobb River 2 Maple River 9 Minnesota River 1 Rush River 3 Yellow Medicine River 8 TOTAL 51 _e _7s ____ Buffalo River 15 Clearwater River 6 Detroit Lake 2 Hill River 4 Little Pine Lake l Lost River 7 Middle River 6 Mud River l Mustinka River 4 Otter Tail River 21 Pelican River 7 Poplar River 5 Red Lake River 17 Sand Hill River 10 Sandy River Snake River 5 Stony Creek Toad River Twelve Mile Creek 5 Wild Rice River 17 TOTAL 136 Lue-0-trm-w-bA - Balsam Creek Bass Lake Blueberry River 3 Cat River Clearwater River 4 Crow River is 2 Elk River 7 Fish Hook River 2 Fish Hook Creek Green Lake I Hennepin Creek Hill River Hill Lake Table I (continued). Number of sites sampled within each drainage by stream, river, or lake, July 2003 through December 2004 Inguadona Lake 2 Kettle Creek 2 Lake May 1 Lake Mille Lacs 2 Lake Winnibigoshish 1 LaSalle River Leaf River 9 Little Mississippi River Little Rock Creek 3 Little Two River I Long Lake 1 Minnewawa River 1 Mississippi River 24 Moose River I Necktie River 1 Nest Lake 1 Partridge River I Pine River 3 Platte River 7 Popple River 3 Red Eye River 5 Roosevelt Lake 1 Rum River 21 Sauk River 14 Schoolcraft River 3 Skunk River 2 St. Francis River 3 Stony Brook I Straight River 4 Swan River 5 Swan Lake I Turtle River 1 Two River 2 Watab River 3 Willow River 9 Wing River 3 TOTAL 185 77777.;

Root River I1I Vermillion River TOTAL 12 . X- ! t_ _ _ Bowstring Lake I TOTAL I tiCREV na _e - - - Moose Lake I TOTAL I Table 2. Species and relative abundance of mussels from the Minnesota River Drainage, July 2003 through December 2004. Species # % Relative # Sites Found % % Live Abundance Live (Dead) Occurrence Occurrence Live Live & Dead

Arcidens confragosus 0 0 0 (1) 0 2.0 Fusconaiaebena 0 0 0(1) 0 2.0 Lamnpsilis teres 0 0 O(1) 0 2.0 Plethobasuscyphyws 0 0 O(1) 0 2.0 Quadnitafraglosa O O (1) 0 2.0

Actinonaias ligamentina 0 0 0 (6) 0 11.8 Alasmidonta marginata 0 0 0 (1) 0 2.0 Ellipsarialineolata 0 0 0(1) 0 2.0 Megalonaiasnervosa 0 0 0(1) 0 2.0 Pleurobema coccineum 0 0 0 (6) 0 11.8 Quadnrlametanevra 0 0 O (1) 0 2.0 _ritogonia vernicosa O 1 .

Elliptio dilatata 0 0 0 (2) 0.0 3.9 Lasmigona compressa 1 0.2 1 (3) 2.0 7.8 Lasmigona costata 0 0 0 (4) 0.0 7.8 Ligumia recta 1 0.1 1 (7) 2.0 15.7 Obovariaolivaria 0 0 0 (1) 0.0 2.0

Amblemaplicata 4 0.2 1 (12) 2.0 25.5 Anodonfoidesfenrssacianus 22 1.4 7 (13) 13.7 39.2 Fusconaiaflava I 0.1 1 (11) 2.0 23.5 Lampsilis cardium 302 16.4 26 (4) 51.0 58.8 Lampsilissiliquoidea 70 7.2 5 (16) 9.8 41.2 Lasmigona complanata 423 22.3 36 (4) 70.6 78.4 Leptodeafragilis 248 13.1 41 (5) 80.4 90.2 Ligumia subrostrata 0 0 0 (3) 0.0 5.9 Obliquariareflexa 0 0 0 (1) 0.0 2.0 Potarnihisalatus 28 1.5 14 (2) 27.5 31.4 Potarnilusohiensis 88 4.6 18 (7) 35.3 49.0 Pyganodongrandis 369 19.4 26 (9) 51.0 68.6 Quadnrlapustulosa 0 0 0 (3) 0.0 5.9 Quadrulaquadnrla 29 1.5 8 (8) 15.7 31.4 Strophilus undulatus 89 4.7 15 (11) 29.4 51.0 Toxolasmaparvus 38 2.0 8 (5) 15.7 25.5 Truncilla tnmcata 103 54 15 (5) 29.4 39.2 IrOM '7'0-9881 .'5t1Si es.11cm7 Table 3. Species and relative abundance of mussels from the Red River of the North Drainage, July 2003 through December 2004. Species # Live % Relative # Sites % Abundance Live(Dead) Occurrence Occurrence Live Live & An..

Aniblernaplicata 3512 16.7 58 (2) 42.6 44.1 Anodontoidesfernssacianzus 1322 6.3 52 (5) 38.2 41.9 Fusconaiaflava 3298 15.7 80 (8) 58.8 64.7 Lampsilis cardiurn 796 3.8 48 (11) 35.3 43.4 Lampsilissiliquoidea 4151 19.7 104 (9) 76.5 83.1 Lasmigona complanata 827 3.9 60 (15) 44.1 55.1 Potamilus alatus 2176 10.3 46 (1) 33.8 34.6 Pyganodongrandis 2954 14.0 92 (14) 67.6 77.9 Quadnrla quadrila 131 0.6 15 (2) 11.0 12.5 Strophitus undulatus 1006 4.8 52 (9) 38.2 44.9

Table 4. Species and relative abundance of mussels from the Upper (Headwaters) Mississippi River Drainage, July 2003 through December 2004. Species # Live % Relative # Sites % % Abundance Found Occurrence Occurrence Live Live Live & (ead) Dead

-- . RIN O lo .

Lasmigona compressa 183 1.3 56(17) 30.3 39.5 Ligumia recta 353 2.5 42 (25) 22.7 36.2 oE0n- ifiIN Amblemaplicata I <0.1 1 (0) 0.5 0.5 Anodontoidesferussacianus 448 3.2 67 (3) 36.2 37.8 Fusconaiaflava 858 6.0 12 (2) 6.5 7.6 Larnpsilis cardium 1569 11.0 91 (19) 49.2 59.5 Lampsilissiliquoidea 9223 64.9 156(10) 84.3 89.7 Lasmigona complanata 367 2.6 26 (1) 14.1 14.6 Pyganodongrandis 1105 7.8 97 (27) 52.4 67.0 Strophitus undulatus 55 0.4 25 (10) 13.5 18.9 Utterbackia imbecillis 44 0.3 9 (2) 4.9 5.9 s., *j e . -0 . i442 0 a *185'' ifAL Table 5. Species and relative abundance of mussels from the Lower Mississippi Drainage, July 2003 throueh December 2004. Species # % Relative # Sites Found % % Live Abundance Live (Dead) Occurrence Occurrence Live Live & Dead

Arcidens confragosus 0 0.0 0 (1) 0% 8.3% Elliptio crassidens 0 0.0 0 (1) 0 8.3 Fusconaiaebena 0 0.0 0 (1) 0 8.3 Lampsilis higginsi 0 0. 0 (I) 0 8.3

Actinonaias ligamentina 0 ° ° 0 (1) 0% 8.3% Alasmidonta marginata 7 4.9 1 8.3 8.3 Ellipsarialineolata 0 0.0 0 (1) 0 8.3 Megalonaias nervosa 0 0.0 0 (1) 0 8.3 Pleurobema coccineum 0 0.0 0 (1) 0 8.3 Quadnrlametanevra 0 0.0 0 (1) 0 8.3 Venustaconcha ellipsiformis 1 0.7 1 (2) 8.3 25.0

Elliptio dilatata 0 0.0 0 (2) 0% 16.7% Lasmigona compressa 5 3.5 1 8.3 8.3 Lasmigona costata 85 59.4 1 8.3 8.3 Obovariaolivaria 0 0.0 0 (1) 0 8.3

Amblemaplicata 1 0.7 1 8.3% 8.3% Anodontoidesferussacianus 0 0.0 0 (1) 0 8.3 Fusconaiaflava 0 0.0 0 (1) 0 8.3 Lampsilis cardium 8 5.6 1 8.3 8.3 Lampsilis siliquoidea 33 23.1 2 (1) 16.7 25.0 Lasmigona complanata 1 0.7 1 (2) 8.3 25.0 Pyganodongrandis 1 0.7 1 (1) 8.3 16.7 Quadrulapustulosa 0 0.0 0 (1) 0 8.3 Quadrulaquadrula 0 0.0 0 (1) 0 8.3 Strophitus undulatus 1 0.7 1 8.3 8.3 Truncilla tnrncata 0 0.0 0 (1) 0 8.3 M3 w II 2 esHU IIIIIII * Mussel Sampling Stes July 2OO3-D ecember2004 * Mussel Sampling Sites -1999 June2OO3 Major River Centerline Traces Cl MN State Boundary

Figure 1. Distribution of mussel survey sample sites, 1999 through December 2004. Minnesota River Drainage

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Figure 2. Species richness of mussels in sampled streams within the Minnesota River Drainage. Minnesota River Drainage

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Figure 3. Catch per unit effort of mussels in sampled streams within the Minnesota River Drainage. Red River Drainage

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Figure 4. Species richness of mussels in sampled streams and lakes within the Red River of the North Drainage. Red River Drainage

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Figure 5. Catch per unit effort of mussels in sampled streams and lakes within Red River of the North Drainage. Upper Mississippi River Drainage

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Figure 6. Species richness of mussels in samples streams and lakes within the Upper Mississippi R. drainage. Upper Mississippi River Drainage

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Figure 7. Catch per unit effort of mussels in sampled streams and lakes within the Upper Mississippi River Drainage. Lower Mississippi River Drainage

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Figure 8. Species richness of mussels in sampled streams and lakes within the Lower Mississippi River Drainage. Lower Mississippi River Drainage

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Figure 9. Catch per unit effort of mussels in sampled streams within the Lower Mississippi River Drainagc.