Appendix B Provides an Overview of Populations, Watersheds, and Current Status

Purple Bean Villosa perpurpurea (= Tennessee Bean; Venustaconcha trabalis)

5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwestern Virginia Field Office Abingdon, Virginia

August 2020

5-YEAR REVIEW Purple Bean; Villosa perpurpurea (Tennessee Bean; Venustaconcha trabalis)

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 Reviewers

Lead Regional or Headquarters Office: North Atlantic-Appalachian Region, Hadley, MA; Martin Miller, 413-253-8615; [email protected]

Lead Field Office: Jordan Richard, Southwestern Virginia Field Office, 757-570-3697; [email protected]

Cooperating Field Office(s): Jennifer Garland, Kentucky ES Field Office, 502-695-0468 (x46115); [email protected]

Anthony Ford, Tennessee ES Field Office, 931-525-4982, [email protected]

Jeff Powell, Alabama ES Field Office, 251-441-5858, [email protected]

Cooperating Regional Office(s): South Atlantic-Gulf Region, Atlanta, GA; Carrie Straight, 404-679-7226; [email protected]

1.2 Methodology used to complete the review: Public notice of this review was provided in the Federal Register on August 8, 2018 and a 30-day comment period was opened (83 FR 39113). We obtained information on the status of this species from several experts on the taxa, and additional data were obtained from the recovery plan, peer-reviewed scientific literature, and our state and private partners. Once all known literature and information was compiled, Jordan Richard, Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the Southwestern Virginia Field Office, completed the review. All literature and documents used for this 5-year review are on file at the Southwestern Virginia Field Office and are cited below in the References section. Biologists in the Kentucky Field Office, Tennessee Field Office, and Alabama Field Office provided an initial review of the 5-year review, and their comments were incorporated into the five-year review, as appropriate.

1.3 Background:

Current nomenclature and geographic understanding for the Tennessee Bean (Venustaconcha trabalis) and Cumberland Bean (Venustaconcha troostensis)

When listed in 1997 (62 FR 1648) and last reviewed in 2013, the purple bean (Villosa perpurpurea) was limited to the Tennessee River system and recognized as a mussel with a purple nacre (See Appendix A). At that time its close relative, the Cumberland bean

(Villosa trabalis), was reported to occur in both the Tennessee and Cumberland River systems as a white-nacred mussel. Recently, taxonomy for the Cumberland bean and purple bean has changed based on genetic and phylogenetic taxonomic assessments by Kuenhl (2009) and Lane et al. (2016, 2019). These studies provided evidence supporting recognition of the Cumberland River populations of the Cumberland bean as Venustaconcha troostensis, while the Tennessee River populations of both Villosa trabalis and Villosa perpurpurea were combined and recognized as a single species, now Venustaconcha trabalis (Tennessee bean). Williams et al. (2017) provided a revised list of 298 mussel species of the United States and Canada, including the Tennessee bean, which incorporated changes in nomenclature and systematic taxonomy since the most recent checklist in 1998. This document is accepted by most mussel experts as the most current and accepted taxonomic structure of North American unionids.

Because the Service has not yet addressed these taxonomic changes relative to each species listing status (see section 4 for future recommended actions based on this new information), it is appropriate to conduct concurrent five-year reviews for the Cumberland bean and purple bean (= Tennessee bean) in an effort to reduce potential confusion caused by these nomenclatural changes. This 5-year review addresses the current understanding of the status of the Tennessee bean (Villosa perpurpurea = Venustaconcha trabalis), as it occurs in the Tennessee River basin in Virginia and Tennessee. This review also includes purple bean (= Tennessee bean) populations in the Hiwassee River and the populations reintroduced, using Hiwassee River broodstock, in the Nolichucky and Paint Rock Rivers, as they were historically considered to be Cumberland bean. A concurrent review of the Cumberland bean is being conducted by the Service’s Kentucky Field Office and will include the same information regarding the Hiwassee River population. When the Service evaluates the taxonomic changes and makes a determination of the listing status of each taxon in the future, the 5-year reviews for the Cumberland bean and purple bean (= Tennessee bean) will serve as a baseline assessment and contain the most current status information on the taxa.

The purple bean (= Tennessee bean) has never been thought to exist – historically or currently – within the Cumberland River drainage. The recent taxonomic changes affecting the Tennessee bean and Cumberland bean specifically affect the population from the Hiwassee River and the populations reintroduced, using Hiwassee River broodstock, in the Nolichucky and Paint Rock Rivers. Within the Tennessee River drainage, all other extant localities (Clinch River, Indian Creek, Copper Creek, Beech Creek, Obed River, Emory River, and Clear Creek) have always been – and continue to be – considered purple bean (= Tennessee bean).

1.3.1 FR Notice citation announcing initiation of this review: 83 FR 39113; August 8, 2018.

1.3.2 Listing history Original Listing FR notice: 62 FR 1647-1658 Date listed: January 10, 1997 Entity listed: Species Classification: Endangered

1.3.3 Associated rulemakings: Designation of Critical Habitat Title: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Five Endangered Mussels in the Tennessee and Cumberland River Basins; Final Rule FR notice: 69 FR 53136-53180 Effective date: September 30, 2004

1.3.4 Review History: Previous 5-Year Reviews Initiated: 71 FR 20717-20718; April 21, 2006 Date Finalized: October 24, 2006 Results: No change in status

Initiated: 76 FR 33334-33336; June 8, 2011 Date Finalized: October 2013 Results: No change in status

1.3.5 Species’ Recovery Priority Number at start of 5-year review: 5. This designation corresponds to a species with a high degree of threat and low recovery potential.

1.3.6 Recovery Plan or Outline

Name of plan or outline: Recovery Plan for Cumberland Elktoe (Alasmidonta atropurpurea), Oyster Mussel (Epioblasma capsaeformis), Cumberland Combshell (Epioblasma brevidens), Purple Bean (Villosa perpurpurea), and Rough Rabbitsfoot (Quadrula cylindrica strigillata) (69 FR 29569-29570). Date issued: May 4, 2004

2.0 REVIEW ANALYSIS

2.1 Application of the 1996 Distinct Population Segment (DPS) policy

2.1.1 Is the species under review a vertebrate? The purple bean (= Tennessee bean) is an invertebrate; therefore, it is not covered by the DPS policy.

2.2 Recovery Criteria

2.2.1 Does the species have a final, approved recovery plan containing objective, measurable criteria? Yes, the species has an approved plan containing recovery criteria.

2.2.2 Adequacy of recovery criteria.

2.2.2.1 Do the recovery criteria reflect the best available and most up-to date information on the biology of the species and its habitat? No. The recovery plan should be updated to reflect the new understanding of the species range, per recommended actions in section 4.0.

2.2.3 List the recovery criteria as they appear in the recovery plan, and discuss how each criterion has or has not been met, citing information:

Small population size, destruction of habitat, and poor water quality are the predominant factors inhibiting recovery of the purple bean (= Tennessee bean). Therefore, the following downlisting and delisting criteria primarily address listing Factor A (Present or threatened destruction, modification or curtailment of its habitat or range). Note that the recovery criteria listed below are excerpted from the Recovery Plan and therefore refer to the purple bean, which remains the name of the ESA-listed entity. We will refer to the species as Tennessee bean throughout the remainder of the document, and discuss recovery criteria in the context of the Tennessee bean’s geographic range, as discussed in Sections 2.3.1.3 through 2.3.1.5. Until the taxonomic and range changes described in those sections have been completed, the recovery criteria will not reflect the most up-to- date information on the biology of the Tennessee bean and its habitat.

Downlisting from endangered to threatened status will occur when the following criteria are met for the protection of extant stream populations, discovery of currently unknown stream populations, and/or reestablishment of historical stream populations [Delisting criteria, where different from downlisting criteria, are italicized and in brackets]:

(1) At least four [five] distinct viable stream populations of the purple bean in the Upper Tennessee River system. This will be accomplished by: (1) Protecting all extant stream populations (i.e., upper Clinch River/Indian Creek, lower Clinch River/Copper Creek, Obed River, Beech Creek) and ensuring that they all have viable population status. [(2) Reestablishing a viable stream population in the upper Tennessee River system (e.g., Powell River).]

The Recovery Plan defines a viable population as “a wild, naturally reproducing population that is large enough to maintain sufficient genetic variation to enable the species to evolve and respond to natural habitat changes without further intervention.”

This criterion has not been met. Appendix B provides an overview of populations, watersheds, and current status. The status of all populations of the Tennessee bean is tenuous as most (if not all) extant populations do not have sufficient density or distribution to be considered viable. In particular, surveys of Copper Creek have

indicated steadily decreasing numbers of Tennessee bean for several decades (Hanlon et al. 2009, Fraley and Ahlstedt 2000, Ostby and Beaty 2018). Agricultural practices related mainly to livestock grazing are suspected to be the dominant negative effect associated with these declines. The status of the Indian Creek population is uncertain, and this small population faces continued threats from activities associated with coal mining and natural gas exploration. The largest aggregation of the species in the mainstem Clinch River was extirpated by a chemical spill in 1998. Based on occasional collections of fresh dead shell, the Tennessee bean appears to still occur throughout the mainstem Clinch River at very low abundances, but they are sparsely distributed and have not been detected alive. Tennessee bean in the Obed River, Clear Creek, and Lower Emory River continue to occur in very low numbers (Ahlstedt et al. 2001, Dinkins and Faust 2015). A small reach in the Upper Emory River has a population that appears to be viable, but is restricted in range to just a few stream miles (Dinkins et al. 2012). The Hiwassee River population appears to be stable and recruiting, but is also limited to a small reach of regulated flow. The Beech Creek population appears to be stable and viable based on repeated survey data (Fraley 2001, Ostby et al. 2014). Efforts to reintroduce and establish populations in the Paint Rock and Nolichucky Rivers have recently begun, but are currently limited to individual release sites and a few hundred individuals each. In summary, 3 populations (Beech Creek, Upper Emory River, Hiwassee River) appear to be stable and viable; however their status is not secured via permanent protection. See recommendations in Section 4 related to updating the species information with current taxonomy.

(2) One [two] distinct naturally reproduced year class exists within each of the viable populations. The year class must have been produced within 5 [10] years prior to the time the species are reclassified from endangered to threatened [and one year class must have been produced within 5 years of the recovery date]. Within 1 year before the downlisting date, gravid females of the mussels and their host fish must be present in each viable population.

This criterion has not been met. Successful recruitment – as evidenced by a population of multiple individuals of recent year classes – appears to be limited to the Beech Creek, Upper Emory River, and Hiwassee River populations. The remaining Tennessee bean populations persist with low numbers of individuals and low densities. Even within population centers, the specimens can be very difficult to find. Given the low densities and the rarity of the species, there has been little evidence to demonstrate the existence of distinct naturally reproducing year classes, as young and juvenile specimens are extremely difficult to find. There are no other data indicating distinct year classes have naturally reproduced.

(3) Research studies of the mussel’s biological and ecological requirements have been completed and any required recovery measures developed and implemented from these studies are beginning to be successful, as evidenced by an increase in population density of approximately 20 percent and/or an increase in the length of the river reach of approximately 10 percent inhabited by the species [in each of the viable populations] as determined through biennial monitoring.

This criterion has not been met. Since its listing in 1997, there have been no data to suggest an increase in density or distribution in any of the remaining Tennessee bean populations. Several populations are continuing to decline, while several others may have small numbers of individuals, but appear stable. Early augmentation efforts (prior to approximately 2010) released infected fish, newly metamorphosed juveniles, or juveniles that were a few weeks old. To date, there has been no measurable evidence to verify the success of these augmentation efforts. More recently, mussel propagation and culture specialists have improved captive rearing capabilities and are now able to grow Tennessee bean to sub-adult size (10-25 millimeters [mm] in length). Accordingly, managers have now shifted to a strategy of releasing Tennessee bean once they have achieved sub-adult size. This strategy presumably increases survivorship of released animals and enables individuals to be tagged and tracked for post-release monitoring purposes. Releases of these sub-adults since 2012 have totaled 4,015 individuals across multiple populations (see discussion in Section 2.3.1.2 and Attachment 1). Future monitoring will determine the effectiveness of these efforts within the context of meeting this recovery criterion.

Although the above examples demonstrate recovery measures developed and implemented to bolster populations, there is no definitive information to assess the success of these efforts to increase population size and distribution.

(4) No foreseeable threats exist that would likely impact the survival of the species over a significant portion of its range. [No foreseeable threats exist that would likely threaten the survival of any of the viable populations.]

This criterion has not been met. Continuing threats from agriculture, mainly livestock grazing, development, accidental chemical spills, and coal mining and natural gas activities continue to threaten the survival of viable populations. The cold water discharged from the Apalachia powerhouse on the Hiwassee River prevents downstream colonization by Tennessee bean beyond the Apalachia cutoff (D. Hubbs, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) email to J. Richard, Service, October 23, 2019). This observation is based on expert opinion and observation, such as the fact that no Tennessee bean have ever been observed downstream of the discharge.

(5) Within larger streams, the species [is] distributed over a long enough reach that a single catastrophic event is not likely to eliminate or significantly reduce the entire population in that stream to a status of nonviable.

This criterion has not been met. Current population distribution and densities of all extant populations of the Tennessee bean do not ensure the continued viability of the population in a stream following a single catastrophic event. For example, in 1998, a chemical spill eliminated the mussel fauna from a 6-mile reach of the upper Clinch River, resulting in the death of over 7,000 mussels of 16 species, including 51 Tennessee bean (Jones et al. 2001). The spill caused a fish kill and killed most benthic macroinvertebrates from this same reach (Service 2004). Currently, Beech Creek and the Upper Emory River populations are the only localities where a single catastrophic event spanning a few miles

would be incapable of eliminating the entire population within the watershed. However, even these populations would likely become nonviable if the population centers experienced a significant decline because the abundance and distribution of their respective tributary populations (North Fork Beech Creek, Obed River, and Clear Creek) are extremely low.

(6) Biennial monitoring yields the results outlined in criterion (1) above over a 10-year period.

This criterion has not been met. Current densities and spatial distribution of most (if not all) extant populations are too low to suggest that biennial monitoring to measure population recovery is warranted. If observations within restoration sites suggest that populations in the Nolichucky River and Paint Rock River are beginning to reproduce successfully and expand their distribution, then a targeted biennial monitoring program might be warranted following the next 5-year review.

2.3 Updated Information and Current Species Status

2.3.1 Biology and Habitat

2.3.1.1 New information on the species’ biology and life history: Survey and occupancy modeling data from Ostby et al. (2014) have confirmed previously observed patterns of Venustaconcha trabalis activity rates and surface presence peaking during winter. Specifically, detection rates in winter decline by 50% in summer. These patterns may or may not apply to all Tennessee bean populations.

Observations during captive propagation of Tennessee bean have demonstrated the existence of two periostracum color variations – yellow and purple – from Tennessee bean propagated using broodstock from Clinch River/Indian Creek and Beech Creek (T. Lane, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), email to J. Richard, Service, July 25, 2018). The color variations are seemingly binary, with no evidence of gradation between the two. Yellow animals have thus far been found exclusively with white nacre, while darker animals have purple or occasionally white nacre.

Early propagation efforts for Tennessee bean focused on releasing either high numbers of newly-metamorphosed juveniles or fish with encysted glochidia directly to restoration sites. Improvements in propagation and culture techniques have drastically increased survival and production capacity in hatchery environments. For the past decade (2009-2019) re-introduction, propagation, and augmentation efforts for Tennessee bean have focused on releasing individuals grown in captivity to ages > 6 months to increase post-release survival in the wild.

2.3.1.2 Abundance, population trends (e.g. increasing, decreasing, stable), demographic features (e.g., age structure, sex ratio, family size, birth rate, age at mortality, mortality rate, etc.), or demographic trends:

Upper Clinch River and Indian Creek: The 2004 recovery plan for the Tennessee bean identifies the upper Clinch River (above Carbo, VA) and Indian Creek as a single population, and notes that this population is isolated from the lower Clinch/Copper Creek population by a 12-15 mile reach of the Clinch River that serves as a barrier to natural genetic interchange due to historic pollution spills and ongoing habitat degradation. Following a 1998 chemical spill that eliminated a substantial portion of the population in Indian Creek and the upper Clinch River, Tennessee bean have persisted at low abundance in Indian Creek. Watson and Neves (1998) found 26 live individuals in 1996-1997. They estimated the population size to be 70 individuals (95% C.I. = 25 – 465 individuals), with a density of 0.002/square meter (m2). Jones and Neves (2004) estimated the population size in the lower 1,100 m reach of Indian Creek to be 465 individuals, with a density of 0.047/m2. From 2010-2018, 220 captive-propagated individuals were released in Indian Creek.

From 2016-2018, 1,447 captive-propagated individuals were released in the Clinch River, VA. Throughout the mainstem Clinch River, occasional fresh dead Tennessee bean shell suggests that a small number of live individuals may persist, but there is little evidence of recruitment or self-sustaining populations.

Tennessee bean stocked within the Clinch River Basin have shown good survival and growth at four primary locations in VA (T. Lane, VDGIF, email to J. Richard, Service, November 5, 2019). Those sites, where individuals are tracked with passive integrated transponders (PIT tags), include Indian Creek above and below the Route 631 bridge in Tazewell County, the Sycamore Lane site in the town of Richlands (Tazewell County), the Bennett Property in Russell County, and Speers Ferry in Scott County. At all 4 sites, females have been observed gravid post- release. No recruitment has been documented at any of the four stocked sites over the 2016-2018 time span except in Indian Creek, where recruitment is probably from naturally occurring individuals and not stocked individuals.

Lower Clinch River and Copper Creek: Most population augmentations in the Clinch River drainage have occurred at sites in the upper Clinch River, but 45 individuals were released in the lower Clinch River at Speers Ferry (VA) in 2018. A fresh dead Tennessee bean shell was collected in 2016 in the lower Clinch River (TN) at river mile 178.7, just downstream of Fall Branch (D. Hubbs, TWRA, email to J. Richard, Service, June 27, 2019).

Neves (1991) considered the Copper Creek population of Tennessee Bean to be the largest in the Clinch River system, and the species was likely present throughout the entire lower 19 miles of Copper Creek in 1980 (Ostby 2019). Survey data showed a substantial population decline from 1980-2009 (Ahlstedt 1981, Barr 1993-1994, Fraley and Ahlstedt 2000, Hanlon 2009), with the species only occupying approximately 40% of the 19-mile reach by 1998. Copper Creek mussel surveys conducted from 2014-2017 (Ostby 2019) found live specimens only in the reach between Black Oak Branch and Obeys Creek, concluding that

site occupancy remained low and may be further declining. Occupancy models based on the 2014-2017 data suggest that occupancy within the 19-mile reach continued to decline from approximately 40% in 1998 to current levels of approximately 25% (Ostby 2019). In 2018, 300 captive-propagated individuals were released in Copper Creek.

Beech Creek (TN): The Beech Creek population was discovered in 1980 and was surveyed in 2001 (Fraley 2001) and 2012 (Ostby et al. 2014). The 2012 survey led to the discovery of additional individuals in a tributary of Beech Creek (North Fork Beech Creek) (Ostby et al. 2014), expanding the known range of the species within the drainage to 35 kilometers (Hanlon et al. 2013). This is the only known extant Tennessee Bean population in the Holston River system. The 2012 survey found Tennessee Bean present in 59% (n = 17) of surveyed Beech Creek drainage sites (n = 29) with little evidence of differences in relative abundance compared to previous (Fraley 2001) surveys. Tennessee bean observed in 2012 were on average smaller (in length) and had a more even size-class distribution when compared to those observed in 2001, which were generally larger, older, and less abundant (Ostby et al. 2014). Occupancy rates appear stable and the population is likely to persist, but needs to be monitored to confirm this trend (B. Ostby, Daguna Consulting, email to J. Richard, Service, June 28, 2019). In 2017, 20 captive-propagated individuals were released in Beech Creek, with an additional 210 captive-propagated individuals released in 2018.

Emory River, Obed River, and Clear Creek: Population trends are uncertain in the Obed-Emory River system. The lower reaches (i.e., below the confluence of the Obed and Emory Rivers) were not historically quantified, and data from Ahlstedt et al. (2001) suggested that the population was nearly extirpated. In 2012 TWRA found a limited population in the Lower Emory River near Oakdale, TN. A single live individual was found at each of 2 sites, and 2 fresh dead individuals were found at a third site (TWRA 2012). Surveys in 2011 (S. Ahlstedt, U.S. Geological Survey [retired], email to S. Hanlon, Service, April 20, 2011) discovered a previously unknown population in the upper Emory River (above the confluence with the Obed River) near Gobey, TN. Follow-up surveys of the upper Emory River in 2011 found a total of 50 individuals present at 3 of 4 sites surveyed between river miles 34.5 – 39.0. Length frequency data indicated that 4 or 5 age classes were present within the population. No individuals were found at 16 other sites above and below this reach, or at any of the 5 tributary sites surveyed (Dinkins et al. 2012).

The Obed River drainage was last surveyed for Tennessee bean in 2001, when 19 Tennessee bean were found at 5 of 8 sites sampled and 0 of 7 tributary sites in Clear Creek, White’s Creek, and Daddy’s Creek (Ahlstedt et al. 2001). The 5 locations where Tennessee bean were documented occurred in 2 reaches: the first was near the mouth of the Obed River at river miles 0.4 and 1.5 (where 1 and 2 live Tennessee Bean were found, respectively), while the second was upstream near the Potter’s Ford Bridge at river miles 20.4, 20.7, and 21.1 (where 1, 8, and 7

live Tennessee bean were found, respectively). A 2009 mussel survey related to bridge construction at the Potter’s Ford site found only 1 live mussel (Lampsilis fasciola) and no evidence of live or fresh dead shell of Tennessee bean (Dinkins 2010). Dinkins and Faust (2015) surveyed 26 sites in the Obed drainage in 2013 and 2014, finding no live Tennessee bean at any site on the mainstem Obed River. They found 1 relict shell at the mouth of Clear Creek and 1 relict shell just upstream of the Potters Ford Bridge. Dinkins and Faust (2015) found 2 sites in the lowest river mile of Clear Creek with live Tennessee bean. Previous 5-year reviews considered the species rare and its viability questionable within the Obed River drainage (Service 2004, 2013). Tennessee bean abundances and distribution appear to have continued declining within the Obed River drainage since the previous reviews.

Hiwassee River: The Hiwassee River population was originally thought to be Cumberland bean, but the genetics data from Lane et al. (2016, 2019) and changes to taxonomic status from Williams et al. (2017) provided strong evidence that the population is entirely comprised of Tennessee bean. This is believed to be a viable, actively-recruiting population and serves as a source of broodstock for captive propagation (Service 2010). In 2010, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center (AABC) began captive propagation efforts using Hiwassee River broodstock Tennessee bean for reintroduction efforts to the Paint Rock River. The population range within the Hiwassee River is limited to the Apalachia Cutoff, a stretch of reduced flow between the Apalachia Reservoir and the Apalachia Dam powerhouse 12 miles downstream. The population has been stable to increasing since 2005 when TVA began flow restoration within the Appalachia Cutoff. There is evidence of recent recruitment, and 10-20 broodstock females, 38-56 mm total length, can be acquired in approximately 3-4 person hours of effort (D. Hubbs, TWRA, email to J. Richard, Service, June 27, 2019).

Paint Rock River: In July 2012, a small population of Tennessee bean was established in the Paint Rock River with 269 captive-propagated individuals from the AABC using Hiwassee River broodstock. The population was established at river mile 33.1 (Johnson 2012). In 2013, re-sampling of the site found persistence of live individuals from the reintroduction during quantitative monitoring surveys (Johnson 2015). A second cohort of 100 captive-propagated individuals from Hiwassee River broodstock was released in 2015 at the same site (Johnson 2015). In 2019 there were 2 additional releases to augment the population. The first was a batch of 16 individuals propagated by AABC using Hiwassee River broodstock (Johnson 2019). The second release was a batch of 300 individuals propagated from mixed broodstock of Hiwassee River (n = 2) and Beech Creek (Holston River basin) (n = 5) adults by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources’ Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) in Marion, VA.

Nolichucky River and Little Chucky Creek: The 2010 5-year review for Cumberland bean notes “Occasionally a fresh dead individual has been observed

in Little Chucky Creek, a tributary of the Nolichucky River in the French Broad River system. Although V. trabalis may still occur in this stream, the population is not considered viable” (Service 2010). TWRA began efforts to establish a viable Tennessee bean population in the Nolichucky River in 2018 by releasing 250 hatchery-propagated individuals from Hiwassee River broodstock. In 2019, TWRA released 903 hatchery-propagated individuals at the same site. Of these, 153 were produced at the TWRA’s Cumberland River Aquatic Center (CRAC) from Hiwassee River broodstock, and 750 were produced by AWCC using a mix of Hiwassee River and Beech Creek broodstock.

Extirpated populations: Tennessee bean populations have been extirpated from the Powell River, North Fork Holston River, and Daddy’s Creek (Obed River tributary). These population extirpations occurred historically, and have not occurred since the previous 5-year review.

2.3.1.3 Genetics, genetic variation, or trends in genetic variation (e.g., loss of genetic variation, genetic drift, inbreeding, etc.): Lane et al. (2016) analyzed genetic samples from 140 individuals collected from 10 streams located in Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky, representing all known extant populations of each nominal species, Villosa trabalis and Villosa perpurpurea. Results supported 2 distinct clades, one occurring in the Cumberland River basin and the other in the Tennessee River basin. The 2 clades were separated by a mean genetic distance of 4%, while mean genetic distances between haplotypes within each clade were <1%. Among individuals from the Cumberland River basin, the nacre of shells was white to bluish-white, but in the Tennessee River basin, nacre graded from white to pink to dark purple. Thus, nacre color (previously believed to be a distinguishing characteristic between the two species) is a variable and inconsistent character in nominal Villosa trabalis and Villosa perpurpurea occurring in the Tennessee River basin. These researchers concluded that the 2 morphologically similar species do not co-occur, as was previously believed.

Lane et al. (2019) conducted a population genetic analysis showing 5 population clusters across 5 river systems: Tennessee bean in the Clinch, Obed-Emory, Holston (i.e., Beech Creek), and Hiwassee rivers; and Cumberland bean in the Cumberland River. There was moderate to high differentiation among populations, with the highest differentiation observed between populations in the Cumberland and Tennessee River basins. The data suggest that all populations likely have lost genetic diversity and are bottlenecked to various degrees. Estimates of effective population sizes (Ne) suggest “that populations have become small and fragmented by natural historic processes and by man-made impediments to gene flow” (Lane et al. 2019). Results suggest a potential need to “artificially cross extant stocks within basins for purposes of genetic and demographic augmentation”, but Lane et al. (2019) advise against interspecific mixing of individuals between the Cumberland and Tennessee River basins.

2.3.1.4 Taxonomic classification or changes in nomenclature: The taxonomic nomenclature for the purple bean (= Tennessee bean), Villosa perpurpurea (Venustaconcha trabalis), and Cumberland bean, Villosa trabalis (= Venustaconcha troostensis), has changed (see discussion above – Section 2.3.1.3) based on genetic data from Lane et al. (2016, 2019). Populations in the Cumberland River system were identified as a new species, Venustaconcha troostensis (Cumberland bean), while populations of Villosa trabalis and Villosa perpurpurea in the Tennessee River system were combined as a separate species, Venustaconcha trabalis (Tennessee bean).

2.3.1.5 Spatial distribution, trends in spatial distribution (e.g. increasingly fragmented, increased numbers of corridors, etc.), or historic range (e.g. corrections to the historical range, change in distribution of the species’ within its historic range, etc.): Previously, the Tennessee bean was described as endemic to the upper Tennessee River system upstream of what is now Watts Bar Lake. Primarily a species of the Ridge and Valley Physiographic Province, it also occurs at the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau. Considering the recent genetic and taxonomic changes for this species, its range has been expanded slightly based on the inclusion of the Hiwassee River population, which was previously thought to be Cumberland bean, but is now known to be Tennessee bean. The entire range of the Tennessee bean still occurs in Tennessee River basin.

2.3.1.6 Habitat or ecosystem conditions (e.g., amount, distribution, and suitability of the habitat or ecosystem): Despite a decrease in coal mining activity within the Clinch and Powell River watersheds in recent years, ongoing and historic mining continues to negatively impact water quality in the Powell watershed (Zipper et al. 2014, 2016). Research is beginning to shed light on the specific chemical constituents – including specific conductance, pH, dissolved solids, alkalinity, hardness, and sulfate – correlated with declines in freshwater mussels, such as the Tennessee bean (Zipper et al. 2014, 2016). In sites impacted by coal mining or natural gas extraction, total recoverable metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), major ions, or a combination of the three likely have contributed to sediment toxicity and mussel declines in the upper Tennessee and Cumberland River systems (Wang et al. 2013, Cope and Jones 2016). Oil and gas wastewater from both conventional and unconventional wells have been shown to be a risk to aquatic organisms due to halide and ammonium levels in waters, even after brine treatment (Harkness et al. 2015). In addition, water-column ammonia and sediment metals have occurred at levels likely contributing to the decline of freshwater mussels in the Virginia portions of the Clinch and Powell rivers (Price et al. 2014).

2.3.1.7 Other: N/A

2.3.2 Five-Factor Analysis (threats, conservation measures, and regulatory mechanisms)

The purpose of a 5-year review is to recommend whether a listed taxon continues to warrant protection under the ESA and, if so, whether it should be reclassified (from threatened to endangered or from endangered to threatened). This task requires that the analysis of the threats to the species be performed while assuming that the species is not receiving the regulatory protections, funding, recognition, and other benefits of ESA listing. Summaries of ongoing applications of ESA protections may shed light on some future activities that constitute threats to the species. However, the analysis under Factor D (Inadequacy of Existing Regulatory Mechanisms) focuses on the availability of alternative (i.e., non-ESA) mechanisms to address the continuing and foreseeable threats.

2.3.2.1 Present or threatened destruction, modification or curtailment of its habitat or range:

The species’ recovery plan and 5-year reviews from 2006 and 2013 identified impoundments, channelization, mineral extraction (surface coal mining), gravel mining, contaminants, toxic chemical spills, and sedimentation as threats to the Tennessee bean; all of these threats remain. Additional, ongoing threats to the mussel include increased urbanization, streambank erosion, water withdrawals, and impacts associated with agricultural practices (e.g., sedimentation). There may also be increasing levels of timber harvest on private lands (D. Kirk, U.S. Forest Service, email to J. Richard, Service, June 12, 2019). Timber harvest leads to reduced forest cover and increased rates of sedimentation reaching streams and rivers.

2.3.2.2 Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes:

The species’ recovery plan and 5-year reviews from 2006 and 2013 have previously described these threats, and no new or additional information is available.

2.3.2.3 Disease or predation:

The species’ recovery plan and previous 5-year reviews from 2006 and 2013 provide a detailed analysis of predation, and no new or additional information is available.

Reviews of freshwater mussel diseases and disorders (Grizzle and Brunner 2009, Carella et al. 2016) indicated that diseases and pathogens have scarcely been considered as potential factors related to population declines and mass die-offs. Observations of mass mussel die-offs in the U.S. (Waller and Cope 2019) and emerging research on the potential role of pathogens in mussel population

declines (Leis et al. 2019) indicates that these aspects may pose a more significant risk than previously thought.

2.3.2.4 Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms:

The species’ recovery plan and previous 5-year reviews from 2006 and 2013 describe the existing regulatory mechanisms as well as their potential shortcomings as related to protection of the Tennessee bean. In early 2020, the Clean Water Act was amended to limit protections for certain streams and tributaries. Therefore, there may be an increase in degradation of water quality thus increasing future threats to the Tennessee bean. There is no other new or additional information available.

2.3.2.5 Other natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence:

The species’ recovery plan and previous 5-year reviews from 2006 and 2013 describe the other natural or manmade factors affecting the continued existence of the Tennessee bean. There is no new or additional information available. While climate may an impact on the species in the future, the nature and extent of these effects is currently unknown, and beyond the scope of this review.

2.4 Synthesis:

Significant new genetic and taxonomic information has led to proposed scientific and common name changes in which the species previously known as purple bean (Villosa perpurpurea) will be known as the Tennessee bean (Venustaconcha trabalis) (see Appendix A for a map of the current distribution for each species). Correspondingly, the species previously known as the Cumberland bean (Villosa trabalis) will retain its common name and receive a new scientific name Cumberland bean (Venustaconcha troostensis). These name changes have been recognized in the revised list of the freshwater mussels of the United States and Canada (Williams et al. 2017) and will be part of a direct final rule by the Service. The change in scientific and common names is related to, but separate from, the genetic and taxonomic changes described by Lane et al. (2016, 2019) from a legal perspective. Additional rule-making is required to rectify the changes in geographic range for both species.

Most extant populations of Tennessee bean persist in limited geographic areas and at small population sizes. Three of these populations show limited evidence of reproduction and recruitment, and the remainder show either declining trends or little change from previous evaluations. None of the extant populations has shown any signs of population expansion as measured by either increased range within stream segments or increased population density. Threats such as siltation, pollution, and habitat loss are likely still contributing to the species decline in multiple populations. Since the recovery plan was completed in 2004, the species has continued to decline in the lower Clinch/Copper Creek and Obed/Emory/Clear Creek populations.

Propagation efforts for this species have been substantial (Appendix C, and improved culture techniques have resulted in steady increases in survival, growth, and propagation capacity. Limited data on survival and growth have shown that these efforts are somewhat successful thus far, but future monitoring and continued augmentations will be needed to determine if successful reproduction is occurring in the wild.

The restricted distribution, continued vulnerability to a variety of threats, and continuing population declines of the Tennessee bean demonstrate that it continues to meet the definition of endangered (in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range) and should remain classified as such. Improvements to the species habitat and reintroduction efforts thus far have not been enough the change this status.

3.0 RESULTS

3.1 Recommended Classification: Given your responses to previous sections, particularly section 2.4. Synthesis, make a recommendation with regard to the listing classification of the species

__X_ No change is needed

3.2 New Recovery Priority Number: No change. Retain as 5.

Brief Rationale: Remains subject to a high degree of threat and has a low recovery potential.

4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTIONS -

Based on our review of purple bean (= Tennessee bean), we believe the following measures are appropriate:

• Revise the listing information, through the public rulemaking process, for the Cumberland bean and purple bean to reflect the current understanding of the taxonomy of these species. This includes both the rule to recognize the common name and scientific name changes and a rule updating the geographic extent of both species. • Subsequent to the revisions described above, update the recovery plan for the species to incorporate the changes in known populations resulting from the revised taxonomy. • Continue to augment and expand extant populations through propagation of juveniles, and monitor fate of released individuals. • Establish long-term monitoring sites to track the status of populations and trends. • Reestablish viable populations in additional streams within the historical range that have suitable habitat and water quality conditions. The North Fork Holston River should be considered as a potential reintroduction site. • Through various means of land protection (land acquisition, best management practices [BMP] programs, conservation easements), abate nonpoint source impacts and direct habitat loss (addresses recovery action 1.3.3). • Inform the public about impacts to habitat and water quality (addresses recovery action 7.1) and how to avoid and remediate the impacts.

5.0 REFERENCES

Ahlstedt, S.A. 1981. The molluscan fauna of Copper Creek (Clinch River system) in southwestern Virginia. Bulletin of the American Malacological Union 1981:4 6.

Ahlstedt, S.A., J.F. Connell, S. Bakaletz, and M.T. Fagg. 2001. Freshwater mussels of the National Park Service Obed Wild and Scenic River. Report to National Park Service, Oneida, Tennessee. 40 pp.

Barr, W.C., S.A. Ahlstedt, G.D. Hickman, and D.M. Hill. 1993-1994. Cumberlandian mollusk conservation program. Activity 8: Analysis of macrofauna factors. Walkerana 7(17/18):159-224.

Dinkins, G.R. 2010. Survey for endangered mussels in the Ober River at the Potters Ford bridge construction site, Catoosa wildlife management area Cumberland County, Tennessee. Report for Blalock and Sons, Inc., 12 pp.

Dinkins, G.R., H.D. Faust and S.A. Ahlstedt. 2012. Assessment of native mussels in Upper Emory River and selected tributaries, Morgan County, Tennessee. Report to The Nature Conservancy, Nashville, Tennessee. 23 pp.

Dinkins, G.R. and H.D. Faust. 2015. Assessment of native mussels in selected reaches within the Obed Wild and Scenic River. Report to National Park Service. Appalachian Highlands I&M Network. Asheville, North Carolina. 40 pp.

Fraley, S.J. 2001. Unpublished data from S.J. Fraley, Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, Tennessee: a survey of Beech Creek mussel fauna, conducted between February 5 and 7, 2001.

Fraley, S.J. and S. A. Ahlstedt. 2000. The recent decline of the native mussels (Unionidae) of Copper Creek, Scott County, Virginia. Pp. 189 195 in: P. D. Johnson and R. S. Butler, eds. Freshwater Mollusk Symposia Proceedings--Part II: Proceedings of the First Symposium of the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society, Chattanooga, Tennessee, March 1999. Ohio Biological Survey, Columbus.

Hanlon, S.D., M.A. Petty, and R.J. Neves. 2009. Status of freshwater mussels in Copper Creek, Virginia. Southeastern Naturalist 8(1):1-18.

Hanlon, S.D., B.J.K. Ostby and S.J. Fraley. 2013. Now you see them, now you don’t: applying occupancy modeling to monitor a rare and cryptic species. Proceedings of the Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society 2013 Symposium, Guntersville, Alabama.

Jones, J.W., R.J. Neves, M.A. Patterson, C.R. Good and A. DiVittorio. 2001. A status survey of freshwater mussel populations in the upper Clinch River, Tazewell County, Virginia. Banisteria 17: 20-30.

Jones, J.W. and R.J. Neves. 2004. Survey of freshwater mussel populations in Indian Creek, Tazewell County, Virginia. Unpublished report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Abingdon, Virginia. 33 pp.

Kuehnl, K.F. 2009. Exploring levels of genetic variation in the freshwater mussel genus Villosa (Bivalvia: Unionidae) at different spatial and systematic scales: Implications for biogeography, taxonomy, and conservation. Doctoral dissertation, The Ohio State University, Columbus.

Lane, T.W., E.M. Hallerman, and J.W. Jones. 2016. Phylogenetic and taxonomic assessment of the endangered Cumberland bean, Villosa trabalis and Purple Bean, Villosa perpurpurea (Bivalvia: Unionidae) Conservation Genetics 17:1109-1124, doi: 10.1007/s10592-016- 0847-0.

Lane, T.W., E.M. Hallerman, and J.W. Jones. 2019. Population genetic assessment of two critically endangered freshwater mussel species, Tennessee Bean Venustaconcha trabalis and Cumberland bean Venustaconcha troostensis. Conservation Genetics 20(4):759-779, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-019-01171-7.

Leis, E.M., S. Erickson, D.L. Waller, J.C. Richard, and T.L. Goldberg. 2019. A comparison of bacteria cultured from unionid mussel hemolymph between stable populations in the Upper Mississippi River basin and populations affected by a mortality event in the Clinch River. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation 22:70-80, 2019.

Neves, R.J. 1991. Mollusks. Pp. 251 319 in: K. Terwilliger, coordinator. Virginia’s endangered species: Proceedings of a symposium. McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company, Blacksburg, Virginia.

Ostby, B.J.K., P.A. Angermeier and S.D. Hanlon. 2014. Stream surveys for Villosa perpurpurea and other native mussels in Beech Creek, Hawkins County, Tennessee. Final project report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Abingdon, Virginia. 21 pp.

Ostby, B.J.K. and B. Beaty. 2018. Copper Creek 2014-2017. Copper Creek Conservation Committee 2018 annual meeting.

Ostby, B.J.K. 2019. Copper Creek occupancy study summary. Unpublished report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Southwestern Virginia Field Office, Abingdon, Virginia. 2 pp.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. 2012. SWG 2012 Emory River Mussel Survey project report. 25 pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). 2004. Final restoration plan and environmental assessment for the Certus chemical spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Gloucester, VA. 38 pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). 2010. Cumberland Bean Pearly Mussel 5 Year Review. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 15 pp.

Waller, D.L. and W.G. Cope. 2019. The status of mussel health assessment and a path forward. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation 22:26-42, 2019.

Watson, B.T. and R.J. Neves. 1998. A survey of the freshwater mussel fauna of Indian Creek, Tazewell County, Virginia. Unpublished report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia Field Office, White Marsh, Virginia. 18 pp.

Williams, J.D., A.E. Bogan, R. S. Butler, K.S. Cummings, J.T. Garner, J. L. Harris, H.A. Johnson, and G. T. Watters. 2017. A Revised List of the Freshwater Mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionida) of the United States and Canada. Freshwater Mollusk Biology and Conservation 20:33-58, 2017. Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society. 21 pp.

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 5-YEAR REVIEW of Purple Bean (Villosa perpurpurea) (= Tennessee Bean; Venustaconcha trabalis)

Current Classification: Endangered

Recommendation resulting from the 5-Year Review:

____ Downlist to Threatened ____ Uplist to Endangered ____ Delist __X_ No change needed

Appropriate Listing/Reclassification Priority Number, if applicable: NA

Review Conducted By: Jordan Richard

Approve ______Date ______

Assistant Regional Director – Ecological Services, North Atlantic-Appalachian Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Appendix A Map of current distribution of the Tennessee bean relative to the Cumberland bean.

Appendix B. Summary of Tennessee bean populations Population Subunit Status Upper Clinch River and Indian Creek Upper Clinch River Assumed extant at low abundance, augmented Indian Creek Extant, augmented Lower Clinch River and Copper Creek Lower Clinch River Presumed extirpated Copper Creek Extant, augmented Beech Creek Beech Creek Extant, augmented Emory River, Obed River, and Clear Creek Lower Emory River Extant - present within a small reach Upper Emory River Extant - present within a 4.5 mile reach Obed River Unknown - potentially extant at low abundance Clear Creek Extant - present at low abundance near stream mouth Daddys Creek Extirpated Hiwassee River Hiwassee River Extant - Viable, actively recruiting Paint Rock River Paint Rock River Reintroduced Nolichucky River and Little Extirpated Chucky Creek Nolichucky River Reintroduced Little Chucky Creek Unknown - potentially extant at low abundance Powell River Powell River Extirpated North Fork Holston River North Fork Holston River Extirpated

Appendix C. Summary of released propagated Tennessee bean since previous 5-year review.

Number River Release Site Year Released Clinch River Cleveland Islands 2012 139 Paint Rock River RM 33.1 2012 269 Paint Rock River RM 33.1 2015 100 Clinch River Bennett Farm 2016 70 Clinch River Sycamore Lane 2017 95 Clinch River Bennett Property 2017 50 Clinch River Nash to Artrip 2017 250 Indian Creek Law Office 2017 50 Beech Creek - 2017 20 Clinch River Artrip 2018 220 Clinch River Bennett Property 2018 220 Clinch River Cleveland Islands 2018 220 Copper Creek Copper Creek 2018 200 Copper Creek Copper Creek 2018 100 Indian Creek Law Office 2018 50 Clinch River Nash Ford 2018 60 Nolichucky Pates Hill site 2018 250 Clinch River Speers Ferry 2018 45 Clinch River Sycamore Lane 2018 73 Clinch River Above Cedar Bluff 2018 50 Beech Creek Van Hill Bridge 2018 210 Paint Rock RM 33.1 2019 16 Paint Rock RM 33.1 2019 300 Nolichucky Pates Hill site 2019 153 Nolichucky Pates Hill site 2019 750

Total 3960