• Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

    Mississippi

    National River & Recreation Area Minnesota

Upper Mississippi River Mussel Counts

The National Park Service and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) surveyed the 72 miles of Missisippi River and 4 miles of Minnesota River that constitute the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The Minnesota DNR began this important work with the Statewide Mussel Survey, during the 1999 field season. The statewide survey continued during the 2000 field season and in the 2001 season with the involvement of the National Park Service's Inventory and Monitoring Program.

During the 2000 field season, the DNR was able to sample a total of 60 sites along the metropolitan Mississippi River corridor. In 2001, 108 sites were sampled. A total of 13,589 live mussels were collected over the two survey years. Some species were found in one year and not in the other. Forty-two of Minnesota's 49 species were found in this stretch of river; 22 of those were live.

Mussels

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The results of these studies are very encouraging. The results are drastically different than what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Academy of Science found when they sampled the Upper Mississippi in the late 1970's. Their original findings painted a dismal picture for the health of the river. In the 1970's they only found nine species of mussel in the area. With the rehabilitation of the Mississippi River, we have found 28 live species in this stretch of water. Where mussels currently can be found throughout the river corridor, 30 years ago, their range was restricted to just below Lock and Dam 1. With improved waste water treatment techniques, separation of sewer and storm drains, and restoration of habitat, mussels are making a comeback.

The graph "Mussel Survey Data" shows species that were present in numbers greater than 1% of the total mussels found.

 
Species present at less than 1% of total
[Figure 1.1]
Species
 2000 Survey
 2001 Survey
Butterfly
 0
 2
Creek heelsplitter
 3
Elktoe
 1
 3
Fawnsfoot
 33
 20
Hickorynut
 2
 10
Monkeyface
 0
 1
Mucket
 0
 6
Paper pondshell
 3
 3
Pink papershell
 57
 68
Rockshell
 15
 16
Round pigtoe
 2
 6
Spike
 0
 14
Washboard
2
White heelsplitter
 8
 17
The table shown above lists the number of mussels found for those species that made up less than 1% of the total. A zero (0) means that no live mussels of that species were found. If the number field is blank, it means that no live or dead mussels of that species were found in that survey year.
Species present at less than 1% of total (dead only) [Figure 1.2]
Cylindrical papershell Pistolgrip
Ebonyshell Purple wartyback
Elephant ear Sheepnose
Fluted shell Spectaclecase
Higgin's eye Winged mapleleaf
Lilliput Yellow sandshell
None of the mussels listed in this table were found alive, but the presence of their shells indicates they were once present in the corridor.

Did You Know?

Lock at St. Anthony Falls

The Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is 49 feet deep.