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Current Status:

The Tar River spinymussel faces water quality degradation resulting from industrial and sewage effluents and the runoff of silt and other water pollutants from poorly designed construction, development, mining, agricultural, and forestry activities.

Achievements:

During the past 2 years, a new population was discovered in a tributary of the Tar River, an analysis of threats to the species was completed, and the Fish and Wildlife Service published a revised recovery plan. Although little measurable progress has been made thus far in recovering the mussel or stabilizing existing populations, efforts that should begin to improve recovery prospects are now under way.

Current Recovery Needs:

Recovery will require continued protection and enhancement of existing populations, and the protection of currently occupied and historic habitat. Methods for reintroducing the species into unoccupied historic habitat and for cryopreservation of genetic material are needed. An investigation of the potential threat from an invasion of the exotic zebra mussel is important, and the public must be informed of the plight of this and other endangered mussels.

Section 6 Funding and Activities:

In FY 1991, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission was provided $23,000 to monitor this species, identify its habitat requirements, and evaluate threats to its survival. In FY 1992, the Commission was provided $5,000 for additional surveys and monitoring, and for life history studies of the spinymussel.

Partnerships

Tennessee Valley Authority: This agency conducts mussel surveys as part of its environmental review of projects that may impact mussel populations, maintains a geographic data base on mussel distribution, is developing mussel propagation technology, and has conducted a bioassay of various chemicals using juvenile mussels. The Tennessee Valley Authority is also developing feeding and holding procedures for artificially propagated juvenile mussels.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission: This State agency is responsible for managing North Carolina's federally listed mussels, including the Tar River spinymussel. The Commission has an environmental review process and makes site surveys. Commission biologists discovered a new population of the species and have analyzed threats to existing populations. The Commission is also attempting to secure greater State protection for the habitats of the spinymussel and other listed mussels.

North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources: This State agency is responsible for maintaining a geographic data base on the distribution of mussels. Through maintenance of the data base, this agency provides valuable information for environmental review of projects that may affect mussels.

Recovery Plan Status:

Original plan approved 1/16/87; revised 5/5/92.