Although sedimentation is believed to have harmful biological effects on most aquatic organisms, including rare freshwater mussels, definitive research to support this assumption is lacking. Research on the biological effects of sedimentation on the various life stages of freshwater mussels would help the Service and others to understand the impacts of various land use and construction activities on mussels. No other wide-ranging North American faunal group has suffered as dramatic a decline in this century as freshwater mussels.
Habitat degradation is the primary cause for decline.
Sedimentation from various land use and construction activities is thought to have contributed to mussel decline, but definitive research to support this assumption for mussels or other aquatic organisms is lacking. Evidence on the impacts of sedimentation on mussels would help the Service to fulfill the mandate to protect and recover threatened and endangered mussel species.