Risk assessments provide a focal point for cooperation among local communities and state and federal government agencies, and a basis for comparing various management options. The Clinch River, originating in Virginia, flows southwest to where it is joined by the Powell River at Norris, Tennessee. The topography of the Clinch River Basin is characterized by dramatic relief, with steep, irregular mountains and valleys. Female wavy-rayed mussel. Many mussel species in the Clinch river are endangered.
Mussels require clean, clear water and silt-free gravel or cobble to survive.
The assemblage of fish and freshwater mussel species in the Clinch river is among the most diverse and unique in North America. In fact, many of the native mussel species are found nowhere else. The Clinch River harbors at least four fish and 18 mussel species that are either federally endangered, threatened or are candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act. A partnership has been formed between public and private organizations that share a goal of preserving or restoring the valuable natural resources of the watershed while maintaining its economic uses. This ecological risk assessment will analyze the stressors and resulting ecological effects in the Clinch River watershed.