ERF personnel are involved in an intensive evaluation of watersheds in the Yazoo River basin of north Mississippi. Researchers are interested in the streams' physical, chemical, and biological changes during this time period. One focus of the ERF is assessment of contaminant and physical stream change impact upon freshwater mussel communities. This research has also led to work with mussel conservation since bioassessments have often required production of various life stages for study.
Personnel have the experience to successfully propagate juvenile mussels in the laboratory.
Currently 8 species have been transformed on synthetic growth media in combination with natural fish host encystments. The ultimate goal of the conservation efforts is to reintroduce sustainable populations of mussel to rivers and streams where risk has been reduced for validated impact. To date four species have been reintroduced into Leading Creek, OH following recovery of the stream from a coal mine release in the early 90s. American Electric Power Service Corporation has funded much of the current mussel research for propagation and conservation of native mussels. The Tennessee Department of Transportation has funded surveys of recovering stream conditions since 1991 to evaluate the invertebrate community structure of Indian Creek as a result of highway construction.