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Mussels protection effort sparks debate


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#1 Guest_D_Wilkins_*

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Posted 29 January 2009 - 02:06 PM

I thought this might be of interest to some here. I saw it on another list serve.

http://www.pittsburg...s/s_608691.html

David

#2 Guest_rjmtx_*

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Posted 29 January 2009 - 02:46 PM

Mussels, the proper children of old. Throughout reading the article, that thought just stuck in my head.

#3 Guest_BTDarters_*

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Posted 29 January 2009 - 07:59 PM

Good article. Mussels really don't get enough publicity and probably not enough protection, either. I don't know of anyone in my area of the state that really knows anything about native mussels. I know woefully little, but still appreciate them. I know that they're a vital part of a healthy ecosystem.

Brian

Edit: Removed extra signature line. :roll:

Edited by BTDarters, 29 January 2009 - 08:00 PM.


#4 Guest_ashtonmj_*

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Posted 29 January 2009 - 09:35 PM

Brian, I think you'd be pleasently surprised about the mussel diversity and work in Wisconsin, especially the areas in the Upper Mississippi drainage.

#5 Guest_BTDarters_*

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Posted 29 January 2009 - 10:51 PM

Matt,

Can you put me in contact with anyone in southeastern Wisconsin that's working with mussels? I'd like for them to possibly come and talk at the native fish club meeting. I'd be interested in learning how mussel numbers and diversity may have an impact on native fish and the fishery. I'm going to send you a PM also.

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
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#6 Guest_D_Wilkins_*

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Posted 30 January 2009 - 05:11 PM

Here is a link I found a short while back.

http://faculty-staff...n-1/publist.htm

It has a list of research papers that deal mostly with mussel ecology. I am far from an knowing much on the subject, but it is very interesting how mussels or lack there of can really effect the ecosystem of aquatic habitats.

David

#7 Guest_BTDarters_*

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Posted 31 January 2009 - 02:13 AM

Thanks, David!

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
American-Native Fish for your aquarium...and more!
Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Email: bt@btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489

#8 Guest_ashtonmj_*

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Posted 31 January 2009 - 09:03 AM

Brian,

I'm not familiar with anyone in your area but MN and WI state and federal biologists in the area are actively involved with mussels. I'm sure information can be readily found with a good ole Google search. Malacaster College does alot of work in your neck of the woods, specifically the St. Croix.

As to the article, I find it interesting that 1) it was in the sports section and 2) this is nothing new though the dredging companies make it appear their blindsided.

#9 Guest_BTDarters_*

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Posted 01 February 2009 - 06:59 AM

Matt,

Thanks! I did a search on the WI Dept. of Natural Resources website and found some contacts. I've emailed them and hopefully I can get one of them to talk at the natives club meeting.

Brian

Brian J. Torreano - Owner
BTDarters
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Web: http://www.btdarters.com
Email: bt@btdarters.com
Phone: (262) 268-7489

#10 Guest_farmertodd_*

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Posted 02 February 2009 - 10:48 AM

This is exactly why we need to designate rivers, not species. If you designate rivers or river segments as protected, it controls the amount of "possible possibilities" that makes industry get their fur all up. And if you're putting mussels against making money, money wins.

What makes no sense to me is why the state designation is carrying so much weight for those opposed? The Feds are considering uplisting all these species to the same designations PA is proposing. I see a big fight coming.

Todd

#11 Guest_fundulus_*

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Posted 02 February 2009 - 11:13 AM

It's somewhat silly anyway because rivers are still navigable with listed mussel species in them. The lower Alabama River in south Alabama is a case in point, barge traffic continues while the 4 or 5 (I forget the exact number) of federally listed species live in the same place and seemingly are stable.

#12 Guest_farmertodd_*

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Posted 02 February 2009 - 12:32 PM

Yep. If we had a river designation or habitat use designation, again there's no problem. I assume they're using wing dams for training structures, which cuts down hugely on the dredging and still allows, for at least mussels, enough habitat heterogeneity to do their business. That might be what is included in the habitat use designation for acceptable practices - no re-evaluation on every damn project. This saves money!

What gets my dander flying with the PA stuff is that they're upset because they want to mine gravel from the stream. I think this is deplorable in any case, however, there are many streams where I have less a problem with it than others. If we can cut this down from the "all possible possibilities" to "gravel mining may occur...", just think how much more teeth we'd have on the rivers (and consequent biota) we actually need to protect.

Todd

#13 Guest_ashtonmj_*

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Posted 02 February 2009 - 07:05 PM

Not to totally derail the thread with another debate, but segment classification already exists. Tiered Aquatic Life Use. Not saying it does or doesn't do it's job, but it's there. An interesting strategy was proposed recently using the scenic river designation in Maryland. A legislator proposed designating an absolutely disgusting stretch of river as scenic to direct funding towards land acquisition, restoration, remediation, etc. Didn't work, but it was clever. To some extent protecting rivers is ongoing, the Coosa HCP is one example, but as Bruce points out many of the riveres are already drastically altered, as is this specific case. At any rate, this can be argued until the cows come home about state listed species. There have already been biological opinions and court decisions about gravel dredging in the Allegheny because of federally listed species.



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