1. Objectives

The proponents have two objectives:
• to restore native freshwater mussel populations in the Umatilla River, and
• to further conservation efforts across the Tribe’s ceded territory.

Research continues along three broad lines of investigation to: (a) determine the status, trends, and distribution of mussels in the Tribe’s ceded territory; (b) understand the physical and biological factors that control distribution; and (c) characterize the population level genetic structuring of western mussels.

Based on past annual reports and publications, the research has been quantitatively rigorous. Unfortunately, there are no guiding hypotheses and the objectives are not quantitative and time bound, so the effectiveness of meeting them cannot be fully evaluated. As well, there are other collaborators on this project (which is good), but the results generated by the proponents cannot be delineated from those produced by others. Further, the description of the project timeline is vague and uninformative. No clear milestones or end dates are indicated.

2. Methods

The methods described in the annual reports and publications are scientifically sound. Nevertheless, the ISRP has three suggestions to improve the program:

• The research does not address non-native mussels and clams, such as Corbicula, or chemical contaminants. These have threatened mussel populations in other regions of the Pacific Northwest, and this project would be strengthened by developing research to explore these issues.

• There was no description of population dynamics. Given the observed declines of most populations of western mussels, a better understanding of the population dynamics of these mussels is needed. Some important questions include: What are the size and age class distributions in these local populations? What are the recruitment rates in stable and declining populations? What are the movement rates, and is there movement between sub-populations?

• Greater detail about the propagation research for western mussels is needed. This is an important aspect, both for restoration and identification of potential host fish.

3. Results

The Freshwater Mussel Research Project has provided critical information about the distribution, abundance, and status of western mussels in several major rivers of eastern Oregon. This is potentially important for conservation and restoration efforts and expands the freshwater community perspective of the Fish and Wildlife Program. The lessons learned are applicable to the entire Columbia River Basin and western United States. Collaboration with the Xerces Society is a particularly strong aspect of this research project. Both the Xerces Society and the Freshwater Mussel Project are to be commended for their development of best management practices for restoration project planning. However, the project summary does not provide a thorough description of its outreach efforts beyond its collaboration with the Xerces Society.

The project has been productive, publishing six papers since 2013.

4. 2017 Research Plan uncertainties validation

The ISRP generally agrees but feels that the proponents overstate their case for indirectly examining critical uncertainties related to Contaminants (No. 35), Human Development (No. 40), and Monitoring and Evaluation (No. 44). The text provided on these topics is too general to be useful. Data, as well as some level of quantification, are required.

The ISRP is greatly impressed by this project. Our comments and qualifications are given with the intention of making this project even more scientifically meaningful to the Fish and Wildlife Program. The potential contribution of this program to conservation and restoration is huge for the study area, and the Columbia River Basin, through better understanding the distribution and ecology of mussels and their use as sentinel species to track environmental conditions. The Xerces Society is a good partner for communicating information on the project to the public, as well as for providing guidelines on avoiding damage to mussels with restoration projects. The ISRP is not yet sure how the mussel project will share information with the Biomonitoring Project and other restoration and lamprey projects; the ISRP would appreciate a discussion of this with the proponents. There are several questions to address. Would salmon and mussel restoration be beneficial in similar areas? Are there risks? Mussels can also provide a retrospective look at past environmental conditions. The ISRP urges the proponents to work with EPA and others on contaminants, as well as on other factors implicated in population declines. The ISRP recognizes that the project is in a discovery phase. However, about two years from now, the proponents will need to have quantitative restoration objectives, as well as concrete information on factors causing population declines. It would be prudent to start on this in the very near future, using collaborators and ad-hoc advisors to provide critical feedback.