BPA Project Number: 2002-037-00
BPA Project Title: FRESHWATER MUSSEL PROJECT
Contract Number:
Contract Title: FRESHWATER MUSSEL PROJECT
Performance/Budget Period: October 1, 2005 - September 31, 2005
Technical Contact Name:  Jeanette Howard
Technical Contact Title:  Project Leader
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Department of Natural Resource
Fisheries Program
P.O. Box 638
Pendleton, OR  97801
Technical Contact Phone:  541-966-2370
Fax:    
Technical Contact email
jhowie@uclink.berkeley.edu
JeanetteHoward@ctuir.com
jhowieca2004@yahoo.com

Contracting Contact Name:  Julie Burke
Contracting Contact Title:  Administrative contact
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Department of Natural Resource
Fisheries Program
P.O. Box 638
Pendleton, OR  97801
Contracting Contact Phone:  (541) 966-2372  Fax: (541) 276-4348
Contract Contact email
julieburke@ctuir.com
Financial Contact Name:  Michelle Thompson  
Financial Contact Title:  
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Department of Natural Resource
Fisheries Program
P.O. Box 638
Pendleton, OR  97801
Financial Contact Phone:  (541) 966-2323
Financial Contact email
michellethompson@ctuir.com

FOR CONTRACT BACKGROUND SECTION:

Introduction
Freshwater mussels were vital components of intact salmonid ecosystems that have been affected directly and indirectly by dams, habitat deterioration, and declines in salmon populations. Mussels are also culturally and traditionally important to Native Americans in the region. Yet prior to this study little was known about their distribution, status, and population structure to guide recovery actions in the mid-Columbia river drainages. The purpose of this study is to provide critical information on the status of freshwater mussels in the Middle and North Fork John Day, and the Umatilla rivers. This information is essential for the restoration of freshwater mussels.
Historically, at least seven freshwater mussel species occurred in Oregon and Washington:  the western pearlshell, Margaritifera falcata (Gould, 1850); western ridged mussel, Gonidea angulata (I. Lea, 1838); Yukon floater, Anodonta beringiana Middendorff, 1851; California floater, Anodonta californiensis I. Lea, 1852; western floater, Anodonta kennerlyi I. Lea, 1860; winged floater, Anodonta nuttalliana I. Lea, 1838; and Oregon floater, Anodonta oregonensis I. Lea, 1838 (USFS Mollusk Database 2004, Williams et al. 1993, Frest and Johannes 1995).  
Recent surveys conducted for freshwater mussels in the Umatilla, Middle and North Fork John Day rivers show that mussels were found at all sites surveyed in the Middle and North forks of the John Day River, but at less than 10% of the sites sampled in the Umatilla River system. All three genera of mussels known for the western United States were found in the Middle Fork John Day River, and co-occurred at almost 50% of the sites sampled. In the Umatilla River, two genera were found, Anodonta and Gonidea, but only in the lower main stem and in one tributary. Live Margaritifera were not found in the Umatilla River, although historically they occurred in the system, and shell material collected in the current survey suggests they occurred in that river until very recently. Habitat degradation, including active channel change, and the decline of salmonid and other native fish populations may have contributed to the extirpation of mussels from historical locations. The data previously collected in our surveys, and future experimental activities will be used to provide essential information for designing a recovery plan for freshwater mussels in the Umatilla River system.
The project has the following objectives for 2005:
1. Quantitatively assess the age distribution of freshwater mussels in the Umatilla and Middle Fork John Day rivers to obtain information on the history of survival, reproduction, and potential for future growth.
2. Quantitatively assess the functional role of freshwater mussels in the Umatilla and Middle Fork John Day rivers.
3. Assess the patterns of genetic diversity and divergence in freshwater mussels of the Umatilla and John Day River drainages.
4. Determine the periods of gravidity for M. falcata, A. oregonensis, and G. angulata from the John Day River system.  
5. Determine the host fish requirements for all three freshwater mussel species found in the Umatilla and John Day River drainages by identifying encysted glochidia on wild caught fish and verifying the findings via laboratory experiments.  
6. Develop a recovery plan for freshwater mussels in the Umatilla River.
7. Review how the results of this study are applicable to other areas within the Columbia River Basin.
8. Report results to the funding agency.
9. Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and attend professional conferences.

GOAL
The overall goal of this research is to provide essential information for designing a recovery plan for freshwater mussels in the Umatilla River. These objectives will provide information that will be useful for restoration efforts elsewhere in the Columbia River Basin where mussels may be declining or extinct.