Document Kz78DV1r3e5owb56wobOyGERo

US Army Corps of Engineers t J), eunonc stron. Endangered Species: Conservationof Native Mussels Photos Posted 2262015 Updated March 2017 Location/Description The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead `3 `agency on the Mussel Coordination Team Ne (MCT). Other membersof the MCT include: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. | Geological Survey, the National Park Service, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Departments of Natural Resources from Minnesota, Wisconsin, ~~ Col Dan Koprowski, St. Paul District Towa and Illinois. commander, left, and Charlie Wooley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Regional MCT biologists, including Corps biologists deputy regional director. had the opportunity from St. Paul and Rock Island District, are `working to establish five new populations of the federally endangered Higgins eye (Lampsils higginsii) mussel. Relocation sites have been established in Minnesota, Related Content Related News StoryCorps,partners work Wisconsin, Illinois and lowa. These biologists ~~ Le ogetn hertd opra esen rvegerme ussd els also monitor the health and status of Related Video Cporaps.rtneprlacse: endangered and other native mussels by endangered mussels in Mississippi River sampling various locations on the river Data Related LinkInformationPaper are entered into a geographic information system to facilitate long-term monitoring, data sharing and species management activities. MCT biologists annually remove zebra mussels manually from hundreds of Higgins eye mussels to increase their survival. Developmentof a relocation plan for athuetrfeeadcehrailslybienndgancgoendruecdtweidnged mapleleaf mussel (Quadrula fragosa) was initiated in 2006. Public =) "The Higgins eye relocation plan was developed in response to the Fish and Wildlife Service's 2000 Biological Opinion, which stated that continued operationofthe 9-foot navigation channel project on 3738.0001 the Upper Mississippi River system would likely jeopardize the continued existence of the federally endangered Higgins eye and result in the incidental take ofwinged mapleleaf. The Fish and Wildlife Service determined that operation and maintenance of the navigation pools and project-dependent `commercial barge transportation would encourage continued zebra mussel dispersion throughout the system. Zebra mussels negatively affect the survival and recovery of these endangered mussels. The 10-year Higgins eye relocation plan reestablishment phase has been completed, with long-term (20 years) monitoring afierward and augmentation of populations. Status Higgins eye relocation and monitoring efforts are in the 18th year of the implementation phase and the 11h year ofmonitoring. Asof2017, more than 42,000 2-3 year-old sub-adults have been placed in Mississippi River Pools 2, 3,4 and 16 and the Wisconsin and Rock Rivers. Nearly 500 adults have been moved to relocation sites in Pools 2and 3. More than 4.5 million juveniles from more than 33,000 infested fish were free released or placed in open bottom cages from 2001 to 2012 in the `Wisconsin, lowa, Cedar and Wapsipinicon Rivers. Propagation and stocking was completed in 2010 for the northern strain. Propagation and stocking for the southern strain was completed in 2012, Monitoring populations for potential augmentation began in 2006 and wil continue. Authority Formal authorization for the Corps to perform operation and maintenance activities on the Upper Mississippi River System was given in the Rivers and Harbors Acts of 1927, 1930, 1932 and 1935, Fiscal Years 2000-2017 Funding through fiscal year 2015 $8.7 million Fiscal year 2017 funds 5216000 3738.0002