Critical habitat designated in MS for these endangered critters. Does it impact private land?
More than 3,800 river miles across 17 states, including Mississippi, is now designated critical habitat for four species of endangered freshwater mussels, officials said.
The designation aims to support the conservation of the species, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said in an April 24 news release.
“Mussels play a vital role in freshwater ecosystems — they serve as indicators of stream health and help maintain water quality by filtering food, sediment and pollutants from the water,” officials said.
Here’s what Mississippians should know about the update.
Which mussel species does this help?
The critical habitat designation serves the following freshwater mussels, according to the release:
- The rayed bean: a mussel about 1.5 inches long that has declined from 115 streams, rivers and other bodies of water to 37 streams
- The sheepnose: a mussel that can grow up to 5.5 inches long that has declined from 79 streams, rivers and a canal to 22 waterways
- The snuffbox: a mussel about 3 inches long that has declined from more than 210 streams, rivers and other waterways to 85
- The spectaclecase: a mussel that can grow up to 9 inches long that has declined from 61 rivers and streams to about 40
All of these species were listed as endangered in 2012 due to destruction of their river habitats from construction, pollution and invasive species competition, officials said.
Across which states does the designation span?
The designation is about 3,814 river miles across the following states, according to the release;
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Does the designation impact land ownership?
No, this critical habitat designation does not impact land ownership, create reserves or protected areas or change the status of private land, officials said.
The designation does impact development actions that involve federal agencies in planning, permitting or implementing, according to officials.
