Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Oklahoma
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The Blue River, Oklahoma has historically supported 23 species of freshwater mussels, but the latest assessment is dated (more than 30 years old) and found that the lower portion of the river was devoid of mussels. Whereas declines in abundance is disconcerting, a complete extirpation is alarming. To understand the current state of mussels in the Blue River, a new survey is necessary; one that can document the abundance and diversity of mussels that still exist as well as assess the status of mussel occurrence in the lower reaches where they have been thought extirpated. Working with biologists from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC), we will be using several different survey types, such as snorkeling, quadrat sampling, eDNA, and side-scan sonar to evaluate the state of the mussel community. In the lower portion of the river, this study will provide evidence to help conclude if mussels are truly extirpated with rapid, non-invasive techniques. In the upper portion of the river, this study will update the species composition, relative abundance, and size structure of extant native mussels.