For relatively small creatures, freshwater mussels have a fairly big workload. They accomplish so much, from “cleaning the water” where they live to making nutrients available for other organisms, that they’ve earned the nickname, “ecosystem engineers.”
Freshwater mussels are also in decline. In Texas, for instance, currently, 30% of the state’s approximately 50 freshwater mussel species are listed as threatened or endangered at the state level, and many of them are currently candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As a result, activities that could impact mussels’ aquatic habitats are subject to stringent government regulations.
EDGE’s Protected Species Practice regularly helps businesses navigate state and federal requirements specific to mussels, including relocations.
Assisting with these efforts at EDGE is project manager David Ford, an aquatic biologist specializing in Texas mussel species. The well-respected scientist has a state-wide Scientific Collectors Permit for mussels in Texas and holds permits in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri, Minnesota, and Kansas.
Ford is one of a handful of biologists to have scientific articles published about the Texas state-listed Louisiana Pigtoe (Pleurobema riddellii), one of the species being considered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for ESA protections. In fact, Ford has been sought out by the USFWS for his expertise and experience working with the species as part of their process for evaluating it for listing.
During his career, he has completed more than 100 freshwater mussel surveys and studies throughout the South and Midwest. During one project he co-led on the Mississippi River, crew members relocated more than 160,000 mussels, which included three federally listed species.
Ford is extensively published, including a 2020 article about Louisiana Pigtoe growth in East Texas, which he co-wrote for Hydrobiologia, The International Journal of Aquatic Sciences. He also helped write a chapter on freshwater mussels for the 2019 book, “Texans on the Brink: Threatened and Endangered Animals”.
Ford, who works frequently with Texas Parks and Wildlife, has an in-depth understanding of the process of developing and implementing freshwater mussel surveys and identifying and assessing habitats for relocations.
EDGE’s Protected Species Practice was created to help clients address potential impacts to protected species under the ESA, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), and other regulations. The team’s experienced, knowledgeable scientists work closely with clients to help them achieve their objectives, from coordinating with environmental agencies to implementing species relocations.