1. Development and Implementation of Freshwater Species Recovery Efforts in Alabama Paul D. Johnson, Ph.D. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center Marion, Alabama

2. Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center (AABC) Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Not part of the state general fund Primary funding state wildlife and other external funds No regulatory authority http://www.outdooralabama.com Cahaba River, Shelby County

3. AABC Mission: Promote recovery of imperiled non-game aquatic species Coordinate / direct research efforts for rare species Promote habitat / river recovery efforts Complete species restoration through reintroduction

4. INTRODUCTION: Aquatic diversity summary Species recovery methods Site selections Example reintroductions

5. Alabama Physiographic & River Basins

6. Distributions of Freshwater Species in Selected Southeastern States Mussels Snails Crayfish Fish Amphibians (301) (702) (338) (1024) (163) Alabama 181 204 85+ 308 69 Tennessee 132 87 62 298 66 Georgia 119 83 53 219 81 Kentucky 103 62 47 220 49 Mississippi 85 35 64 204 59 Pleurobema rubellum - Warrior Pigtoe

7. 308 Species 15 federally listed 85+ Species 0 federally listed 182 Species 52 federally listed 204 Historical 12 federally listed Alabama Federally Listed Species

9. PLAN FOR THE POPULATION RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION OF IMPERILED FRESHWATER MOLLUSKS OF THE MOBILE RIVER BASIN Prepared by the: Mobile River Basin Mollusk Restoration Committee January 2010 Mollusk Recovery Planning

10. Southern Pocketbook, Lampsilis ornata – Cahaba River

11. 1. 2. 3. 4. Artificial culture process for freshwater mussels:

12. Modified from figure in Barnhart et al 2006 Partial Flow-Thru Bucket Culture System:

13. SUPSYS – Open Water Mussel Culture Chamber:

14. Lampsilis virescens – in SUPSYS 14 days

15. Lampsilis virescens – in SUPSYS 135 days

16. Upwelling cup containing juvenile mussels placed in silo. 1 mm mesh Photo of a single silo placed in possible release site. In-Situ Pre-Release

17. Deployed Mussel Silo

18. July 8, 2010 Villosa nebulosa – Choccolocco Creek Silo Test @ week 4. Note growth around ventral shell margin. August 4, 2010

19. Choccolocco Creek, Talladega County Larger channels preferred: * Higher productivity, more heterogeneity, larger surface, discharge more stable * Animals positively rheotaxic * Improved colonization rate and population size potential

20. Bear Creek, Colbert County, Reintroductions: Alabama Lampmussel 1,039 Individuals = 28 pounds Cumberland Moccasinshell 140 Individuals

21. Alabama Lampmussel recaptures - Bear Creek, Colbert Co., AL June 14, 2012

23. ≈ 9,000 Leptoxis plicata awaiting release

24. Juvenile Leptoxis plicata at Wallstown release site, Blount County, Alabama. Snails recruited from 2011 released cultured snails. June 13, 2011 Locust Fork Reintroduction Monitoring:

25. Plicate Rocksnail reintroduction site on the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River, Blount County Alabama. October 16, 2005

26. Plicate Rocksnail reintroduction site on the Locust Fork Black Warrior River, Blount County Alabama. August 26, 2010

27. Jefferson Blount Locust Fork – Black Warrior River : Etowah Walker 1. Kimberly Site 2. Locust Fork Site 3. Wallstown Site Release DateNumber Released July 17, 20034,876 October 16, 200311,912 July & October 200316,788 Release DateNumber Released January 28, 20054,812 October 16, 2005> 17,000 October 3, 200631,425 2005 - 2006> 53,237 Release DateNumber Released September 14, 201013,200 October 4, 20111,281 September 20124,002 2010 - 201218,483

29. Survey Location of Reintroduction Site Brood Stock Allocation Culture In-Situ Silo Trial Reintroduction Evaluation of Persistence Augmentation Verification of Recruitment Basic research is a requirement Lack of WQ stability impedes recovery Habitat monitoring SHU process benefits more than imperiled spp. Culture & Reintroduction Process:

30. AABC 2012 Mollusk Reintroductions: Alabama Lampmussel - E Paint Rock - lower Bear Creek Elk River, TN Cumberland Bean – E Paint Rock Cumberland Moccasinshell Bear Creek Alabama Rainbow Choccolocco Creek Alabama Creekmussel Choccolocco Creek Southern Combshell - E Cahaba River Coosa Moccasinshell - E Little Cahaba River Fine-lined Pocketbook - T Little River Interrupted Rocksnail – E Weiss Bypass Rabbitsfoot - C Limestone Creek Painted Creekshell Limestone Creek Oyster Mussel – E Paint Rock Orangenacre Mucket - T Tallatchee Creek Tennessee Basin: Coosa Basin: Cahaba Basin: Alabama Basin: Spotted Rocksnail Cahaba River

32. Painted Creekmussel & Rabbitsfoot – Limestone Creek – September 2012