Surveying for Freshwater Mussels in the Yakima River

Upper Yakima River

• Upper Reach

PowerPoint Presentation

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Western Pearlshell (Margaritifera falcata)

• Western Pearlshell (Margaritifera falcata)
  • cold, clear streams/rivers
• Western Ridged (Gonidea angulata)
  • cold, clear streams/rivers
• Floater (Anodonta spp.)
  • lentic environments (lakes, low-gradient)

Importance

• water quality
• food webs
• relationship with salmonids
• bio-indicators/bio-monitors
• cultural significance

Surveying . . . or rather, Problems with….

• flow regulation
• abrupt flow changes
• cryptic?
• cold temperatures
• river access

Flow regulation

• Flow regulation
  • flip-flop

Abrupt flow changes

• Abrupt flow changes
  • warm spells
  • rain
  • rain-on-snow events
    • safety concerns
    • turbidity

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Cold weather

• Cold weather
  • safety
    • air temp.
    • water temp.
  • bank ice
  • ice floes
  • anchor ice
  • survey time

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Increasing initial survey efficiency

• Increasing initial survey efficiency
  • fly-fishing guides
  • WDFW fisheries biologists
  • Yakama Nation fisheries biologists

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