Brook Floater Conservation

Overview

A multi-state Brook Floater (Alasmidonta varicosa) Conservation Initiative began in November 2016. The primary objective was to begin developing a strategic conservation and restoration plan for the Brook Floater, an imperiled freshwater mussel species, across its range, including the use of citizen science to monitor known populations and habitat. This initiative complements a Regional Conservation Needs project (Barry Wicklow, St. Anselm College) which focused on gathering all available information on Brook Floater and assessing threats across its range. Among many objectives for this initiative, is the formation of the Brook Floater Working Group (BFWG), which focuses on increasing range wide cooperative conservation efforts and strategic planning towards reducing further population losses and defining approaches for recovery of Brook Floater throughout New England, New York, Virginia, and North Carolina. The effort was primarily funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through a State Wildlife Grant (CSWG-I) awarded to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) through a grant awarded to the Connecticut River Conservancy.

Image of two Brook Floaters of different size.

Photo Courtesy of Michelle Graziosi

Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation

Photo Courtesy of Ayla Skorupa

In 2022, the BFWG continued the historic efforts with help from an additional Competitive State Wildlife Grant (CSWG-II). With the continued support, the BFWG was able to expand to 39 representatives from 14 state agencies, 3 federal agencies and 4 universities. Members of the BFWG have attended 52 monthly meetings over 5 years. The primary objective of the new grant is to continue the Brook Floater conservation and monitoring, propagation planning and implementation, population and habitat assessments, and coordinate BFWG meetings.