Wisconsin Mussel Monitoring Program

Participants throughout Wisconsin are asked to conduct freshwater mussel surveys. This involved systematic searching for shells and live mussels. Shell specimens and photos of live mussels are often taken from rivers, lakes, or streams.

Over half of Wisconsin’s 51 native mussel species (also known as clams) are listed as species in greatest need of conservation, or we need information on where they currently occur. Threats like habitat alteration (dams, silt) and the presence of invasive mussels (zebra mussels) pose major threats to the existence of our native mussels. The Mussel Monitoring Program of Wisconsin would like your help in finding out what mussels occur in your area!