Openlands Publishes Mussel Study to Help Protect Kishwaukee River

April 28, 2011
Contact: Charles Mutscheller

CHICAGO, IL—The report Unionid Mussel Survey of Selected Portions of the Kishwaukee River Watershed, released this month by Openlands, culminates a year-long survey of mussels in the Kishwaukee, one of the three highest-quality river systems in Illinois, which runs through Boone, DeKalb, Kane, McHenry, and Winnebago counties.

"This report is important because it provides valuable data that will help conservationists, elected officials, and scientists protect and restore key portions of the Kishwaukee and its tributaries, which are used regularly for a wide range of educational, recreational, and research purposes," explained Openlands President & CEO Jerry Adelmann.

Conducted throughout 2010 at 18 sites along the river, the study focused on freshwater mussels, among the best indicators of the long-term health of a waterway because, unlike macroinvertebrates, they live long and, unlike fish, they don't travel very far. Native mussels are slow—they can only 'run' about three feet an hour—and can spend their entire lives—sometimes dozens of years—in a small area if food is abundant and water quality is good.

"Mussels' longevity and relative lack of mobility creates a level of consistency that allows us to determine changes in the water's quality over a period of time," said Openlands stream scientist Roger Klocek, who co-authored the report. There are 79 species of freshwater mussels reported in Illinois, many of which have been studied since the early 1800s.

“We hope that our findings, which are generally pretty positive, will help municipalities pursue strong water quality standards and safeguard the Kishwaukee for many generations,” added Laura Barghusen, associate greenways director at Openlands and the report's other author.

Mussels are not only a bellweather of a stream's overall wellbeing, they are an integral part of aquatic ecosystems. Freshwater mussels can filter more than six gallons of water a day, removing particles as small as bacteria. Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, freshwater mussels are the most imperiled fauna in North America, with a higher percentage of species considered endangered or threatened than any other group of animals.

However, the Openlands report, part of the Kishwaukee River Ecosystem Partnership initiative, delivered promising news. State-threatened Black Sandshell mussels, for example, were found at several sites in DeKalb County, two of which scored high on the Mussel Classification Index (MCI), a gauge of stream health based on mussels present.

Sites in the other two counties revealed similarly positive findings:

• Openlands discovered Ellipse mussels, an intolerant species in the state, near the heart of the city of McHenry, supporting a theory that groundwater seeps into Boone Creek help this species survive in an urbanized setting.
• One site in Boone County had eight living species present, including the Black Sandshell. Because of the high diversity of mussels present, this locale was rated as a "highly valued aquatic resource" on the MCI.

Openlands has worked for 15 years with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and citizens in the Kishwaukee River watershed. That work, as well as the mussel report, will be showcased at the upcoming Four Rivers Environmental Coalition event, A River Gathering: There’s No Place Like Home, June 16-19, in Rockford, Illinois. For more information about this event, please click here.

Founded in 1963, Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner air and water, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich our lives.