Assessment Methodology of Post-Relocation Dispersal of Mussels in a Natural River Setting after Construction Projects
Freshwater mussels are relocated during infrastructure and construction projects to reduce impacts to these species, as constructions projects are subject to state and federal environmental compliance requirements to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts to threatened and endangered species. Mussel experts (malacologists) do not currently know where mussels are moving to after mussel relocations occur or why the mussels are moving. This project’s goal is to develop and validate a way to assess daily mussel movement in large river systems after relocation and during construction. The researchers will identify a technology to monitor mussel movement, quantify movement patterns and identify influencing factors after relocation. Outcomes of the project include a field-tested protocol for monitoring mussel dispersal, helping to inform future avoidance and minimization options on state transportation projects and the resulting consultation with the resource agencies.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $1,081,797.00
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Contract Numbers:
R27-295
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Sponsor Organizations:
Illinois Department of Transportation
Bureau of Research
2420 South Dirksen Parkway
Springfield, IL United States 62764 -
Managing Organizations:
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Illinois Center for Transportation
1611 Titan Drive
Rantoul, IL United States 61866 -
Performing Organizations:
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
1263 Lincoln Dr,
Carbondale, IL United States 62901 1301 W 22nd St
Oak Brook, IL United States 60523 -
Principal Investigators:
Bastille-Rousseau, Guillaume
Fendler, Tanya
Hollinden, Elisabeth
Narr, Charlotte
- Start Date: 20260816
- Expected Completion Date: 20300215
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: Research and Development
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Animal behavior; Construction projects; Location; Rivers; Shellfish
- Geographic Terms: Illinois
- Subject Areas: Construction; Environment; Transportation (General);
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01999438
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Illinois Department of Transportation
- Contract Numbers: R27-295
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Aug 17 2026 10:43AM