Mussel Stranding Survey
Madison Electric Works
Madison, ME
In 2006, Madison Electric Works (MEW) removed the Sandy River hydroelectric dam in Starks, Maine. This dam removal enhances habitat connectivity for anadromous fish in an important Kennebec River tributary, and restored over four miles of riverine habitat.
The dam removal could potentially adversely affect stranded mussels. MEW agreed to undertake measures to recover and relocate mussels as the water level receded. Kleinschmidt identified areas of significant mussel populations within the impoundment, mussel species, and suitable relocation habitat prior to removal. A strong population of Eastern elliptio and triangle floater, with limited occurrence of Eastern lampmussel, creeper, Eastern floater, and Brook floater existed within the impoundment. Using this information, Kleinschmidt developed and managed the relocation in July 2006.
Pre-recovery and relocation efforts included soliciting assistance from a volunteer field crew staff in collaboration with Trout Unlimited, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Kleinschmidt developed a field schedule accommodating volunteer staff, safety protocols for near and in/on water work, and coordinated field equipment delivery and use. Kleinschmidt also developed mussel relocation protocols including coordination between shoreline recovery and in-water relocation efforts. To address requests from resource agencies, Kleinschmidt provided volunteers with mussel survey sheets to quantify the number of mussels relocated as well as to note the relative abundance by species. Kleinschmidt organized volunteer staff into field teams during the recovery and relocation. Each team was assigned to specific quadrants of the recovery area, and included resource agency specialists, a boat operator, and a field biologist. Kleinschmidt staff provided water safety instruction and pre and post removal briefings to the teams. As a follow up to the recovery and relocation efforts, Kleinschmidt compiled field data into a brief report and provided an overview of the successful efforts to all participants.
For further information contact Brandon Kulik, Kleinschmidt, Pittsfield, Maine (207) 487-3328.