By building partnerships with local groups, restoration of native freshwater mussel is possible in Iowa's Cedar River.

The Mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.  This mission was at the heart of a meeting held in early January between Genoa National Fish Hatchery, Hartman Reserve Nature Center, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Cedar River Festival Group and other user groups. 

Tony Brady, mussel biologist, from Genoa NFH presented a proposal for doing a freshwater mussel restoration project for the upper Cedar River in northeast Iowa, to the leaders of local Cedar River user groups.  Topics for discussion included a history of mussels in the Cedar River, the mussel life cycle and reproductive strategies, as well as the techniques used by Genoa NFH to carry out mussel restoration and recovery programs. A history was given of Genoa NFH’s achievements in producing the federally endangered Higgins eye pearly mussel and other native mussels.  

A question and answer session followed the presentation with many interesting and informed questions.  Several goals of this meeting included building support for the project from the local user groups and identifying from the audience volunteers to assist with the implementation of this restoration project.