Freshwater Mussels of the Big South Fork Cumberland River, TNKY

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Freshwater Mussels of the Big South Fork
Cumberland River, TN-KY
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Confluence of the New River and Clear Fork
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Freshwater Mussels of the Big South Fork
Cumberland River, TN-KY

• 55 Species documented
• 26-28 Extant
• Historically, possible 70 species
• 6 Federally listed (5 extant), 1 candidate
• BSF best endemic fauna remaining in CU river
  system
• Only known population of E. walkeri
• Best population in CU system for E. brevidens
• Best population of P. fabula in CU/TN
• BSF 1 of 3 streams in TN (Clinch-Duck) with
  critical seed stock
• Approved NPS (EA) to restore extirpated species
  

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P. fabula best population in Tennessee and
Cumberland River Systems
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E. brevidens - best population Cumberland River
system
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E. walkeri Only known population
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New River, TN drainage

• 60 of all coal mined in TN comes from NR
  drainage
• NR headwaters of BSF major source of coal fines
• 1st report of live mussels in NR since 1938
• 5 species extant in NR, 1 Federally listed
• Coal washing, new mining, and pumping out
  existing deep mines serious threat

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New River reclaimed mine slide
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Smokey Creek
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Smokey Creek
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New River - Devonia facility from top of waste
pile
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New River - Devonia Settling lagoon
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New River near Devonia
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Smokey Junction washing plant Yard Sump
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Discharge from Yard Sump to New River
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Coal refuse slag pile
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Gas extraction pipeline
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Yellow Boy- acid mine drainage
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Big South Fork lowest recorded flows 17 cfs
at Leatherwood Ford
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Big South ForkHighest recorded flows65,000 cfs
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The Big South Fork National River and Recreation
Area was established by Congress in 1974 to
conserve and interpret an area containing unique
cultural, historical, geological, biological,
archeological, scenic, and recreational
resources, and preserving the Big South Fork as a
natural free-flowing stream.