3 Illinois rivers named ‘critical habitats’ for endangered species. What to know

Federal wildlife officials have designated stretches of three Illinois rivers as critical habitat for endangered freshwater mussels. The move aims to protect species that act as natural water filters in struggling ecosystems.

FULL STORY: 3 rivers in Illinois are now ‘critical habitats’ with wildlife on the line

Here are key takeaways:

• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced April 24 it was designating roughly 3,814 river miles across 17 states as critical habitat for four endangered freshwater mussel species.
• In Illinois, the designations cover the sheepnose mussel in the Kankakee River, the snuffbox in the Embarras River and the spectaclecase in parts of the Mississippi River.
• The sheepnose, snuffbox and spectaclecase also received critical habitat designations in the Meramec River, which flows through St. Louis County.
• Mussels are vital to water quality, with some estimates indicating a single mussel can filter up to 20 gallons of water each day, removing food, sediment and pollutants.
• The designation does not affect land ownership or create preserves or protected areas, but it requires federal agencies to consult with USFWS on actions that may harm the habitat.
• Threats to mussels include habitat destruction, dam construction, pollution and invasive species like the zebra mussel. The USFWS declared the tubercled-blossom pearly mussel, which was native to Illinois, extinct in 2023.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.

Meredith Howard

Belleville News-Democrat

Meredith Howard is a service journalist with the Belleville News-Democrat. She is a Baylor University graduate and has previously freelanced with the Illinois Times and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Support my work with a digital subscription