Upper Thames River Conservation Authority finds rarely seen mussel

Upper Thames River Conservation Authority officials have reported the rare sighting of a species that has been considered as “threatened” for more than a decade.

Article content

While monitoring fish earlier this month, conservation authority staff spotted awavyrayed lampmussel attempting to lure a bass fish.

According to the Ministry of Environment, the wavyrayed lampmussel is a medium-sized freshwater mussel that can reach 10 centimeters in length and can live for as long as 20 years. This species is recognized by its yellow or yellowish-green, round shell that boasts numerous thin wavy green lines.

The find is unique given the wavyrayed lampmussel has long been considered threatened and was already designated as such when the province’s Endangered Species Act came into effect in 2008. In Ontario, the mussel can now be found in the Grand, Upper Thames, Maitland, Ausable and St. Clair rivers, as well the Lake St. Clair delta. However, it has disappeared from water bodies where it was previously found, including Lake Erie, the Detroit River and most of Lake St. Clair. the species may also be gone from Sydenham River.

Article content

The threatened mussel’s main threats are pollution and siltation, which occurs when too much soil washes into the river from nearby agricultural and urban areas. The presence of the European-native Zebra mussel may also have contributed to the loss of populations in the Great Lakes and connecting channels, and may threaten river populations if they invade reservoirs on these systems.

Those who experience sightings of the mussel and other rare species are asked to submit a report by using a Natural Heritage Information Center Observation Reporting Form at engage.ontario.ca.

According to the authority officials, the Thames River remains one of the most biologically diverse rivers in Canada. The Upper Thames River watershed is home to at least 80 species of fish, 28 freshwater mussel species and many other species that are at risk.

Article content

Upper Thames River watershed experienced wet July

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority also provided some statistics in a recent update on how much rain the watershed received earlier this month.

In total, the watershed received an average of 140 millimeters of rain, ranging from 76 to 197 mm, from July 10 to July 17.

On July 10, when the last of hurricane Beryl reached the province, the storm brought 40 to 90 mm of rain across the watershed. Authority staff operated the flood control dams at the Fanshawe, Pittock and Wildwood conservation areas, while some campers at Fanshawe were moved to different sites.

The week of rain, which caused some flooding at homes in Stratford and closed golf course at the St. Marys and Stratford country clubs, brought 42 mm of precipitation on July 15.

By July 17, all three of the authority’s flood storage reservoirs were filled to much higher levels than what is typical in the summerofficials noted.

While flooding of this scope would be pretty typical in the early spring, it is quite rare in mid-summer, officials added.

Article content