Hindostan Falls, East Fork White River, Martin County.
Biologist seining fish in a Harrison County pond.
A Longear Sunfish.
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Fish and freshwater mussels
Fish and freshwater mussels can be found in every permanent type and size of water body in the state. Even floodplain ponds and wetlands and intermittent streams can become surprisingly full of a rich diversity of fish and some species of freshwater mussels if they can maintain water for several consecutive years. The diversity of fish and freshwater mussels that might inhabit a certain water body can be affected by size, location in the state, diversity of habitats, past and present water quality or habitat disturbances, non-native species impacts, and impediments to dispersal within the watershed, among other factors. While aquatic species are not always as easily observed as terrestrial species, Indiana waters contain an amazing diversity of them.
Indiana’s aquatic habitats are currently home to about 200 species of fish and 60 species of freshwater mussels. While many are common and distributed throughout much of the state, several species are rare and restricted to a single stream, lake, or watershed. Twenty-two species of fish and 25 species of freshwater mussels are listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) by the Indiana DNR.
Habitat management and conservation programs for these species are supported through the generosity of Hoosiers who donate to the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund. No state tax dollars are used to manage these species. Consider donating today.
Monitoring Fish and Freshwater Mussel Populations
Indiana DNR nongame aquatic biologists conduct research and monitoring to better understand the status and distribution of Indiana’s fish and freshwater mussel species. Some monitoring is more general and exploratory in nature and may employ a wide range of techniques to sample areas of the state where fish and freshwater mussel information is lacking. Other activities are more targeted toward SGCN and may involve very specialized techniques. SGCN currently being studied and monitored include lake sturgeon, longnose dace, pugnose shiner, trout-perch, western sand darter, channel darter, and all mussel species.
Monitoring Lake Sturgeon
Indiana’s East Fork White River contains the last remaining native population of lake sturgeon in the Ohio River drainage. Nongame aquatic biologists have been monitoring this population since 1996. During this time, more than 100 individual fish have been captured and tagged, and about 40 of them have been tracked for varying lengths of time using radio telemetry techniques. Lake sturgeon is listed as an endangered species by the Indiana DNR and it is currently under review for federal listing by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
- 2023 Highlights
Annual Lake Sturgeon monitoring was completed in October in the East Fork White River. Three locations were netted (using gill and trammel nets) and seven individuals were collected, with all being recaptures. Transmitters were attached to three fish – which brings the total to eight fish at large with transmitters. One netted fish was originally caught and tagged on in 1999 and has now been collected for the seventh time at the exact same location on the river. In 24 years, it has only grown 120mm. This is not uncommon among EF White River Lake Sturgeon, as they all seem to hit a ‘maximum’ size at some point in their life. Weights can fluctuate widely depending on if it is a female that just spawned the previous spring, or one that is ready to spawn the upcoming spring. Our females likely spawn every other year, based on our tracking data:
- 11/10/99 – 55 pounds – 1480mm FL (Fork Length)
- 7/26/00 – 70 pounds – 1500mm FL
- 8/28/01 – 63 pounds – 1495mm FL
- 11/13/07 – 74 pounds – 1551mm FL
- 9/23/11 – 65 pounds – 1580mm FL
- 10/17/13 – 62 pounds – 1576mm FL
- 10/26/23 – 72 pounds – 1600mm FL
A second fish was caught for the third time:
- 8/25/04 – 19 pounds – 1000mm FL
- 11/13/07 – 31 pounds – 1169mm FL
- 10/26/23 – 49 pounds – 1346mm FL
Statewide Fish Monitoring
Indiana DNR nongame aquatic biologists conduct general surveys for fish throughout the state on an annual basis. A variety of methods including electrofishing and/or seining, trawling, gill/trammel netting, dip-netting, and other methods are used to collect all fish species inhabiting the sampled stretch of river, stream, lake, or other aquatic habitat. This helps biologists find SGCN in locations where they were previously unknown, detect declines in species that may need to be considered for listing, and gather information on fish species that are unlisted but are important host species for mussel reproduction.
- 2024 Highlights
- Completed some general fish sampling in Houchins Ditch (Gibson County), Yellow Creek (Gibson), Wabash and Erie Canal (Gibson), McCarty Ditch (Gibson), unnamed tributary Patoka River (Gibson), Trippet Ditch (Gibson), Goose Creek (Gibson), Indian Creek (Gibson), unnamed tributary Lost Creek (Gibson), Lost Creek (Gibson), unnamed tributary Patoka River (Pike), Stone Coe Creek (Pike), Flat Creek (Pike), and Beech Creek (Pike). Several predominately southwestern species were encountered including Flier (Centrarchus macropterus), Redspotted Sunfish (Lepomis miniatus), Mud Darter (Etheostoma asprigene), Bluntnose Darter (E. chlorosoma), Slough Darter (E. gracile), and Pugnose Minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae). The Pugnose Minnow collection was the first in recent times from the Patoka River drainage. Young of the year Invasive Carp were collected from the Lost Creek drainage – verifying for the first time that Invasive Carp are reproducing in the Patoka River drainage.
- A site was sampled on the Pigeon River (LaGrange), downstream of the Ontario dam, in search of the state endangered Greater Redhorse (Moxostoma valenciennesi) – a single individual was collected, among hundreds of other redhorse.
- Seining was completed at six sites on the East Fork White River (two in Martin and four in Lawrence County) as part of a pre-Williams Dam feasibility study survey of the fish upstream (three sites) and downstream (three sites) of the dam and for comparison to a 2003 survey of the same six sites. While minnow diversity through the stretch was surprisingly average, the darter diversity was better, with 11 species collected among the six sites. The stretch downstream from Williams Dam is one of only two Spotted Darter (Nothonotus maculatus) populations known from the state; it was successfully collected from all three sites sampled in the reach. Bigeye Chub (Hybopsis amblops) has shown some recent range expansion down the East Fork White River drainage. While it wasn’t collected during the 2003 survey, it was collected from three sites this time, both upstream and downstream of the dam.
- Fish were sampled from Jimmerson Lake (Steuben), Lake James (Steuben), and Lime Lake (Steuben) in search of Pugnose Shiner (Notropis anogenus), a state Special Concern species and one of Indiana’s rarest glacial lake species. A population was discovered in Jimmerson Lake. This brings the total to three lakes where it is now known to occur in the state – the other two being Big Chapman Lake (Kosciusko) and Snow Lake (Steuben). Blackchin Shiner (Notropis heterodon) and Iowa Darter (Etheostoma exile) were collected from all three lakes; Mimic Shiner (Notropis volucellus) was collected from Lime Lake.
- Some general fish sampling was conducted in Sugar Creek (Parke), to further document the recent range expansions of several fish species: Tippecanoe Darter (Nothonotus tippecanoe), Bluebreast Darter (Nothonotus camurus), Silver Shiner (Notropis photogenis), Streamline Chub (Erimystax dissimilis), and Gravel Chub (E. x-punctatus). All five species were successfully collected. For some perspective, in 2020, a riffle in the lowest reaches was kick-shocked extensively, specifically looking for Tippecanoe and Bluebreast darters, but none were collected. This same riffle was sampled again - Tippecanoe Darters were collected in every kick (the most common species collected) and Bluebreast Darters about every other kick.
- 2023 Highlights
- General fish sampling was completed in April in the Little Vermilion River and Jonathan Creek in Vermillion County. Bigeye Shiner (Notropis boops) was collected from the Little Vermilion River at one location, confirming that the species is still present in the drainage in Indiana and the first collection since Shelby Gerking in the 1940s. The Little Vermilion River is the only western-entering Wabash River tributary that Bigeye Shiner is currently known to occur in the state.
- Kolb Ditch (slough) at Angel Mounds State Historic Site in Vanderburgh County was sampled in May, specifically for Banded Pygmy Sunfish (Elassoma zonatum), but none were found. Robust Flier (Centrarchus macropterus) populations were encountered. It was the most abundant sunfish by far, with several year classes represented, including very small (<23mm) young-of-the-year individuals. Some juvenile Lesser Siren (Siren intermedia) and several Copper-bellied Watersnakes (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) were also collected/observed.
- More general fish sampling was completed in September in Sugar Creek, Parke County. Tippecanoe Darter (Etheostoma tippecanoe), Streamline Chub (Erimystax dissimilis), and Silver Shiner (Notropis photogenis) were all collected for the first time ever from the watershed, while Bluebreast Darter (Etheostoma camurum) was collected for the first time since the 1970s. Sugar Creek now represents the most downstream tributary on the Wabash River to have Tippecanoe Darter, Streamline Chub, and Bluebreast Darter.
- Some boat electrofishing on the Pigeon River, LaGrange County, was completed in September to look for the state endangered Greater Redhorse (Moxostoma valenciennesi). An angler had submitted a photo last year of one caught in the stretch between the Mongo and Nasby dams. We did verify its presence in this stretch with the collection of one large adult, but sampling in the next pool downstream between the Ontario and Nasby dams yielded none, although robust populations of other redhorse species were present. Further investigation will be required to fully understand the population in the basin. A total of 39 fish species were documented from the areas sampled.
- Sampling for Banded Pygmy Sunfish (Elassoma zonatum) was completed in November in the Evansville area, Vanderburgh County, at two sites in Howell Wetlands (Oxbow Lake and Bald Cypress Basin), an unnamed wetland along Carpentier Creek, and Eagle Slough. Banded Pygmies were collected from Oxbow Lake and the unnamed wetland, which now represents the most eastern population known from the state.
Statewide Mussel Monitoring
Indiana DNR nongame aquatic biologists conduct general surveys for freshwater mussels throughout the state on an annual basis. Surveys are normally conducted using a timed search approach. This approach takes a section of a stream that is visually (if possible) and physically (such as searching through the stream bottom with shoed-feet, hands, or specialized rakes) searched for live mussels and other shell material while recording the amount of time that is exerted.
- 2024 Highlights
- A trip to sample for the federally endangered Salamander Mussel (Simpsonaias ambigua) in Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge was coordinated with USFWS and IDEM personnel – sites on Otter Creek (Jennings) and Graham Creek (Jennings) were sampled with eight live individuals (of several age classes) collected from Otter Creek – tissue samples were collected from six as part of a rangewide look at the genetics of the species.
- Sampling specifically looking for Salamander Mussel (Simpsonaias ambigua) was conducted in the East Fork White River (Martin). A total of 21 live individuals were collected between three sites sampled. Tissue samples were collected from 11 individuals.
- Sampling specifically looking for Salamander Mussel was conducted in Laughery Creek (Ripley), Otter Creek (Jennings – two sites – downstream of Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge), Big Creek (Jefferson), and Graham Creek (Jennings). A total of five live individuals were collected between the two sites on Otter Creek – tissue samples were collected from four.
- Assisted Illinois Natural History Survey biologists with mussel surveys on Jordan Creek (Warren – two sites) and Leuck Ditch (Benton); live individuals of Special Concern species Slippershell Mussel (Alasmidonta viridis), Rainbow (Cambarunio iris), Little Spectaclecase (Leaunio lienosa), and Purple Lilliput (Toxolasma lividum) were collected.
- Eighteen sites were sampled for freshwater mussels on Fish Creek near the Ohio state line (Dekalb) with a bevy of USFWS, Ohio Department of Transportation, the Nature Conservancy, IDEM, and Ohio DNR personnel. The highlight was the collection of four live Clubshell (Pleurobema clava), a federally endangered species, including three individuals that were fairly young (< 10 years old), indicating some recent reproduction.
- Several days were spent collecting stranded mussels on the East Fork White River upstream from the Rockford dam removal near Seymour (Jackson) - 1,627 individuals of 20 species were relocated.
- 2023 Highlights
- General mussel sampling was completed in June in Richland Creek, Greene County. Robust populations of Threeridge (Amblema plicata) were found, along with some live Kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus fasciolaris), Spike (Eurynia dilatata), Rainbow (Villosa iris), and Little Spectaclecase (Leaunio lienosa), all species of Special Concern.
- More general mussel sampling was completed in June in Laughery Creek (Ripley, Ohio, and Dearborn). Some large mussel populations were encountered, with one highlight being the collection of two fresh dead juvenile Kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus fasciolaris) specimens, a species of Special Concern. While no living specimens were encountered, the collection of juveniles indicates at least some level of recent reproduction has occurred in the system. A single weathered dead Salamander Mussel (Simpsonaias ambigua) shell was also collected. This was a rare find, as the shells are small, fragile, don’t last long in the environment, and are usually under large rocks. Salamander Mussel is proposed state endangered and was recently listed as federal endangered.
- General mussel sampling was completed in July in the Salamonie River, Wabash County, downstream from the reservoir. A shell (both valves) of Salamander Mussel was found at one site, which is a decent expansion of the known range for this species in Indiana, although it shows up in some disjoined locations around the state. Its only host for reproduction is the Mudpuppy, and to date, there are no known observations for Mudpuppy from Wabash County. A few old living individuals were also found for a handful of species, including Wavyrayed Lampmussel (Lampsilis fasciola) and Black Sandshell (Ligumia recta), both Special Concern species.
- More general mussel sampling was completed in August in Willow Creek (Noble), Bilger Ditch (Noble), Sycamore Creek (Noble), Rimmell Branch (Noble), Croft Ditch (Noble), Diehl Ditch (DeKalb), Leins Ditch (DeKalb), Metcalf Ditch (DeKalb), Sol Shank Ditch (DeKalb), and Bear Creek (DeKalb). A lot of these sites were very steep, banked ditches, that are maintained regularly, and had minimal flow/habitat. A single live Slippershell Mussel (Alasmidonta viridis), a state species of Special Concern, was collected from Bilger Ditch, which would represent a new population in the Lake Erie drainage, as live individuals had only been found from the upper parts of Fish Creek in the past.
- Mussel relocation was completed in September in Graham Creek, Jennings County, at the C.R. 800 S. bridge replacement project. Mussels were collected and relocated upstream from under the old bridge that was later demolished. A total of 69 individuals of 12 species were collected, including three Special Concern species – Little Spectaclecase (Leaunio lienosa), Rainbow (Cambarunio iris), and Spike (Eurynia dilatata). A portion of the mussels were marked and will be monitored for survival post-relocation.
Additional Resources
- Aquatic Invasive Species - Fish
- Aquatic Invasive Species – Invertebrates
- Field Guide to the Freshwater Mussels of the Midwest
- Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society
- General Freshwater Mussel Information
- Help with Fish Identification
- Identification of Indiana Minnows
- Purdue University - Heart of the Tippy
- USFWS – federal listed mussels
- USFWS – general mussel info
A rabbitsfoot moving along the bottom of the Tippecanoe River.