The US will protect 4,000 miles of river for four types of mussels

The US Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to designate nearly 4,000 miles of rivers and streams across 17 states as critical habitat for four species of endangered freshwater mussels. This designation means that any federal project or federally funded activity in these areas will now require a formal consultation to ensure it does not harm the mussels or their habitat.

Protecting endangered species often means protecting the places they live. This proposal means that any new dam, bridge, pipeline, or other infrastructure project that needs a federal permit or federal money will now face an extra layer of review if it crosses these designated river segments. Developers will need to prove their projects will not harm the mussels, which can add time and cost to construction.