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Endangered Freshwater Species Shows Signs of Population Increases

November 18, 2025 · Source: National Park Service

A collage of two images of the tan riffleshell
Image supplied by the National Park Service. View the original image and credit

An endangered freshwater mussel species in the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area is showing signs of natural population increases for the first time. The tan riffleshell (Epioblasma walkeri) is an endangered mussel found in only a few locations within the Big South Fork of the Cumberland and the upper Clinch Rivers.

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