Yellow Lampmussel Working Group

The Yellow Lampmussel, Lampsilis cariosa, is a medium-sized freshwater mussel occurring from Georgia, USA to Nova Scotia, Canada. The species is declining throughout its range, is designated as vulnerable by the IUCN and NatureServe, and is a Northeast Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need. It is locally designated as endangered, threatened, or a special status in 8 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces.

In 2022, we established the Yellow Lampmussel Working Group (YLMWG) to facilitate communication about this imperiled species across the current distribution. The YLMWG consists of experts from 17 state and regional agencies, 3 federal agencies, and 10 academic institutions, and meets bi-monthly to provide updates on ongoing research, management, and information needs.