Kleinschmidt conducted several federal and state agency meetings and collaborated with a subcontractor to document mussel presence and distribution in both reservoirs before the planned drawdowns. Collected data was used for preparing the mussel salvage and relocation eff ort. Moving the mussels during reservoir dewatering to the adjacent full reservoir could be placed at optimal depths and in ideal habitats. Mussels could then be transferred back to their original habitats following completion of the drawdowns. Kleinschmidt worked closely with the USFWS to draft and finalize the Biological Assessment and the salvage plan before submittal to ensure USFWS approval in the form of their Biological Opinion.

The productive consultations with state and federal agencies facilitated by Kleinschmidt enhanced PowerSouth’s relationship with regulatory personnel. By successfully negotiating the plan, PowerSouth could move forward with its dam modifications while implementing a mussel salvage program to ensure the continued health of mussel populations in the two reservoirs.