Aren there endangered species in the Mississippi River around Cassville?
Yes. The Mississippi River area is home to the Federally-endangered Higgins Eye Pearly Mussel, and the area around Cassville has “one of the most robust known populations of the mussel” according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. National experts use the area around Cassville to research the endangered mussel and develop new techniques to help the species recover. Adding more coal barge traffic to this sensitive area will jeopardize efforts to protect this endangered species.
