The winged mapleleaf was added to the list of endangered and threatened plants and animals on July 22, 1991.
It is now illegal to collect, harm, threaten, or kill the mussel.
Permits can be issued from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to give individuals rights to collect some individuals to conduct research projects, but these permits are not easily attained.
The State of Wisconsin and the state of Minnesota are working with the help of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to try to control the invasion of the Zebra mussel.

There is also currently an experimental population of the winged mapleleaf that has been released into the wild.
This experimental population was released in parts of the Tennessee River in Colbert and Lauderdale counties.
 Whether or not these released populations are reproducing, has yet to be proven.

Many of the upstream dam operations have also begun to be more closely monitored in order to ensure that there is an adequate flow of water in the St. Croix River for the winged mapleleaf to survive and reproduce.
The levels of the river are being kept between the constant 0.4 and 2.0 meters that the mussel needs in order to survive.
The winged mapleleaf was added to the list of endangered and threatened plants and animals on July 22, 1991. It is now illegal to collect, harm, threaten, or kill the mussel. Permits can be issued from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to give individuals rights to collect some individuals to conduct research projects, but these permits are not easily attained. The State of Wisconsin and the state of Minnesota are working with the help of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to try to control the invasion of the Zebra mussel.
There is also currently an experimental population of the winged mapleleaf that has been released into the wild. This experimental population was released in parts of the Tennessee River in Colbert and Lauderdale counties.  Whether or not these released populations are reproducing, has yet to be proven.
Many of the upstream dam operations have also begun to be more closely monitored in order to ensure that there is an adequate flow of water in the St. Croix River for the winged mapleleaf to survive and reproduce. The levels of the river are being kept between the constant 0.4 and 2.0 meters that the mussel needs in order to survive.
Winged mapleleaf