The Dwarf Wedge Mussel, which lives for about 10 years, is found at 17 sites in seven Atlantic Coast watercourses running through New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Its numbers have declined drastically and most remaining populations are only in the 100s, so it is critically endangered. Contributing factors to this species' severe decline are water pollution by sediments, chemicals from agriculture and other developments like golf courses, and loss of habitat. Most mussels live for upwards of 20, 30 or even 100 years, so because of the relatively short lifespan of the Dwarf Wedge mussel, adults must be constantly replaced to maintain viable numbers.