I'm happy to report that a small list of freshwater gastropods has recently appeared among the "Species at Risk" of interest to the U.S. Geological Survey's Biological Resources Division.  The USGS-BRD has just this month solicited preproposals to fund short-term research and assessment projects to generate information facilitating development of conservation agreements, action plans, and management alternatives that provide for the protection of "species at risk" and their habitats, thereby reducing the need for listing them as threatened or endangered.  Budgets cannot exceed $80k or 18 months duration.

The contact for this program is Dr. Al Sherk, Species at Risk Program, USGS Biological Resources Division, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 300, Reston, VA 20192;
Al_Sherk@usgs.gov; or 703-648-4076.  Dr. Sherk can email you all the information and forms you need as attached documents.

Attachment #1 to the documents available from the USGS-BRD is a 41-page list of "Species at Risk" from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, together with their management needs, organized by FWS Region.  The majority of the species are vertebrates, as one might expect, although I do think I detect some evidence of increasing concern about invertebrates and plants.  Mussels make a good showing: 34 species are listed from three separate regions.  Among the Region 4  (Atlanta office) species one will also find a group of 15 southeastern freshwater snails.

The snails include a Georgia Goniobasis (Elimia albanyensis), an Alabama Leptoxis (the putatively extinct L. showalteri) and 13 endemic hydrobiids, primarily from Florida, primarily described by Thompson.  Anybody who thinks he can develop a project involving these taxa should contact the USGS-BRD immediately.   The deadline for receipt of preproposals in Reston is November 2.

Good luck!
Rob