This species has experienced an extreme population decline due to habitat deterioration.

Until recently, no live individuals had been observed since the late 1970s, leading many researchers to believe it was close to (if not already) extinct.

A 2011 a survey of the Guadalupe River near Gonzales, Texas revealed a small surviving population, with seven live mature individuals counted.

[3] In 2016, this species underwent its first genetic study due to its recent rediscovery.

The results showed that this species was better placed in Fusconaia rather than Quadrula, which it was previous included in.