Clean and unpolluted water is very important to the Carolina heelsplitters. Chemical water pollution can be the most serious threat. This can include runoff, dumping trash or chemicals into the stream and rivers, and other sources. Mussel larvae and juveniles are extremely sensitive to high levels of copper and ammonia, but seem to tolerate slightly higher levels of chlorine. The most elevated levels of ammonia were found at the stations at Goose Creek, as were the highest chlorine and copper levels. The research group thought that the higher levels of copper were due to more suspended sediment because of a recent rain downpour.