Found in Cumberland, Elk, Green and Muskingum river drainages of the Ohio River basin. Its population has been extirpated from most of its former range within the Ohio River drainage and this species is known only to be extant in the Elk River, West Virginia. A federal protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act was suggested for the population in Elk River, West Virginia due to the scarcity of individuals, genetic uniqueness and sister group relationship with Crystallaria asprella and cumulative landuse threats within the Elk River drainage. Extensive sampling efforts were carried out from 1980 to 2005 which yielded only a total of 12 specimens.

Status of threat: endangered. Criteria: 1,5 (http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/afs/) (Ref. 81264).