For many freshwater species, effective conservation and restoration involves coordination of stakeholders throughout the species’ range to collect comparable data for understanding species’ status and threats, identify best restoration strategies, and maximize efficiency of resources. Here, we describe a successful model of collaboration among state and federal agencies and academic institutions that has directed research toward advancing conservation of an At-risk freshwater mussel species, the brook floater. Following federal funding for multi-state conservation work, we established the Brook Floater Working Group (BFWG), a partner-driven group of managers and scientists throughout the brook floater range (Atlantic Slope of United States and Canada) to guide research, monitoring, and restoration efforts. While the leadership team included academic participants, buy-in and regular participation by the state partners was critical for establishing trust. In the first five years, we developed standardized field sampling protocols, sampled streams throughout the range, propagated and stocked mussels, and developed conservation plans and outreach materials. Monthly partner meetings provided opportunities to share experiences with sampling and propagation, discuss challenges and opportunities for restoration, and identify research needs. We also held a Structured Decision Making workshop to guide prioritization of watersheds for stocking propagated mussels. The discussions led to a second, five-year grant that includes population genetic work, plus additional sampling, data analysis, protocol development, and propagation. Leveraged resources in many states and Canada are providing additional opportunities for advancing brook floater conservation. Despite turn-over in state managers over the last seven years, participation of nearly all states and provinces has remained and the group continues to grow. This regional working group serves as a model for coordinated conservation for other species and regions.