The mussel's entire Canadian population is located in the upper Grand River and in limited sections of the Thames, Sydenham, and possibly the Ausable rivers of Ontario. It appears to have been extirpated (locally extinct) from western Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River due to competition from Zebra mussels. Its distribution in the Grand River has become restricted to a 40 km stretch of the upper river. The mussel inhabits clear rivers and streams of a variety of sizes where the water flow is steady and the substrate is stable. It is most abundant in small to medium-sized streams; its presence at sites that support a great diversity of other mussel species suggests it cannot tolerate sub-optimal conditions.

This mussel is easily distinguished from others by its yellow or yellowish-green colour and numerous thin, wavy green rays. These rays may be narrow and individual or coalesced into wide rays, but they are always wavy with multiple interruptions. The inside of its shell is white or bluish white. The creature's shell is smooth except for concentric wrinkles and growth rests, and is rounded at both ends. The triangular teeth at the front edge of the hinge are short and divergent; there are two in each half of the shell. The Wavy-rayed lampmussel lives at least 10 years but usually less than 20.