This species is contained within a species complex that requires considerable attention (Hobbs 1989).

Cambarus diogenes has been assessed as Least Concern (LC). This species has a wide distribution, utilizes a variety of habitat types and is tolerant to varying ecological conditions. Even though this species is impacted by many threats, these have only been at a localized level and the general abundance of this species is still considered to be secure.

This species is wide ranging in the southern half of North America. It is found in Ontario, Canada (the extreme edge of its northern most range), Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky; Delaware, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana , USA (Taylor et al. 2005). The Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of this species has been estimated to exceed 2 million km².

This species has been described as one of the most widely distributed and successful crayfish species in North America (Rhoades 1944, Pflieger 1996).

This species is a primary burrower and is found in coastal wetlands, mudflats, wet meadows and marshes (Hobbs 1989, Taylor et al. 2005). It is mainly found in clay substrates (Taylor et al. 2005). It is host to the Ostracod Dactylocythere cryptoteresis (Hobbs and Peters 1993). It can be excavated almost anywhere where the water table is near the surface (Pflieger 1996).
Their burrows usually have mud chimneys, but they are not as deep as the burrows of Fallicambarus fodiens (Taylor et al. 2005).

This species is threatened by agricultural and recreational activities which cause wetland habitat degradation and alteration (Taylor et al. 2005).Other threats include water fluctuation in reservoirs and lakes, litter from anglers, roadside pollution, gas station runoff, channelization, habitat alteration, erosion due to wave action from boats, lawn mowing, fertilization and pesticides (Taylor et al. 2005). Given the wide dsitribution of this species, however, it is unlikely to be impacted by these processes (R. Thoma, T. Jones, J. Cordeiro, pers. comm. 2009) .

This species has been given the heritage rank of G5 by NatureServe (Taylor et al. 2007, NatureServe 2009) and currently stable by the American Fisheries Society (Taylor et al. 2007). This is due to the species being apparently secure, widespread and abundant (Taylor et al. 2007).
Part of this species' range occurs within a federally protected area (Long Point National Wildlife Area Canadian Wildlife Service) (Taylor et al. 2005). However, further research should be implemented to establish the life history of this species.