20070812 Ver 1_22 May 2006 Yadkin Habitat Frag Study Maps Final Report_20080502

YADKIN HABITAT FRAGMENTATION STUDY MAPS
FINAL
MAY 2006
YADKIN HABITAT FRAGMENTATION STUDY MAPS
FINAL
Prepared for
ALCOA GENERATING COMPANY, INC.
YADKIN DIVISION
293 NC 740 Highway
Badin, NC 28009-0576
Prepared by
NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES, INC.
25 Nashua Road
Bedford, NH 03110
R-19556.004
May 2006
Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps
Table of Contents
Page
1.0 INTRODUCTION ...............................................
........................1
2.0 METHODS ...............................................................................................................................1
2.1 OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................................................... 1
2.2 STUDY AREA .................................................................................................................... 2
2.3 DATA COLLECTION .......................................................................................................... 2
2.4 DATAANALYSIS ............................................................................................................... 2
2.5 MAPPING .......................................................................................................................... 5
3.0 RESULTS .................................................................................................................................9
3.1 MUSSELS ..........................................................................................................................9
3.2 SNAILS ............................................................................................................................ 10
3.3 CRAYFISHES ................................................................................................................... 12
3.4 FISHES ............................................................................................................................. 12
3.5 HABITAT FRAGMENTATION LAYERS .............................................................................. 12
4.0 DISCUSSION .........................................................................................................................23
5.0 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................31
APPENDIX 1
APPENDIX 2
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List of Figures
Page
Figure 1. Study Area (outlined in red) includes the Yadkin River drainage area and
downstream from the Falls Dam (approximately 0.85 mile) ...............................................4
Figure 2. Password Dialog box for password entry to load published map file for the
Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Map in ArcReader software ..................................... 5
Figure 3. Map can be displayed in Data View or Layout View selected in the View Menu ............. 6
Figure 4. Layers can be selected by checking the boxes and symbols displayed by clicking
the plus/minus boxes ............................................................................................................. 7
Figure 5. The Identify tool can be selected from the toolbar to display an attribute table by
clicking map feature of interest ............................................................................................. 8
Figure 6. Distribution of sites and tailwater transects for mussel surveys within the study
area .......................................................................................................................................10
Figure 7. Distribution of the notched rainbow Villosa constricta, State-listed species of
concern, in upstream tributaries of High Rock and Tuckertown Reservoirs ..................... I l
Figure 8. Distribution of the State endangered Brook floater Alasmidonta varicosa and one
of the possible fish host species, Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus ....................................18
Figure 9. Distribution of significantly rare peeblesnail Somatogyms virginicus upstream in
the South Yadin River ......................................................................................................... 19
Figure 10. The Physa snails Physa acutus and P. sp. A showed a widespread distribution
among level IV ecoregions and upstream and downstream of the APGI dams ................ 20
Figure 11. Distribution of the Greensboro burrowing crayfish Cambarus
(Depressicambarus) catagius (State-listed species of concern) in tributaries that
flow into High Rock Reservoir ........................................................................................... 21
Figure 12. Distribution of the Chattanoochee crayfish Cambarzus (Cambarzus) howardi
(Watch list species) in many tributaries upstream from High Rock Reservoir,
including South Yadkin River ............................................................................................ 22
Figure 13. All fish sites within the study area ...................................................................................... 24
Figure 14. The Carolina Redhorse Moxostoma sp., a Federal-listed species of concern and
pending to be a State-listed threatened species, was only found in the tailwaters
of Falls Dam ........................................................................................................................ 25
Figure 15. The diadromous Striped Bass Morone saxatilis was widely distributed
throughout the APGI Reservoirs ......................................................................................... 26
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Figure 16. Distribution of the fantail darter Etheostoma sp. (c£ E. flabellare) complex ................... 27
Figure 17. Dams were widely distributed in rivers and streams throughout the study area ............... 28
Figure 18. Location of possible point sources of pollution included NPDES discharges sites.......... 29
Figure 19. The study area partitioned into EPA Level IV Ecoregions ................................................ 30
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List of Tables
Page
Table 1. List of mussel species and their conservation status and number of sites where
found within the study area ...................................................................................................9
Table 2. Conservation status and known fish hosts of mussel species within the study area
that include fish in their life cycle (Bogan, pers. Comm. 2006) ........................................13
Table 3. State conservation status and number of site occurrence for crayfish taxa
identified within the Yadkin River drainage area and south of Falls Dam ....................... 14
Table 4. List of snail species, their conservation status and number of sites where found
within the study area ...........................................................................................................15
Table 5. List of fishes, their conservation status, and number of site occurrences ..........................16
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) is the licensee for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. The
Yadkin Project is currently licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as
Project No. 2197. This license expires in 2008 and APGI must file a new license application with
FERC on or before April 30, 2006 to continue operation of the Project. The Yadkin Project consists
of four reservoirs, dams, and powerhouses (High Rock, Tuckertown,Narrows, and Falls) located on a
38-mile stretch of the Yadkin River in central North Carolina. The Project generates electricity to
support the power needs of Alcoa's Badin Works, to support its other aluminum operations, or is sold
on the open market. As part of the relicensing process, APGI prepared and distributed, in September
2002, an Initia 1Consultation Document (ICD), which provides a general overview of the Project.
Agencies, municipalities, non-governmental organizations and members of the public were given an
opportunity to review the ICD and identify information and studies that are needed to address
relicensing issues. To further assist in the identification of issues and data/study needs, APGI has
formed several Issue Advisory Groups (IAGs) to advise APGI on resource issues throughout the
relicensing process. Issues were raised during initial consultation and through discussions with the
Fish and Aquatics IAG regarding Habitat Fragmentation at the Yadkin Project. One issue raised was
the effects of Yadkin Project dams, reservoirs and operations on habitat fragmentation and population
isolation of aquatic biota. At the April 9, 2003 Fish and Aquatics IAG meeting, Yadkin and
participants discussed and agreed that NAI would complete some Phase 1 fragmentation work that
included mapping the locations of rare, threatened and endangered (RTE) fish, crayfish and mussel
species in the Yadkin River basin using existing data. Following completion of the RTE maps, the
Fish and Aquatics IAG requested in April 2004 that APGI expand the fragmentation study and map
all species of fish, mussels, crayfish and snails known to exist in the Yadkin River basin.
Additionally, local experts for each taxon group were contracted to provide expert opinion on the
historic ranges of the various taxa mapped for this report (see Appendix 1 for final study plan). This
paper presents a summary of this task and gives an overview of the interactive software using
Geographic Information System (GIS) to show the known distribution of species and potential causes
of habitat fragmentation such as dams, NPDES discharges, and ecoregion level IV breaks for the
APGI hydroelectric dam project and the entire Yadkin drainage area.
2.0 METHODS
2.1 OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of the tasks outlined in the Final Study Plan for the Habitat Fragmentation
Study for the Yadkin Project (Appendix 1) were:
Map in GIS layers the existing databases for fish, mussel, crayfish and snail species found in
the Yadkin Project watershed that may be fragmented - include recent data collected by
APGI at the Project
• Enlist the assistance of local experts with experience on fish, mussel, crayfish and snail
populations in the region to get information on historic ranges if not found in existing
databases, and to review/edit the GIS maps once compiled
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Review the potential causes of any observed habitat fragmentation and the species or type of
species that are usually affected by each cause.
• Map in GIS format the causes of habitat fragmentation, such locations of dams, reservoirs,
water quality, NPDES discharges, natural barriers, Level IV ecoregion breaks, etc.
2.2 STUDY AREA
The study area consists of the Yadkin River drainage area (4,189 square miles) of the Yadkin River,
four APGI hydroelectric dams, four reservoirs (High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows or Badin, and
Falls), and the Yadkin River and tributaries in central North Carolina (Figure 1). The study area
extends 75 miles north of High Rock Dam and approximately 0.85 mile south of Falls Dam, just
north of the mouth of Dutch John Creek. The study area covers 4,190 square miles.
2.3 DATA COLLECTION
Species occurrence and distribution for four taxon groups were compiled from various data sources.
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) provided data for mussels (3,664
records), crayfishes (633 records), and fishes (3,502 records). Additional data on mussel occurrence
(60 records) in the APGI reservoir tailwaters were summarized in NAI (2005a). North Carolina State
Museum (NCSM) provided an additional 879 crayfish records from museum archives (Cooper 2005).
Snail data (894 records) were provided by Dillon (2005) and additional 64 records were provided
from field surveys conducted during August-September 2005 to fill in the gaps of data in the project
area. Snail data consisted of NCSM archived specimens and field surveys in addition to original
database maintained by Dillon. Progress Energy's recent re-licensing studies provided fish data
(6,900 records) collected from electrofishing and gillnet surveys during February, May, August, and
November 2000 in each of the four APGI reservoirs. Fish data (10,491 records) provided by NAI
(2005a) were collected from beach seine, back pack electrofishing, boat electrofishing, and gillnet
surveys in each of the four APGI dam tailwaters during 2003-2004. Archived specimens (4,826
records) and field observations (512 records) from NCSM provided additional fish data (Starnes
2005).
2.4 DATA ANALYSIS
Data were compiled from various sources into four separate databases for mussels, snails crayfishes,
and fishes. Data were processed with SAS version 9.1 software (SAS Institute, Cary, NC) and
ArcMap version 9.0 (ESRI 2005). Fields among databases differed in number, names and type. For
purposes of mapping, fields of primary interest were scientific name, common name, latitude,
longitude, source, federal and state conservation status. Other fields of interest may include names of
waterways, location, comments, date, and gear. Field names of primary and secondary interest were
renamed if necessary for consistency among the various databases before compilation. Each database
was processed for typographical and nomenclature errors. Data were reduced to one representative
record for each species at each latitude-longitude coordinates for each source (NAI, Progress Energy,
NCWRC, NCSM).
Latitude-longitude coordinates were calculated for a central point to represent each group of NAI
field stations in the tailwaters. Latitude-longitude for midpoints of transects were used to represent
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species caught along transects by Progress Energy because point data were unavailable. Records with
missing latitude and longitude coordinates were removed from the databases.
Species identification and distribution from compiled databases and maps were reviewed by taxon
experts (mussels: Bogart, A., Ph.D., NCSM, Raleigh, NC; snails: Dillon, R., Ph.D., College of
Charleston, Charleston, SC; crayfishes: Cooper, J.E., Ph.D., NCSM, Raleigh, NC; fishes: Starnes,
W.C., NCSM, Raleigh, NC).
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'?. (Sa
If
Figure 1. Study Area (outlined in red) includes the Yadkin River drainage area and
downstream from the Falls Dam (approximately 0.85 mile).
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Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps
Layers of potential sources of habitat fragmentation included dams, National Discharge Pollution
Elimination System (NPDES) discharge sites, watersheds, and eeoregion level IV breaks. A GIS
layer was created from the database of the inventory of dams provided by the State. The symbology
for this layer was categorized by each dam's primary purpose (hydroelectric, flood control,
fish/wildlife pond, irrigation, fire proctection/stock pond, water supply, tailings, debris/sediment,
recreation, and other). A GIS layer for NPDES discharge sites was provided by North Carolina
Center for Geographic Information and Analysis. A GIS layer was obtained from the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) for eeoregion level IV areas, classified by similar ecosytems and habitat
type.
2.5 MAPPING
Distribution of taxa was plotted as point data in a Geographic Information System (GIS) map of the
study area using ArcMap version 9.0. The project map contained GIS layers of potential causes of
habitat fragmentation as well as geological and hydrological features. Layers representing potential
causes of habitat fragmentation included reservoirs, dams, eeoregion level IV breaks, and NPDES
discharges. An electronic Published Map File (*.pmf) was created and viewed interactively using the
latest free downloadable ArcReader version 9.1 software (ESRI 2005). Specific installation
instructions and ArcReader software were included on the CD (Appendix 2). Access to the map file
may have been password protected in which case "NAI" was used for a password (Figure 2).
Distribution of an individual or group of species can be viewable on the map by user selection.
Please enter the password for the published map in
the text box below and press O.
Password
0K [ Cancel
Figure 2. Password Dialog box for password entry to load published map file for the
Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Map in ArcReader software.
Layers of interest were selected by clicking on the box associated with the layer in the Table of
Contents (left side) in the program. The Data View under the View Menu was found to be the best to
zoom and view areas of interest (Figure 3). However, exporting a map view as bitmap (*.bmp) or to
print on paper was done in Layout View selected from the View Menu, which includes a legend. To
view a layer, select the layers by clicking the cursor on the boxes beside the layer name and the
plus/minus box to view the symbology (Figures 2-4). The use of the identify feature to click on items
in the map allowed the view of a table with additional record information such as state or federal
conservation status, collector, and even specimen information (e.g. catalog number, size, condition,
date identified, etc.; Figure 5). All map figures were created from this file by cropping the map using
the magnification and selected layers as specified in figure captions.
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Fle Edit
Qh f
8 M e

!23533.:. 582334.33 Feet
Figure 3
Map can be displayed in Data View or Layout View selected in the View Menu.
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File Edit '4iev-,- Tools '??t?indo-,v Help
F IR ?y
Click on Layers to Display
- j ?- + rC4! State Status
Endangered
- Alasmidonta varicosa
- '.._r Lampsilis cariosa
+ Threatened mO; - Signigicand ? Rare +IHP
Figure 4. Layers can be selected by checking the boxes and symbols displayed by clicking
the plus/minus boxes.
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Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps
File Edit Tools _inc1os; Help
I31?h a 0 (i? QQ r, r:1 '14941
Click Gn Layers to Display
a Sites of Mussels
±!:, State Status
tl Endangered
- iv Alasmidonta varicosa
I_I46
Lampsilis carioca
Threatened
? I Signigicanty Rare+lHP
_I ': illosa delumbis
-i t0 Special Concern
Cl Vlllosa constrlcta
0
I=, Ll 6atch List
1? a
t11:
'• T
i .+cxti.kE ?,y8 kar
k_S LL a
t rrK
sf f^_ Yadkii
Identify from: <Top-most layer? ++
Alasmidonta varicosa Location: 1,574,132.40 ) 007,774.96 Feet
Alasmidonta varicosa
Field Value ^
NUM SHELL 0
PERC_COVER nfa10
REF 184
RIPARIAN wooded)shrub-brush)grass
RIVER BASI Yadkin-Pee Dee
ROAD NO NC 67 to 1605
SCI NAME Alasmidonta varicosa
Shape Point
SITE COMME Left Downstream channel c
SITE NO 000021.1 jai
sppl Alasmidonta
spp2 varicosa
spp3
STATE INC
STATE _STAT Endangered
SUBSTRATE s,Sa,G,co
TA A mussel
TTL TIME 0.93
< } )
Identified 1feature

Figure 5. The Identify tool can be selected from the toolbar to display an attribute table by
clicking map feature of interest.
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3.0 REsuLTs
3.1 MUSSELS
Sixteen taxa and 13 species of mussels were identified from a total of 185 records within the study
area. Seven of these were state RTE species (Table 1). The areas searched for mussels were limited
as shown by sites with mussels found and sites with no mussels found in Figure 6. The Brook floater
Alasmidonta varicosa and yellow lampmussel Lampsilis cariosa were state -listed endangered species
and federally listed species of special concern that were observed in the South Yadkin and Yadkin
River, respectively, upstream from the High Rock Dam. State-listed threatened species observed
within the study area were the alewife floater Anondonta implicata, eastern lampmussel L. radiata,
and creeper Strophitus undulatus. Alewife floater A. implicata was only identified from transects in
the tailwaters of the Narrows and Falls Dams. Eastern lampmussel was observed upstream and
Table 1. List of mussel species and their conservation status and number of sites where
found within the study area.

Scientific Name
Common Name Conservation Status
NC Federal Number of
Sites Found
Alasmidonta varicosa brook floater Endangered Species of Concern 4
Anodonta implicata alewife floater Threatened 4
Elliptio angustata Carolina lance 9
Elliptio complanata eastern Elliptio 12
Elliptio congaraea Carolina slabshell Watch List 1
Elliptio icterina variable spike 1
Elliptio sp. 2
Lampsilis cariosa yellow lampmussel Endangered Species of Concern 1
Lampsilis radiata eastern lampmussel Threatened 4
Pyganodon cataracts eastern floater 8
Strophitus undulatus creeper 6
Uniomerus sp. 1
Utterbackia imbecillis paper pondshell 12
Villosa constricts notched rainbow 4
Villosa delumbis eastern creekshell Rare-NHP' 4
Lanceolate Elli do lance 1
1 National Heritage Program (NHP) designated Villosa delumbis as a significantly rare mussel.
downstream of APGI dams; in the northern part of High Rock Lake and also in the tailwaters of
Narrows and Falls Dams. The eastern creekshell Villosa delumbis, considered significantly rare by
the National Heritage Program, was observed in Fourmile Branch upstream of High Rock Dam, Lick
Creek downstream of High Rock Dam, and tailwaters of Falls Dam. The notched rainbow V.
constricta (state-listed species of special concern) was observed in in tributaries upstream and
downstream of High Rock Dam (Figure 7). The Carolina slabshell E. congaraea (watch list species)
was observed in Tuckertown reservoir's Lick creek.
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Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps
Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Project
Prepared by Normandeau Associates, Inc. on January 26, 2006
NORMANDEAUASSOC/ATES/NC.
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Figure 6. Distribution of sites and tailwater transects for mussel surveys within the study area.
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Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps
Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Project ..
Prepared by Normandeau Associates, Inc. on January 26, 2006 CR '-
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Figure 7. Distribution of the notched rainbow Villosa constricta, State-listed species of concern, in upstream tributaries of High Rock and 7uckertown Reservoirs.
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Life histories of many freshwater mussels include fish as hosts. Freshwater mussels produce larvae
called glochidia, which for most are obligate parasites of fish. Before metamorphosing to free-living
mussels, the glochidia attach themselves to gills or fins of fish during maturation. In general, most
mussels have been known to use a variety of fish species as hosts, namely centrarchids, percids, and
minnows. Table 2 lists some known fish hosts for mussels found in the study area (Bogan,
pers.comm. 2005).
Dams and NPDES discharges were widely distributed throughout the Yadkin drainage area. The
endangered brook floater was only found far upstream of the High Rock Dam and did not appear to
be restricted by distribution of possible fish host species such as Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus
(Figure 8). It is difficult to assess fragmentation of mussel habitat by species distribution based on
the paucity of survey data in the tributaries of APGI reservoirs.
3.2 SNAILS
Fifteen snail species were identified from a total of 255 records within the study area (Table 3).
Figure 9 shows the sites recorded with either presence or absence of snails; snails were absent from
five sites. The pebblesnail Somatogyrus virginicus was a significantly rare species according to North
Carolina Heritage Program that requires continued monitoring. The pebblesnail was found upstream
of High Rock Lake in South Yadkin River (Figure 10). The physa snail Physa acuta was distributed
throughout the Yadkin drainage area including tributaries that flow in High Rock and Tuckertown
Reservoirs (Figure 11).
3.3 CRAYFISHES
Twenty-eight taxa and ten species of crayfishes were identified in the study area (Table 3). State-
listed RTE species observed in the study area included Greensboro burrowing crayfish Cambarus
(Depressicambarus) catagius (special concern) and Chattahoochee crayfish C. (Cambarzus) howardi
(watch list). Distribution of crayfishes was limited to the tributaries of the reservoirs, but the extent
of their distribution within the APGI reservoirs was limited due to the lack of sampling effort. The
Greensboro burrowing crayfish was observed in Abbotts Creek and Pounders Fork which flow into
High Rock Lake (Figure 12). The Chattahoochee crayfish was observed in tributaries north of High
Rock in the South and Upper Yadkin watersheds (Figure 13). An introduced species, Procambarus
(Scapulicambarus) clarkii, was observed in upper High Rock Lake near the mouth of South Potts
Creek and north in the Yadkin River.
Specimens identified as C. (D) reduncus, P. (Ortmannicus) acutus, C. (Puncticambarus) sp. C
(acuminatus complex), C. (P.) hobbsorum were observed in tributaries north and south of the
reservoirs, and throughout the surrounding watersheds suggesting little habitat fragmentation.
Cambarus (Hiaticambarus) longulus and C. (Cambarus) bartonii, Orconectes (Procericambarus)
cristavarius and possible members of these species were confined to the upper Yadkin watershed.
3.4 FISHES
Eighty taxa of fishes were identified from 7,382 records within the study area (Table 5). Thirteen
species found in the study area were nonnative to this region and two additional species were possibly
nonnative according to Starnes (pers. comm. 2005, Table 5). The fish records represent a wide
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Table 2. Conservation status and known fish hosts of mussel species within the study area
that include fish in their life cycle (Bogan, pers. Comm. 2006).
Conservation Status
Mussel State (Federal) Fish Host
Alasmidonta varicosa Endangered Blacknose Dace Rhinichthys atratulus
Brook Floater (Species of Concern) Golden Shiner Notemigonus chrysoleucas
Longnose Dace, Rhinichthys cataracta
Margined Madtom, Schilbeodes maringatus
Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus
Slimy Sculpin Cottus cognatus
Yellow Perch Perca flavescens
Elliptio complanata Banded Killifish Fundulus diaphanous
Eastern Elliptio Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus
Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides
White Crappie Pomoxis annularis
Yellow Perch Perca. flavescens
Lampsilis cariosa Endangered Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Yellow lampmussel (Species of Concern) Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides
Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus
Rock Bass Amboplites rupestris
Yellow Perch Perca flavescens
Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu
Pyganodon cataracta Common Carp Cyprinus carpio
Eastern floater Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus
Threespine Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus
Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus
White Sucker Catostomus commersoni
Yellow Perch Perca flavescens
Strophitus undulatus Threatened Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides
Creeper Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus
Grande Killifish Fundulus zebrinus
Green Sunfish Lepomis cyannellu)
Utterbackia imbecillis Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides
Paper pondshell Creek Chub Semotilus atromaculatus
Western Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis
Green Sunfish Lepomis cyannellus
Yellow Perch Perca flavescens
White Crappie Pomoxis annularis
Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Dollar Sunfish Lepomis marginatus
Banded Killifish Fundulus diaphanous
Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus
Rock Bass Amboplites rupestri
Spotfin Shiner Cyprinella spiloptera
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Table 3. State conservation status and number of site occurrence for crayfish taxa
identified within the Yadkin River drainage area and south of Falls Dam.

Scientific Name

Common Name State
Conservation
Status Number of
Site
Occurrence
Appalachian brook
Cambarus (Cambarus) bartonii crayfish 23
Appalachian brook
Cambarus (Cambarus) cf. C. bartonii crayfish 17
Cambarus cf. (Cambarus) bartonii 2
Cambarus (Cambarus) howardi Chattahoochee crayfish Watch List 21
Greensboro burrowing Species of
Cambarus (Depressicambarus) catagius crayfish Concern 3
Cambarus (Depressicambarus) cf. C. reduncus 4
Cambarus (Depressicambarus) reduncus 8
Cambarus cf. (Depressicambarus) reduncus 2
Cambarus (Hiaticambarus) longulus 44
Cambarus (Jugicambarus) dubius 15
Cambarus (Jugicambarus) cf. C. dubius 3
Cambarus (Jugicambarus) sp. 1
Cambarus (Puncticambarus) cf. C. sp. nov. 4
Cambarus (Puncticambarus) hobbsorum Rocky River crayfish 10
Cambarus (Puncticambarus) sp. C (acuminatus
complex) 186
Cambarus (Puncticambarus) cf sp. C
(acuminatus complex) 5
Cambarus cf. (Puncticambarus) sp. C
(acuminatus complex) 14
Cambarus (Puncticambarus) sp. nov. 6
Cambarus cf. (Cambarus) sp. 4
Cambarus cf. (Depressicambarus) sp. 1
Cambarus sp. 12
Orconectes (Procericambarus) cf. O.
cristavarius 1
Orconectes (Procericambarus) cristavarius 1
Procambarus (Ortmannicus) acutus White River crayfish 13
Procambarus (Scapulicambarus) cf. P. clarkii Introduced 1
Procambarus (Scapulicambarus) clarkii red swamp crayfish Introduced 4
Procambarus cf. (Scapulicambarus) clarkii Introduced 1
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Table 4. List of snail species, their conservation status and number of sites where found
within the study area.
Scientific Name
Bellamya japonica
Campeloma decisum
Ferrissia fi°agilis
Ferrissia rivularis
Goniobasis proxima
Gyraulus parvus
Helisoma anceps
Laevapex fuscus
Leptoxis carinata
Lymnaea columella
Lymnaea humilis
Menetus dilatatus
Physa acuta
Physa sp A
State Conservation Number of Site
Common Name Status Occurrence
pointed campeloma
creeping ancylid
sprite elimia
two-ridge rams-horn
dusky ancylid
crested mudalia
mimic lymnaea
march fossaria
bugle sprite
physa snail
Rare-NHP
3
1
7
46
82
2
4
2
17
10
5
16
52
1
2
i National Heritage Program (NHP) designated Villosa delumbis as a significantly rare snail.
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Table 5. List of fishes, their conservation status, and number of site occurrences.

cientific Name

ommon Name Conservation Status

NC Federal
Number of
Site
Occurrence
Alosa aestivalis Blueback Herring 32
Ambloplites rupestris Rock Bass 7
Ameiurus brunneus Snail Bullhead 83
Ameiurus catus White Catfish 238
Ameiurus melas Black Bullhead 4
Ameiurus natalis Yellow Bullhead 18
Ameiurus nebulosus Brown Bullhead 53
Ameiurus platycephalus Flat Bullhead 103
Amia calva Bowfin 19
Aphredoderus sayanus Pirate Perch 2
Campostoma anomalum Central Stoneroller 24
Carassius auratus Goldfish Nonnative 70
Carpiodes sp. (cf. cyprinus) Carpsucker 123
Catostomus commersonii White Sucker 87
Chaenobryttus gulosuus Warmouth 231
Clinostomus funduloides Rosyside Dace 124
Cottus bairdi Mottled Sculpin 1
Cyprinella analostana Satinfin Shiner 75
Cyprinella labrosa Thicklip Shiner 26
Cyprinella lutrensis Red Shiner 19
Cyprinella nivea Whitefin Shiner 20
Cyprinella pyrrhomelas Fieryblack 66
Cyprinus carpio Common Carp Nonnative 226
Dorosoma cepedianum Gizzard Shad 248
Dorosoma petenense Threadfin Shad Nonnative 213
Erimyzon oblongus Creek Chubsucker 14
Esox americanus Redfin Pickerel 1
Etheostoma olmstedi Tessellated Darter 99
Etheostoma sp. (cf. E. fabellare) Fantail Darter 112
complex
Fundulus rathbuni Speckled Killifish 9
Gambusia holbrooki Eastern Mosquitofish 28
Hybognathus regius Eastern Sillverminnow 15
Hybopsis hypsinotus Highback Chub 110
Hypentelium nigricans Northern Hog Sucker 10
Ictalurus furcatus Blue Catfish Nonnative 105
Ictalurus punctatus Channel Catfish Nonnative 246
ktiobus bubalus Smallmouth Buffalo Nonnative 10
Lepisosteus osseus Longnose Gar 75
Lepomis auritus Redbreast Sunfish 274
Lepomis cyanellus Green Sunfish Nonnative 221
Lepomis gibbosus Pumpkinseed 186
Lepomis macrochirus Bluegill Possibly 289
Nonnative
Lepomis microlophus Redear Sunfish Nonnative 232
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Table 5. Continued.

cientific Name

ommon Name Conservation Status

NC Federal
Number of
Site
Occurrence
Luxilus coccogenis Warpaint Shiner 4
Lythrurus ardens Rosefin Shiiner 4
Msaxatilis x Mchrysops Hybrid Bass Nonnative 4
Micropterus dolomieu Smallmouth Bass Nonnative 29
Micropterus punctulatus Spotted Bass 1
Micropterus salmoides Largemouth Bass Possibly 280
Nonnative
Minytrema melanops Spotted Sucker 22
Morone americana White Perch 238
Morone chrysops White Bass Nonnative 186
Morone saxatilis Striped Bass 219
Moxostoma collapsum Notchlip Redhorse 123
Moxostoma macrolepidotum Shorthead Redhorse 231
Moxostoma pappillosum V-Lip Redhorse 9
Moxostoma sp. "Carolina Redhorse" Threatened Species of 1
Concern
Nocomis leptocephalus Bluehead Chub 178
Notemigonus crysoleucas Golden Shiner 185
Notropis alborus Whitemouth Shiner 1
Notropis altipinnis Highfin Shiner 1
Notropis chiliticus Redlip Shiner 137
Notropis hudsonius Spottail Shiner 33
Notropis hypsinotus Highback Chub 21
Notropis scepticus Sandbar Shiner 26
Noturus insignis Margined Madtom 82
Oncorhynchus mykiss Rainbow Trout 14
Perca favescens Yellow Perch 218
Percina crassa Piedmont Darter 53
Phoxinus oreas Mountain Redbelly 6
Dace
Pimephales promelas Fathead Mininnow 1
Pomoxis annularis White Crappie Nonnative 217
Pomoxis nigromaculatus Black Crappie 223
Pylodictis olivaris Flathead Catfish 199
Rhinichthys atratulus Blacknose Dace 12
Rhinichthys obtusus Orangeside Dace 13
Salmo trutta Brown Trout 17
Salvelinus fontinalis Brook Trout 5
Scartomyzon rupiscartes Striped Jumprock 45
Scartomyzon sp. Brassy Jumprock 66
Semotilus atromaculatus Creek Chub 122
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iw ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS

Legend
® yak, ETO a am

012 4 6
mEml:? Miles
® Kilometers
012468
1
Figure 8. Distribution of the State endangered Brook floater Alasmidonta varicosa and one of the possible fish host species, Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus.
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Legend
Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Project
Prepared by Normandeau Associates, Inc. on January 26, 2006
NORMANDEAUASSOC/ATES/NC.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Lex LAke
Dek
iver
Figure 9
0 1,252.5 5 7.5
Miles
w
Kilometers
01.53 6 9 12
1
Distribution of significantly rare peeblesnail Somatogyrus virginicus upstream in the South Yadin River.
t
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Prepared by Normandeau Associates, Inc. on January 26, 2006
NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES INC.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS E-i.. L-1 IV

C-1 -1

i
CI

" L 3.75 7.5 15 22.5
Miles
w - r
Kilometers
04.59 18 27 36
ti
III
Figure 10. The Physa snails Physa acutus and P. sp. A showed a widespread distribution among level IV ecoregions and upstream and downstream of the APGI dams
Yadkin Habitat Frag Study Maps Final.doc 5/3/06
20 Normandeau Associates, Inc.
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Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Project
Prepared by Normandeau Associates, Inc. on January 26, 2006
NORMANDEAU ASSOCIA TES INC.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Legend
• .m ?,«a.A?a?a ,??a????s?oo??„?a?m.? ? a ,m
o a???n.?s?„ ,ems
v 0.9 2 3
Miles
'4 KIE-1111111111111 oL-mmff? Kilometers
012 4 6 S
Figure 11. Distribution of the Greensboro burrowing crayfish Cambarus (Depressicambarus) catagius (State-listed species of concern) in tributaries that flow into High Rock Reservoir.
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Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Project
Prepared by Normandeau Associates, Inc. on January 26, 2006
Z--'- NORMANDEAUASSOCIATESINC.
`^ ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Legend
a ax vrams?s?aa i,mm,
012 4 6
Miles
rrmmn? Kilometers
4\ 01.53 6 9 12
Figure 12. Distribution of the Chattanoochee crayfish Cambarus (Cambarus) howardi (Watch list species) in many tributaries upstream from High Rock Reservoir, including South Yadkin River.
Yadkin Habitat Frzg Study Maps Final.doc 6/3/06 22 Normandeau Associates, Inc.
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distribution throughout the study area (Figure 13). The "Carolina Redhorse" Moxostoma sp. was a
state-listed threatened species and federal-listed species of concern found in the study area. The
Carolina Redhorse was only identified in the tailwaters of Falls Dam (Figure 14). Some diadromous
fishes, such as striped bass Morone saxatilis and blueback herring Alosa aestivalis have been found
throughout the APGI dam reservoirs (Figure 15).
The fantail darter complex Etheostoma sp. (cf E. flabellare) include several similar forms such that E.
brevispinum occupy the upper portion of the Yadkin River down to but not including including
Uwharrie River and Rocky River subbasins, downstream of Falls Dam (Starnes, pers. Comm. 2005).
Another taxon that is similar to, or conspecific with, E. flabellare occurs in other areas, but have been
mapped as a complex because of uncertainty of the taxonomy of the data (Starnes, pers. Comm.
2005). Figure 16 shows the distribution of fantail darter.
3.5 HABITAT FRAGMENTATION LAYERS
The GIS layer for the dams (787) were widely distributed throughout the study area, with numerous
dams built primarily for recreation (473), fire protection/stock pond (110), irrigation (77), flood
control (55), water supply (22), fish or wildlife pond (21), debris/sediment control (4), hydroelectric
(4), and other purposes (21; Figure 17). The Colleemee Dam was the only non-APGI hydroelectric
dam found in the study area. The APGI dams (High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows or Badin, and Falls)
were also included as a separate GIS layer and were also included in the dam layer except for High
Rock Dam. A GIS layer was created for 225 NPDES discharge sites within the study area. Figure 18
shows the NPDES discharge sites within the APGI dam reservoirs and their tributaries. Level IV
ecoregions categorized by the EPA with similar habitat types or ecosystems that were mapped within
the study area included Carolina Slate Belt, Eastern Blue Ridge Foothills, New River Plateau,
Northern Inner Piedmont, Sauratown Mountains, Southern Crystaline Ridges and Mountains,
Southern Outer Piedmont, and Triassic Basins (Figure 19).
4.0 DISCUSSION
The interactive map software summarized extensive data for species distribution into GIS layers and
provided an analysis tool for managers and scientists. The map provided a method to select areas or
species of interest. Aquatic species distribution may be limited due to a variety of natural and
anthropogenic barriers. Species distribution might be limited because they are reproductively isolated
from a lack of mixing among populations. Populations or groups of a species might be isolated by
watersheds, river systems, ecoregions, habitat type, and water quality or flow. Habitat might also
change as result from dams, pollution, agriculture effects, and invasion of nonnative species.
Distribution of anadromous fishes would be affected by complete obstruction of their migration to
reproduce. Distribution of species might depend on abundance or presence of another species either
for prey or reproduction, such as mussels that require a fish host.
The map included GIS layers of species distribution based on known identifications and were
reviewed by taxon experts. Conclusions about a species distribution and degree of fragmentation
were limited and warrant caution because such species layers were created based on identification of
data from museum collections and don't adequately reflect effort. The number of sites and effort to
obtain all of these records was not random, standardized or necessarily known. Many of these
records, particularly from NCWRC, were from surveys conducted at bridge crossings and readily
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ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Legend
• ? A Yin
m.255 5 7.5
WIL--?= Miles
®Kilorneters
02.55 10 15 20
s
Figure 13. All fish sites within the study area.
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Prepared by Normandeau Associates, Inc. on January 26, 2006
NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES INC.
, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Legend
• N, ,?s?? .o?,aR??,o? . A am _?m
" 0.23 1 1.5
niE::::= Miles
® Kilometers
03.51 2 3 4
Figure 14. The Carolina Redhorse Moxostoma sp., a Federal-listed species of concern and pending to be a State-listed threatened species, was only found in the tailwaters of Falls Dam.
RilesrCreek-im°
e Reyno
Narrowsanal ? D
e Cam
?jn
L Falls Dam
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NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES INC.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Legend
- a.-
? o
mwr?na?.?ewiaBOM
K 00.0.8 1.6 2.4
mAu? Miles
t4 1-
® Kilometers
®.51 2 3 4
s
Figure 15. The diadromous Striped Bass Moron saxatili was widely distributed throughout the APGI Reservoirs.
V
PAU
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Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Project
Prepared by Normandeau Associates, Inc. on January 26, 2006
NORMANDEAUASSOCIATES INC.
,ZL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Legend
• E.re„ro,o «F,aEas,ae Fs? Qa,, Nor . ,M
01.53 6 9
E-RE? Miles
?c r
® Kilometers
024 S 12 16
Figure 16. Distribution of the fantail darter Etheostoma sp. (ef. E. flabellare) complex.
Yadkin Habitat Fra9 Study Maps Finai.doc 5/3/06 27 Normandeau Associates, Inc.
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Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Project
Prepared by Normandeau Associates, Inc. on January 26, 2006
NORMANDEAUASSOCIATES INC.
`-,*-?-*P ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Legend
Rp ? ? e
p F n
Cl B m o?
p ,u uo
D ? .
01.53 6 9
ffjff? Miles
N' ? L
ri -iiiiiiiiis Kilometers
02.55 10 15 20
s
Figure 17. Dams were widely distributed in rivers and streams throughout the study area.
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Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Project
Prepared by Normandeau Associates, Inc. on January 26, 2006
?. NORMANDEAU ASSOCIATES INC.
`9^ ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Legend
y ?=aE??, e
o cy
01.53 6 9
MAK-M Miles
N' ? L
rr?? Kilometers
02.55 10 15 20
s
Figure 18. Location of possible point sources of pollution included NPDES discharges sites.
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Prepared by Normandeau Associates, Inc. on January 26, 2006
L NORMANDEAUASSOCIATES INC.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS

Legend
? = Ecareg on Lewl IV
O ems - onus
" 01.53 6 9
E-0 --- Miles
w _ _ r
M Kilometers
02.55 10 15 20
S
1w Sal
I-"f
Figure 19. The study area partitioned into EPA Level IV Ecoregions.
Yadkin Habitat Frzg Study Maps Fmzl.doc 5/3/06 30 Normandeau Associates, Inc.
Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps
accessible points that may not be representative of all habitat types. Abundance or spatial patterns of
species were not represented downstream of the Yadkin Project, which may have held some value in
comparing species distribution and habitat fragmentation.
The numerous dams widely distributed throughout the study area may potentially fragment aquatic
species, particularly anadromous fishes. Habitat type on a large scale as Level IV ecoregions did not
appear as a major cause of habitat fragmentation for aquatic biota mapped, but impacts on habitat at a
fine scale for a limited area within Yadkin Project was reported in detail by NAI (2005b).
Concentration of NPDES discharge sites may indicate suboptimal conditions for species in question.
Dissolved oxygen levels in some reservoirs and tailwater areas during warm months have been shown
to be suboptimal for many aquatic species from previous studies (NAI 2005a). Water masses of
suboptimal quality (temperature or dissolved oxygen) can form barriers for aquatic species and
delimit their distribution or change their movements, but are often difficult to interpret as two-
dimensional GIS layers because of their shifting patterns in depth and time. Habitat fragmentation of
species was difficult to assess from data consisted mainly of location points of archived specimens or
bridge surveys because a standardized effort of random sampling in a stratified design was not done.
The map provided areas where species are distributed and provided information where further study
might be required for a species or area of interest.
5.0 REFERENCES
Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. (APGI) Yadkin Division. 2002. Yadkin Hydroelectric Project FERC
1297-NC. Initial Consultation Document.
Bogart, Arthur, Ph. D., Curator of Aquatic Invertebrates, North Carolina State Museum of Natural
Resources, Raleigh, NC.
Cooper, John E., Ph. D., Curator of Crustaceans, North Carolina State Museum of Natural Resources,
Raleigh, NC.
Dillon, Robert, Ph. D., Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC.
Normandeau Associates, Inc. 2005a. Yadkin Tailwater Fish and Aquatic Biota Assessment.
Prepared for Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. Yadkin Division. June 2005.
Normandeau Associates, Inc. 2005b. 2005. Yadkin Reservoir Fish and Aquatic Habitat Assessment.
Prepared for Alcoa Power Generating, Inc. Yadkin Division. June 2005.
Starnes, Wayne C., Ph. D., Research Curator of Fishes, North Carolina State Museum of Natural
Resources, Raleigh, NC.
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Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps
APPENDIX 1
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Yadkin Project (FERC No. 2197)
Habitat Fragmentation Assessment
Final Study Plan
September 2004
Background
Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) is the licensee for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. The Yadkin
Project is currently licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as Project No. 2197.
This license expires in 2008 and APGI must file a new license application with FERC on or before April 30,
2006 to continue operation of the Project.
The Yadkin Project consists of four reservoirs, dams, and powerhouses (High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows,
and Falls) located on a 38-mile stretch of the Yadkin River in central North Carolina. The Project generates
electricity to support the power needs of Alcoa's Badin Works, to support its other aluminum operations, or
is sold on the open market.
As part of the relicensing process, APGI prepared and distributed, in September 2002, an Initial
Consultation Document (ICD), which provides a general overview of the Project. Agencies, municipalities,
non-governmental organizations and members of the public were given an opportunity to review the ICD
and identify information and studies that are needed to address relicensing issues. To further assist in the
identification of issues and data/study needs, APGI has formed several Issue Advisory Groups (IAGs) to
advise APGI on resource issues throughout the relicensing process. IAGs have the opportunity to review and
comment on Study Plans. A Draft Study Plan was developed in response to comments on the ICD and
through discussions with the Fish and Aquatics IAG, to provide additional necessary information for
consideration in the relicensing process. This Final Study Plan reflects comments received from IAG
members on the Draft.
Issues
The following issues were raised during initial consultation and through discussions with the Fish and
Aquatics IAG regarding Habitat Fragmentation at the Yadkin Project:
¦ Effects of Yadkin Project dams, reservoirs and operations on habitat fragmentation and population
isolation of aquatic biota.
At the April 9, 2003 Fish and Aquatics IAG meeting, Yadkin and participants discussed the potential scope
for the Habitat Fragmentation study. It was agreed that the participants should review the Habitat
Fragmentation report written for the Tapoco Project relicensing and use this study to help focus efforts at
the Yadkin Project. It was also agreed that in the interim, NAI would begin completing some Phase 1
fragmentation work and this included mapping the locations of rare, threatened and endangered (RTE) fish,
crayfish and mussel species in the Yadkin River basin using existing data. At the February 3, 2004 IAG
meeting, NAI distributed a report entitled Yadkin River RTE Species Maps. This report mapped the
occurrence of RTE mussel, fish and crayfish species within the Yadkin-Pee Dee River Basin using a large
data base
Yadkin Project Habitat Fragmentation Study 1 Final Study Plan, September, 2004
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provided by NCWRC. This data base included observation data collected by NCWRC, NCDOT, contractors
and other state agencies between 1987 and 2002. After a brief discussion about the report, agency IAG
participants agreed that they would review the RTE species maps in the report and then meet amongst
themselves to discuss the next steps needed to refine the fragmentation study. Agency IAG members from
NCWRC and USFWS met on 29 March 2004 to discuss how they wanted the Habitat Fragmentation study
to proceed. Following the meeting, they drafted a memorandum dated 12 April 2004 that described the
information they felt was needed to complete the fragmentation study (Attachment 1). The memorandum
outlined four tasks, which are summarized below;
List of fish, mussel, crayfish and snail species (RTE & common species) in the basin using existing
data bases and recently collected data from surveys conducted by APGI and Progress Energy; use
local experts for opinions on historic ranges and to review existing data. Summarize the data in GIS
layers.
A review of the causes of habitat fragmentation and what species or types of species are usually
affected by each cause. Typical causes include dams, reservoirs, water quality (temperature,
dissolved oxygen, sediment, NPDES discharges, natural barriers, level III ecoregion breaks, flow
regime alterations and other changes to the watershed (changes in woody debris cycling).
Summarize the data in GIS layers.
A comparison of species distributions and possible causes of fragmentation. This should include life
history information on affected species to determine if they can benefit from various mitigation
measures. This would include general habitat use requirements such as m a i n s t e m vs. tributary,
distance of spawning, other migration movements (diadromous, anadromous) and habitat
requirements (benthic, floodplain, etc.).
An assessment of possible mitigation measures within the watershed, including dam removal,
fishways (ladders, natural channels, lower reservoir levels), stream restoration, assistance with waste
water upgrades, land and river protection (buffers, land acquisition), gravel enhancement,
translocation of genetic material, future monitoring, altered flow regime and public education.
The agencies' 12 April 2004 habitat fragmentation memorandum was discussed in detail at the May, 2004
Fish and Aquatics IAG meeting. It was agreed by the IAG members that Normandeau would prepare a study
plan that focused on tasks 1 and 2 of memorandum (see above) and once this data was summarized in a GIS
format, the IAG would reconvene to discuss the results and the next steps outlined in tasks 3 and 4 above.
A draft study plan was distributed to the IAG for review and comment in August, 2004. Comments on the
draft were received from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (Todd Ewing, email dated
9/1/04) and the High Rock Lake Association (Larry Jones, email dated 8/9/04). In their comments, NCWRC
requested that the study plan be modified to utilize ecoregion level IV instead of level III. This change has
been made in the final study plan. HRLA expressed concern about the "reason and/or intent" of the study.
More specifically, HRLA indicated that it was concerned with any suggestion that "six major hydro-electric
project....be abandoned in an effort to re-create the landscape, fisheries and wildlife patterns as they existed
100 years ago". To address this comment, modifications have been made to
Yadkin Project Habitat Fragmentation Study2 Final Study Plan, September, 2004
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"Objectives" section of the final study plan to clarify the purpose of the study. Consideration of
abandonment (or major alteration) to the Yadkin Project dams for purposes of recreating habitat conditions
in the watershed that existed 100 years ago is not one of the objectives of the study. Moreover, FERC has
made it clear that in the relicensing process, "existing conditions" is the baseline that is to be used for
evaluating the ongoing affects of the Yadkin Project or its operations.
Objectives
The purpose of the study is to identify differences in the historic and current distributions of certain aquatic
species in tributaries to the Yadkin Project reservoirs and to identify possible causes for any observed
changes in species distribution. Over the course of discussions at the 04 May, 2004 IAG meeting the
following specific objectives were identified for the habitat fragmentation study.
¦ Map in GIS layers the existing databases for fish, mussel, crayfish and snail species found in the
Yadkin Project watershed that may be fragmented - include recent data collected by APGI at the
Proj ect
¦ Enlist the assistance (voluntary or paid) of local experts with experience on fish, mussel, crayfish
and snail populations in the region to get information on historic ranges (if such data exists),
provide data on current species ranges if not found in existing data bases, and to review/edit the GIS
maps once compiled.
¦ Review the potential causes of any observed habitat fragmentation and the species or type of
species that are usually affected by each cause.
¦ Map in GIS format the causes of habitat fragmentation, such as locations of dams, reservoirs, water
quality (temperature, dissolved oxygen, sediment, NPDES discharges, natural barriers, level IV
ecoregion breaks, flow regime alterations and other changes to the watershed (e.g., changes to large
woody debris cycling.
It was also agreed at the 04 May, 2004 IAG meeting that this investigation would focus on portions of the
watershed that are potentially affected by the Yadkin Project dams and reservoirs (primarily tributaries to the
Yadkin Project reservoirs). Portions of the watershed that lie downstream of the Yadkin Project would not
be included in the study or the evaluation of fragmentation effects. Others would be responsible for
collecting similar information and conducting similar analysis on the portion of the watershed that lies
downstream of Falls Dam.
Methods
Normandeau will compile existing data on locations of fish, mussel, crayfish and snail species collected in
the Yadkin River basin that are potentially affected by habitat fragmentation. This data will be combined
with the Yadkin River rare, threatened and endangered (RTE) data set that was previously mapped and
distributed to the Fish and Aquatics IAG in February, 2004. Data for this effort will be compiled using
existing data, such as NCWRC's large data set that has records primarily for fish and mussel species
collected in the Yadkin basin. Other sources for data will include (but not be limited to) aquatic biota
collected by APGI and Progress Energy on the Yadkin River during the recent relicensing efforts, agency
files, historical records provided
Yadkin Project Habitat Fragmentation Study 3 Final Study Plan, September, 2004
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Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps
by experts (if such records exist) and from published sources. Once the data has been compiled, a list of
species featured in this spatial analysis will be reviewed by taxon experts. The following taxon experts have
agreed to assist with this study:
Fish Mr. Wayne C. Starnes, Ph.D., Research Curator of Fishes
North Carolina State Museum of Natural Resources, Raleigh, NC
Mussels Mr. Arthur Bogan, Ph.D., Curator of Aquatic Invertebrates
North Carolina State Museum of Natural Resources, Raleigh, NC
Crayfish Mr. John E. Cooper, Ph.D., Curator of Crustaceans
North Carolina State Museum of Natural Resources, Raleigh, NC
Snails Mr. Robert Dillon, Ph.D.
Department of Biology, College of Charleston Charleston, SC
A large data set of aquatic biota collected in the Yadkin basin and compiled by NCWRC exists, but it
primarily has data on fish and mussel species captured in the Yadkin basin since 1987. Data on snails and
crayfish in the Yadkin basin are less extensive and therefore the taxon experts for these species will assist in
compiling data sources from their files, research studies and other published sources. Recent data collected
by APGI during the relicensing studies will also be included in each taxon's data set. Once data has been
compiled and reviewed/edited by the taxon experts, GIS data layers (in Arc View format) will be created
with the data and maps will be made and presented in three formats for the IAG - color hard copies,
electronic map image files and an interactive GIS map project to allow user-defined selection of map
features.
Potential causes of habitat fragmentation will be summarized in the report and those species susceptible to
their effects will be identified. Data will include areas affected by natural, general anthropogenic and APGI
project related causes, such as dams, reservoirs, water quality, NPDES discharges, Level IV ecoregion
breaks, flow regime alterations and agricultural land use. Compiled data will be integrated into species and
fragmentation source GIS layers with defined symbology for easy interpretation. Information summarized
into GIS layers will be plotted on a map covering the Yadkin-Pee Dee River basin for all those species
susceptible to habitat fragmentation caused by previously identified sources. Species distribution will be
presented by species or species group, based on their life histories, on a map of all relevant sources of
habitat fragmentation. Data can be displayed for comparison of the spatial distribution of aquatic species
and their potential causes of fragmentation. Individual species or species group distribution maps will be
created as color hard copies and electronic image files. In addition, a simple GIS application will be
included for the user to install and view the GIS product interactively.
Yadkin Project Habitat Fragmentation Study4 Final Study Plan, September, 2004
Yadkin Habitat Frag Study Maps Final.doc 5/3/06 Normandeau Associates, Inc.
Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps
Reporting
Results of this evaluation will be reported in draft and final study reports. A draft study report that
includes the maps on CD will be prepared and distributed to the Fish and Aquatics IAG for review
and comment in the I st quarter of 2005. IAG comments will be addressed in a final study report.
Yadkin Project Habitat Fragmentation Study
Final Study Plan, September, 2004
Yadkin Habitat Frag Study Maps Final.doc 5/3/06 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps
Attachment 1
To: Wendy Bley, Longview Associates
From: Todd Ewing, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Re: Habitat Fragmentation Study
4/12/2004
On March 29, 2004 staff from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service met to discuss how we thought the Habitat Fragmentation study to
proceed. The following summarizes the information we feel is needed.
Lists of species in the basin that may be fragmented. Start with recent databases of fish,
mussels, crayfish and snails. Add expert opinion on historic ranges of each taxa. Possible
experts include Wayne Starnes (fish), Art Bogan (mussels), John Cooper (crayfish), and Rob
Dillon (freshwater snails). Also, add any data collected from the 2004 field surveys being
conducted by APGI and Progress Energy as listed in Table 1 of the Yadkin River RTE Species
Maps document. Summarize in GIS data layers.
2. A review of causes of habitat fragmentation and what species or types of species are usually
affected by each cause. Typical causes include dams, reservoirs, water quality (temperature,
dissolved oxygen, sediment, NPDES discharges (particularly chlorine and ammonia), etc.),
natural barriers, level III ecoregion breaks, flow regime alterations, other changes to the
watershed (e.g., changes to large woody debris cycling). Summarize in GIS data layers.
The above information should be compiled in a GIS data layers to facilitate the comparison of
this information with the RTE species distribution data layers.
3. A comparison of the species distributions and possible causes. This step also should include
information on the life history of each species to determine if they are liable to benefit from
various mitigation measures. This would include such things as general habitat use (mainstem
vs tributary), distance of spawning or other migration movements (e.g., diadromous, long,
short), habitat requirements (benthic, floodplain, etc.)
An assessment of possible mitigation measures within the watershed including dam removal,
fishways (ladders, natural channels, lower reservoir levels, etc.), stream restoration,
assistance with waste water upgrades, land and river protection (buffers, land acquisition),
gravel enhancement, translocation of genetic material, future monitoring, altered flow regime,
and public education.
Yadkin Project Habitat Fragmentation Study
Final Study Plan, September, 2004
Yadkin Habitat Frag Study Maps Final.doc 5/3/06 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps
APPENDIX 2
Yadkin Habitat Frag Study Maps Final.doc 5/3/06 Normandeau Associates, inc.
Yadkin Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps
Habitat Fragmentation Study Maps for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1
Copy all files and directories from CD onto your hard drive C:\
Step 2
Go to folder ..\ArcReader9l \
Double-click on Arereader9l.exe and follow the Install Wizard prompts. You may
have to uninstall older versions of ArcReader before installing version 9.1.
Step 3
Open ArcReader 9.1
Step 4
Go into the pmf folder and open the published map file with the *pmf extension.
Step 5
Enter the case-senstive password "NAI" when prompted. Note some functionality
options have been locked to protect data.
Please enter the password for the published map in
the text box below and press O.
Password
Cancel
Step 6
Explore the map interactively by zooming in and out and selecting layers of interest.
Select one or several species to be viewed at a time. You have the choice of selecting
individual layers. Maps can be viewed in a layout or in a data view.
Yadkin Habitat Frag Study Maps Final.doc 5/3/06 Normandeau Associates, inc.