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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20071818 Ver 1_Reports_20050203The Catena Group 410-B Millstone Drive Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 732-1300 FRESHWATER MUSSEL SURVEY SR 1730 (Turkey Farm Road) over New Hope Creek TIP No.13-4218 Orange County, North Carolina Prepared For: North Carolina Department of Transportation PDEA - Office of Natural Environment 1598 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1598 Prepared By: The Catena Group Hillsborough, North Carolina February 3, 2005 Timothy W. Savidge INTRODUCTION The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to replace bridge No. 108 over New Hope Creek on SR 1730 (Turkey Farm Road) in Orange County, North Carolina, Transportation Improvement Project (TIP) No. B-4218 (Figure 1). The TIP lists the water body for B-4218 as Old Field Creek; however, bridge No. 108 on SR 1730 corresponds to a crossing of New Hope Creek. New Hope Creek occurs within the Cape Fear River Basin. The federally endangered dwarf wedge mussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) is listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as occurring in Orange County. This record from Orange County occurs in the Eno River, of the Neuse River Basin, within the limits of the Eno River State Park. However, (Dawley 1965) reported the dwarf wedge mussel within the Cape Fear River Basin from an unspecified Lake in Guilford County. This record was disputed by (Shelly 1987) because of a lack of a voucher specimen, and the fact that the dwarf wedge mussel is "strictly a riverine species." There have been no other reports of the dwarf wedge mussel from the Cape Fear River Basin. More species of freshwater mussels have been reported from the Cape Fear River Basin (29) than any other river basin in North Carolina (Bogan 2002, Shelly 1987). Although no federally protected mussel species are verified to occur in the basin, several rare species are known from the Cape Fear. These include the Atlantic pigtoe (Fusconaia masoni), brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa), Carolina creekshell (Villosa vaughaniana), creeper (Strophitus undulatus), eastern lampmussel (Lampsilis radiata), eastern creekshell (Villosa delumbis), green floater (Lasmigona subviridus), notched rainbow (Villosa constricta), Roanoke slabshell (Elliptio roanokensis), Savannah lilliput (Toxolasma pullus), triangle floater (Alasmidonta undulata), and the yellow lampmussel (Lampsilis cariosa). The Atlantic pigtoe, Carolina creekshell, green floater, Savanna liliput and yellow lampmussel are Federal Species of Concern and are considered Endangered in North Carolina. The triangle floater, creeper, eastern lampmussel and Roanoke slabshell are considered Threatened in North Carolina, the Carolina creekshell is considered Endangered in North Carolina. The notched rainbow is considered Special Concern, and the eastern creekshell is considered Significantly Rare in North Carolina. WATERS IMPACTED: New Hope Creek The proposed project will impact New Hope Creek, which arises approximately 10 River Miles (RM) to the west of the crossing and flows southeast where it enters the impounded backwaters of Jordan Lake approximately 18 RM downstream of the project crossing. The stream channel in the surveyed area is approximately 10 meters (32 feet) in width, with 0.5-2 meter (1.6 to 6.6 foot-high) streambanks. The streambanks are relatively stable, showing only moderate erosion below the bridge crossing. The substrate within the stream is composed of rock, gravel and sand. The surveyed reach varied from a long pool extending from the downstream survey extent to just above the bridge crossing where a riffle and run sequence defined the upstream survey extent. The The Project Location (* ) Catena SR 1730 over New Hope Creek Group TIP # B-4218 Orange County, North Carolina Dare: Figure November 2004 Scale: As Shown Job No.: survey area flows out of the 296 acres Triangle Land Conservancy Johnston Mill Nature Preserve into an area of sparse, large lot-size residential development. The mature hardwood forest in these areas provides an extensive buffer for this section of New Hope Creek. SPECIES DESCRIPTION Alasmidonta heterodon (dwarf wedge mussel) Status: Endangered Family: Uniomdae Listed: March-14-1990 Characteristics The dwarf wedge mussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) (DWM) was originally described as Unio heterodon (Lea 1829). (Simpson 1914) subsequently placed it in the genus Alasmidonta. (Ortmann 1914) placed it in a monotypic subgenus Prolasmidonta, based on the unique soft-tissue anatomy and conchology. (Fuller 1977) believed the characters of Prolasmidonta warranted elevation to full generic rank and renamed the species Prolasmidonta heterodon. (Clarke 1981) retained the genus name Alasmidonta and considered Prolasmidonta to be a subjective synonym of the subgenus Pressodonta (Simpson 1900). The specific epithet heterodon, refers to the chief distinguishing characteristic of this species, which is the only North American freshwater mussel that consistently has two lateral teeth on the right valve and only one on the left (Fuller 1977). All other laterally dentate freshwater mussels in North America normally have two lateral teeth on the left valve and one on the right. The DWM is generally small, with a shell length ranging between 25 mm and 38 mm. The largest specimen ever recorded was 56.5 mm long, taken from the Ashuelot River in New Hampshire (Clarke 1981). The periostracum is generally olive green to dark brown; nacre bluish to silvery white, turning to cream or salmon colored towards the umbonal cavities. Sexual dimorphism occurs in DWM, with the females having a swollen region on the posterior slope, and the males are generally flattened. Clarke (1981) provides a detailed description of the species. Little is known about the reproductive biology of the DWM; however nearly all freshwater mussel species have similar reproductive strategies, which involves a larval stage (glochidium), that becomes a temporary obligatory parasite on a fish. Many mussel species have specific fish hosts, which must be present to complete their life cycle. Based upon laboratory infestation experiments, (Michaelson 1993) determined that potential fish hosts for the DWM in North Carolina include the tesselated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi) and the Johnny darter (E. nigrum). McMahon and Bogan (2001) and Pennak (1989) should be consulted for a general overview of freshwater mussel reproductive biology. Distribution and Habitat Requirements The historic range of the DWM was confined to Atlantic slope drainages from the Peticodiac River in New Brunswick, Canada, south to the Neuse River, North Carolina. Occurrence records exist from at least 70 locations, encompassing 15 major drainages, in 11 states and 1 Canadian Province (USFWS 1993). It is believed to have been extirpated from all but 36 localities, 14 of them in North Carolina (USFWS 1993). (Strayer, Sprague et al. 1996) conducted range-wide assessments of remaining DWM populations, and assigned a population status, to each of the populations. The status rating is based on range size, number of individuals and evidence of reproduction. Seven of the 20 populations assessed are considered "poor", and two others are considered "poor to fair" and "fair to poor" respectively. In North Carolina populations are found in portions of the Neuse and Tar River basins. The DWM inhabits creeks and rivers of varying sizes (down to approximately 6 feet wide), with slow to moderate flow. A variety of preferred substrates have been described that range from coarse sand, to firm muddy sand to gravel (USFWS 1993). In North Carolina, they often occur within submerged root mats along stable streambanks. The wide range of substrate types used by this species suggests that the stability of the substrate is likely as important as the composition. Threats to Species The cumulative effects of several factors, including sedimentation, point and non- point discharge, stream modifications (impoundments, channelization, etc.) have contributed to the decline of this species throughout its range. With the exception of the Neversink River population in New York, which has an estimated population of over 80,000 mussels, all of the other populations are generally small in numbers and restricted to short reaches of isolated streams. The low numbers of individuals and the restricted range of most of the surviving populations make them extremely vulnerable to extirpation from a single catastrophic event or activity (Strayer, Sprague et. al. 1996). Catastrophic events may consist of natural events such as flooding or drought, as well as human influenced events such as toxic spills associated with highways or railroads. Siltation resulting from improper erosion control of various land usage, including agricultural, forestry and development activities has been recognized as a major contributing factor to degradation of mussel populations (USFWS 1996). Siltation has been documented to be extremely detrimental to mussel populations by degrading substrate and water quality, increasing potential exposure to other pollutants, and by direct smothering of mussels (Ellis 1936), (Markings and Bills 1979). Sediment accumulations of less than one inch have been shown to cause high mortality in most mussel species (Ellis 1936). In Massachusetts, a bridge construction project decimated a population of DWM, because of accelerated sedimentation and erosion (Smith 1981). Sewage treatment effluent has been documented to significantly affect the diversity and abundance of mussel fauna (Goudreau, Neves et al. 1988). Goudreau, Neves et al. (198 8) found that recovery of mussel populations may not occur for up to two miles below points of chlorinated sewage effluent. The impact of impoundments on freshwater mussels has been well documented (USFWS 1992 a, Neves 1993). Construction of dams transforms lotic habitats into lentic habitats, which results in changes with aquatic community composition. The changes associated with inundation adversely affect both adult and juvenile mussels as well as fish community structure, which could eliminate possible fish hosts for glochidia. Muscle Shoals on the Tennessee River in northern Alabama, once the richest site for naiads (mussels) in the world, is now at the bottom of Wilson Reservoir and covered with 19 feet of muck (USFWS 1992 b). Large portions of all of the river basins within the DWM's range have been impounded and this is believed to be a major factor contributing to the species decline (Master 1993, USFWS 1993). The introduction of exotic species such as the Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea) and zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) has also been shown to pose significant threats to native freshwater mussels. The Asiatic clam is now established in most of the major river systems in the United States (Fuller and Powell 1973), including those streams still supporting surviving populations of the DWM. Concern has been raised over competitive interactions for space, food and oxygen with this species and native mussels, possibly at the juvenile stages (Neves and Widlack 1987, Alderman 1997). The zebra mussel, native to the drainage basins of the Black, Caspian and Aral Seas, is an exotic freshwater mussel that was introduced into the Great Lakes in the 1980s and has rapidly expanded its range into the surrounding river basins, including those of the South Atlantic slope (ONeill and MacNeill 1991). This species competes for food resources and space with native mussels, and is expected to contribute to the extinction of at least 20 freshwater mussel species if it becomes established throughout most of the eastern United States (USFWS 1992 b). The zebra mussel is not currently known from any river supporting DWM populations (USFWS 1993). SURVEY EFFORTS New Hope Creek is a perennial stream that could provide potential habitat for the dwarf wedge mussel, and thus surveys for this and other freshwater mussel species were conducted for NCDOT. Pre-survey Investigation Prior to conducting in-stream surveys, a review of any survey work that had taken place in the New Hope Creek drainage was performed. Sources consulted include the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NHP) systematic inventory (database) of rare plant and animal species, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The pre-survey searches revealed records of elliptio mussels (Elliptio spp.). Mussel Surveys for this Project Due to the numbers of individuals and diversity found in the survey reach and the limited available time on these dates, New Hope Creek was surveyed on three separate occasions: on April 24, 2004 by Michael Wood, Shay Garriock, and Sharon Snider of The Catena Group (TCG), on September 14, 2004 by Michael Wood, Tom Dickinson, and Steve Melin of TCG, and on November 3, 2004 by Tim Savidge, Tom Dickinson, and Michael Wood of TCG and Jay Mays of NCDOT. Mussel surveys were conducted from a point approximately 400 meters downstream of the project crossing to a point approximately 100 meters upstream. Methodology and Results Visual (using mask/snorkel and batiscopes) and tactile methods were used to survey for mussels. Water clarity was excellent during all of the site visits. Water level ranged from less than 6 inches to 3.5 feet deep. A total of 13.25 person hours survey time were spent in the survey reach. At least 9 species of freshwater mussels were found during the survey efforts (Table 1.), including 2 brook floater (Alasmidonta varicosa), 601 elliptio mussels (Elliptio spp.1), 1 Atlantic spike (Elliptio producta), 17 un-described Lampsilis species (Lampsilis sp. 2), 7 eastern floater (Pyganodon cataracta), 4 creeper (Strophitus undulatus), 67 notched rainbow (Villosa constricta), 29 eastern creekshell (Villosa delumbis), and 33 Carolina creekshell (Villosa vaughaniana). The highest quality habitat (where the majority of the mussels were located) persists as a gravel/ consolidated silt-sand bar that extends approximately 50 meters below the crossing to 20 meters above the crossing. This high-quality mussel bed includes habitat directly below the current bridge footprint. The Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) in Table 1 represents the cumulative survey efforts from all three site visits. The introduced Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) was common, and a fingernail clam (Sphaeriidae) as well as the brown mystery snail (Campeloma decisum) were present in the surveyed portion of New Hope Creek. The dwarf wedge mussel was not found during the surveys. Table 1. CPUE for Freshwater Mussels in New Hope Creek Scientific Name Common Name Number CPUE Alasmidonta varicosa brook floater 2 0.15 Elli do s pp. elli do mussels 601 34.3 Elli do roducta Atlantic spike 1 0.07 Lam silis s p. 2 un-described Lam silis 17 1.26 P anodon cataracta eastern floater 7 0.52 Stro hitus undulatus creeper 4 0.30 Villosa constricta notched rainbow 67 4.96 Villosa delumbis eastern creekshell 29 2.15 Villosa vau haniana Carolina creekshell 33 2.44 ' Because of the taxonomic uncertainty of the Elliptio genus, all elliptio mussels of the Elliptio complanata and E. icterina complexes were lumped into 1 group. At least two forms of E. complanata and 1 form of E. icterina were noted, with gradation between each form, making separation difficult. It is very possible that two or three species comprise the elliptio fauna in the surveyed reach of the New Hope Creek. Discussion The survey results indicate a viable (multiple age classes observed) and regionally significant freshwater mussel fauna occurs within the project area. Of the mussel species found, at least two represent new locations previously undocumented from this part of the Cape Fear River Basin; the FSC brook floater and the un-described Lampsilis mussel. Also of significance is the high concentration of the three species of the Villosa genus found during the surveys, particularly that of the FSC Carolina creekshell. Of primary concern is the fact that the majority of these rare finds were located within or in very close proximity to the bridge footprint. It is recommended that efforts be made in the design and during the construction of the new bridge crossing to avoid and minimize impacts to the population of mussels and other aquatic fauna in this reach of New Hope Creek. The dwarf wedge mussel was not found during the surveys. Due to the limited and questionable records of dwarf wedge mussel from the Cape Fear River Basin, it is unlikely that the dwarf wedge mussel occurs in the surveyed reach of New Hope Creek. It can therefore be concluded that project construction is "Not Likely to Adversely Affect" the dwarf wedge mussel. LITERATURE CITED Alderman, J. M. (1997). Monitoring Swift Creek freshwater mussel community. Conservation and Management of Freshwater Mussels II Initiatives for the future. Proceedings of a UMRCC symposium, October 16-18, 1995., St Louis, Missouri, Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee. Bogan, A. E. (2002). Workbook and key to the freshwater bivalves of North Carolina. Raleigh NC, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Clarke, A. H. (1981). The Tribe Alasmidontini (Unionidae: Anodontinae), Part I: Pegius, Alasmidonta, and ARcidens. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. Washington, D.C., Smithsonian Institution Press: 101. Dawley, C. (1965). "Checklist of freshwater mollusks of North Carolina." Sterkiana 19: 35-39. Ellis, M. M. (1936). "Erosion Silt as a Factor in Aquatic Environments." Ecology 17: 29- 42. Fuller, S. L. H. (1977). Freshwater and Terrestrial Mollusks. Endangered and Threatened Plants and Animals of North Carolina. J. E. C. e. al. Raleigh, NC, NC State Museum of Natural History: 143-194. Goudreau, S. E., R. J. Neves, et al. (1988). Effects of Sewage Treatment Effluents on Mollusks and Fish of the Clinch River in Tazewell County, Virginia. USFWS: 128. Lea, I. (1829). "Description of a new genus of the family of Naiades (etc)." Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 3(new series): 403-456. McMahon, R.F. and A.E. Bogan. 2001. Mollusca: Bivalva. Pp. 331-429. In: J.H. Thorpe and A.P. Covich. Ecology and Classification of North American freshwater invertebrates. 2"a edition. Academic Press. Markings, L. L. and T. D. Bills (1979). Acute Effects of Silt and Sand Sedimentation on Freshwater Mussels. UMRCC Symposium on the Upper Mississippi River bivalve Mollusks, Rock Island, IL, UMRCC. Master, L. (1986). Alasmidonta heterodon: results of a global status survey and proposal to list as an endangered species. A report submitted to Region 5, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services: 10 with appendices. Michaelson, D. L. (1993). Life history of the endangered dwarf-wedge mussel, Alasmidonta heterodon (Lea 1830) (Pelecypoda: Unionidae), in the Tar River, North Carolina and Aquia Creek, Virginia. Fisheries and Wildlife Science. Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. MS thesis: 122. Neves, R. J. (1993). A State of the Unionids Address. UMRCC symposium on the Conservation and Management of Freshwater Mussels. C. K.S., A. C. Buchanan and L. M. Kooch. Rock Island, IL, UMRCC. Proceedings in the UMRCC symposium on the Conservation and Management of Freshwater Mussels: 1- 10. Neves, R. J. and J. C. Widlak (1987). "Habitat Ecology of Juvenile Freshwater Mussels (Bivalva: Unionidae) in a Headwater Stream in Virginia." American Malacological Bulletin 1(5): 1-7. O'Neill, C. R. J. and D. B. MacNeill (1991). The Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha): an unwelcome North American Invader, New York Sea Grant Extension. Coastal Resources Fact Sheet: 12 pp. Ortmann, A. E. (1914). "Studies in najades." Nautilus 28: 41-47. Pennak, R. W. (1989). Fresh-water Invertebrates of the United States, Protozoa to Mollusca. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Shelly, R. M. (1987). "Unionid mollusks from the upper Cape Fear River Basin, North Carolina, with a comparison of the faunas of the Neuse, Tar and Cape Fear drainage (Bivalva: Unionacea)." Brimleyana 13(67-89). Simpson, C. T. (1900). "Synopsis of the naiads, or pearly freshwater mussels." Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus. 22: 501-1044. Simpson, C. T. (1914). A descriptive catalogue of the naiades or pearly freshwater mussels. Detroit, Bryant Walker. Smith, D. (1981). Selected Freshwater Invertebrates Proposed for Special Concern Status in Massachusetts (Mollusca, Annelida, Arthropoda). M. D. o. E. Q. Engineering, Division of Water Pollution Control: 26. Strayer, D. L., S. J. Sprague, et al. (1996). "A range-wide assessment of populations of Alasmidonta heterodon, an endangered freshwater mussel (Bivalva:Unionidae)." J.N. Benthol. Soc. 15(3): 308-317. USFWS (1992 a). Special report on the status of freshwater mussels. USFWS (1992 b). Endangered and Threatened species of the southeast United States (The Red Book). FWS, Ecological Services, Div. of Endangered Species, Southeast Region. Govt Printing Office, Wash, DC: 1,070. USFWS (1993). "Dwarf-wedge mussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) Recovery Plan." 527. USFWS (1996). Revised Technical/Agency Draft Carolina Heelsplitter Recovery Plan, Atlanta, GA: 47. From: "John N. Kent" <jkent@mx.tmug.org> To: <Andrew.E.Williams@saw02.usace.anny.mil> CC: <Longest@law.duke.edu>, <healy@duke.edu> Date: 11/28/2007 4:56 PM Subject: B-4218, a follow up to our phone conversation yesterday Andy, Same email (below the *** line) but with a cc's. John Kent ************** Mr. Williams (Andy), As a follow up to our phone conversation yesterday, I wanted to make sure I understood your position on the following points: The Corps considers complete the NCDOT 10/19/07 dated "Application for Section 404 Nationwide 23 and 33 for the replacement of Bridge No. 108 over New Hope Creek on SR 1730 (Turkey Farm Rd.), Orange County, Division 7. Federal Aid Project No. BRZ-1730 (5), WBS Element 33563.1.1, T.I.P. No. B-4218." (COE Action Number: 2007-03852) This is in spite of the fact that the proposed bridge design will have stream impacts due to the placement of an interior bent and its three associated 3.5 foot diameter drilled piers and a 55 foot long, streambed placed, rip rap composed causeway in a reach of New Hope Creek which is home to six NC state listed freshwater mussel species. I did send you a list of those species as an attachment to my email "New Hope Creek Aquatic Habitat & B-4218 Bridge Project in Orange Co" of 10/23/07 (12:49 PM), and I did mention on the phone yesterday that three of the six are state endangered, one is state threatened, another is state special concern and the last (under the NC Natural Heritage Program) is significantly rare. They are, in alpha order by scientific name: Alasmidonta varicosa (Brook floater), State Endangered Fusconaia masoni (Atlantic pigtoe), State Endangered Strophitus undulatus (Creeper), State Threatened Villosa constricts (Notched rainbow), State Special Concern Villosa delumbis (Eastern creekshell), Significantly Rare Villosa vaughaniana (Carolina creekshell), State Endangered (See the following NCWRC link for more detail: http://www.ncwildlife.org/pg07-WildlifeSpeciesCon/pg7blal.htm) I also pointed out in that email that an additional native mussel species, at this writing known as "Lampsilis sp.2," is considered as possibly new to science and that DNA work is currently underway on this question with samples taken from the aquatic habitat in New Hope Creek in close vicinity of the proposed B-4218 bridge project. I should also mention that this reach of New Hope Creek, as noted on page one of my 10/23/07 email attachment to you, is considered by the NC Natural Heritage Program as " New Hope Creek Aquatic Habitat" a "Significant Natural Heritage Area" and extends 1 km up stream of I-40 and down stream to just below Erwin Road, fully enclosing the B-4218 project area. The Corps' consideration that the Application is complete is also in spite of the fact that, while the Application claims that a Categorical Exclusion document is sufficient to meet NEPA and SEPA requirements, and while Categorical Exclusions in 23 CFR 771.117 are defined in part as actions which "do not have a significant impact on the natural, cultural, recreational, historic, or other resources," there are several recreation and open space plans for the New Hope Creek Corridor where B-4218 is planned but with which its present design is at odds: 1) New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan, 1992, which has been approved by the City of Durham, Durham County, Town of Chapel Hill and Orange County and extends well up and down stream of the B-4218 project area, and includes the large open space lands of the Johnston Mill Nature Preserve which abuts the B-4218 site and the Duke Forest which is just down stream of the B-4218 project area. (Master Plan link is: www.newhopecreek.org For a map of the B-4218 part of it specifically, Orange County Wildlife Corridors:http://www.newhopecreek.org/maps/c I Omap.htm) 2) Orange County "Lands Legacy Annual Action Plan 2006-2008, adopted 9/12/06") which includes a plan for a "New Hope Rustic Trail" which would pass through the area between Mt. Sinai Rd. up stream and the Duke Forest down stream. [This document (file name: llaap_06_08.pdf), mentioned on the phone yesterday, is available via the second of three links (listed at the bottom of the Lands Legacy link: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/ercd/lands_legacy.asp ] 3) The trail, mentioned above in item 2, is also mentioned in the Orange Co. 1999 plan: "Report of the Master Recreation and Parks Work Group." 4) The New Hope Creek Corridor Advisory Committee, which oversees the implementation of the New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan requested that the proposed bridge facilitate dry land passage of wildlife and accommodate possible future pedestrian use. (A copy of this correspondence was emailed to you by the Co-Chair of the Committee, Dr. Robert Healy on 11/24/07.) Of particular concern is the fact that the proposed bridge design will have a vertical clearance between the underside of the bridge deck and the top of bank surface of 3.5 feet on the south side and 5 feet on the north " side, well below the clearance necessary for a adequate wildlife passage or for a recreational trail. John Kent 394 Cub Creek Rd. Chapel Hill, NC 27517 9819-933-5650