20201300 Ver 1_More Info Received_20220126

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Andrea, Susan, and Crystal,

Attached you will find the Hellbender Habitat Detail for the Walker Project. Melanie Carter, in collaboration with Michael Knoerr and Morgan Harris (Private Lands Biologists with the
Southeastern Hellbender Conservation Initiative), used the NRCS Hellbender Structural Habitat Augmentation Guidance (also attached) and modified it to be more conducive to Cove Creek’s
bedform (shallow cobbles and Bedrock). The resulting detail (Detail 2) is based on the NRCS design as well as field observations of hellbender habitat, and used lessons learned from
failed structures where the cavities filled in after construction to come up with a solution we believe will be self-sustaining over time. If you have any questions we’ll be happy to
answer them tomorrow in the field. Looking forward to seeing you.

Thanks,

Josselyn K. Lucas

Project Manager

Environmental Specialist - WPIT, QHP

Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting, Inc.

10565 Hwy 421 South, Trade, TN

Office: 423-727-4476 ext. 102

Cell: 828-406-9508

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"In society you will not find health, but in nature." — Henry David Thoreau

Guidelines for Eastern Hellbender Structural Habitat Augmentation
For questions contact a Private Lands Biologist for your region:
Morgan Harris (NC) — morgan.harrisQusda.gov, Mike Knoerr (NC) — michael.knoerrCcDusda.gov, Jeronimo Gomes da
Silva Neto (TN) — leronimo.silvaQusda.gov, Melanie Carter (VA) — me [e-mail]
The guidelines provided below are to be used when creating or augmenting Hellbender
habitat using CPS 395. These guidelines provide a framework for what is considered adequate
structural habitat to provide nesting locations and refugia for Eastern Hellbenders of all life stages.
For all habitat augmentations in the guidelines below consult with the Private Lands Biologist for
Hellbender Working Lands for Wildlife in your region.
Site Requirements
a. Falls within the predicted suitable range for Hellbenders or where proximity to hellbender
populations outside of the model -predicted range warrants structural habitat
augmentation (consult with the Private Lands Biologist for Hellbender Working Lands for
Wildlife).
b. Current habitat must be within the range suitable for practices to be effective. Stream
substrate within the reach must be sufficient for augmentation of nesting habitat and
refugia to be effective. Nesting rocks must be placed on sand and/or gravel substrate.
i. If the stream substrate does not meet these requirements before or immediately
following restoration activities then reassess the site after one year to determine
need and viability of augmenting hellbender habitat.
2. Habitat Elements
a. The guidelines below are to be used in conjunction with CPS 395 practices laid out in
Scenario 4 of NRCS guidelines, "Rock and Wood Structures". Eastern Hellbenders
require biodiverse ecosystems for prey availability, therefore, habitat for a diverse
ecosystem is warranted.
b. Site requirements for habitat elements will vary from site to site. Consult with Working
Lands for Wildlife Private Lands Biologist to determine habitat elements necessary.
c. Measurements below are guidelines and should be followed when possible, but in -
stream habitat availability may alter exact measurements.
Habitat Feature
Potential Benefit
Nest Rock Augmentation
Nesting Habitat
Adult Cover Rock Augmentation
Adult refugia and habitat
Juvenile Cover Rock Augmentation
Juvenile refugia and habitat
Gravel and Cobble Establishment
Juvenile and Larval Habitat
Wood Structures (toewood, root wads, cover
logs, LUNKRs)
Prey habitat and promotion of aquatic
diversity

Feature
Spacing and Placement
Design Requirements
Nesting
Approximately 1 cluster of 2 or more
Rocks must be > 3' diameter, at least
Locations
nest rocks every 3000-3500 ft2 or
4" thick, and flat on the bottom (side
every 100 linear ft, whichever is
resting on stream bed); substrate at
lower. Place clusters in runs or
nest rock location = sand, gravel,
glides. 3 rocks/cluster is ideal if
and/or bedrock (with preference
material is available. Nest rocks do
toward sand and/or gravel > 1"
not need to touch and should not
diameter). See Figure 2 for design
overlap. Each individual rock should
requirements for each nest rock in a
have the ability to form a viable
cluster. Rocks should be at least 2x
cavity. See diagram in Figure 1.
the size of the average of the 10
Facet location in higher gradient
largest naturally occurring rocks to
streams may necessitate different
ensure stability of nesting locations.
spacing.
Adult Cover
Approximately 2 cover rocks
Rocks must be 20-35.9" diameter, at
Rocks
upstream and downstream of nesting
least 3" thick, and flat on the bottom
rock clusters. Place so that cover
(side resting on stream bed);
rocks are spaced somewhat evenly
substrate at cover rock location =
between nest rocks (where habitat
sand, gravel, and/or bedrock (with
allows). See diagram in Figure 1.
preference toward sand and/or
gravel).
Juvenile
Refer to reference stream reach for
Rocks between 10-19.9" in diameter.
Cover Rocks
representation of this cover rock
This is basically a "large cobble"
*
type.
substrate.
Cobble
Refer to reference stream reach for
Substrate between 2.6-9.9"
Establishment
representation of this substrate.
Gravel
Refer to reference stream reach for
Substrate between 0.5-2.5"
Establishment
representation of this substrate.
* Augmentation of this substrate size class may not be necessary as the substrate may be
abundant (or available upstream), but buried in silt and sand within the project reach. These
habitat variables should be assessed 1 year after the stream has had sufficient time to
normalize and coarsen after restoration activities. If there is not a sufficient gravel/cobble source
upstream, establishment of these habitat types may not be possible. For all habitat
augmentations consult with the Private Lands Biologist for Hellbender Working Lands for
Wildlife.

Wetted
Nest
Width
Rock
(ft) at
Cluster
Baseflo
Spacing
w
(linear
ft)
100 ft —
10
100
100 ft
1
100 ft
20
100
2 = —
� 1DDft
1
—�� 80 ft --
40
80
p 80 ft
4
soft
60
50
s0 ft —�
o -
=ti
Figure 1: Habitat structure placement in various channel sizes (baseflow). Note that nest rocks
should be close to each other in clusters, but not overlapping.
. = Nest Rock Cluster U = Adult Cover Rock

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References
1) Burgmeier, N.G., T.M. Sutton, & R.N. Williams. (2011) Spatial Ecology of the Eastern
Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) in Indiana. Herpetologica 67:
135-145.
2) Da Silva Neto, J.G., Sutton, W. B., & Freake, M. J. (2019). Life -Stage Differences in
Microhabitat Use by Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis). Herpetologica. 75(1),
21-29.
3) Hecht, K. A., Freake, M.A.N., & Colclough, P. (2019). Hellbender Salamanders
(Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) Exhibit an Ontogenetic Shift in Microhabitat Use in a
Blue Ridge Physiographic Region Stream. Copeia. 107(1), 152-159.
4) Humphries, W. J., & Pauley, T. K. (2005). Life History of the Hellbender, Cryptobranchus
alleganiensis, in a West Virginia Stream. The American Midland Naturalist, 154(1), 135-
142.
5) Jachowski, C. M. B. (2016). Effects of Land Use on Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus
alleganiensis) at Multiple Levels and Efficacy of Artificial Shelters as a Monitoring Tool.
Doctoral Dissertation. Virginia Tech.
6) Nickerson, M.A. & C.E. Mays. 1973. A Study of the Ozark Hellbender Cryptobranchus
alleganiensis bishopi. Ecology 54: 1164-1165.
7) Pugh, M. W., & Hutchins, M. (2016). Land -use and Local Physical and Chemical Habitat
Parameters Predict Site Occupancy by Hellbender Salamanders. Hydrobiologia, (May).
8) Rosgen, D.L. (2001). The Cross -Vane, W-Weir and J-Hook Vane Structures:Their
Description, Design and Application for Stream Stabilization and River Restoration.
Wetlands Engineering & River Restoration. 1-22.

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