20170416 Ver 1_Div 7 Mussel report_20170406

PR
Ecosystem Planning and Restoration, LLC
559 Jones Franklin Road, Suite 150
Raleigh NC 27606
EG❑SYSTEM PLANhJING & RE5TORATIOtV
Phone: [phone]
www.eprusa.net
Mussel Habitat Evaluation
Division 7 Low Impact Bridge Replacements
Orange and Rockingham counties, North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Transportation proposes to replace twelve bridges in Division 7.
Seven of the bridges are located in Orange County and five bridges are located in Rockingham County.
The US Fish and Wildlife Services Information for Planning and Conservation (IPaC) webpage lists one
mussels as potentially occurring with Orange County, the dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon)
and one mussel in Rockingham County, the James spinymussel (Pleurobema collina).
This report discusses the preferred habitat for these species and presence of potential habitat at each
bridge site.
Dwarf wedge mussel
Habitat Description: In North Carolina, the dwarf wedgemussel is known from the Neuse and Tar River
drainages. The mussel inhabits creek and river areas with a slow to moderate current and sand, gravel,
or firm silt bottoms. Water in these areas must be well oxygenated. Stream banks in these areas are
generally stable with extensive root systems holding soils in place.
James Spinymussel
Habitat Description: The James spinymussel was once found throughout the main stem of the James
River and all of its major tributaries upstream of Richmond VA. The species has experienced a
precipitous decline over the past two decades and now exists only in small, headwater tributaries of the
upper James River basin in Virginia and West Virginia and the upper Roanoke River drainage of Virginia
and North Carolina. The James spinymussel is found in waters with slow to moderate current and
relatively hard water on sand and mixed sand-gravel substrates that are free from silt.
Orange County Bridges
Bridge 18 over UT to Back Creek
There are two stream located within the study area at Bridge 18. Stream SA (UT to Back Creek) is a
perennial stream with 4-6 feet wide with 3-4 feet high, stable banks. The banks are well vegetated and
there is 100% canopy coverage of the stream. The stream substrate is composed of sand and gravel
with bedrock and boulders interspersed. There is good habitat diversity with a good riffle-pool
sequence and lots of woody debris.

Stream SB, also a perennial stream, flows into SA approximately 100 feet upstream of the bridge. SB is
approximately 2-3 feet wide with 3-4 feet banks. The banks are stable and well vegetated with 100%
canopy coverage of the stream. The stream bed is predominately sand and gravel. The stream has
uniform aquatic habitat being riffle dominated with very small and shallow pools.
SA and SB provide good habitat for the dwarf wedge mussel. No mussels were observed during the
February 9, 2016 field survey. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NHP) has no record of
dwarf wedge mussel occurring within 1 mile of the site.
Bridge 51 over Buffalo Creek
Buffalo Creek is a 10-15 feet wide perennial stream with 4-6 feet banks. At the time of the survey there
was a beaver dam approximately 100 feet upstream of the bridge. Water was ponded upstream of the
beave dam. Downstream of the dam the stream was flowing with moderate aquatic habitat diversity.
The banks are stable and well vegetated with near 100% canopy coverage. The stream bed is well
sorted and comprised of sand, gravel and cobble.
Buffalo Creek downstream of the beaver dam provides moderate habitat for dwarf wedge mussel. No
mussels were observed during the March 16, 216 field surveys. NHP has no record of dwarf wedge
mussel occurring within 1 mile of the site.
Bridge 84 over Collins Creek
Collins Creek a 15-20 feet wide perennial stream with 8-10 feet vertical banks. There is moderate
erosion in areas due to the high, unvegetated banks. The bed is stable and comprised mainly of sand
and gravel with some bedrock. Collins Creek is pool dominated.
Due to the bank erosion and high sediment load Collins Creek provides moderate to low habitat for the
dwarf wedge mussel. No mussels were observed during the March 16, 216 field surveys. NHP has no
record of dwarf wedge mussel occurring within 1 mile of the site.
Bridge 104 over Stoney Creek
Stoney Creek is a 10-15 feet wide perennial stream with 3-5 feet banks. It flows through maintained
lawns which reduces the buffer width and canopy coverage of Stoney Creek. The stream banks are
stable with significant rock. The stream bed is stable and composed of well sorted sand and gravel.
Stoney Creek is pool dominated which limits the aquatic habitat diversity.
Stoney Creek provides moderate habitat for dwarf wedge mussel. Asian clam (Corbicula) shells were
observed during the April 8, 2016 field surveys. NHP has no record of dwarf wedge mussel occurring
within 1 mile of the site.
Bridge 137 over Forrest Creek
Forrest Creek is located within the Forrest Creek Mitigation Bank. Forrest Creek is an 8-10 feet wide
perennial stream with 1-3 feet stable banks. Woody vegetation within the buffer is young and not
providing full canopy coverage of the stream. Cattle are fenced from the buffer but they occasionally
access the buffer through the fence. The stream bed is sand and silt dominated. The only stone
observed in the stream was placed as part of the stream restoration. Significant stands of eel grass
(Vallisneria americana) were observed in the stream.

Forrest Creek provides moderate habitat for dwarf wedge mussel. No mussels were observed during
the March 16, 2016 field surveys. NHP has no record of dwarf wedge mussel occurring within 1 mile of
the site.
Bridge 189 over Cane Creek
There are two perennial stream located within the Bridge 189 study area. Cane Creek flows under the
bridge and Turkey Hill Creek enters Cane Creek approximately 200 feet downstream of the bridge.
There is a USGS stream gage located immediately upstream of Bridge 189. Cane Creek is 10-15 feet wide
with 2-4 feet stable banks. The stream banks are well vegetated with 100% canopy coverage of the
stream. The stream bed is comprised of sand and gravel with some boulders and bed rock providing
good aquatic habitat and riffle/pool sequence.
Turkey Hill Creek is 8-10 feet wide with 1-3 feet high stable banks. A driveway runs parallel to and
crosses Turkey Hill Creek twice, impacting the buffer width and canopy coverage of the stream. There is
a significant pool located upstream of one driveway. The stream is riffle dominated with cobble, gravel
and sand substrate. There is a 2-acre pond located upstream of the study area.
Cane Creek and Turkey Hill Creek provide good habitat for the dwarf wedge mussel. No mussels were
observed in Cane Creek during the April 8, 2016 field surveys. Eastern pondmussel (Ligumia nasuta)
shells were observed on the floodplain of Turkey Hill Creek. NHP has no record of dwarf wedge mussel
occurring within 1 mile of the site.
Bridge 209 over Frank's Creek
Frank's Creek is a 12-15 feet wide perennial stream with 3-4 feet stable banks. The banks are well
vegetated which provide 100% canopy coverage of the stream. The stream has a high sand sediment
load. The bed is sand dominated with some bedrock and cobble. The heavy sand load limits the habitat
diversity of the stream.
Frank's Creek provides low habitat for the dwarf wedge mussel, given the high sediment load. No
mussels were observed during the February 9, 2016 field surveys. NHP has no record of dwarf wedge
mussel occurring within 1 mile of the site.
Rockingham County
Bridge 7 over Benaja Creek
Benaja Creek is a 10-20 feet wide perennial stream with 1-3 feet banks. The banks are stable and well
vegetated which provide 100% canopy coverage of the stream upstream of the bridge. There is a large
pool downstream of the bridge. This maybe an old mill pond. A tall levee and possible outlet structure
are located on the north bank downstream of the bridge. The stream has a sand bed with very little
habitat diversity being riffle dominated.
Benaja Creek provides low habitat for the James spinymussel. One unidentified mussel shell was
observed in the floodplain during the May 11, 2016 field surveys. NHP has no record of James
spinymussel occurring within 1 mile of the site.

Bridge 39 over Jacob's Creek
There are three perennial and one intermittent streams located within the Bridge 39 study area. Jacobs
Creeks is the largest and flows under Bridge 39. Jacobs Creek is 30-40 feet wide with 6-10 feet banks.
There is moderate vegetation on the banks and significant erosion is some areas. The lack of bank
vegetation and width of the creek results in less than 100% canopy coverage. Within the study area
there is one large cobble/gravel dominated riffle under the bridge. The remaining length of Jacob's
Creek is sand dominated pools.
SA and 5B, two unnamed tributaries to Jacob's Creek, are located south of the bridge. SA is a perennial
stream 2-6 feet wide and bank heights of less than one foot. It's a short segment of stream that
originate in the study area at a small plastic pipe in the ground. Canopy coverage is sparse. The riparian
area is dominated by Kudzu (Pueraria montana). SA flows across a cobble bed with very few shallow
pools.
SB is a perennial stream flowing parallel to Bethany Road. It originates in the study area at a headcut in
a stand of Kudzu and terminates approximately 40 feet from Jacobs Creek where the flow goes
subsurface. Higher flows remain above ground as evident by the channel shape at the. 5B is 2-3 feet
wide with 2-3 feet banks. Other than the 30 feet length in the kudzu, the remaining length flows
through mature woods with 100% canopy cover. The stream bed is sand and gravel dominated with a
few small pools.
SD is a perennial stream north of the bridge. It originates outside of the study area and flows parallel to
Bethany Road prior to discharging into Jacob's Creek. SD is 1-2 feet wide with banks less than one foot.
There is 100% canopy coverage for the majority of its length except for a short reach near the
confluence with Jacob's Creek were a fallen tree opened up the canopy. SD has a grave/cobble bed with
a few small pools.
Jacob's Creek provides good habitat for the James spinymussel. SA, SB and SC provide moderate habitat
given their rocky substrate. No mussels were observed during the May 3 and June 7, 2016 site surveys.
NHP has no record of James spinymussel occurring within 1 mile of the site.
Bridge 171 over Buffalo Creek
Buffalo Creek is a 10-15 feet wide perennial stream with 6-8 feet banks. Three tributaries merge just
outside of the study area north of the bridge. Upstream of the bridge Buffalo Creek flows through active
pasture. The buffer is very narrow or absent within the pasture and there is significant bank erosion in
areas. Downstream of the bridge the buffer is wider and mature. Buffalo Creek throughout the study
area is a sand bed stream with little habitat diversity.
Buffalo Creek provides poor habitat for the lames spinymussel. The banks are actively eroding causing a
high sediment load and the stream bed mobilizes during high flows. No mussels were observed during
the February 18, 2016 site survey. NHP has no record of James spinymussel occurring within 1 mile of
the site.
Bridge 248 over Carroll Creek
There are two perennial streams located within the study area, Carroll Creek and 56 (an unnamed
tributary to Carroll Creek). Carroll Creek is 10-15 feet wide with 4-6 feet banks. The banks are
4

moderately stable and vegetated resulting in near 100% canopy coverage. Bank erosion is moderate.
However, there is a high sediment load in the stream. The stream bed is comprised of cobble, gravel
and sand with good habitat diversity and riffle-pool sequence.
SB enters Carroll Creek approximately 75 feet downstream of the bridge. There is a 2-acre pond located
upstream of the study area and a culverted dirt road crossing approximately 50 feet upstream of the
confluence with Carrol Creek. SB is 3-4 feet wide with 3-4 feet banks. It has a stable bed comprised of
cobble, gravel and sand with good habitat diversity and a few moderately deep pools. The banks are
well vegetated providing 100% canopy coverage.
Carroll Creek provides moderate habitat for the James spinymussel given its high sediment loads and
bank erosion. SB provides good habitat. No mussels were observed during the February 18, 2016 site
survey. NHP has no record of James spinymussel occurring within 1 mile of the site.
Bridge 283 over Little Troublesome Creek
There are two streams located within the study area, Little Troublesome Creek (perennial) and SA (an
intermittent UT to Little Troublesome Creek). Little Troublesome Creek is 8-10 feet wide with 4-6 feet
banks and severely impacted within the study area. A power line runs parallel to it upstream of the
bridge. Vegetation is maintained to the stream bank resulting in significant bank erosion. A sewer line
runs parallel to Little Troublesome Creek downstream of the bridge. Vegetation is maintained within
the sewerline to 5 feet of the stream bank. Two sewerlines cross perpendicular to the stream
downstream of the bridge. The banks around the crossings are protected with riprap. The majority of
the study area is regularly maintained.
SB flows parallel and south of Richardson Drive. SB is 1-2 feet in width with 0-2 feet banks. It flows
through a maintained lawn and rip rap ditch. It flows subsurface prior to entering Little Troublesome
Creek.
Because of the impacted nature of the streams both Little Troublesome Creek and SB provide poor
habitat for the James spinymussel. No mussels were observed during the May 3 and June 7, 2016 site
surveys. NHP has no record of James spinymussel occurring within 1 mile of the site.
References
Nature5erve. 2010. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1.
NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Accessed July 14,
2016).
[USFWS] United States Fish and Wildlife Service. James spinymussel in NC: http://www.fws.gov/nc-
es/mussel/jamesspiny.html. (Accessed July 14, 2016).
NatureServe. 2010. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1.
NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Accessed: July 14,
2016).

[NCWRC] North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. North Carolina Mussel Atlas:
http://www.ncwildlife.org/wildlife_species_con/WSC_Mussel_1.htm. (Accessed: July 14, 2016).
[USFWS] United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Dwarf wedgemussel fact sheet.
http://www.fws.gov/asheville/htmis/listedspecies/dwarf_wedgemussel.html. (Accessed:luly 14, 2016).
USFWS Information for Planning and Conservation website https://ecos.fws.�ov/ipac/ (Accessed: July
14, 2016)
0