MEMORANDUM · 2016. 4. 6. · 7 35.10661, -81.940603 sand with lots of organics, coarse to medium...
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Page 1 of 3 MEMORANDUM TO: Spartanburg Water System Licensing Group (SWSLG) FROM: Shane Boring DATE: August 10, 2015 RE: Blalock Hydro Project (FERC No. 14388) - Phase I Mussel Survey Results The Phase I survey for freshwater mussels was completed at Lake Blalock on May 28, 2015. As noted in the Benthic Macroinvertebrate Study Plan, the objective of Phase I was to document the presence or absence of mussels in the study area. Methodology and results of the phase I sampling are detailed below. METHODS Staff from Kleinschmidt (Shane Boring and Jordan Johnson) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Byron Hamstead) inspected 20 sites within Lake Blalock for presence/absence of freshwater mussel fauna. Sites were established in a range of littoral and shallow water habitats (< 4-5 ft), spatially distributed throughout the study area (Figure 1). Sites were documented using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and important habitat characteristics, such as dominant substrate and presence of in-stream cover, were noted (Table 1). Sites were inspected for an average of 26 person-minutes by visual inspection (walking and inspecting shorelines and shallow, littoral areas), snorkeling or bathyscope (Table 1). Any mussels or mussel shell material encountered as a result of these efforts were photographed and their location documented with GPS. FINDINGS Live specimens of paper pondshell (Utterbackia imbecillis) were collected at sites 1, 2, 7, and 11 (Table 1) (See attached photos). A shell fragment of U. imbecillis was also found at Site 3, and a weathered shell of what was suspected of being an Elliptio species was found at Site 1 (Table 1). Although Phase I results suggests that mussel densities in Lake Blalock are low, confirmed presence of freshwater mussel fauna within the study area suggests that the Phase II surveys outlined in the Study Plan are warranted. USFWS recommended several of the Phase I sites for further investigation during Phase II (Table 1). It should be noted that, although the reach of the Pacolet River downstream of the Lake Blalock dam is within the Phase I study area outlined the Study Plan, Phase I sampling was not conducted in the reach due to Phase II surveys having already been triggered by the Phase I findings in the reservoir. In accordance with the Study Plan, Phase II (qualitative) mussel surveys of Lake Blalock and the downstream reach within the study area are schedule for late- summer/early-fall months of 2015. A detailed report summarizing the findings of Phase II will be distributed upon completion of the survey in accordance with the Study Plan requirements.
Transcript of MEMORANDUM · 2016. 4. 6. · 7 35.10661, -81.940603 sand with lots of organics, coarse to medium...
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MEMORANDUM TO: Spartanburg Water System Licensing Group (SWSLG)
FROM: Shane Boring
DATE: August 10, 2015
RE: Blalock Hydro Project (FERC No. 14388) - Phase I Mussel Survey Results The Phase I survey for freshwater mussels was completed at Lake Blalock on May 28, 2015. As noted in the Benthic Macroinvertebrate Study Plan, the objective of Phase I was to document the presence or absence of mussels in the study area. Methodology and results of the phase I sampling are detailed below. METHODS
Staff from Kleinschmidt (Shane Boring and Jordan Johnson) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Byron Hamstead) inspected 20 sites within Lake Blalock for presence/absence of freshwater mussel fauna. Sites were established in a range of littoral and shallow water habitats (< 4-5 ft), spatially distributed throughout the study area (Figure 1). Sites were documented using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and important habitat characteristics, such as dominant substrate and presence of in-stream cover, were noted (Table 1). Sites were inspected for an average of 26 person-minutes by visual inspection (walking and inspecting shorelines and shallow, littoral areas), snorkeling or bathyscope (Table 1). Any mussels or mussel shell material encountered as a result of these efforts were photographed and their location documented with GPS. FINDINGS
Live specimens of paper pondshell (Utterbackia imbecillis) were collected at sites 1, 2, 7, and 11 (Table 1) (See attached photos). A shell fragment of U. imbecillis was also found at Site 3, and a weathered shell of what was suspected of being an Elliptio species was found at Site 1 (Table 1). Although Phase I results suggests that mussel densities in Lake Blalock are low, confirmed presence of freshwater mussel fauna within the study area suggests that the Phase II surveys outlined in the Study Plan are warranted. USFWS recommended several of the Phase I sites for further investigation during Phase II (Table 1). It should be noted that, although the reach of the Pacolet River downstream of the Lake Blalock dam is within the Phase I study area outlined the Study Plan, Phase I sampling was not conducted in the reach due to Phase II surveys having already been triggered by the Phase I findings in the reservoir. In accordance with the Study Plan, Phase II (qualitative) mussel surveys of Lake Blalock and the downstream reach within the study area are schedule for late-summer/early-fall months of 2015. A detailed report summarizing the findings of Phase II will be distributed upon completion of the survey in accordance with the Study Plan requirements.
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TABLE 1 – SURVEY SITES WITH SITE DESCRIPTION
Site GPS Coordinates Substrate Methods Search Time (min)
Comments
1 35.086708, -81.887021 sand and gravel, cobble at 5 ft, organic/woody debris above 5 ft
snorkel, walking, bathyscope 60 1 live Utterbackia, 1 apple snail, 1 weathered Ellipito(?) shell
2 35.09524, -81.894823 clay with sparse gravel snorkel, walking, bathyscope 33 1 large, live Utterbackia
3 35.09598, -81.900115 sand with small gravel and lots of organic/woody debris
snorkel, walking, bathyscope 20 I large apple snail, 1 Utterbackia shell frag
4 35.09779, -81.909897 clay/organics over bedrock, lots of woody debris
snorkel, walking, bathyscope 24
5 35.10017, -81.909736 clay, gravel, cobble over bedrock, silty close to shoreline
snorkel, walking, bathyscope 42 UFSWS recommends survey in Phase II
6 35.105797, -81.919027 sand with thick clay silt, scatterd gravel, large woody debris
snorkel, walking, bathyscope 40 USFWS recommend survey in Phase II
7 35.10661, -81.940603 sand with lots of organics, coarse to medium sand
snorkel, walking, bathyscope 30 1 small, live Utterbackia, 2 small apple snails
8 35.10824, -81.951192 mud/silt snorkel, walking, bathyscope 309 35.11051, -81.961761 mud/silt/fine sand snorkel, walking, bathyscope 30 UFSWS recommends survey in Phase II10 35.1083, -81.939131 coarse, shifting sand snorkel, walking, bathyscope 20 low visibility, spotty suitable habitat11 35.10595, -81.936637 coarse sand with some woody debris snorkel, walking, bathyscope 20 1 live Utterbackia 12 35.10674, -81.931648 silt over gravel/sand snorkel, walking, bathyscope 22 UFSWS recommends survey in Phase II13 35.10543, -81.91467 fine sand and silt, lots of woody debris snorkel, walking, bathyscope 20 UFSWS recommends survey in Phase II
14 35.09914, -81.90295 clay with some woody debris; thin layer of sand over bedrock
snorkel, walking, bathyscope 20
15 35.09058, -81.888928 silt/sand snorkel, walking, bathyscope 2416 35.08275, -81.878807 fine sand over bedrock snorkel, walking, bathyscope 10 UFSWS recommends survey in Phase II17 35.085533, -81.877022 sand with silt layer with emergent veg. snorkel, walking, bathyscope 1818 35.054246, -81.867176 silty/sand snorkel, walking, bathyscope 15 shelf drops quitckly, not a good site19 35.063245, -81.874077 silty/sand with emegent veg. snorkel, walking, bathyscope 16 UFSWS recommends survey in Phase II20 35.075485, -81.88028 snorkel, walking, bathyscope 30 UFSWS recommends survey in Phase II
21 35.104091, -81.886645 mud visual deep mud; visually inspected from boat, but deemed unsuitable habitat for survey
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FIGURE 1 – LOCATION OF SURVEY SITES ON LAKE BLALOCK
ATTACHMENT
PHOTOS
PHOTO 1 STUDY SITE 1
PHOTO 2 UTTERBACKIA IMBECILLIS AND APPLE SNAIL FROM STUDY SITE 1
PHOTO 3 STUDY SITE 2
PHOTO 4 LARGE U. IMBECILLIS FROM STUDY SITE 2
PHOTO 5 STUDY SITE 3
PHOTO 6 STUDY SITE 4
PHOTO 7 STUDY SITE 5
PHOTO 8 STUDY SITE 6
PHOTO 9 STUDY SITE 11
PHOTO 10 STUDY SITE 12
PHOTO 11 STUDY SITE 15
PHOTO 12 STUDY SITE 17
PHOTO 13 STUDY SITE 18
