Opportunity for Recovery of Mussels in Copper Creek, Russell and Scott Counties, Virginia:

in Search of Refugium

Shane D. Hanlon (USFWS)and

Dr. Richard J. Neves (USGS)

Preliminary results of a Science Supported Partnership Project

Study Goals

• Investigate current status and trend of mussel populations within Copper Creek

• Identify threats and determine potential for habitat restoration and species recovery

• Identify suitable sites within Copper Creek for augmenting mussel populations

• Engage in propagation and augmentation of the federally listed purple bean (Villosa perpurpurea) population within Copper Creek

• ~ 84,960 acres (133 square miles)

• Entire watershed is underlain by karst topography

• Comprised of Cambro-Ordovician aged dolostone and limestone, and middle Ordovician aged limestone

• 10 documented occurrences of rare, cave obligate fauna, including the Federally listed endangered grey bat

• 76 species of fish (13 families, 36 genera)

• Significant mussel assemblage

Yellowfin madtom (Noturus flavipinnis)

Duskytail darter (Etheostoma percnurum)

Purple bean (Villosa perpurpurea)

Shiny pigtoe (Fusconaia cor)

Fluted kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus subtentum)

Rough rabbitsfoot (Quadrula cylindrica strigillata)

Oyster mussel (Epioblasma capsaeformis)

Fine-rayed pigtoe (Fusconaia cuneolus)

• Surveyed 47 sites

• Between February 2004 and April 2005

• Timed searches by snorkeling or view bucket

• Surveyed most historic survey sites

–Ahlstedt 1981 (conducted 1980)

–Fraley and Ahlstedt 1999 (conducted 1998)

• Surveyed newly identified sites

Mussel Surveys of Copper Creek, Virginia

1980 1998 2004

Actinonaias pectorosa X XAlasmidonta viridis X XAmblema plicata X Elliptio dilitata X X XEpioblasma capsaeformis X Fusconaia barnesiana X X XFusconaia cuneolus X X XFusconaia cor X XLampsilis fasciola X X XLampsilis ovata X Lasmigona costata X XMedionidus conradicus X X X Pleurobema oviforme X X XPtychobranchus fasciolaris X XPtychobranchus subtentum X X XQuadrula cylindrica strigillata X XVillosa iris X X XVillosa perpurpurea X X XVillosa v. vanuxemensis X X X

19 10 16

Additional Relic specimens found

• Pegius fabula

• Epioblasma brevidens

• Ligumia recta

• Actinonaias ligamentina

An estimated 25 mussel species once inhabited Copper Creek

0.27%

0.02%

0.40%

0.05%

0.07%

0.87%

1.14%

1.61%

3.60%

0.55%

7.95%

12.67%

71.33%

Villosa iris Other species Pleurobema oviforme

Medionidus conradicus Fusconaia barnesiana Ptychobranchus subtentum

Elliptio dilatata Lampsilis fasciola Villosa perpurpurea

Fusconaia cuneolus Quadrula cylindrica Fusconaia cor

2004/05 Total Survey Faunal Composition

1980 1998 2004/05

Total search time ~182 hrs* 62 hrs 111 hrs

Total live specimens 1,639 651 4,106

Live mussel CPUE ~9.0* 10.5 36.9

Number of species 19 10 16

Number of sites 36 20 47

Catch Per Unit EffortOver all survey effort

*crude calculation based on vague description of survey effort

1980 1998 2004/05

Total search time ~71 hrs* 46 hrs 35 hrs

Total live specimens 709 408 730

Live mussel CPUE ~10.0* 8.9 36.9

Number of species 17 8 12

Number of sites 14 14 14

Catch Per Unit EffortComparative survey effort

*crude calculation based on vague description of survey effort

Other species

V. iris

P. oviforme

M. conradicus

F. barnesiana

E. dilatata

P. subtentum

V. perpurpurea

L. fasciola

1980

1998

2004/05

Comparison of faunal composition based on 14 sites

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Fusconaia cor

Actinonaias pectorosa

Fusconaia cuneolus

Quadrula cylindrica

Ptychobranchus fasciolaris

Villosa perpurpurea

Elliptio dilatata

Ptychobranchus subtentum

Villosa vanuxemensis

Fusconaia barnesiana

Lampsilis fasciola

Pleurobema oviforme

Medionidus conradicus

Villosa iris

Copper Creek Mile

Watershed-scaleHydrology

StreamInputs

LocalizedStability

Three Pressure Points

What happened 8 or 9 years ago?

• Manure disposal directly to creek

• Fish, mussel, and crayfish kill

• The creek turned white

• Rocket fuel?

2002 Clinch and Powell Valley Watershed Ecological Risk Assessment

Forest57.7%

Non-forest40.9%

1972 USGS land cover

Forest42.3%

Non-forest57.7%

General Copper Creek Watershed Land Cover

BadGood

Trashed

Redneckia

Watershed-scaleHydrology

StreamInputs

LocalizedStability

The 4th wheel

I like killin things

It’s just a way of life

Recovery?

Recovery Advantages

• No railroads• No coal mining• No major urbanization

(<0.1%)• No major highways• No major industry (NPDES)• Important meta-populations

for the Clinch River

Obeys Creek Confluence ~ CCM 14Grassy Creek Confluence ~CCM 43

Yellowfin Madtoms• Copper Creek is one of three

strongholds for the yellowfin madtom

• Almost entire length of Copper Creek is Designated Critical Habitat for the yellowfin madtom in Virginia

• 1999 survey of Copper Creek for yellowfin madtom identified only 3 miles of the creek as inhabited

• Propagated yellowfins were released to Copper Creek by CFI

– 46 on June 22, 2000

– 210 on October 8, 2002

Purple bean (Villosa perpurpurea)

• Host fish has been identified and still exist in Copper Cr.

• Juveniles have been successfully propagated and reared in captivity

• Gravid individuals can still be found in Copper Cr.

• Identified “Suitable” habitat in Copper Cr.

16 propagated juveniles were released 200485 propagated juveniles were released 2005Third attempt scheduled for 2006/2007

Action

• Phase II of study—micro and macro habitat assessment

• Establish arch population of purple bean

• Continue propagation efforts

• BMP cost share programs

• Purchase lands and riparian easements

• Dam removal/modification

• Monitoring

Much thanks to Dave Garst, Missy Petty and Brett Ostby for survey and propagation work. Thanks also to Rachel Mair, Jake Rash, John Schmerfeld, and Sumalee Hoskin for assisting in survey work.