ML070800420

Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy for New York: Susquehanna Basin

ML070800420
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	03/20/2007
From:	Susquehanna
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
TAC MD3021, TAC MD3022
Download: ML070800420 (14)

Text

SUSQUEHANNA BASIN Tables and Figures Tables Table 1: Multi-Resolution Land Classification (MRLC) land cover classifications and corresponding percent cover in the Susquehanna Basin.Table 2: State Parks within the Susquehanna Basin.Table 3: Draft Audubon Important Bird Areas within the Susquehanna Basin.Table 4: Critical Environmental Areas within the Susquehanna Basin.Table 5: NYSDEC land units within the Susquehanna Basin.Table 6: Critical aquatic habitats found in Susquehanna basin.Table 7: Critical terrestrial habitats found in Susquehanna basin.Table 8: Susquehanna species diversity relative to the total number of SGCN statewide.

Table 9: Species of Greatest Conservation Need currently occurring in the Susquehanna Basin.Table lo: SGCN that historically occurred in Susquehanna Basin, but are now believed to be extirpated from the basin.Table ii: Summary of threats, number of (and percent of all) species groups affected, and percentage of all threats to SGCN in the Susquehanna Basin.Table 12: Existing management plans and agreements within the Susquehanna Basin.Figures Figure 1. Multi-Resolution Land Cover map of the Susquehanna Basin.Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy for New York 501 Susquehanna Table 1. Multi-Resolution Land Classification (MRLC) land cover classifications and corresponding percent cover in the Susquehanna Basin.Classification

% Cover Deciduous Forest 37.97 Mixed Forest 27.07 Row Crops 14.24 Pasture/Hay 12.69 Evergreen Forest 4.16 Low Intensity Residential 1.19 Water 0.82 Parks, Lawns, Golf Courses 0.58 Woody Wetlands 0.5 High Intensity Commercial/Industrial 0.44 High Intensity Residential 0.26 Barren; Quarries, Strip Mines, Gravel Pits 0.05 Emergent Wetlands 0.04 Susquehanna Table 2. State Parks within the Susquehanna Basin.Unit Name (DEC Region) Acres Primary Natural Habitats BETTY & WILBUR DAVIS (7)BOWMAN LAKE (7)BUTTERMILK FALLS (8)CHENANGO VALLEY (7)GILBERT LAKE (7)GLIMMERGLASS (7)HUNTS POND (7)NEWTOWN BATTLEFIELD (8)PINNACLE (8)200 702 733 1,098 1,572 587 239 339 704 x UPLAND UPLAND/WETLAND UPLAND UPLAND UPLAND x x UPLAND Susquehanna Table 3. Draft Audubon Important Bird Areas within the Susquehanna Basin.Unit Name (DEC Region) Acres Approved Criteria LONG POND STATE FOREST (7) 3,100 SPECIES AT RISK PHARSALIA WOODS (7)23,000 FOREST TIOUGHNIOGA RIVER/WHITNEY POINT (7)CANNONSVILLE/STREAM MILL AREA (7)17,600 65,000 SHRUB/SCRUB FOREST/SPECIES AT RISK Susquehanna Table 4. Critical Environmental Areas within the Susquehanna Basin.Unit Name (DEC Region) Location Approved Criteria FRENCH TRACT (7)VESTAL NONE GIVEN PRIMARY RECHARGE FOR WELL FIELDS WELL FIELD (7)VESTAL WATER BOARD (7)CORTLAND SOLE SOURCE AQUIFER PROTECTION GROUNDWATER PROTECTION MCGRAW GROUNDWATER PROTECTION VALLEY-FILL AQUIFER (8)WAYLAN D PRIMARY SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER Susquehanna Table 5. NYSDEC land units within the Susquehanna Basin.Unit Name (DEC Region) Acres Primary Natural Habitats STATE FORESTS (approximately 136)LABRADOR HOLLOW UNIQUE AREA CONNECTICUT HILL WMA (7)CRUMHORN MOUNTAIN WMA (4)ERWIN WMA (8)HELMER CREEK WMA (8)HOOKER MOUNTAIN WMA (4)PHARSALIA WMA (7)TIOUGHNIOGAWMA (7)WANETA LAMOKA WMA (8)WEST CAMERON WMA (8)WHITNEY POINT MUA (7)260,395 1,487 11,645 69 2490 113 83 4699 3705 165 170 4,645 MULTIPLE X UPLAND X UPLAND UPLAND x UPLAND/WETLAND.UPLAND WETLAND UPLAND.UPLAND/WETLAND Susquehanna Table 6. Critical aquatic habitats found in Susquehanna basin, classified at the system and sub-system level, adapted from Edinger et al. (2002). The number of SGCN that indicate each system/sub-system association as a critical habitat is indicated.

System Sub-System

1. of Species Lacustrine cold water deep 3 Lacustrine cold water shallow 3 Lacustrine unknown 1 Lacustrine warm water deep 2 Lacustrine warm water shallow 6 Palustrine mineral soil wetland 16 Palustrine peatlands 6 Riverine coldwater stream 17 Riverine deepwater river 4 Riverine warm water stream 11 Susquehanna Table7. Critical terrestrial habitats found in Susquehanna basin, classified at the system and sub-system level, adapted from Edinger et al. (2002). The number of SGCN that indicate each system/sub-system association as a critical habitat is indicated.

System Sub-System

1. of Species Terrestrial barrens/woodlands 15 Terrestrial forested 38 Terrestrial open upland 36 Unknown unknown 1 Susquehanna Table 8. Susquehanna species diversity relative to the total number of SGCN statewide.

1. Species % of Total Taxa Group Groups in the # Species in SGCN SGCN for this Basin the Basin Group BIRDS 8 39 118 33.1 Bald Eagle 1 Common Nighthawk 1 Deciduous/Mixed Forest Breeding Birds 7 9 77.8 Early Successional Forest Birds 11 12 91.7 Forest Breeding Raptors 6 6 100.0 Freshwater Marsh Nesting Birds 2 6 33.3 Grassland Birds 10 11 90.9 Peregrine Falcon 1 FRESHWATER FISH 4 4 40 10.0 Blackchin Shiner 1 Heritage-Strain Brook Trout 1.Comely Shiner 1 Swallowtail Shiner 1 HERPETOFAUNA 9 17 , 44 ` -38.61 Freshwater Wetland Amphibians 1 5 -,20.0 Hellbender

.1 Lake/River Reptiles 2, 5 40.0 Lizards 1 3 33.3 Snapping Turtle. 1.....Stream Salamanders 2 2 '100.0 Uncommon Turtles of Wetlands 1 5 20.0 Vernal Pool Salamanders 2 4 50.0 Woodland/Grassland Snakes 6 8 75.0 INSECT 7 21 197 10.7 Odonates of Bogs/Fens/Ponds 1 10 10.0 Odonates of Lakes/Ponds 2 5 40.0 Odonates of Rivers/Streams 5 19 26.3 Odonates of Seeps/Rivulets 1 4 25.0 Other Butterflies 8 18 44.4 Other Moths 1 92 1.1 Stoneflies/Mayflies of Lotic Waters 3 20 15.0 MAMMAL 2 4 21 19.0 Furbearers 1 2 50.0 Tree Bats 3 3 100.0 MARINE FISH 2 2 51 3.9 American Eel 1 American Shad 1 Susquehanna Table 8. (continued)

1. Species % of Total Taxa Group Groups in the # Species in SGCN SGCN for this Basin the Basin Group MOLLUSK 1 3 59 5.1 Freshwater Bivalves 9 39 7.7 TOTAL% of All Species Groups Statewide 33 90 530 17.0 25.80%

Susquehanna Table 9. Species of GreatestConservation Need currently occurring in the Susquehanna Basin. Species are sorted alphabetically by taxonomic group and species common name. The Species Group designation is included, indicating which Species Group Report in the appendix will contain the full information about the species. The Stability of this basin's population is also indicated for each species.TaxaGroup Species SpeciesGroup Stability Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Freshwater fish Freshwater fish Freshwater fish Freshwater fish Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Herpetofauna Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect Insect American bittern American woodcock Bald eagle Black-billed cuckoo Black-throated blue warbler Blue-winged warbler Bobolink Brown thrasher Canada warbler Cerulean warbler Common nighthawk Coopers hawk Eastern meadowlark Golden eagle Golden-winged warbler Grasshopper sparrow Henslow's sparrow Horned lark Kentucky warbler Long-eared owl Northern goshawk Northern harrier Peregrine falcon Pied-billed grebe Prairie warbler Prothonotary warbler Red-headed woodpecker Red-shouldered hawk Ruffed grouse Sedge wren Sharp-shinned hawk-Short-eared owl Upland sandpiper Vesper sparrow Whip-poor-will Willow flycatcher Wood thrush Worm-eating warbler Yellow-breasted chat' Blackchin shiner Brook trout, Heritage strains Comely shiner Swallowtail shiner Black ratsnake Blue-spotted salamander Coal skink Eastern hognose snake Eastern ribbonsnake Four-toed salamander Hellbender Jefferson salamander Longtail salamander Northern black racer Northern red salamander Short-headed gartersnake Smooth greensnake Snapping turtle Spotted turtle Timber rattlesnake Wood turtle A mayfly A mayfly A mayfly American rubyspot Arrow clubtail Arrowhead spiketail Cobra clubtail Comet darner Frosted elfin Henry's elfin Mottled duskywing Ostrich fern borer moth Persius duskywing Rapids clubtail Regal fritillary Silvery blue Southern grizzled skipper Freshwater marsh nesting birds Early successional forest/shrubland birds Bald Eagle Early successional forest/shrubland birds Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Eariy successional forest/shrubland birds Grassland birds Early successional forest/shrubland birds Early successional forest/shrubland birds Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Common nighthawk Forest breeding raptors Grassland birds Forest breeding raptors Early successional forest/shrubland birds Grassland birds Grassland birds Grassland birds Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Forest breeding raptors Forest breeding raptors Grassland birds Peregrine falcon Freshwater marsh nesting birds Early successional forest/shrubland birds Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Forest breeding raptors Eariy successional forest/shrubland birds Grassland birds Forest breeding raptors Grassland birds Grassland birds Grassland birds Early successional forest/shrubland birds Eariy successional forest/shrubland birds Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Early successional forest/shrubland birds Blackchin shiner Brook trout, Heritage strains Comely shiner Swallowtail shiner Woodland/grassland snakes Vernal pool salamanders Lizards Woodland/grassland snakes Lake/river reptiles Freshwater wetland amphibians Hellbender Vernal pool salamanders Stream salamanders Woodland/grassland snakes Stream salamanders Woodland/grassland snakes Woodland/grassland snakes Snapping Turtle Uncommon turtles of wetlands Woodland/grassland snakes Lake/river reptiles Stoneflies/Mayflies of lotic waters Stoneflies/Mayflies of lotic waters Stoneflies/Mayflies of lotic waters Odonates of rivers/streams Odonates of rivers/streams Odonates of seeps/rivulets Odonates of rivers/streams Odonates of lakes/ponds Other butterflies Other butterflies Other butterflies Other moths Other butterflies Odonates of rivers/streams Other butterflies Other butterflies Other butterflies Decreasing Decreasing Increasing Decreasing Stable Decreasing Decreasing Decreasing Decreasing Increasing Decreasing Stable Decreasing Unknown Decreasing Decreasing Decreasing Decreasing Unknown Unknown Increasing Unknown Stable Decreasing Increasing Unknown Decreasing Increasing Decreasing Unknown Increasing Unknown Decreasing Decreasing Decreasing Decreasing Decreasing Unknown Stable Unknown Stable Unknown Unknown Decreasing Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Decreasing Unknown Decreasing Unknown Unknown Decreasing Unknown Unknown Unknown Decreasing Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Decreasing Unknown Decreasing Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Decreasing Unknown Susquehanna Table 9. (continued)

TaxaGroup Species SpeciesGroup Stability Insect Insect Insect Insect Mammal Mammal Mammal Mammal Marine fish Marine fish Mollusk Mollusk Mollusk Spatterdock darner Spine-crowned clubtail Subarctic darner Tawny crescent Eastern red bat Hoary bat River otter Silver-haired bat American eel American shad Brook floater Green floater Yellow lamp mussel Odonates of lakes/ponds Odonates of rivers/streams Odonates of bogs/fens/ponds Other butterflies Tree bats Tree bats Furbearers Tree bats American eel American shad Freshwater bivalves Freshwater bivalves Freshwater bivalves Unknown Unknown Unknown Decreasing Unknown Unknown Stable Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Stable Susquehanna Table 10. SGCN that historically occurred in Susquehanna Basin, but are now believed to be extirpated from the basin.Taxa Group Species Species Group Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Bird Crustacea/Meristomata Herpetofauna Insect Insect Insect Insect Mammal Mammal Mammal Mollusk Mollusk Mollusk Mollusk American black duck Barn owl Blue-winged teal Loggerhead shrike Louisiana waterthrush Scarlet Tanager Piedmont groundwater amphipod Bog turtle A looper moth (Lambdina canitiaria)

A Mayfly (Leucrocuta thetis)Ebony boghaunter Pygmy snaketail Eastern cougar Gray wolf Least shrew Elktoe Lance aplexa Spindle lymnaea Tidewater mucket Breeding waterfowl Barn owl Breeding waterfowl Loggerhead Shrike Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Deciduous/mixed forest breeding birds Freshwater crustacea Uncommon turtles of wetlands Other moths Stoneflies/Mayflies of uncertain/questionable habitat Odonates of bogs/fens/ponds Odonates of rivers/streams Extirpated large mammals Extirpated large mammals Small mammals of uncertain/questionable residency Freshwater bivalves Freshwater gastropods Freshwater gastropods Freshwater bivalves Susquehanna Table 11. Summary of threats, number of (and percent of all) species groups affected, and percentage of all threats to SGCN in the Susquehanna Basin. For details on threats, see Appendix:

Threats Characterization for Wildlife and Their Habitats.# of Species Groups % of All Spp Groups in Threats Affected Basin % of All Threats in Basin Multiple a 33 100 13.8 Habitat loss -conversion to cultural 20 60.6 8.3 Contaminants 16 48.5 6.7 Degradation of water quality 15 45.5 6.3 Human disturbance

-illegal/unreg.

Harvest 13 39.4 5.4 Altered hydrology (loss of aquatic habitat quantity) 12 36.4 5 Habitat fragmentation 10 30.3 4.2 Human disturbance

-collisions 10 30.3 4.2 Disturbed predator/prey cycles 10 30.3 4.2 Habitat loss -natural 8 24.2 3.3 Disease 7 21.2 2.9 Competition for life support 7 21.2 2.9 Competition from exotics 6 18.2 2.5 Unsustainable Ag/Silvicultural Practices 6 18.2 2.5 Sedimentation/Erosion 6 18.2 2.5 Human disturbance

-general 5 15.2 2.1 Active alteration of natural processes 5 15.2 2.1 Loss of streamside buffers 4 12.1 .1.7 Altered hydrology (loss of aquatic habitat quality) 4 12.1 1.7- i .Reduction of patch size, shape, area 4 12.1 .1,7 Loss of habitat connectivity 4 12.1 1:7 ,Habitat composition altered by invasives 3 9.1 1.3 Human disturbance

-entanglement/entrainment 3 9.1 1.3 Detrimental hybridization 3 9.1 1.3 ' 'Susceptibility to stochastic events (isolated populations) 3 9.1 1.3 Susceptibility to stochastic events (rare species) 3 9.1 1.3 Unknown threats 3 9.1 1.3, Barriers (roads; development; curbs) 2 6.1 0.8 Pollution (acid rain; soil contamination) 2 6.1 0.8 " Habitat composition altered by invasives 2 6.1 0.8 Habitat composition altered by overuse (deer browse) 2 6.1 0.8 Loss of host species 2 6.1 0.8 Susceptibility to stochastic events (weather; storm events) 2 6.1 0.8 Habitat composition altered by overuse (beaver, geese, etc) 1 3 0.4 Human created abrupt edges 1 3 0.4 Parasites 1 3 0.4 Climate change (sea level rise; temp changes) 1 3 0.4 Climate change (range restriction; changes in distribution) 1 3 0.4 a Multiple = recommended action addresses multiple threats rather than one specific threat Susquehanna Table 12, Existing management plans and agreements within the Susquehanna Basin Plan/Agreement Name River Basins -March 2002 Forest Fragmentation in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

-Ecological, Economic, Policy and Law Impacts -1998 Susquehanna River Basin Commission 2001 Annual Report Upper Susquehanna Coalition Strategic Planning Session -January 2003 Academic Institutions GIS Involved Parties NYSDEC Society of AmericanForesters Susquehanna River Basin Commission Upper Susquehanna Coalition l capabilities, sediment fingerprinting:

stream flows; wetlands Information Basin overview; recommendations for restoring water quality Ecological, economic, policy and law impacts from fragmentation Basin highlights; hydrologic conditions; flood events, achievements