Watershed Conservation Plan - Destination Erie

Table 6.2. Pennsylvania Vertebrate Animal Species of Special Concern with Documented Occurrences in
the Ohio Portion of Conneaut Creek, West of the Study Area
Rank State Status Pennsylvania Data a
Scientific Name
Common Name
Global
State
Current
Proposed
Present
Listed
Listed Streams
Ameiurus melas black bullhead G5 S1 PE PE yes no Elk
Amia calva bowfin G5 S2S3 PC CR no yes —
Clemmys guttata spotted turtle G5 S3 — — — no —
Culaea inconstans brook stickleback G5 S3 PC C yes no Elk
Ichthyomyzon fossor northern brook lamprey G4 S1 PE PE — no —
Ichthyomyzon unicuspis silver lamprey G5 SNR — PX yes yes —
Ictiobus bubalus smallmouth buffalo G5 S2S3 PT PT no yes —
Lampetra appendix American brook lamprey G4 S3 PC CR yes no Walnut
Lepisosteus osseus longnose gar G5 S3 PC CR no yes —
Lythrurus umbratilis redfin shiner G5 S1 PE PE — no —
Noturus miurus brindled madtom G5 S2 PT PT yes no —
Phoxinus erythrogaster southern redbelly dace G5 S1 PT PT no no —
Thamnophis sauritus eastern ribbon snake G5 S3S4 — — — no —
Umbra limi central mudminnow G5 S3 PC C — no —
Note: (1) data for the Pennsylvania portion of the Conneaut Creek subwatershed.
streams (see Figure 6.2b). Most of the fish community surveys of study area streams have not employed
sufficient sampling frequency and intensity to adequately represent all fish species likely to be present.
The ACOE (1979) fish sampling data for Raccoon, Turkey, and Conneaut Creeks (see Figure 6.2c)
indicates that much greater fish species richness is detected with sampling over several seasons (1977)
than with single-season sampling (1978). Comparing the data values reported in Figure 6.2c to those in
Figures 6.2a and 6.2b for Raccoon and Conneaut Creeks suggests that most of the study area's past
inventories of fish communities have probably overlooked some rare species that may have been present.
The foregoing analysis indicates that a comprehensive modern survey is warranted for the fish
communities in the study area's biologically diverse western streams, to clarify the status of PNHP-listed
species.
The study area's streams have recognized importance as spawning areas for Lake Erie fishes (Table
6.3, Figure 6.3). Streams east of the City of Erie were known to support relatively few species of
spawning fishes, and the larger streams on the west side appear to support the greatest variety of
spawning fishes (see Figure 6.3). The utilization of smaller streams—Raccoon and Turkey Creeks—near
the Pennsylvania–Ohio line by a great variety of spawning fish species (see Figure 6.3) has been
attributed to the fact that these streams meet the lake in a low gradient "lacustuary" protected from wave
action by a sand/gravel bar feature at their mouths (Roger Kenyon, Lake Erie Research Unit,
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Fairview, Pennsylvania, personal communication December 2,
2006). Spawning activity by fishes is likely different now than at the time Goodyear et al.'s (1982)
spawning atlas was published; for example, Table 6.3 includes species that are currently considered
extirpated in Pennsylvania waters (see Table 6.1). Furthermore, the near-shore ecology of Lake Erie has
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