Watershed Conservation Plan - Destination Erie

Figure 6.6. Fishing hours spent on the study area's trout streams for the years 1981, 1993, and
2003–2004.
6.1.3 Amphibians and Reptiles
A total of 73 native species of reptiles and amphibians (collectively known as "herptiles") are known
to inhabit Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Herp Atlas 2006). Herptiles are useful indicators of overall
watershed health, since most species require intact elements of both aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
Permanent waters (i.e., lake waters and tributary streams) directly associated with the Great Lakes provide
the primary habitat of some species such as the mudpuppy, map turtle, and northern water snake (Harding
1997), and many others live in shallow nearshore areas, weed-filled embayments, and peripheral marshes
of the lakes. Several reptiles and amphibians have specialized habitats in forested or open palustrine
(isolated) wetlands, and temporary (vernal) ponds (Harding 1997). Many species of salamanders utilize
small, well-shaded, flowing-water habitats such as spring seeps or woodland brooks (Harding 1997).
Only two species of reptiles and amphibians were identified in the PNHP database for the study area:
eastern hognose snake and Blanding's turtle (see Table 6.1). An in-depth review of published and
unpublished "authoritative" herptile surveys (AEA 1974; ACOE 1979; Gray 2004, 2005, 2006; Gray and
Lethaby 2004, 2006; Hulse and Hulse 1992; Lethaby 1990; Lethaby and Tucci 1990; Matson 2004;
McKinstry and Cunningham 1980; McKinstry et al. 1991; Silver et al. 1999) produced records of four
more species of "special concern" reptiles and amphibians in the watershed that are identified in the
larger state PHNP database, updated November 2006 (DCNR 2006). Additions include spotted turtle in
the Turkey Creek watershed of Pennsylvania (ACOE 1979; Gray 2004), short-headed garter snake
(McKinstry et al. 1991; Gray 2005), smooth green snake (Gray and Lethaby 2004; Gray 2005), and
ribbon snake (McKinstry et al. 1991; Gray 2006).
Other state-level conservation organizations have published lists of "special concern wildlife"
independent of the PNHP list, which name additional reptiles and amphibians occurring in the study area.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) has published its own list of Comprehensive Wildlife
Conservation Strategy (CWCS) "Priority Species" that rely upon streams for "essential parts of their life
history" (PGC 2005). The Pennsylvania Online Herpetological Atlas Project (Pennsylvania Herp Atlas
2006) has also developed lists of amphibian and reptile "Species of Conservation Concern." Herptile
species (not already mentioned above) listed by these organizations that are known for our area include
three amphibian species (Jefferson's salamander, four-toed salamander, and northern leopard frog) and
one reptile (queen snake) not listed by the PNHP. It is noteworthy that more than half of the special
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