Watershed Conservation Plan - Destination Erie

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Another aquatic-dependent predator that occurs in the northwestern portion of the state is the black bear. Data in Ternent (2005) indicates that the black bear population in Pennsylvania has been steadily increasing since 1980 (three to four times more bears in 2000–2004 than in 1980–1982). A total of 21 bears were harvested in the 1B WMU in 2004, although it is unlikely that any were taken in the study area (Ternent 2005). Forested wildlands including wetlands are important for black bears, which utilize "brushy swamps" that provide plant forage and wallows (Fergus 2004). Although white-tailed deer are primarily an upland mammal, they readily utilize densely vegetated wetland areas for food and cover. White-tailed deer are abundant in the region, as indicated by harvest statistics of the PGC (Rosenberry and Wallingford 2005). Approximately 17,000 deer were taken by hunters in the 1B WMU during the 2004–2005 season, despite an apparent decline in population during 2003–2004 (as indicated by "catch-per-unit-effort" deer population index). There were fewer road-killed deer in Erie and Crawford Counties in 2004 than in 1978 (Rosenberry and Wallingford 2005). Continued harvesting of white-tailed deer is important for maintaining plant community diversity, since this mammal has shown a well-documented negative impact on forest regeneration (Bowles and Campbell 1993) and survivorship of rare and endangered plant species in the study area (Campbell 1993; Campbell et al. 1994). 6.1.6 Invertebrates—Mussels Twelve of the 17 invertebrates listed in the PNHP database for the Pennsylvania Lake Erie watershed (see Table 6.1) are freshwater mussels (unionids). Most of these species were presumably known to occur in Lake Erie waters of Presque Isle. The only study area stream known to support unionids is Conneaut Creek. Weber and Campbell (2005) recently investigated records of freshwater mussels from Conneaut Creek found in the Carnegie Museum (historical collections of Ortmann: 1909- 1919), Ohio State University (1969 records), and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (collections made between 1989 and 2003). Weber and Campbell also conducted a field survey of Conneaut Creek unionids at over a dozen different locations in the Conneaut Creek watershed during autumn 2004. The Weber and Campbell (2005) study found evidence that Conneaut Creek has supported populations of at least 17 different species of freshwater mussels since the early 1900s, with at least 13 species likely represented in the modern community. The collective list (including species known both from museum collections and the recent survey) includes nine "special concern" unionid species listed in the larger state PNHP database. Five of the special concern mussels for Conneaut Creek, including four species found in recent surveys, are taxa that were not identified in the PNHP database for the Pennsylvania Lake Erie watershed (see Table 6.1). It should be noted that the autumn 2004 survey conducted by Weber and Campbell consisted primarily of collecting empty shells deposited on exposed gravel bars following major storm events. It is expected that more-intensive sampling of live mussel populations would likely produce specimens of more than 13 species, perhaps including individuals of the other four species known to inhabit the stream historically based on museum collections. A comprehensive assessment of the freshwater mussel community of Conneaut Creek should be carried out to determine the status and distribution of likely "special concern" species present. 6.1.7 Invasive Aquatic Animals Summary reviews of the sources and problems caused by aquatic invasive species in the Lake Erie basin may be found in the Lake Erie LaMP (USEPA 2006) and the New York Sea Grant Fact Sheet (O'Neill 2004). This report will not address invasive species issues relative to Pennsylvania's open waters of Lake Erie or Presque Isle but, rather, will briefly review what is known about the major invasive aquatic animals of the nearshore/coastal zone and streams of the study area. One of the biggest problem invasive species in the nearshore/coastal area of the watershed is the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), which has dramatically altered the littoral ecosystem of Lake Erie since its introduction in the 1980s. Zebra mussels have caused a profound shift in how energy is transferred through the Lake Erie food web—essentially redirecting energy captured by phytoplankton to the bottom—at the expense of the "traditional" pelagic (open water) system mediated by zooplankton (reviews in Campbell and Kenyon 1994; Perry et al. 2000; Stewart et al. 1998). Removal of 118
phytoplankton by Dreissena allows light to penetrate more deeply in the lake, which in nearshore areas results in increases in submerged aquatic plants and benthic (bottom-dwelling) algae, as well as major changes in benthic macroinvertebrate communities (Stewart et al. 1998). Zebra mussels have also caused a well-documented decline in native freshwater mussels (unionids) in nearshore Lake Erie habitats, due to starvation (see Baker and Hornbach 1997, which includes review of field studies). Invasive dreissenids have been identified as the primary reason for documented losses of native unionid clam populations in Presque Isle Bay (Schlosser and Masteller 1999) and a likely factor contributing to recent avian botulism outbreaks in Lake Erie (Campbell et al. 2005). Zebra mussels have not colonized the study area's streams except in limited instances where creek mouths meet the lake in low gradient lacustuaries and wind-driven wave action has propelled live mussels onto substrates in the lower reaches of the streams. Zebra mussels normally colonize new habitats via microscopic planktonic veliger larvae, which are not able to swim against the currents of the study area's streams. An invasive bivalve that is capable of colonizing streams via upstream dispersal is the Asiatic clam Corbicula fluminea, which was first reported on the shore of western Lake Erie in 1980 (Clarke 1981) and later found in the St. Clair River (French and Schloesser 1991). The Asiatic clam was originally introduced in the southern United States and not believed to be a threat to the northern United States due to its intolerance of low temperatures. The population found by French and Schloesser (1991) in the St. Clair River was thriving in the warm-water discharge plume of a steam-electric power plant. Overwinter mortality was found to be greater for the first-year cohort than the second-year cohort of the clam (French and Schloesser 1991). Corbicula fluminea may be adapting to the lower temperature waters of the region. An established population of Corbicula fluminea has been documented in Conneaut Creek more than 10 km (6.2 mi) upstream from its mouth on Lake Erie in Pennsylvania (J. M. Campbell personal observation, 2008; USGS/PADEP 2005). It is unknown how the Asiatic clam population in Conneaut Creek became established so far upstream from its mouth on Lake Erie, and whether this population is capable of producing sufficiently dense populations to have negative effects on the creek's native mussel populations. Both Dreissena polymorpha and Corbicula fluminea are intolerant of prolonged anoxic (low oxygen) conditions (Matthews and McMahon 1995). High densities of Corbicula in streams can pose a risk to unionid mussel populations in streams, especially if a die-off of the invasive clam occurs under conditions of low water flow and warm summer temperatures (Cherry et al. 2005, Cooper et al. 2005). The presence of Corbicula in Pennsylvania's only Lake Erie stream containing native mussel populations increases the imperative to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the Conneaut Creek ecosystem in Pennsylvania. Recent studies by Higgins et al. (2006) have shown that the zebra mussel infestation has been a major factor (in addition to local phosphorus inputs) contributing to increased overgrowth of Cladophora (native filamentous algae) along the Lake Erie shore, and that much of the Pennsylvania shoreline of Lake Erie presents the ideal situation (e.g., exposed bedrock substrates) to produce Cladophora "problem conditions." The zebra mussel-induced overgrowth of Cladophora contributes to shoreline fouling (aesthetic, taste, and odor complaints) and elevated bacterial (E. coli) counts in nearshore waters (Higgins et al. 2006). Cladophora also forms thick mats on the rock substrates of stream bottoms in the study area, especially in places where the stream channels lack shading riparian tree cover and bare bedrock is the main substrate. Overgrowth of Cladophora may present favorable conditions for another invasive species in Lake Erie, the rusty crayfish (Oronectes rusticus), which apparently feeds preferentially on this algae (Thoma 2006). Interestingly, the invasive crayfish has been found in field experiments to have a potentially important effect in restricting zebra mussel colonization in outlet streams of zebra mussel-infested lakes (Perry et al. 2000). J. M. Campbell has not identified rusty crayfish in any study area streams, but it has apparently "taken over" shallow shoreline areas of Lake Erie in Ohio and moved up many of the "nutrient polluted" tributaries and eliminated native Oronectes populations (Thoma 2006). It appears to have colonized freshwater habitats throughout Ohio (USGS 1999) and has been found in Pennsylvania, but has expanded its range primarily in the Susquehanna River basin (PFBC 2006b). One of the most conspicuous non-native fishes that may be found in streams of the Pennsylvania Lake Erie watershed is the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), which was intentionally introduced to the 119
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Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation Pr
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land to development. Strong communi
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Human resources available to facili
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other communities, organizations, a
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TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures .
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8.3 Sustainable Development and Gov
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Figure 5.14. Average summer phospho
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Figure 10.3. Management Areas propo
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND PLAN AUTHORSHIP
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working with interested teacher and
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Figure 1.3. Perceived importance of
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1.3 Watershed Plan Focus The primar
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Figure 2.2. Detail of the south-cen
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Figure 2.4. Physiographic provinces
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westward. Although the paucity of f
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via the Erigan River, a major river
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Warren and Whittlesey can be found
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evised paleoenvironmental picture,
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characteristic ground stone tools,
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phase represent the most common Lat
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including flexed and extended inhum
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with the appearance of European tra
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The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania wa
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of $800 for the purchase of The Tri
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In addition to these townships, the
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Pittsburgh Railroad had reached New
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Figure 3.3. Density of registered a
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the Whittlesey and Warren III stran
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Table 3.3. Properties in the Study
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Table 3.3—continued Name Address
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Table 3.3—continued Name Address
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"Little Ice Age"), and the validity
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"massasaugies" (Eastern Massasauga
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eport (Col. John Fleeharty) lamente
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flowing streams. The starting point
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elow the park." Apparently the pump
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A submerged arching sand feature is
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of the lake plain and upland areas
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characteristics, and are important
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Lake section (see Figure 2.4). Nota
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Figure 5.2. Flow time series for Tw
Page 87 and 88: Figure 5.4. Flow time series for Co
Page 89 and 90: Figure 5.8. Flow per square mile pe
Page 91 and 92: area that have thicker glacial depo
Page 93 and 94: Table 5.4. Protected Water Uses for
Page 95 and 96: Stream Zone County 3—East Branch
Page 97 and 98: 5.10.2 Permitted Discharges The two
Page 99 and 100: Figure 5.14. Average summer phospho
Page 101 and 102: Figure 5.15. Graphical analyses of
Page 103 and 104: Figure 5.17. Average summer nitrate
Page 105 and 106: Figure 5.19. Mercury concentrations
Page 107 and 108: Figure 5.20. Map showing locations
Page 109 and 110: Figure 5.22. Number of stream miles
Page 111 and 112: 91 Figure 5.24. Results of Campbell
Page 113 and 114: Table 5.6. Range in Number of E. co
Page 115 and 116: Figure 5.26. Maximum E. coli counts
Page 117 and 118: The recent investigation completed
Page 119 and 120: Figure 5.30. Sources of known nondo
Page 121 and 122: 6 NATURAL RESOURCES 6.1 Animal Life
Page 123 and 124: Rank Status Taxon Common Name Globa
Page 125 and 126: Table 6.2. Pennsylvania Vertebrate
Page 127 and 128: Table 6.3. Noted Occurrence of Spaw
Page 129 and 130: Figure 6.4. Water quality designati
Page 131 and 132: Figure 6.6. Fishing hours spent on
Page 133 and 134: Figure 6.7. Comparative analysis of
Page 135 and 136: Figure 6.9. Percentage breakdown of
Page 137: A small number of the birds listed
Page 141 and 142: populations increase. Corbicula flu
Page 143 and 144: Rank Status Taxon Common name Globa
Page 145 and 146: Rank Status Taxon Common name Globa
Page 147 and 148: Two other forest wetland plant comm
Page 149 and 150: 6.2.4 Emergent Wetlands Over half o
Page 151 and 152: alleghaniensis), sugar maple, red m
Page 153 and 154: Table 6.6.Percentage Composition of
Page 155 and 156: Figure 6.18. Detail of the largest
Page 157 and 158: Figure 7.1. Responses made by study
Page 159 and 160: Figure 7.3. Spatial distribution of
Page 161 and 162: Presque Isle State Park is connecte
Page 163 and 164: Table 7.2. Number of Recreational O
Page 165 and 166: lakefront recreational properties,
Page 167 and 168: Map Id Subwatershed Comment 51 41.5
Page 169 and 170: Bayfront Center for Maritime Studie
Page 171 and 172: Other watershed associations or wat
Page 173 and 174: Figure 8.1. Child poverty rates in
Page 175 and 176: comprehensive vision or plan, have
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Page 179 and 180: 5. In order to sustain maximum biod
Page 181 and 182: 10 PRIORITIES AND STRATEGIES FOR AC
Page 183 and 184: easements for riparian areas, and p
Page 185 and 186: Table 10.2 Management Areas Defined
Page 187 and 188: Figure 10.2. Example of how GIS can
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Figure 10.4. Example of how GIS can
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Watershed Portion MAs Main Subwater
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Restoration actions Management Area
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11 REFERENCES CITED Abrams, M. D. 2
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Broyles, B. J. 1971 Second Prelimin
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Cooper, N. L., J. R. Bidwell, and D
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Dzurko, Robert 1972 Conneaut Creek
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Goodyear, A. C. 1999 The Early Holo
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Jasim, S. Y., A. Irabelli, L. Schwe
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Leighton, R. 2006 Pennsylvania Fish
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Michaels, A. 2005 Pennsylvania Has
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2007d Waterways, Wetlands, and Eros
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Richardson, J. B., and J. B. Peters
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Soon, W. and S. Baliunas 2003 Proxy
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Tomikel and Shepps 1967 Trasande, L
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Whitley, D. S., and R. I. Dorn 1993
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Preparing For Watershed Conservatio
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Introduction (cont’d) In March of
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Executive Summary Overall, responde
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Executive Summary (cont’d) Cont
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Summary Of Key Groups (cont’d) Ur
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Please Indicate Whether You Agree,
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In Your Opinion, Is The Need For Im
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If You Had To Choose Between Proper
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Favorite Locations For Recreation I
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Favorite Motor Boating Locations To
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Favorite Hiking Locations Location
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Favorite Swimming Locations Total R
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Knowledge Of Historic And Prehistor
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Support For Stream Protection Measu
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LERC Rivers Conservation Plan Publi
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• Mason: As far as education, get
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• Kloss: Educate people about Act
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Great Lakes Commission http://www.g
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Center for Economic and Environment
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The Erie County portion of the Penn
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Feature Parameters Parameter Variab
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Feature Parameters Parameter Variab
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Watershed Conservation Plan - Destination Erie

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