Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan - Western ...

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Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation PlanChapter 4. Biological ResourcesDCNR in 2004 on affected hemlock trees in central and southern Pennsylvania. DCNR is also in theprocess of establishing sites for chemical applications against the hemlock woolly adelgid (Spichiger,2004).Zebra MusselZebra mussels were brought to the U.S. in the 1980s in the ballasts of European ships. Since thattime, they have colonized many lakes and streams in the Great Lakes region and also the entire stretch ofthe Mississippi River. These thumbnail-size mussels impose damage by removing all of the microscopicfood, including plankton and zooplankton, depriving other organisms, and altering the food chain(Pennsylvania Sea Grant, 2003).The Pennsylvania Zebra Mussel Monitoring Network was established in 1990–1991 to monitor thespread of zebra mussels in the state. Volunteer personnel from a variety of agencies report sightings of thespecies to DEP. Due to its ecological requirements; the species is restricted to slow-flowing rivers,impoundments, reservoirs, and lakes. For instance, it has been identified in the Monongahela, Ohio, andAllegheny rivers, and in French Creek above an impoundment(Shaw, personal communication, 2006).The zebra mussel is most commonly transported in shipballasts and on recreational boats that utilize multiple waterways.Boaters should always clean their vessels thoroughly beforetransporting to another waterbody to prevent the spread ofmussels, invasive aquatic plants, and other nuisances. According tothe Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Mussel Survey (Lang,2002) report, no zebra mussels were detected within the watershed,although the species has been detected in the Ohio River drainage.Asiatic ClamIt is unknown, exactly where and when this exotic, bivalvemollusk was introduced to the U.S. or Pennsylvania. The Asiaticor Asian clam has a yellow show with pronounced ridges and canreach lengths of 55 mm. Although this species is native to Asiaand Africa, it adapts well to the stream bottoms of theExotic Asiatic clam shells scatteredalong the bank of ConnoquenessingCreek represent a large invasivepopulation which may be outcompetingnative freshwater mussels in thewatershedConnoquenessing watershed. Immature Asiatic clams are very small and hard to see, and unlike manynative species, they do not require host dependency for dispersal. These factors, combined with its highertolerance to pollutants, enable the species to reproduce and spread aggressively. Because of their nature,Asiatic clams can out-compete native freshwater mussels for resources and space.The shells from hundreds, even thousands, of dead clams can litter the stream bottom andstreambanks of local waterways. As the organisms decompose, ammonia byproducts may kill otherfreshwater organisms, this is particularly threatening in lake environments. The main consequence of thepresence and abundance of this invasive species is its tendency to clog pipes and cause disruption ofindustrial processes and water treatment plants.In order to prevent further spreading of Asiatic clams, boots, boats, and other watercrafts should bethoroughly rinsed with hot water after use in Asiatic clam infested waters. Bait buckets should also becleaned and thoroughly dried before transporting to another stream or watershed (Aquatic InvasiveSpecies of Pennsylvania).4-29
Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation PlanChapter 4. Biological ResourcesPrevious StudiesConnoquenessing Creek Watershed Mussel Survey, 2002A survey was conducted along Connoquenessing Creek, Thorn Creek, Little ConnoquenessingCreek, Glade Run, Brush Creek, Bonnie Brook, Breakneck Creek, and Camp Run to gather baseline dataon mussel populations within the watershed. Fourteen species of freshwater mussels and clams (one ofwhich is an exotic species) were found through the study. Species were more diverse and individualsmore abundant in the downstream third of ConnoquenessingCreek, downstream of Zelienople. Several of the species’populations were or were believed to be reproducing (flutedshell, plain pocketbook, fat mucket, creeper, giant floater,spike, the invasive-exotic Asiatic clam, and pea clams), whileothers were present, but not reproducing (mucket, blacksandshell, and rainbow, which is a Pennsylvania endangeredspecies), and dead shells of some species (threeridge,kidneyshell, and round pigtoe) were found, though no livespecimens were recorded.Bruce Kemp, a member of CWA and thewatershed conservation plan steeringcommittee, searches ConnoquenessingCreek for musselsHumans have contributed to the historic decline ofmussels throughout the watershed. Activities, such asindustrial pollution, rechannelization from road and railroadcorridors, erosion and sedimentation, pollution fromabandoned mines, sewage, nutrient runoff, urban sprawl,timber harvest, and dams have adversely affected freshwatermussels in the Connoquenessing Creek. Mussels are intolerant of pollution, certain water temperatures,slow flow, and sedimentation, making them habitat-specific. Therefore, streams impacted by AMD,erosion and sedimentation, industrial pollution, damming, and poorly forested riparian zones are lesslikely to support a thriving population of mussels. In addition, generally sedentary mussels depend ofspecific host fish species for their reproductive cycle and for dispersal. This dependency also hinders thesurvival of mussels when those fish species are confined by dams or affected by pollution and watertemperature.The presence, diversity, and abundance of freshwater mussels are some of the best indicators of thehealth of a stream and watershed. Therefore, an important comparison is one of the species originallypresent to those present today, and if possible, some analysis of the health of each species’ populationconsidering abundance, reproduction, etc. Results of this study will serve as baseline data, by which tocompare changing conditions of the mussel populations and water quality over time. It is important tocontinue to monitor this group over time to determine how the watershed is improving or where portionsare becoming more degraded.Aquatic Community ClassificationA biological community represents a group of organisms that occur together in a particular habitat.These organisms require similar habitats, may be dependent on each other for food or other resources, andmay be dependent on similar processes in their environment.The aquatic communities report refers to two types of organisms found in streams: mussels and fish.The community types described here are restricted to flowing water habitats, such as rivers and streams.As a statewide project of PNHP, WPC researchers working on the Pennsylvania Aquatic CommunityClassification (ACC) project collected aquatic datasets from state and federal agencies, interstate basincommissions, and universities. The biological, habitat, and water chemistry data was first centralized into4-30
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