Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan - Western ...

Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation PlanSpike Mussel CommunityCommunity Indicators: spike and black sandshell.Several other mussels including the fatmucket, flutedshell, and pocketbook are also found in thiscommunity, but are common components of othercommunities, as well. In transitional habitat, like the lowerConnoquenessing Creek, other species like, the giant floaterare also found in the mussel community.Species of conservation concern: spike (S4/G5), blacksandshell (S3S4/G5), fatmucket (S4/G5), flutedshell (S4/G5),pocketbook (S4/G5), and giant floater (S4/G5).Community quality rating: HighThe spike pictured here is a species ofconcern as well as a communityCommunity rarity: Noindicator of the Ohio/Great LakesMussels: Spike Mussel CommunityHabitat: The habitat for the Spike Mussel Community isgenerally found in large streams and rivers system such as the habitats found in the Allegheny River andthe Beaver River basin. In the Connoquenessing Creek watershed, the community was found in the lowerreaches of Connoquenessing Creek below its confluence with Slippery Rock Creek.The environment associated with this community includes waters that do not have a steep slope, but havevaried substrates (stream bottom materials) and a mix of pool, riffle, and run habitat. The species in thiscommunity are typically found in medium to large rivers in sand and gravel substrate and are oftenassociated with riffles. The spike mussel exists in a wide range of habitats of varied size and depth. It isone of the most abundant mussels in the Allegheny basin (Strayer & Jirka, 1997).Water may have many dissolved ions in the watershed detected by relatively high conductivity andmoderate alkalinity. Sandstone and shale geology is the dominant bedrock in the Connoquenessing CreekWatershed and is commonly associated with the spike community. The community can tolerate somedisturbance in the watershed from agricultural sources, but prefers relatively good water quality andhabitat.Although the strongest indicators of this community are very common, a number of rare and pollutionintoleranttaxa are often associated with this group.Threats: Since this mussel community usually occurs in relatively high quality streams, the threats frompoor water quality and habitat conditions in Connoquenessing Creek could be detrimental to thiscommunity. Much of the lower Connoquenessing Creek watershed is disturbed by a combination ofagricultural and urban runoff and acid mine drainage. Sections of the Connoquenessing Creek adjacent tothe Spike Community are classified as impaired by DEP for poor water quality, including highconcentrations of metals, low pH, and salinity/total dissolved solids/chlorides. Tributaries to the lowerConnoquenessing Creek are impaired by stormwater from urban runoff and by pollution from acid minedrainage (DEP, 2006a). Agriculture in the lower Slippery Rock Creek and throughout theConnoquenessing Creek watershed may also be contributing to poor water quality and habitat in thewatershed.Conservation Recommendations: This community is characterized by high mussel diversity, many rarespecies and very few species that can tolerate pollution; therefore it is a high conservation priority. ThisAppendix M. Aquatic Community Classification Page 7 of 8