Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan - Western ...

Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plancommunity occurs in sections of watersheds that currently experience relatively little watersheddisturbance.Habitat disturbance and poor water quality may pose serious problems for the long term health of thecommunity. Amelioration of water pollution from urban/suburban, agricultural, and mining sourcesshould be a priority for conserving the Spike Community.Flutedshell Mussel CommunityCommunity Indicators: fluted shell, mucket, squawfoot, and plain pocketbook.Also found with this community in the Connoquenessing Creek Watershed, are other mussel species, like:giant floater, fatmucket, spike mussel, and squawfoot.Some additional species found with this community in other community habitats:kidneyshell, elktoe, pocketbook, and wavy-rayed lampmussel.Species of conservation concern: fluted shell (S4/G5), kidneyshell (S4/G4G5), mucket (S4/G5), giantfloater (S4/G4), elktoe (S4/G4), squawfoot (S2S4/G5), plain pocketbook (S3S4/G5), wavy-rayedlampmussel (S4/G4), fatmucket (S4/G5), spike mussel (S4/G5),Habitat: The Fluted Shell Community is characteristic of medium to large streams, like theConnoquenessing Creek, and medium size rivers. Habitats for this community are similar to the spikemussel community, but the stream size may be smaller. Sand and gravel beds are favorable to the flutedshell community.A number of rare and pollution-intolerant mussel species are associated with this community type.Consequently, the Fluted Shell Community may be found in ecosystems that are still able to supportspecies that cannot survive in other areas.Community quality rating: HighCommunity rarity: NoThreats: Similar to the Spike Mussel Community environment, water quality and habitat issues in thelower Connoquenessing Creek watersheds are serious threats to the long-term health of the Fluted shellCommunity. Water pollution classified the Connoquenessing Creek as impaired, according to DEP formetals and pH from acid mine drainage, and high salinity/total dissolved solids/chlorides. Sometributaries to lower Connoquenessing Creek near the Fluted Shell Community occurrences, like BrushCreek, are impaired for pollution from municipal point sources, degrading water with organic enrichmentand low dissolved oxygen. Stormwater and runoff from impervious surfaces also has degraded sometributaries to the Connoquenessing Creek (DEP, 2006a).Conservation Recommendations: This community is characterized by high mussel diversity, many rarespecies and very few species that can tolerate severe pollution. It is a high conservation priority.Protection of current high quality mussel habitat is important for the long-term viability of the FlutedShell Community in the Connoquenessing Creek. Minimizing altered channels and siltation resultingfrom some agricultural practices and urban runoff will benefit the community. Proactive measures to fixthe water quality problems in the Connoquenessing Creek watershed are needed to sustain healthy musselpopulations and communities.Appendix M. Aquatic Community Classification Page 8 of 8