Habitat Plan 2 - Onondaga Lake Partnership

DRAFTA variety of other factors can influence the selection of roost trees. Forexample, adequate solar exposure of the roosting location is critical tothe development of young bats. Thus, trees located on the edge offorested openings or trees tall enough to gain better exposure tosunlight are preferred. The absence of a dense shrub and understorylayer, as well as the presence of open streams, also enhances thesuitability of roosting areas by providing foraging conditions for adultbats.Indiana bats would be expected to roost around the lake during thesummer months where suitable roost trees exist. Such roost trees aremost likely in the forested wetlands around the northern portion of thelake.ReptilesOne federally listed reptile species, bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii),is of historical record in Onondaga County and one candidate species,eastern massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus), is known to occur in thecounty. Both species are state-listed as endangered. One of the bestknown locations in New York for eastern massasauga rattlesnake isCicero Swamp located between Oneida Lake and the city of Syracuse.The bog turtle is a semi-aquatic species, preferring habitat with cool,shallow, slow-moving water, deep soft muck soils, and tussock-formingherbaceous vegetation (NYSDEC, 2009). Neither species is currentlyfound in or adjacent to Onondaga Lake and suitable habitat does notexist in the lake vicinity for either species to occur there.2.5. Summary of Onondaga LakeConditionsThroughout the lake’s history, there have been extensive changes to itswaters and shoreline, often creating conditions in the lake that wereunsuitable for a variety of species. Recent water quality improvementsand remediation and restoration projects have greatly improvedconditions in the lake. Within the last several years, there have beensubstantially increases in the number of fish and plants living in the lake,a key indicator that the lake is starting to recover. Species such as thebald eagle and the lake sturgeon that had been absent from the lakeand its environs for many years are being seen more frequently.Improvements such as these are expected to continue as theremediation and restoration efforts are advanced in and around the lake.PARSONS | Remedial Design Elements for Habitat Restoration 73