 |
Wetland Habitats
Detailed wetland investigations were conducted during July through
December 2003 and April through August 2004. Sixty-five palustrine
wetland systems, totaling approximately 23 acres were delineated
within Alternatives D, E and AE.
The majority of the delineated wetlands are relatively small in
size. A majority of the delineated systems are less than one-half
acre in size. Only Eight delineated wetlands were larger than one-half
acre.
Representative wetland habitat types include; Palustrine Emergent
(PEM), PEM / Palustrine Scrub-Shrub (PSS), PEM / Palustrine Forested
(PFO) and Palustrine Open Water (POW).
As noted above, the majority of the delineated wetlands identified
within the alternative limits can be characterized as relatively
small, hillside seep or fringe type systems primarily dominated
by herbaceous vegetative communities. Many of these systems have
been created as a result of historic logging activities which have
intercepted shallow soil water tables and promoted hydric soil development
and colonization by hydrophytic vegetative species. Several of these
systems were characterized as “Atypical” due to the
recent nature of the disturbance and corresponding early stage successional
development of the system. The larger wetlands identified within
the alternative alignments are generally groundwater driven systems
oriented along relatively wide, gently sloping topographic plateaus
in close proximity to perennial watercourses or within the larger
stream floodplain expanses. The most extensive of these wetland
systems is located within the floodplain of Meadow Run and is locally
known as Little Meadows Wetland Complex.
None of the delineated wetlands were considered to meet the established
criteria for possible designation as Exceptional Value (Pennsylvania)
or Non-Tidal Wetlands of Special State Concern (Maryland).
Surface Water Resources
Watersheds which are represented within the alternative alignments
include the Casselman River, Schoolhouse Run, Piney Creek and Meadow
Run drainages. Surface water resources located within the alternatives
drain into the mainstem of the Casselman River either directly via
unnamed tributaries or indirectly through the Schoolhouse Run, Piney
Creek and Meadow Run Watersheds. All of the streams identified within
the alternative alignments are freestone streams or those streams
which base-flow hydrology is primarily supplied through discharge
from impoundments, surface water runoff, spring/seeps or a combination
of these sources.
The majority of stream segments represented within the alternative
alignments are predominately first, second and to a lesser degree,
third order, upper headwater type, ephemeral, intermittent and perennial
watercourses which originate as spring/seeps along the western slopes
of Meadow Mountain and Chestnut Ridge. None of the first or second
order streams are capable of supporting fin-fish communities due
to the limiting physical characteristics. Fish community structure
within larger third order type streams is generally dominated by
minnows (Cyprinids).
Piney Creek, Meadow Run and to a lesser extent; a few of the unnamed
tributaries to Meadow Run and the Casselman River are the most notable
surface water resources identified within the alternative alignments.
Piney Creek and Meadow Run are the largest of the freestone streams
located within the alternative alignments and constitute higher
order stream classes which are capable of supporting various trophic
levels and increased diversity/abundance with respect to both macro-invertebrate
and fin-fish community. Piney Creek is managed by state resource
agencies as a recreational fishery and is stocked with trout on
a seasonal basis to provide supplemental cold/cool water recreational
opportunities for anglers.
Threatened and Endangered Species
Species of special concern which are provided protection under
state and federal law include Pennsylvania, Maryland and Federally
listed endangered and threatened species as well as species listed
by Maryland as in need of conservation. The historic range of 1
Federal, 1 Pennsylvania and 4 Maryland species of special concern
occur within or near the area required for the alternatives recommended
for detailed study. The species of special concern with known to
contain historic ranges within the alternatives recommended for
detailed study are presented below.
- Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), Federally Endangered, Mammal Species
- Longnose sucker (Catostomus catostomus), Pennsylvania Endangered,
Fish Species
- Purple meadow-parsnip (Thaspium trifoliatum), Maryland Endangered,
Plant Species
- Goose-foot cornsalad (Valerianella chenopodifolia), Maryland
Endangered, Plant Species
- Alder flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum), Maryland In Need of Conservation,
Bird Species
- Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), Maryland In Need of Conservation,
Mammal Species
Coordination with various state and federal resource agencies regarding
species of special concern and or preferred habitat types will be
on-going throughout the course of the project.
Vegetation and Wildlife
Wildlife habitat compartments were identified utilizing Anderson,
Land Use and Land Cover Classification System for Use with Remote
Sensor Data (1976) Levels II and III. Land use / land cover types
that are identified as wildlife habitats included deciduous forestland,
evergreen forestland, mixed forestland, herbaceous rangeland, shrub-brush
rangeland, mixed rangeland, agriculture lands, palustrine wetlands
and riparian zones.
The project study area encompasses approximately 11,500 acres and
consists predominantly of wildlife habitat land uses. Ninety-one
percent of the study area is comprised of wildlife habitat types.
The remaining 9.0 % is comprised of non-wildlife habitat land cover
types. Non-wildlife habitat is characterized as developed lands
including areas devoted to residential, commercial, industrial uses.
Non-wildlife habitats are predominately located within the towns
of Boynton and Salisbury, PA and in narrow bands adjacent to US
219, National Highway US 40 and Interstate I-68.
Forested lands comprise 57% of the project study area and are located
within two major forest networks which are bisected by the existing
US 219. The dominant forest component includes deciduous / mixed
forest land which encompassed 53.0%, of the study area. Evergreen
forest stands encompassed 4.1%, of the study area. Much of the forest
is actively logged and comprised of 2nd through 3rd generation trees
and mixed aged stands.
Patches of agricultural land, shrub-brush / mixed rangeland, herbaceous
rangeland, palustrine wetlands and riparian corridors are present
within these forested tracts. Agricultural land is the largest patch
and encompassed, 24 %, of the study area. Taken collectively, shrub-brush
/ mixed rangeland, herbaceous rangeland and palustrine wetland patches
comprise 18 % of the study area.
|
