A Survey of Butterflies Found at the Reclaimed Municipal Landfill Superfund Site in Saco, Maine (York County)

By Robert E. Gobeil and Rose Marie F. Gobeil

6 Primrose Lane, Saco, ME 04072 [email protected]

The Saco Municipal Landfill Superfund Site Prior to the official closure of the landfill, is located on Foss Road in Saco, Maine (York the city of Saco prepared a comprehensive County). The Superfund Site, owned by the Recreation and Reuse Plan (1998) for the city of Saco, covers approximately 90 acres site which was later updated (EPA 2006) as with four separate landfill areas (Areas 1, 2, shown in Appendix A (Fig. 2). Many aspects 3, and 4) comprising around 33 acres of of the reuse plan, including nature land. Through the years due to foreclosures, conservation areas and passive recreational the city added an additional 70 acres for a uses, have already been implemented. total area of approximately 160 acres Reuse Area A (Landfill Area 1), located east (Recreation and Reuse Plan 1998). The city of Foss Road (paved), now has several large operated the municipal landfill from the recreational fields, a small meadow and early 1960’s to 1988. In 1990, the landfill parking lots. In this same Reuse Area, a was declared a Superfund site by the U.S. former borrow pit approximately 2 ½ acre Environmental Protection Agency (EPA in size, was transformed into a pond with a 2006; Owens III 2010). fishing dock and adjacent picnic table (EPA 2006). There is also a small trail (Sandy The distinct landfill areas are separated by Brook Trail) off the access road to the pond Sandy Brook stream which runs across the which connects through the woods back to center of the site from north to south. Foss Road. Landfill Areas 1 and 2 are located on the east side of Sandy Brook while Landfill Area Reuse Area B (Landfill Area 2), a large, 4 and the smaller, associated Landfill Area 3 mounded meadow, located on the west are on the west side of the brook. A map of side of Foss Road, is only used for sledding the four Landfill Areas prior to restoration during the winter. The transfer station and and the area of the proposed wildlife composting area are located on the enhancement (wetlands) is shown in northern side of this Reuse Area near the Appendix A (Fig. 1). Between 1976 and entrance to the landfill. Reuse Area C 1985, Landfill Areas 1 and 2 were capped (Landfill Areas 3 and 4) is the entire area followed by the capping of Areas 3 and 4 in west of Sandy Brook including large, mowed 1998. The alternate wetland areas were fields on the west side of the recreated also created at the same time. The EPA wetlands. As part of the Superfund cleanup, determined that the landfill closure was the city of Saco converted the former sand officially completed in 2000 and long term and gravel pit near Landfill 4 into wildlife monitoring of the site is continuing (EPA habitat (Basin) and created a new area of 2000; EPA 2006; Owens III 2010). wetlands (10 acres in size) near Sandy Brook (EPA 2006). Landfill Areas 2, 3 and 4 are bordered by temperatures above 70°F (ranged from 60°F wooded areas comprised of White Pines on May 15 to 83°F on July 18). All areas of and a variety of different deciduous trees the landfill were surveyed on most visits but including various species of oaks, maples we did spend more time in the wetlands and others. At the base of Landfill Area 4 is and pond area due to the greater a large retention basin which fills with abundance and variety of species in those water after heavy rainfalls forming a marsh habitats. Since the city hopes to eventually type of meadow surrounded by dirt access use both of these areas for nature study roads leading to various portions of the (EPA 2006), the main goal of the survey was landfill. The recreated wetlands area, to determine how well the recreated adjacent to the retention basin, consists of wetlands in Reuse Area C and the area a few small ponds, some early growth around the reclaimed 2 ½ acre pond located White Pines, and various species of low in Reuse Area A serve as habitat for growth shrubs surrounded by small butterflies. meadows (see Appendix B for views of different areas of the landfill). A total of 47 species of butterflies were recorded at the reclaimed landfill during the During the summer of 2013, as volunteers survey as listed in Table 1. Forty-five species for the Maine Butterfly Survey (MBS) and were vouchered (photo or actual specimen) with permission from the city of Saco and while two species (Common Buckeye and other agencies, we did a survey of Eyed Brown) were observed at close range butterflies at the reclaimed landfill. We but unable to voucher. The scientific names used the Checklist survey method when of all species recorded during this study are surveying instead of the Pollard Walk shown in Table 1. All vouchered species transect method. This type of survey were confirmed by MBS and are now part allowed us to search anywhere within the of the MBS collection (MDIFW Wildlife site and not follow a designated transect Scientific Collection Permit No. 2013-233). path. Royer et al. (1998) found that the Checklist survey was the most efficient During the 13 visits to the landfill, we also method to produce an initial list of species counted the number of butterflies observed found at a site. We also counted the for a total of 1,880 individuals (see Table 1). number of individuals of each species Based on our counts, the Inornate Ringlet observed on each visit to the landfill. was the most abundant species with 725 individuals, followed by the European We surveyed the landfill at roughly two Skipper (174), Clouded Sulphur (124), Pearl week intervals from May 1 to September Crescent (109), and Common Wood Nymph 18, 2013. A total of 13 visits were made to (92). On June 20, over 230 Inornate Ringlets the landfill averaging two hours per visit for were observed and on the same date, we a total of around 28 hours. Some surveys counted 161 European Skippers. Photos of were interrupted by weather conditions some of the butterfly species found at the (thunderstorms) requiring us to revisit the reclaimed landfill are shown in Appendix C. landfill at shorter intervals. The majority of the surveys were conducted between 11 Some of the more unusual species recorded A.M. and 2 P.M. on sunny days with at the landfill included the Bronze Copper, Appalachian Brown, Mulberry Wing Skipper, Pepper and Salt Skipper (see Fig. nectaring sources was strongly correlated 1), Black Dash Skipper, and Banded with total butterfly abundance and species Hairstreak. The most significant findings richness. All four original landfill areas had were the Bronze Copper and the few wildflowers since the fields were Appalachian Brown which are both listed by mowed during the summer to prevent deep the state of Maine as species of Special rooted plants from penetrating into the Concern. A single Bronze Copper was liners. The mounds forming Landfill Areas 2, observed on June 10 in the basin which was 3 and 4 were mowed at least twice during devoid of water due to dry conditions and the summer (June and August) but did show another individual was seen near the access some growth of Red and White Clover and road in the wetlands on August 22. On Cow Vetch between mowing, especially August 7, a single Appalachian Brown was along the bottom edges of the landfills found in a glade on the Sandy Brook Trail. adjacent to the access roads. We mainly Also found on this trail on the same date found common species of butterflies was one Banded Hairstreak. A single Black (Inornate Ringlets, European Skippers and Dash Skipper, a species first recorded in Crescents) in these three Landfill Areas. The Maine in 2009, was found on the edge of recreational fields in Landfill Area 1 (Reuse the basin on July 12. The Pepper and Salt Area A) were mowed at even more Skipper (two on June 10) and Mulberry frequent intervals turning them into lawn Wing (one on July 18) were found in the areas for soccer, etc. These fields were small meadow near the picnic table on the almost devoid of butterflies due to the lack edge of the pond. of nectaring sources. The only two areas with infrequent mowing were the wetlands- basin area and the small meadow near the pond (both mowed once in August). These two locations had an abundance of wildflowers including Crown Vetch, Cow Vetch, Red Clover, White Clover, Oxeye Daisies, Black-eyed Susan, Goldenrod, and Queen Anne’s Lace (see Appendix D). The area around the top edge of the retention basin had extensive growth of Daisy Fleabane and edges of Landfill Areas 2 and 4 had a few thistle plants. The entire landfill contained only a dozen or so common Fig. 1. Pepper and Salt Skipper (Amblyscirtes hegon), Saco, ME, June 10, 2013. milkweed plants. The species richness was especially high in the recreated wetlands-

basin area where we observed 38 different The diversity and abundance of butterflies species of butterflies. The area around the at a site often depends on the availability of pond and Sandy Brook Trail produced 33 nectaring sources (flowering shrubs and species followed by a low count of 22 wildflowers). Holl (1995), in her study of species in Landfill Areas 1, 2, 3 and 4. reclaimed coal surface-mined sites in Virginia, found that the abundance of A large portion of the recreated wetlands concrete rubble (Cross 2012). Since 2004, area is bordered on the southwest by a 32 species of butterflies have been power transmission line right-of-way recorded including the Small Blue (Cupido maintained by the power company in an minimus), Small Heath (Coenonympha early successional state of growth. Studies pamphilus), Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages), have shown that power line right-of-ways and Grizzled Skipper (Pyrgus malvae), all of serve as important habitat for butterflies which are listed as UK (BAP) Biodiversity and may also act as corridors for northward Action Plan priority species. The Carymoor movements of rare, stray species such as Environmental Trust has been hired to the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Common manage this capped landfill to help increase Buckeye and Variegated Fritillary, all of butterfly populations and maximize which were recorded at the landfill (Gobeil biodiversity at the site. Tarrant et al. (2013) and Gobeil 2014b; Wagner and Metzler studied floral resources and pollinating 2011). Having a power line right-of-way insects at a number of restored landfills in adjacent to the wetlands increases the total the East Midlands, UK, and concluded that volume of land in early successional growth reclaimed landfills have conservation which benefits butterfly populations. potential to support a significant diversity of pollinating insect species. Watson and Hack The wetlands had an unusually high (2000) indicate that due to changes in population of Wild Indigo Duskywings with agricultural practices, there has been a 97% a total count of 31 recorded on August 7. decline in semi-natural grasslands in This is one of the highest concentrations of England and Wales in the 20th century and this species we have seen at any site we that grassland creation on closed landfill have surveyed in Maine. We commonly find sites provides a good opportunity to benefit this species on road verges near bridge declining butterfly species. crossings over I-95 (Maine Turnpike) where Crown Vetch, a host plant for this species, Several U.S. cities are in the process of has been planted to prevent soil erosion. restoring butterfly habitats after closure of The adjoining power line right-of-way is in their landfills. In Albany, New York, as close proximity to I-95 and may be acting as discussed in the City of Albany Rapp Road a corridor which could account for the high Landfill Restoration Planning and Permitting counts of this species at the landfill. (2009) report, the city is converting the closed Rapp Road landfill into an expanded There are few studies dealing specifically pine bush savannah-prairie community to with butterfly populations found in help restore populations of the federally reclaimed municipal landfills. At the closed endangered Karner Blue butterfly Martin’s Farm landfill site near St Osyth, (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) and other Essex, UK, they created grassland areas to forms of wildlife. attract butterflies and eventually recorded 18 species of butterflies (Dennis 2010). At In Oakland, Maine, Johnny Thomas, the another location in the UK, at the reclaimed transfer station manager, has been actively Dimmer Landfill Site, near Castle Cary, involved in trying to create habitat for Somerset, an unusual grassland area was butterflies at the closed landfill. He recently constructed with a base of limestone and received permission from the Maine DEP to plant wildflower seeds on two small sites at butterfly populations, vegetation the landfill. This experiment will determine management would also be required in the how deep the roots penetrate into the wetlands area to keep it in an early ground to be sure that they do not disturb successional stage of growth. Since the clay cap on the landfill. If this butterflies need nectaring sources, local experiment is successful, then the 12 acre students in the Ecology Club at the Saco landfill may eventually have a cover of Middle School could get involved by wildflowers (Hongoltz-Hetling 2013). planting wildflowers and milkweed plants along the edges of the pond and in the With slight modifications in the frequency wetlands area. The planting of milkweed and timing of mowing in the basin, plants would be especially important for wetlands and pond area, the Saco landfill Monarchs which have shown a sharp could become one of the few reclaimed, decline in the U.S. and Maine during the municipal landfills being actively managed past few years (Wilson 2013; Gobeil and for butterflies in the U.S. Valtonen et al. Gobeil 2014a). The planting of additional (2006) studied the effect of different thistle plants would also enhance the mowing regimes on butterflies and diurnal habitat for butterflies. Thistle plants were moths on road verges in Europe. They found to be the most important nectar compared Lepidoptera populations based source for butterflies at the reclaimed on the timing of three different mowing Martin’s Farm landfill in the UK (Davis and regimes: mid-summer, late summer and Coppeard 1989). Classroom studies could partial (strip) mowing. They concluded that be coordinated with this activity. This would delaying mowing until late summer or doing generate student interest in conservation partial mowing, increased butterfly species while enhancing the habitat for butterflies richness and abundance. Westover (1994) at the landfill by increasing nectar sources found that a mowing regime of 3-5 years for butterflies. By utilizing a combination of with the timing dependent on the amount classroom lessons and field trips, the goal of of woody plant growth, maximized the using portions of the landfill for “nature species richness of wildflowers and favored study” would be fulfilled. The landfill could the growth of milkweeds and asters, both easily be managed for recreational use as of which are important nectaring sources well as a nature preserve and an for many species of butterflies. educational resource. Thornton Academy If the city is interested in managing the and University of New England students landfill for butterflies, access roads around could also utilize the landfill to do more the basin-wetlands area should remain advanced scientific research on other forms unpaved since these dirt roads serve as of wildlife found at the site. important habitat, especially for some According to the National Solid Wastes state-listed species of butterflies (Gobeil Management Association, in the 1970’s and Gobeil 2014b; Wagner and Metzler there were about 20,000 municipal landfills 2011). Also, any trails built in areas around in the U.S. Today, with stricter federal and the wetlands and pond should not allow state regulations, the number of municipal motorized vehicles (ATVs, etc.) to minimize landfills has been reduced to approximately habitat damage. In order to maintain high 1,900. Even though the number of operating municipal landfills is lower now, http://www.wiltshire- many of the closed landfills were small in butterflies.org.uk/Portals/Wiltshire- size and have now been replaced by much butterflies/Documents/Bulletin-33-April- larger, active landfills (NSWMA 2011). Since 2012.pdf [Accessed 5 February 2014]. many of the currently active landfills will be Davis, B. N. K. & R. P. Coppeard 1989. forced to close in the future, their Biological habitat reconstruction. Pages importance as possible habitat for 221-231 in: G. P. Buckley (ed.) Soil butterflies and other forms of wildlife conditions and grassland establishment becomes even more significant. for amenity and wildlife on a restored landfill site. Belhaven Press, London. Considering the diversity and abundance of deMaynadier, P., R. Webster, R. Butler & H. butterflies that we found at the reclaimed Wilson. 2014. (MBS Coordinators) Maine Saco Municipal Superfund site (47 species Butterfly Survey. Maine Butterfly Species including two state-listed species of Special List. (Online) Concern), it appears that restored landfills https://googledrive.com/host/0B985dSJ and especially recreated wetlands can serve VRA1mWm43NXVQWEhmVGM/Butterfl as important habitat for butterflies and help y%20Species%20List%209.htm [Accessed to conserve declining butterfly populations. 10 February 2014]. Acknowledgements Dennis, R. L. H. 2010. A Resource-Based Habitat View for Conservation: We especially wish to thank Joseph Hirsch, Butterflies in the British Landscape. Director of the Parks & Recreation Wiley-Blackwell. Department for the city of Saco, for EPA 2000. EPA Superfund Record of obtaining permission from various agencies Decision: Saco Municipal Landfill. to allow us to do the survey at the landfill. EPA/ROD/R01-00/129 2000. (Online) We also wish to thank Althea Masterson, http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/ro Corporate Communications Manager for ds/fulltext/r0100129.pdf [Accessed 15 Woodard & Curran, for granting us January 2014]. permission to use several figures that her EPA 2006. United States Environmental company produced as part of the EPA Protection Agency New England. Site closure of the Saco landfill. Reuse Profile. Saco Municipal Landfill Superfund Site Saco Maine. Literature Cited Gobeil, R. E. & R. M. F. Gobeil. 2014a. Low numbers of Monarchs (Danaus City of Albany Rapp Road Landfill plexippus) recorded in the U.S. and Restoration Planning and Permitting Canada during the 2013 fall migration. 2009. Applied Ecological Services, Inc. The Maine Entomologist 18 (1):2-3. (Online) Gobeil, R. E. & R. M. F. Gobeil. 2014b. The http://www.appliedeco.com/Projects/Al Importance of Power Transmission Line bany%20Pine%20Bush%20Landfill.pdf Right-of-Ways as Habitat for Butterflies [Accessed 17 January 2014]. in Maine. News of the Lepid. Soc. 56 Cross, J. 2012. BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION (1):24-27, 12. AT CARYMOOR. Wiltshire Branch Holl, K. D. 1995. Nectar resources and their Butterfly Bulletin No 33:24-27. (Online) influence on butterfly communities on reclaimed coal surface mines. Tarrant, S, J. Ollerton, M. L. Rahman, J. Restoration Ecology 3 (2):76-85. Tarrant, & D. McCollin 2013. Grassland Hongoltz-Hetling, M. 2013. Butterflies miss Restoration on Landfill Sites in the East Maine landfill garden party. Portland Midlands, United Kingdom: An Press Herald. (Online) Evaluation of Floral Resources and http://www.pressherald.com/news/Butt Pollinating Insects. Restoration Ecology erflies-miss-Maine-transfer-station- 21:560-568. doi: 10.1111/j.1526- garden-party.html?pagenum=full 100X.2012.00942.x [Accessed 4 February 2014]. Valtonen, A., K. Saarinen & J. Jantunen. NSWMA 2011. National Solid Wastes 2006. Effect of different mowing regimes Management Association Municipal Solid on butterflies and diurnal moths on road Waste Landfill Facts. (Online) verges. Animal Biodiversity and http://www.environmentalistseveryday.org/ Conservation 29.2:133–148. teyuhata/docs/research-bulletin/municipal- Wagner, D. L. & K. Metzler. 2011. Final solid-waste.pdf [Accessed 26 March report: Insect survey for the interstate 2014]. reliability project. (Online) Owens III, J. T. 2010. Second Five Year http://www.transmission- Review Report for Saco Municipal nu.com/residential/projects/IRP/Supplemen Landfill Superfund Site Saco, Maine. EPA tal%20MCF/Volume%204%20- New England, Boston, Mass. %20Environmental%20EX%202.PDF Recreation and Reuse Plan 1998. Saco [Accessed 28 January 2014]. Municipal Landfill, Saco, Maine. Watson, D., & V. Hack 2000. Wildlife Richardson & Associates and Squaw Bay management and habitat creation on Corp. (Online) landfill sites: a manual of best practice. http://www.sacomaine.org/archives/reusepl Ecoscope Applied Ecologists. London, UK. an.pdf [Accessed 23 January 2014]. Westover, P. 1994. Managing Conservation Royer, R. A., J. E. Austin & W. E. Newton. Land: The Stewardship of Conservation 1998. Checklist and "Pollard Walk" Areas, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Open butterfly survey methods on public Space in Massachusetts. Mass. Soc. of lands. Am. Midl. Nat. 140:358-371. Municipal Conservation Professionals. Wilson, H. 2013. Where are the Monarchs? The Maine Entomologist 17 (4):2.

Table 1. Species and number of individuals recorded at the Saco Municipal Landfill Superfund Site in Saco, ME, in 2013. The nomenclature sequence follows deMaynadier et al. (2014).

No. Subfamily Lycaeninae

Common Name Scientific Name Individuals American Copper Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus) 38 Seen 2013 Bronze Copper Lycaena hyllus (Cramer) 2 Family Hesperiidae Eastern Pine Elfin Callophrys niphon (Hübner) 6 Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus (Cramer) 2 Banded Hairstreak Satyrium calanus (Hübner) 1 Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades (Scudder) 1 Eastern Tailed Blue Cupido comyntas (Godart) 85 Juvenal’s Duskywing Erynnis juvenalis (Fabricius) 20 Celastrina serotina (Pavulaan Cherry Gall Azure 12 Wild Indigo Duskywing Erynnis baptisiae (Forbes) 78 & Wright) Ancyloxypha numitor Least Skipper 7 Celastrina neglecta (W. H. (Fabricius) Summer Azure 1 Edwards) Thymelicus lineola European Skipper 174 Glaucopsyche lygdamus (Ochsenheimer) Silvery Blue 3 (Doubleday) Peck’s Skipper Polites peckius (W. Kirby) 24 Subfamily Danainae Tawny-edged Skipper Polites themistocles (Latreille) 2 Monarch Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus) 3 Long Dash Skipper Polites mystic (W. H. Edwards) 20 Subfamily Heliconiinae Wallengrenia egeremet Northern Broken Dash 15 Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia (Cramer) 1 (Scudder) Great Spangled Fritillary Speyeria cybele (Fabricius) 4 Little Glassywing Pompeius verna (W. H. 6 Aphrodite Fritillary Speyeria aphrodite (Fabricius) 2 Skipper Edwards) Subfamily Nymphalinae Hobomok Skipper Poanes hobomok (Harris) 14 Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos (Drury) 109 Mulberry Wing Skipper Poanes massasoit (Scudder) 1 Northern Pearl Crescent Phyciodes cocyta (Cramer) 54 Euphyes conspicua (W. H. Black Dash Skipper 1 Edwards) Common Buckeye Junonia coenia (Hübner) 1 Dun Skipper Euphyes vestris (Boisduval) 34 Eastern Comma Polygonia comma (Harris) 1 Pepper & Salt Skipper Amblyscirtes hegon 2 Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus) 8 Family Papilionidae American Lady Vanessa virginiensis (Drury) 9

Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes (Fabricius) 21 White Admiral Limenitis arthemis (Drury) 6 Eastern Tiger Viceroy Limenitis archippus (Cramer) 40 Papilio glaucus (Linnaeus) 1 Subfamily Satyrinae Swallowtail Canadian Tiger Papilio canadensis (Rothschild Eyed Brown Satyrodes eurydice (Linnaeus) 1 13 Swallowtail & Jordan) Satyrodes appalachia (R. L. Appalachian Brown 1 Family Pieridae Chermock)

Cabbage White Pieris rapae (Linnaeus) 40 Little Wood Satyr Megisto cymela (Cramer) 6 Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice (Godart) 124 Inornate Ringlet Coenonympha tullia (Hübner) 725 Alfalfa Butterfly Colias eurytheme (Boisduval) 69 Common Wood Nymph Cercyonis pegala (Fabricius) 92 TOTALS 47 Species 1880

Appendix A (Figure 1) Sketch showing the four landfill areas at the Saco Municipal Landfill Superfund Site in Saco, ME, prior to restoration including the proposed area of wetland enhancement. Sketch supplied by Woodard & Curran and used with their permission.

Appendix A (Figure 2) Sketch of the Conceptual Reuse Plan for the Saco Municipal Landfill Superfund Site in Saco, ME (EPA 2006). Sketch used with permission from Woodard & Curran.

Appendix B. Photos of various habitats at the Saco Municipal Landfill Superfund Site in Saco, ME.

Landfill Area 1 (Recreational Field) Landfill Area 2 Landfill Area 4

Pond (Picnic Area) Pond (Picnic Area) Pond (Dock View)

Sandy Brook Trail Basin Basin (Power Lines)

Wetlands Access Road Wetlands Wetlands

Appendix C. Photos of some butterflies found at the Saco Municipal Landfill Superfund Site in Saco, ME.

Juvenal’s Duskywing Wild Indigo Duskywing Hobomok Skipper

Dun Skipper Black Swallowtail Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

American Copper Bronze Copper Eastern-Tailed Blue

Monarch Mourning Cloak White Admiral

Viceroy Little Wood Satyr Inornate Ringlet Appendix D. Photos of some common butterfly nectaring sources at the Saco Municipal Landfill Superfund Site in Saco, ME.

Clover (Wetlands) Crown Vetch (Wetlands) Daisy Fleabane (Edge of Basin)

Bull Thistle (Landfill Areas 2 & 4) Goldenrod (Wetlands & Pond) Black Eyed Susan (Edge of Basin)

Oxeye Daisy (Wetlands & Pond) Self-Heal (Wetlands & Pond) Queen Anne’s Lace (Wetlands)