The Maine Rivers Fish Assemblage Assessment: Application to the Presumpscot River in 2006 (2010 State of the Bay Presentation)

University of Southern Maine USM Digital Commons

Presentations Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP)

2010

The Maine Rivers Fish Assemblage Assessment: Application to the Presumpscot River in 2006 (2010 State of the Bay Presentation)

Chris O. Yoder

Lon E. Hersha Midwest Biodiversity Institute

Edward T. Rankin Ohio University

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Recommended Citation Yoder, C. O., Hersha, L.E., & Rankin, E.T. (2010). The Maine Rivers Fish Assemblage Assessment: Application to the Presumpscot River in 2006 (2010 State of the Bay Presentation). [Presentation slides]. Portland, ME: University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Casco Bay Estuary Partnership.

This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (CBEP) at USM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Presentations by an authorized administrator of USM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE MAINE RIVERS FISH ASSEMBLAGE ASSESSMENT: APPLICATION TO THE PRESUMPSCOT RIVER IN 2006

Chris O. Yoder, Research Director Lon E. Hersha, Research Associate Center for Applied Bioassessment and Biocriteria Midwest Biodiversity Institute Columbus, OH

Edward T. Rankin, Senior Research Associate Voinovich School for Leadership & Public Affairs Ohio University The Ridges Athens, OH 45701 St. John/ Allagash Aroostook Successful IBI DevelopmentThree Requires Linked Projects:2005/6 a Sufficient Regional Database1.Maine rivers fish assemblage assessment (2001-2007) 2.Connecticut R. fish assemblage2004/5 assessment (2008Presumpscot-9).2002 2003 3.Regional EMAP – 2006New England rivers2008/9 assessment 2008/9(2008-9); part based on NRSA probabilistic sites draw.

Why Knowledge of the Fish Assemblage is Important Current Issues: • LimitedWe usedKnowledge to sayof Extant this Faunajust about– limited mostlyMaine, to managed but it species applies (especially to the trout rest and salmon); need to document relative abundance ofof co -Newoccurring England. native and alien species and their respective influence. • Naturally Depauperate Fauna – cold water, coastal drainages – “how will these respond?” • Assess Potential Conflicts with High Profile Restoration Goals – do non-native species pose an unintentional deterrent? Kennebec River (2002-6) . Wyman Dam to Merrymeeting Bay (30 sites, 2 test areas) . Follow-up Waterville to Augusta (2002-6) Androscoggin River (2003) . Errol, NH to Merrymeeting Bay (51 sites)

46.00 Sebasticook River (2003) . Douglas Pond to Winslow (9 sites)

Penobscot River (2004) . N. Br. To Hamden (40 sites); included W. Br., E. Br., 5 additional 350+ Samples tributaries Northern Maine Rivers (2005-6) . St. John (14 sites), Allagash (8 sites), Aroostook (10 sites), St. Croix (12 sites) Southern Maine Rivers (2006) . Presumpscot R. (22 sites) . Saco R. (32 sites) Miscellaneous Maine Rivers (2007) . Mattawamkeag R., Rapid R., Moose R., Moosehead Outlets, Dead R., E. Br. Penobscot (22 sites) Sampling Methods

Standardized Approach: • Pulsed D.C. boat electrofishing – effort indexed to distance • Electrode array customized for Maine river conditions • Intensive survey design – mainstem & non-wadeable tribs. • Field water quality and habitat data • July – September index period • Sampling guided by a QAPP

• Standardized sampling to yield comparable data

• All representative habitat types within each site

• Geo-referenced sample site location and sample track

• Fish are identified to species, enumerated, and weighed

• DELT anomalies recorded Logistics: Getting the Right Equipment to a Site

Maine Rivers Fish Assemblage Assessment: 2002-7

Key First Task – Understand Current Distribution of Riverine Fish Species: Maine Rivers Fish Distribution Atlas Cold Water Species: Non-Salmonids (Indigenous Natives)

Common white sucker (adult life stage) Slimy sculpin

Lake chub Burbot Maine Rivers Fish Assemblage Assessment: 2002-7 Introduced Species

Smallmouth bass (adult life stage) (Introduced Naturalized c. 1870) Maine Rivers Fish Assemblage Assessment: 2002-7

Thermal?

Physical barriers Maine Fish Data: No Smallmouth Bass 350

300

250 This parallels similar observations in 200 Maine lakes

150 Number/Km 100

50 SMSM Bass Bass >10 >0--999 0 SM Bass >100

Minnows-Stickleback All Dace

Detailed autecology of known and potential species – 60 species recorded thus far in Maine’s rivers Tiered Aquatic Life Use Conceptual Model: Draft Biological Tiers Condition of the Biotic Community

[Specific to Ecotype]A modelinterpreting conceptual for detrimental change 1 LOW major major groups from that expected; organism conspicuously unbalanced distribution of Sensitive taxa markedly diminished; normal densities; organism condition is often poor; taxonomic composition; extreme alterations from Extreme changes in structure; wholesale changes in Natural structural, functional, and taxonomic integrity is preserved. 2 Susan P. Davies Susan and K. Jackson (Ecological16:4, Applications 2006) The Gradient: The Condition Biological be present; ecosystem level functions are fully maintained taxa & biomass; no or incidental anomalies; sensitive non Structure and function similar to natural community with some additional Human Disturbance Gradient Human Disturbance 3 in aquatic ecosystems maintained through redundant attributes of the system. taxa; shifts in relative abundance; ecosystem level functions fully Evident changes in structure due to loss of some rare native 4 ecosystem functions largely maintained. overall balanced distribution of all expected taxa; of sensitive ubiquitous taxa by more tolerant taxa; Moderate changes in structure due to replacement 5 build up or export of unused materials. complexity and redundancy; increased stress; ecosystem function shows reduced condition shows signs of physiological 6 extremely extremely altered. ecosystem functions are anomalies may be frequent; (10/22 (10/22 draft) - native taxa may HIGH Development of tools & methods to ascertain the status of native riverine fish assemblages is a major goal of this project Cold Water Assemblages The “assumed baseline” for the Biological Condition Gradient applicable to Maine’s large rivers Condition of the Biotic Community Conceptual BCG Based [Moderate-High Gradient Riverine Ecotype] 1 LOW tolerant and moderately tolerant species; cyprinids are absent, replaced by if present by interventions; some native Native diadromous species are absent or (enrichment); species richness reduced in some cases species predominate and may become numerous Native diadromous species rare or absent; tolerant shad, American eel, brook trout, native cyprinids, white &longnose sucker) Native inland freshwater &diadromous species (Atlantic salmon, alewife, American 2 populations may co Same as tier 1 except: non Human Gradient Disturbance 3 reduced or replaced by non towards intermediate tolerances and mesotherms; brook trout are Some native diadromous species are reduced in abundance; shifts Model: Maine Model: 4 - occur with brook trout. eurytherms present; anomalies present. brook trout are absent; non absent; moderately tolerant species predominate; Some native diadromous species are rare or - native salmonid species with naturalized 5 Riverine Fish Fish Riverine Assemblage - native naturalized salmonid species. predominate; anomalies present. non salmonids are non brook 6 - native eurytherms usually trout are absent; non anomalies frequent. eurytherms predominate; (toxic impacts); non - native mesotherms & - reproducing; HIGH - - native native Guidelines for Deriving Regionally Relevant “IBI The primary projectType” goal Assessment is the Tools development of a fish IBI tailored to the

Maine fish assemblage• Karr et al. (1986) provides guidance for metric development, substitution, Process has been refinedand modification. and “better • Requires detailed knowledge of the quantified” by Hughesregional et faunaal. (1998) including lifeand history, most recently by Whittiertaxonomy, etzoogeography, al. (2007) and natural history. • Requires an extensive database from We retained the conceptualconsistent sampling approach of both of Karr – making this “tooreference mechanical” condition and amay gradient of human disturbance. have unintended• Requires consequences extensive testing of candidate metrics and aggregate indices. “Unique” Character of the Riverine Fish Fauna of Maine

. Post-glacial ingress defined “baseline” fauna . Maine Rivers “constrained” to Gulf of Maine. . One brief connection to St. Lawrence & none to Connecticut & western river basins. . Curry (2007): Late glacial impacts on dispersal and colonization of Atlantic Canada and Maine by freshwater fishes. Quaternary Research 67(2): 225-233. . Several “warmwater” species common to this latitude in other regions are not indigenous (blackbass, pike, muskellunge, crappie). “Traditional” IBI vs. Interim Maine IBI

“Traditional IBI Metrics: Interim Maine IBI Metrics: 1. Native species richness* 1. Indigenous species richness 2. Darter Species 2. Native cyprinids (less fallfish) 3. Sucker Species 3. %Adult white/longnose biomass 4. Sunfish Species 4. %Blackbass 5. %Intolerant species 5. %Fluvial specialist/dependent 6. %Tolerant species* 6. %Macrohabitat generalists 7. %Omnivores 7. %Benthic insectivores 8. %Insectivores 8. Temperature stenotherms 9. %Top carnivores 9. %Native salmonids 10. %Hybrids 10.Non-guarding lithophils 11. %Diseased individuals 11.%DELT anomalies 12. Number of individuals 12.Non-indigenous species

* Metrics in white are “positive” * metrics in red are “negative” Interim Maine Rivers IBI Metrics & Scoring

Scoring Adjustments Metric Scoring Equation Score = 0 Score = 10 Native Species Richness 10 * (-0.2462 + (0.0828*numspec2))) <3 sp. >15 sp.

Native Cyprinid Species (excluding (10 * (0.4457 + (0.0109*allcyp_ff) - (0.00005629 * 1 2 Eq Eq fallfish) (allcyp_ff )))) Adult white & longnose sucker (10 * (0.3667 + (0.008*ws_lns_pb) - (0.000023592 * >128 2 0 biomass (ws_lns_pb )))) kg/km (10 * (0.9537 + (0.00000000039*nat_salm) - %Native Salmonids 2 0 >20% (0.000078892 * (nat_salm )))) %Benthic Insectivores 10 * (0.010966*benth_pc_n) 0 >91.2%

%Blackbass 10 - (10 * (-0.09684 + (0.5638*log10(blackbass)))) Eq 0

%Fluvial Specialist/Dependent (10 * (0.2775 + (0.0073*fluv_pc_n))) 0% Eq

%Macrohabitat Generalists 10 - (10 * (0.1017 + (0.0096*macro_gen))) >90% Eq

Temperate Stenothermic Species (10 * (0.7154 + (0.4047*(log10(steno))))) 0 sp. >5 sp.

Non-guarding Lithophilic Species (10 * (0.2979 + (0.8975*log10(lith_ng)))) <1 >10 10 - (10 * (0.1063 + (0.3271*Non-indigenous_sp) - Non-indigenous Species 2 >5 0 (0.029*(Non-indigenous_sp )))) %DELT Anomalies 10 - (10 * (0.8965 + (0.1074*log10(delta)))) Eq 0

1 No scoring adjustments are necessary; scoring determined by equation (Eq) across entire metric scoring range of 0-10. Presumpscot River Study Area: Aug.– Sept. 2006 May 2007 19 mainstem sites 3 tributary sites

.28 fish species; 23 indigenous, 5 non- indigenous .American eel most numerous (numbers & biomass) .Median 7 species/site (4-15) .Average 199 fish/km; 18.9 kg/km .Tribs. produced more fish (523/km) .Macrohabitat generalists > fluvial dependent/specialist species

6 5 4 3 2 A 1 100

C B 80

QHEI - 2006 40

QUALITATIVE HABITAT QUALITATIVE Pleasant R. Little R. Mill Brook Piscataqua R. EVALUATION INDEX (QHEI) INDEX EVALUATION 0 25 20 15 10 5 0 -5 RIVER MILE 120

100

0 QUALITATIVE HABITAT EVALUATION INDEX (QHEI) INDEX EVALUATION HABITAT QUALITATIVE Riverine - QHEI Impoundment - QHEI

QHEI: Number of Good Attributes Good of Number QHEI: 2

0 Riverine Impounded

5 Total Number Species of Number Total

0 Riverine - Impounded - Species Richness Species Richness

INDEX OF BIOTIC INTEGRITY (IBI) INTEGRITY BIOTIC OF INDEX 10

0 Riverine - IBI Impounded - IBI

100

20 Expectation for riverine

%Fluvial Specialist/Dependent Species Specialist/Dependent %Fluvial fish assemblage

0 Riverine - %Macro- Impounded - %Macro- habitat Generalists habitat Generalists

Total Species - Aug. 2006 Total Species - Sept. 2006 Piscataqua R. - Total Species Pleasant R. - Total Species 15 Little R. - Total Species

6 5 4 3 2 A 1 10 CB

5 Total Species Richness Species Total Pleasant R. Little R. Mill Brook Piscataqua R. 0 25 20 15 10 5 0 -5 RIVER MILE BCG Tier

IBI - Aug. 2006 II 80 IBI - Sept. 2006 Piscataqua R. IBI - Aug. 2006 Pleasant R. IBI - Aug. 2006 III Little R. IBI - Aug. 2006 60

6 5 4 3 2 A 1 IV

40 CB V

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Integrity Biotic of Index VI Pleasant R. Little R. Mill Brook Piscataqua R. 0 25 20 15 10 5 0 -5 RIVER MILE .Major wastewater discharges: Westbrook WWTP – 4.5 MGD; SAPPI – 12.5 MGD process, 12 MGD cooling. .Visual evidence of impacts beyond permit terms & conditions .Suspected organic enrichment & possibly thermal impacts in lower mainstem .Maine DEP cumulative effects assessment targeted in part to this finding Maine Rivers Interim IBI Scores 2002-7 N = Allagash 9 Aroostook 9 Reference Sites IV 23 St John 15 W Br Penobscot 9 E & N Br Penobscot 5 Upper Androscoggin Diadromous 23 Upper Saco 10 Lower Saco I II IIIrestoration V VI 12 Penobscot Tribs rivers – are key 10 Upper Kennebec 11 Moose R/E-W Outlets BCG attributes 6 Penobscot missing? 19 St Croix 12 Sandy 6 Lower Androscoggin 28 Presumpscot 36 Sebasticook 8 Lower Kennebec 20

100 80 60 40 20 0 Maine Rivers Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Current Improvements to the Interim Maine Rivers IBI

. Diadromous species are not included except indirectly via other metrics . Developed a set of diadromous metrics that include: #diadromous species; log rel. no. American eel; log rel. no. Clupeidae; log rel. no. Diadromous fish. . Additive to “core” IBI – does not “penalize” rivers that do not have diadromous fish. . Continuing data collection in lower Kennebec & Sebasticook R. 140

120 6 5 4 3 2 A 1

100 C B

80 Alewife (May 2007) 60 Alewife (Sept. 2006) Alewife (Aug. 2006)

40 NUMBERS/KM

20 Pleasant R. Little R. Mill Brook Piscataqua R.

0 25 20 15 10 5 0 -5 RIVER MILE BCG Tier II 80 IBI - Aug. 2006 DIBI - Aug. 2006 III

6 5 4 3 2 A 1 IV

40 CB V

Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Integrity Biotic of Index VI Pleasant R. Little R. Mill Brook Piscataqua R. 0 25 20 15 10 5 0 -5 RIVER MILE Presumpscot River Fish Assemblage Conclusions . Fish assemblage reflects hydromodifications (impoundment & flow). . Few sites attain BCG tier IV (minimum CWA goal). . Anadromous species restricted to lower 7-8 miles of mainstem. . Localized areas of “pollution” impacts – need to perform stressor diagnosis. . Intensity of hydromodification “overwhelms” riverine characteristics – will not be resolved by fish passage alone.