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Review of Special Provisions and Other Conditions Placed on Gdot Projects for Imperiled Species Protection

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Review of Special Provisions and Other Conditions Placed on Gdot Projects for Imperiled Species Protection GEORGIA DOT RESEARCH PROJECT 18-06 FINAL REPORT REVIEW OF SPECIAL PROVISIONS AND OTHER CONDITIONS PLACED ON GDOT PROJECTS FOR IMPERILED SPECIES PROTECTION VOLUME III OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE-BASED MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH 600 WEST PEACHTREE STREET NW ATLANTA, GA 30308 TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE 1. Report No.: 2. Government Accession No.: 3. Recipient's Catalog No.: FHWA-GA-20-1806 Volume III N/A N/A 4. Title and Subtitle: 5. Report Date: Review of Special Provisions and Other Conditions Placed on January 2021 GDOT Projects For Imperiled Aquatic Species Protection, 6. Performing Organization Code: Volume III N/A 7. Author(s): 8. Performing Organization Report No.: Jace M. Nelson, Timothy A. Stephens, Robert B. Bringolf, Jon 18-06 Calabria, Byron J. Freeman, Katie S. Hill, William H. Mattison, Brian P. Melchionni, Jon W. Skaggs, R. Alfie Vick, Brian P. Bledsoe, (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0779-0127), Seth J. Wenger (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7858-960X) 9. Performing Organization Name and Address: 10. Work Unit No.: Odum School of Ecology N/A University of Georgia 11. Contract or Grant No.: 140 E. Green Str. PI#0016335 Athens, GA 30602 208-340-7046 or 706-542-2968 [email protected] 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address: 13. Type of Report and Period Covered: Georgia Department of Transportation Final; September 2018–January 2021 Office of Performance-based 14. Sponsoring Agency Code: Management and Research N/A 600 West Peachtree St. NW Atlanta, GA 30308 15. Supplementary Notes: Conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. 16. Abstract: This volume is the third in a series. The other volumes in the series are FHWA-GA-20-1806 Volumes I through IV. Georgia has numerous protected freshwater species, which means that the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) must frequently consult with federal and state agencies to identify measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts to imperiled aquatic organisms. Some of these measures, such as restrictions on in-water work during the reproductive season, impose substantial costs on GDOT projects, but their efficacy has not been thoroughly evaluated. The current system also provides limited flexibility. The research team has developed a system for assessing the impact of road construction projects on imperiled freshwater species that accounts for project characteristics, site characteristics, and species sensitivity. Called the “Total Effect Score” (TES), it is based on a comprehensive assessment of the tolerances and traits of 111 freshwater species and a thorough review of the literature on the efficacy of construction and post-construction BMPs. It employs a risk-based system to assess construction-phase effects and post-construction effects over a 50-year time horizon, making it possible to identify tradeoffs among alternative management practices. Additionally, the research team developed a template for a programmatic agreement (PA) that uses the TES as the basis for a streamlined system for evaluating projects. The PA is intended to cover both informal and formal consultation under a single system, which should reduce consultation time and increase predictability. To support the adoption of the PA, the research team conducted a biological assessment of all species. Adoption of the PA and the TES system should provide substantial cost savings for GDOT while improving outcomes for federally and state protected freshwater species. 17. Keywords: 18. Distribution Statement: Environment; Policy, Legislation and No Restriction Regulation; Construction; Erosion and Sedimentation; Storm Water; Endangered Species 19. Security Classification 20. Security Classification (of this 21. No. of Pages: 22. Price: (of this report): page): 389 Unclassified Unclassified Free Form DOT 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized. GDOT Research Project 18-06 Final Report REVIEW OF SPECIAL PROVISIONS AND OTHER CONDITIONS PLACED ON GDOT PROJECTS FOR IMPERILED AQUATIC SPECIES PROTECTION VOLUME III By Seth J. Wenger, Associate Professor Brian P. Bledsoe, Professor Jace M. Nelson, Research Professional Timothy A. Stephens, Graduate Student Robert B. Bringolf, Associate Dean Jon Calabria, Associate Professor Byron J. Freeman, Senior Public Service Associate Katie S. Hill, Research Professional William H. Mattison, Graduate Student Brian P. Melchionni, Graduate Student Jon W. Skaggs, Graduate Student R. Alfie Vick, Professor University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. Contract with Georgia Department of Transportation In cooperation with U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration January 2021 The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Georgia Department of Transportation or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. ii SI* (MODERN METRIC) CONVERSION FACTORS APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS TO SI UNITS Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol LENGTH in inches 25.4 millimeters mm ft feet 0.305 meters m yd yards 0.914 meters m mi miles 1.61 kilometers km AREA in2 square inches 645.2 square millimeters mm2 ft2 square feet 0.093 square meters m2 yd2 square yard 0.836 square meters m2 ac acres 0.405 hectares ha mi2 square miles 2.59 square kilometers km2 VOLUME fl oz fluid ounces 29.57 milliliters mL gal gallons 3.785 liters L ft3 cubic feet 0.028 cubic meters m3 yd3 cubic yards 0.765 cubic meters m3 NOTE: volumes greater than 1000 L shall be shown in m3 MASS oz ounces 28.35 grams g lB pounds 0.454 kilograms kg T short tons (2000 lb) 0.907 megagrams (or "metric ton") Mg (or "t") TEMPERATURE (exact degrees) oF Fahrenheit 5 (F-32)/9 Celsius oC or (F-32)/1.8 ILLUMINATION fc foot-candles 10.76 lux lx fl foot-LamBerts 3.426 candela/m2 cd/m2 FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS lbf poundforce 4.45 newtons N lbf/in2 poundforce per square inch 6.89 kilopascals kPa APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS FROM SI UNITS Symbol When You Know Multiply By To Find Symbol LENGTH mm millimeters 0.039 inches in m meters 3.28 feet ft m meters 1.09 yards yd km kilometers 0.621 miles mi AREA mm2 square millimeters 0.0016 square inches in2 m2 square meters 10.764 square feet ft2 m2 square meters 1.195 square yards yd2 ha hectares 2.47 acres ac km2 square kilometers 0.386 square miles mi2 VOLUME mL milliliters 0.034 fluid ounces fl oz L liters 0.264 gallons gal m3 cubic meters 35.314 cubic feet ft3 m3 cubic meters 1.307 cubic yards yd3 MASS g grams 0.035 ounces oz kg kilograms 2.202 pounds lB Mg (or "t") megagrams (or "metric ton") 1.103 short tons (2000 lb) T TEMPERATURE (exact degrees) oC Celsius 1.8C+32 Fahrenheit oF ILLUMINATION lx lux 0.0929 foot-candles fc cd/m2 candela/m2 0.2919 foot-Lamberts fl FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS N newtons 0.225 poundforce lbf kPa kilopascals 0.145 poundforce per square inch lbf/in2 *SI is the symbol for the International System of Units. Appropriate rounding should be made to comply with Section 4 of ASTM E380. (Revised March 2003) * SI is the symbol for the International System of Units. Appropriate rounding should be made to comply with Section 4 of ASTM E380. (Revised March 2003) iii TABLE OF CONTENTS APPENDIX D. BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS .................................................................. 470 AMPHIBIANS .......................................................................................................................... 470 EASTERN HELLBENDER ............................................................................................................... 470 GOPHER FROG ................................................................................................................................ 476 ONE-TOED AMPHIUMA ................................................................................................................. 482 STRIPED NEWT ................................................................................................................................ 487 CRAYFISHES ........................................................................................................................... 493 BEAUTIFUL CRAYFISH ................................................................................................................. 493 BLACKBARRED CRAYFISH ......................................................................................................... 498 BROAD RIVER BURROWING CRAYFISH ................................................................................. 503 CHATTAHOOCHEE CRAYFISH ................................................................................................... 508 CHATTOOGA RIVER CRAYFISH ................................................................................................ 513 CHICKAMAUGA CRAYFISH ........................................................................................................ 518 CONASAUGA BLUE BURROWER ................................................................................................ 523 COOSAWATTEE CRAYFISH ......................................................................................................... 528 DOUGHERTY BURROWING CRAYFISH ................................................................................... 533 ETOWAH CRAYFISH .....................................................................................................................
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