Cherokee Darter Survey Darter Cherokee the Surveyed at and Down Slope Down at and Surveyed of the Proposed Airport Site

THE CHEROKEE DARTER ( Etheostoma scotti ) IN BLUFFY CREEK AND HULSEYTOWN CREEK, UPPER PUMPKINVINE CREEK WATERSHED, PAULDING COUNTY, GEORGIA (ETOWAH RIVER SYSTEM), RESULTS OF A SURVEY, AUGUST 16-20, 2004

Report to: LPA Group, Inc. 3595 Engineering Drive Norcross, Georgia 30092

Dr. William O. McLarney

Dr. William O. McLarney Consulting Biologist 1120 Meadows Rd. Franklin, NC 28734 (828) 524-8369 [email protected]

DATE: 13 October, 2004

INTRODUCTION

The Cherokee darter ( Etheostoma scotti ) is endemic to the Etowah River system of Georgia. It was officially recognized as a distinct species in 1995 (Bauer, Etnier and Burkhead, 1995), and together with another newly designated species (Etowah darter, Etheostoma etowahae , Wood and Mayden, 1993) listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as Threatened in the same year, on the basis of limited distribution and because of threats including “impoundments and deteriorating water and benthic habitat quality resulting from siltation, agricultural runoff, other pollutants, poor land use practices, increased urbanization and waste discharges (which) have resulted in the restriction and fragmentation of these species’ ranges.” (Butler, 1994).

At the time, Butler noted that, with respect to the Cherokee darter “The placement of Allatoona Reservoir in the middle Etowah River system has caused much of the fragmentation of this species’ populations.” It was also observed that “The largest populations occur in northern tributaries upstream of Allatoona Reservoir. Populations are smaller in tributaries draining the southern portion of the system. The southern tributary systems tend to drain areas exhibiting less relief and are on the average much more degraded . . . Downstream of Allatoona Dam, populations are restricted to two tributary systems.”

Further investigations have disclosed readily visible morphological differences between the two isolated populations of E. scotti . In particular, populations in the southern tributary systems are said to exhibit red coloration in the membranes along the entire length of the spiny dorsal fin, something which is lacking in “typical” E. scotti from streams draining into Allatoona Reservoir. (Personal communication, Bud Freeman). The individuals we observed in this study conformed to this description. It is possible that intergrades between these two forms may have been lost with the impoundment of Allatoona Reservoir. The two “southern” tributary systems referred to in the Federal Register are Raccoon Creek and Pumpkinvine Creek, both of which arise in Paulding County, Georgia and flow into the Etowah River in Bartow County. Both of the small watersheds discussed in this report form part of the Pumpkvine Creek watershed.

Both the Raccoon and Pumpkinvine Creek watersheds are currently subject to multiple stresses and threats, some from traditional activities, notably agriculture, but more significantly related to urbanization – the ongoing “sprawl” of the Atlanta megalopolis. This expansion has perhaps been least rapid on the west side of Atlanta proper, but Paulding County lies clearly in the path, and early symptoms (e.g. high density housing developments) are apparent.

The Cherokee darter’s range includes Raccoon and Pumpkinvine/Bluffy Creek south of Lake Allatoona. Areas of these watersheds cover much of Paulding County. Site selection for the 3 county airport was based in part on the attempt to minimize impacts to the stream systems in these watersheds. The presently preferred site and airport layout, “Site No. 3” (Map, Figure 1) was selected, due, in part, to having the least direct impacts to Waters of the United States of the alternatives. Site 3 is located within the watershed of Bluffy Creek. The Cherokee darter has been recorded from the mainstem of Bluffy Creek near the lower end of the proposed airport area, and may be presumed to inhabit major portions of the watershed upstream of that point. However, its precise distribution relative to the airport property had not been determined as of August, 2004.

The purpose of the present report is to contribute to our knowledge of the distribution and abundance of E. scotti in that portion of the upper Pumpkinvine Creek watershed located upstream of Hulseytown Rd. (SR 468) and within the potential area of influence of the proposed airport. Three tributary systems on the right bank of Bluffy Creek (Figure 1), located at least 0.75 miles from and upstream of the airport property were not surveyed. It should be understood, however, that loss of or damage to populations in the Bluffy Creek mainstem could result in eventual loss of any populations occurring in these streams through isolation and fragmentation.) This information will then be used during the permitting process and, in the event the site is chosen and the permit approved, in mitigating possible impacts to the Cherokee darter and its habitat.

We were also asked to include in the project a search for the Etowah darter and a cursory inspection for mussels. The theoretical range of the Etowah darter includes Pumpkinvine Creek and the Etowah watershed is home to a number of Threatened and Endangered mussel species – with some species presumed to have been extirpated. We turned up no Etowah darters and (apart from the invasive exotic Corbicula in the mainstem of Bluffy Creek) no live mussels or relict shells were seen. Therefore, the remainder of this report will be focused on the Cherokee darter.

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Since it was not possible, in the time available, to carry out anything approaching a thorough search of the target watershed area, we were guided in our work by 1) the probability of finding Cherokee darters and 2) the proximity (or downstream location) of a site relative to the airport site. We were facilitated in this effort by two maps:

• Paulding County Environmental Assessment

This map covers the area within and immediately downstream of what was originally considered to be the potential airport property for this site. However, the proposed airport property boundary for Site 3 has been changed several times; we were provided with approximate verbal information on this change, but not with an actual map at the time of the survey. (Figure 1 shows the current location of the proposed airport site.) Bowers (2004) carried out an outstandingly thorough search of streams on this site, including numerous streams too small to be “bluelined” on the USGS Yorkville, GA topo quad. Streams on the site were divided into 15 reaches, each characterized as “suitable”, “marginal” or “not suitable” for the Cherokee darter. “Not suitable” streams had one or more of the following characteristics: “numerous sections of subsurface flow, narrow width (< 1 foot), an abundance of organic debris and silt within the stream channel, a high gradient (30-40 degrees), and/or shallow water depths (< 3 inches)”. “Marginal” streams had “appropriate water depths, appropriate stream widths, good flow, good sinuosity, and some clean gravel/cobble areas that would allow for Cherokee darter survival and reproduction”. However, they also had one or more of the following characteristics: “highly disturbed riparian zone, low water clarity, substrates with an abundance of silt/organic debris and/or a small number of clean gravel/cobble areas.” “Suitable” areas surpassed all these limitations.

• Paulding County Airport: Fish Survey.

This map, with detail on suggested sites provided through telephone consultation with Dr. Byron (Bud) Freeman of the University of Georgia, covers a larger area than the Paulding County Environmental Assessment Map and shows a somewhat different set of boundaries for the proposed airport property. It shows all bluelined streams (but not some of the smaller tributaries identified in the other map), wetland areas and private property boundaries. (This latter feature places in bold relief the importance of the 26,200 acre Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area in preserving the Cherokee darter population in Bluffy Creek to date.) Most germane to our work it designates 9 approximate areas considered by Dr. Freeman to be important to our investigation.

A considerable limiting factor in our work was the inability to secure promised keys to three gated roads providing access to major portions of the upper Bluffy Creek watershed. This did not actually prevent us from accessing any particular site, but due to the necessity to hike into remote sites, it did significantly reduce our efficiency in terms of actual time spent in sampling, resulting in sampling of fewer sites than hoped. 6

In all we were able to survey 18 sites, 8 on the Bluffy Creek mainstem, 2 on the mainstem of Hulseytown Creek and 6 and 2 sites, respectively on Bluffy and Hulseytown Creek tributaries. Cherokee darters were found at 11 sites. A number of additional sites were viewed and rejected for sampling, on the basis of habitat criteria mentioned above. In addition, we were able to visually evaluate longer stream reaches in the course of hiking from one survey site to another.

Before going on to discuss specific sites, it may be helpful to break the study watershed down into 3 areas:

1. Bluffy Creek mainstem and tributaries from just below Hulseytown Road to Goldmine Lake Dam. (9 sites)

2. Bluffy Creek mainstem and tributaries above Goldmine Lake dam. (5 sites)

3. Unnamed stream (designated as Hulseytown Creek, tributary to Pumpkinvine Creek with confluence approx. 8750 feet downstream of Hulseytown Road), from just below Hulseytown Road to headwaters. (4 sites)

Within each of these areas, the strategy was first to survey the downstream extreme to determine if E. scotti was present. With presence established in each case, the next step was to roughly determine the upstream limit of E. scotti in the mainstem reach of each area. Finally, and as time permitted, intermediate or tributary stream sites were added.

Survey sites and reaches viewed are indicated in Figure 1. Characteristics and survey methods for each individual site are listed in Table 1 (found on page 12). Following is a discussion of the general characteristics of the stream reaches surveyed and visited.

Area 1:

The mainstem of Bluffy Creek near Hulseytown Road is the only site in the airport study area for which E. scotti had been reported prior to beginning our work. On both sides of Hulseytown Rd. Bluffy Creek here is a somewhat sedimented but attractive stream in a wooded area, with good riffle/pool structure and fairly diverse habitat. The 550 ft. reach sampled on both sides of Hulseytown Road was separated into 2 “sites” not because of the road, nor because of any perceived significant difference in the habitat, but simply because of a change in our sampling methods. (At Site 1A – both above and below the road - we kept counts of all fish species captured. This practice was ultimately abandoned for reasons of efficiency, and the sample reach from that point upstream was designated Site 1B.)

Farther upstream, the mainstem between the two unnamed left bank tributaries included in Area 1 was separated into 2 sites on the basis of observed physical diffrences. Both sites differ from Sites 1A and 1B in being less heavily sedimented. However Site 1C is located in a reach with a fairly wide floodplain and a freestone substrate. Site 1D is located in a narrow gorge, with virtually no floodplain and features a high percentage of bedrock in the substrate; freestone riffle habitat is virtually lacking. 7

The mainstem reach between the upper end of Site 1D and Goldmine Lake Dam (approx. 2.3 mi., which, with its tributaries, constitutes Freeman’s Area 3) was not surveyed for three reasons:

1. Based on the presence of fair numbers of Cherokee darters both near Hulseytown Rd. and in the reach immediately above Goldmine Lake, it is reasonable to assume a healthy population in this reach, located entirely within the Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area and well isolated from most anthropogenic stress sources.

2. This is the reach of Bluffy Creek which would be least affected by airport development. Not only is it remote from the airport site (roughly 0.75 – 1.5 mi. in a straight line), with another small tributary watershed (See Sites 1E and 1F.) in between, it is at least partially buffered from upstream influences by Goldmine Lake.

3. For reasons noted above, there was simply not time to hike into this remote site while still devoting adequate attention to higher priority stream reaches.

It should be noted that a complete survey for Cherokee darters in the portion of the Pumpkinvine Creek watershed above Hulseytown Road would have to include this reach as well as 3 unnamed tributaries on the right bank of Bluffy Creek between Hulseytown Road and Goldmine Lake dam.

Two tributaries to Bluffy Creek in Area 1 were surveyed:

Sites 1 E, 1F and 1G are on an unnamed tributary which reaches Bluffy Creek just a few feet downstream from a semi-abandoned bridge at the end of Clark Road. Sites 1 E and F are grossly sedimented; with a substrate of shifting sand and silt, and no trace of the larger substrate which must once have been present. At site 1 F it appears that the quantity of sediment reaching the stream was so severe that it actually filled the original channel and caused approximately 300 ft. of channel to shift. Most of this damage appears to be due to recent and ongoing road construction and development activity.

Site 1 E (only 185 ft. long) was separated from Site 1F because of a possible barrier to upstream movement by darters in the form of a 30 ft. long, slightly tilted culvert with a 1 ft. vertical drop to creek level at the lower end, located where the stream crosses what appears to be a recent extension of Clark Road.

At site 1 G, located approximately 0.75 mi. upstream of Site 1 F, the stream is in a more nearly “natural” condition, albeit apparently impacted by a clear-cut logging operation. The habitat comprises a series of pools, very slow runs and very shallow riffles, with occasional short reaches of subsurface flow. The habitat does not appear to be suitable for the Cherokee darter, per Bowers’ (1994) criteria.

Between Sites 1 G and 1 F there is a breached dam, with a 4 ft. vertical drop, which may have been a historical barrier to upstream movement by darters. Site 1G was visited because of the possibility of a relict population persisting above the dam. However, subsequently we discovered what appears to be a natural barrier located between the breached dam and site 1F. Presumably, then, the Cherokee darter was historically limited to the lowermost 1500 ft. of this tributary. A 8 complete Cherokee darter survey would include attention to this reach in order to explore the possibility of encountering a remnant population between Site 1 G and the severely degraded habitat at 1 F.

Sites 1 H and 1 I, in contrast, are located on a virtually unimpacted unnamed tributary (not classified by Bowers, 2004), which arises in a horseshoe shaped wetland located along about 0.5 mi. of two tributaries. It was sampled just below the junction of the 2 tributaries and again further downstream in a “canyon” reach. Although the 2 sites present very different habitat conditions (the upper reach with moderate gradient, varied substrate with frequent large pools, infrequent slow runs and shallow riffles with mostly bedrock substrate vs. high gradient over a mostly bedrock substrate, with fish habitat largely in the form of isolated pockets and occasional large pools in the lower reach), neither site appears to have suitable habitat for the Cherokee darter. (This may not be true of the extreme lower reaches of this tributary, which were visited briefly after the sampling period was concluded.)

Area 2:

It was surmised that we might not find Cherokee darters in this area due to the isolating effect of Goldmine Lake, but this was not the case. The Goldmine Lake dam was not visited but, even in the unlikely event that it provides upstream passage for fish, it was assumed that the slack waters of the lake would function as a barrier. (A darter seeking to travel from the dam to the nearest upstream free flowing reach would need to traverse a mimimum of 1,800 ft. of slack water.) However, we did find an apparently isolated Cherokee darter population above Goldmine Lake (“suitable” habitat according to Bowers, 2004).

The mainstem of Bluffy Creek enters the northeast arm of Goldmine Lake, where the impoundment effect is extended by a series of beaver dams. The creek here is reduced to a series of narrow, somewhat unstable channels passing through a classic beaver meadow, with swiftly flowing reaches separated by small old and new beaver dams. Site 2 A is located on one of these reaches, and Site 2 B is located on an unnamed tributary, also within the beaver meadow.

Site 2 C is located on the mainstem about 530 ft. above the area of beaver influence. Sites 2 D and 2 E are located , respectively. 750 ft. and 2450 ft. above Site 2 C. Both of these sites are located above a double barrier which includes a 6 ft. vertical drop. All 3 sites above Goldmine Lake are located in undisturbed forest. Instream habitat consists of frequent pools separated by well-defined gravel riffles and occasional sand/gravel runs.

The mainstem above Goldmine Lake arises on what would be the airport property and adjacent private properties in the corner formed by Rockmart Rd. (SR 101) and “Goldmine” Road (SR 947). The Yorkville topo quad shows 2 small ponds in the extreme upper watershed (not visited). However, the stream itself shows little anthropogenic impact.

Goldmine Branch, tributary to the northwest arm of Goldmine Lake, was not explored, for the same reason that the right bank tributaries to Bluffy Creek in Area 1 were not visited. A complete survey would include this small watershed as well as portions of the tributary on which Site 2 B is located, downstream of Goldmine Road, but upstream of the beaver meadow.

Area 3:

Hulseytown Creek and its watershed lie entirely outside the Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area, and no steams in this watershed were included in Bowers’ (2004) evaluation. Judging from the map, or from what can be seen at the lower end of our study area (Hulseytown Road crossing), this watershed is much more heavily impacted than Bluffy Creek and the majority of its tributaries above Hulseytown Road . Hulseytown Creek arises in the corner formed by Hwy 278 and Wolf Pen Road (a maintained gravel woods road extending southward from Hwy 278 into the study area) and flows for about 0.75 mi. through a moderately developed area before it reaches the Clear Creek subdivision Although it skirts the core of the developed area, it passes through at least 11 lots and is heavily impacted by sedimentation from construction and large areas of impervious surface. It then passes under the highway, which it parallels very closely for about 1,000 ft. before crossing it again. Below that point and until it reaches the lower end of our study area just below Hulseytown Road it passes through a relatively undeveloped wooded area. However for approximately the middle third of its length , Hulseytown Creek is essentially an “urban stream”. There is evidence that its channel was altered during highway and subdivision construction.

Site 3A brackets Hulseytown Road. At this point most of Hulseytown Creek is physically describable as a smaller version of Bluffy Creek at Hulseytown Road. However it is much more heavily sedimented, and much of the surrounding forest is younger than at Bluffy Creek. In the immediate vicinity of the road crossing, the creek is fully exposed to the sun, and habitat is largely in the form of “artificial riffle”, created by quarry rock used in road construction.

Site 3B is located near the upper limit of the subdivision reach and just downstream of a small unnamed tributary. Above this tributary Hulseytown Creek becomes intermittent, and was thus not selected for sampling. At Site 3B it is very small (less than 6 ft. wide at most points), but with strong flow and a good mix of rubble riffles, flowing runs and small pools. The site is entirely shaded, but the forested slopes on the left bank are compromised by proximity to subdivision streets and houses.

Sites 3C and 3D are located on an unnamed low gradient tributary which enters Hulseytown Creek just upstream of Hulseytown Road. The two contiguous sites were separated on the basis of substrate. Site 3C, extending from the mouth upstream for 180 ft. flows through a grove of very young willows and privet, and is characterized by a totally unstable substrate of fine sand and silt. Cover for fish is virtually nonexistent save for occasional debris jams. At 180 ft. from Hulseytown Creek the substrate changes abruptly to one of coarser sand, with small amounts of gravel and silt. The sparse overstory is composed primarily of alders with some maples. However, the area may best be described as a “grassy glade”. The stream, no more than 1 meter wide at this point, is at many points totally obscured by grass. This sector was followed for approximately 250 ft. at which point it enters larger forest, but is reduced to a series of intermittent pools.

METHODS:

Since the principal objective was to determine the presence or probable absence of E. scotti at a range of stream sites related to the Paulding County airport Site No. 3, a range of methods was used. Some sites, mostly on the larger streams (Bluffy Creek and Hulseytown Creek) were sampled 10 in such a way as to produce a representative sample of all fishes from riffle and run habitats. On the smaller streams, and as time pressures became more apparent, we limited ourselves to noting other species present and tried to form an impression of their relative abundance. Even when more intensive sampling methods were used and all fish counted (Sites 1A and 3A), the samples should not be considered to be representative of the fish asssemblage, since minimal effort was expended in habitats not expected to hold darters. (Some effort was made on pools, in an effort to provide something approaching a total species count, but undoubtedly some species were missed.)

Secondary objectives were to provide an idea of the abundance of E. scotti at the various sites surveyed, to determine the length-frequency distribution and thus suggest the age structure of the population, to compile a list of associated fishes, and to provide some idea of habitat sharing by E. scotti and the blackbanded darter ( Percina nigrofasciata ) the only other darter found in the course of the survey.

At the beginning of of the field work we alternated attempts to capture E. scotti and other fishes by kick seining and through use of a backpack electrofisher with seine and dipnets. On a consistent basis the electrofisher proved more efficient and, in our opinion, resulted in less damage to habitat and organisms. Whereas kicknetting, at the intensity required to do a thorough darter survey, results in severe disruption of the riffle habitat and damage to delicate organisms (potentially including darters) electrofishing can be done with minimal damage to the physical environment. By minimizing voltage and stressing rapid capture (while not holding fish in the electrical field when a first capture attempt failed) we believe we avoided not only darter mortality but physical damage to the habitat. Of a total of 42 Cherokee darters captured by electrofishing, only one failed to revive within seconds, and that individual eventually recovered.

The standard technique was to stretch a 1/8 inch mesh seine (10 or 20 ft. long, depending on the size of the stream) across the stream and shock downstream into it. Rapid capture was facilitated by employing 2 dipnetters to capture all darters seen. Occasionally the shocker and dip nets were employed without the seine. On some occasions on the smallest streams we were able to capture E. scotti and other fishes with dipnets alone, and in one instance (Site 2B) we were able to determine that E. scotti was common based on visual observation.

On most occasions we employed a 4 person crew, consisting of the principal investigator, plus Tim Milling, Jay Gable and Ed Smail of the LPA Group. Due to other responsibilities, it was sometimes necessary to operate with a 2 or 3 person crew, and 2 small stream sites were sampled by the principal investigator alone.

All darters (both species) were counted. Nearly all the Cherokee darters were measured (Standard Length) prior to release, as were a few of the larger blackbanded darters.

A cursory look at the other species present on the various Cherokee darter sites did not seem to reveal any pattern of association with other fishes. While the Cherokee darter was determined to be present at 11 of 18 sites surveyed, it shared only 4 of these sites (all on the Bluffy Creek mainstem) with the blackbanded darter. We found Cherokee darters in tiny streams where the only other fish present was the tolerant creek chub ( Semotilus atromaculatus ) a characteristic inhabitant of the smallest streams, and we found them in Bluffy Creek, where the creek chub is absent, in riffles and runs associated with at least 11 other species. For this reason, the results of the survey 11 with relation to non-darter species are placed in an Appendix. The remainder of the text will concentrate on darters, principally E. scotti .

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Distribution and abundance of Etheostoma scotti in the upper Pumpkinvine Creek watershed

Table 1 shows the results of our survey in terms of presence/absence and relative abundance of the Cherokee darter at the 18 sites surveyed, along with our projection of its probable range in the study area. In the case of those reaches which were thoroughly sampled, abundance was determined in terms of the catch of Cherokee darters per “standard shocker/seine sample” (300 sq. ft.). (<0.8 = Rare, 0.8-1.4 = Common, > 1.4 = abundant). In less intensively sampled sites, abundance was determined subjectively. Site 2C was fished only long enough to confirm the presence of E. scotti, consequently we did not atempt to quantify abundance there.

At the larger sites (3A on Hulseytown Creek and all 4 sites on the mainstem of Bluffy Creek below Goldmine Lake) which had a higher diversity of fish species, we also assessed abundance in terms of the numbers of E. scotti relative to other species. At all of these sites the most abundant fish, often by a wide margin, was the banded sculpin ( Cottus carolinae ); E. scotti ranked from third to sixth in abundance. At 3 of these sites, the blackbanded darter was from slightly to very much more abundant than the Cherokee darter. The exceptions were the upper freestone stretch of Bluffy Creek (1C) and lower Hulseytown Creek (3A) where the blackbanded darter was rare and absent, respectively.

The highest population densities of E. scotti in the Bluffy Creek watershed would appear to be at sites 1E, 2A and 3A, all characterized by relatively small size, with a relatively high proportion of fines in the substrate, compared to the Bluffy Creek mainstream downstream of Goldmine Lake dam. However, acceptance of our abundance figures must be tempered by the realization that sampling of benthic fishes tends to be much more efficient in small streams where large substrate particles are absent or infrequent. In larger, rockier streams, darters may escape detection between and under rocks

It is virtually certain that further sampling of small tributaries would have turned up more E. scotti . But it is also highly probable that if we consider all the E. scotti in the Bluffy Creek watershed downstream of Goldmine Lake as a single population, the majority of individuals at any one time would be found in the larger streams (Bluffy Creek mainstem and lower reaches of Hulseytown Creek), where although the presence of prime habitat, as defined here, may be patchy, the total area of suitable habitat is much greater.

With reference to the apparently strong population above Goldmine Lake, particularly at Site 2A, the question must be asked as to whether this is a viable population in the long run, with a maximum of less than a mile of small streams appearing to offer suitable habitat. While we lack population data on which mathematically derived predictions might be based, an educated guess would be that, so long as Goldmine Lake is in place, this population is destined to disappear in time, even absent any new human intervention in the upper reaches of Bluffy Creek. TABLE 1 . Characteristics of Sampling Sites

Site No. Length of Shocker Cherokee Drainage Gradient Average Maximum *Dominant Degree of Canopy Riparian land use Survey time darter area stream width depth substrates sedimen- cover (ft.) (sec.) abundance (sq. mi.) (ft.) (ft.) tation (%)

Area 1: Bluffy Creek (mainstem and tribs between Hulseytown Rd and Goldmine Lake) 1A 115 323 Common 8.4 Moderate 30 3 Rb, Gr Moderate 100 forest 1B 325 922 Common 8.4 Moderate 30 3 Gr Moderate 100 forest 1C 272 1026 Common 6.8 Moderate 23 5 Gr, Cb Low 80 forest, recently logged area 1D 243 1049 Rare 6.8 Moderate 26 3 Br Low 100 forest 1E 187 434 Abundant 0.6 Low 5 1 Sa, St Severe 50 scrub, road bank 1F 194 492 Absent 0.5 Low 5 0.3 St, Sa Severe 90 young forest 1G 194 408 Absent 0.1 Moderate 6 0.6 Moderate 90 forest, recent clearcut 1H 305 1113 Absent 0.3 High 8 3 Br Low 100 Forest 1I 328 dipnet Absent 0.3 Moderate 10 2 Rb, Gr Moderate 100 Forest

Area 2: Bluffy Creek (upstream of Goldmine lake) 2A 66 227 Abundant 1.1 Low 5 0.6 Sa Moderate 0 Beaver meadow 2B visual Common 0.5 Low 3 0.6 Sa Moderate 0 Beaver meadow 2C 16 6 Present 1.1 Moderate 6 2 Gr Low 100 Forest 2D 187 589 Absent 0.9 Moderate 7 3 Gr Low 100 Forest 2E 216 812 Absent 0.9 Moderate 6 3 Rb Low 100 Forest

Area 3: "Hulseytown Creek" (upstream of Hulseytown Rd.) 3A 187 601 Abundant 1.2 Moderate 7 2 Sa, Gr High 80 Young forest 3B 167 593 Rare 0.3 Moderate 5 2 Rb Moderate 90 Forest 3C 184 dipnet Absent 0.2 Low 3 0.3 Sa, St Severe 100 Willow grove 3D 262 dipnet Rare 0.2 Low 3 1 Sa, Gr High 50 Grass/alder wetland *substrates Br - boulder > Cb - cobble > Rb - rubble > Gr - gravel > Sa - sand > St - silt

Butler (1994) stated that “Cherokee darters inhabit small to medium-size warm-water creeks of moderate gradient, with predominately (sic) rocky bottoms. It is usually found in shallow water in sections of reduced current, typically in runs above and below riffles and at the ecotones of riffles and backwaters. The Cherokee darter is associated with large gravel, cobble and small boulder substrates, and is uncommonly or rarely found over bedrock, fine gravel or sand. It is most abundant in stream sections with relatively clear water and clean substrates (little silt deposition). The Cherokee darter is intolerant of heavy to moderate silt deposition. The Cherokee darter, like other members of the subgenus Ulocentra , is intolerant of impoundment.”

This information is to some degree at odds with our observations in the Bluffy Creek watershed. The general description of stream type applies to all the sites we surveyed, but our sites would not all be described as having predominantly rocky bottoms. In the Bluffy Creek watershed the Cherokee darter does seem to prefer intermediate current velocity; we found it to be scarce in the swiftest riffles and absent from pools and very slow runs. In marked contrast to Butler’s summary we found the Cherokee darter to be associated with small substrate particle sizes. In one instance (Site 1E) we found it to be common (9 individuals in approximately 900 sq. ft. of stream) over a grossly sedimented substrate. On sites 2A, 2B and 3D it was present (rare to common) over a predominantly sand substrate and on several occasions we found it over fine gravel. In the larger streams (Bluffy and Hulseytown Creeks) it was rarest in bedrock riffles and runs, but seemed to become more abundant as the substrate became finer, down at least to the level of coarse sand.

Areas where we failed to find Cherokee darters also included very shallow riffles and intemittent streams of whatever type, consistent with the criteria of Bowers (2004). As stated by Butler (1994) it is presumably intolerant of impoundment. However, it survives in the beaver meadow area at the northeast arm of Goldmine Lake in stream reaches which are subject to shifting impoundment as the result of beaver activity.

The observation at Site 1E is subject to qualification. The area where Cherokee darters were found there is precisely the lowermost 185 ft. of the stream, below what would appear to be an impassable barrier. These individuals may be no more than visitors from Bluffy Creek, perhaps trying unsuccessfully to ascend to a historic habitat.

Nevertheless, Site 1E does fit with what appears to us to be the key determining factor in habitat selection by E. scotti in the upper Pumpkinvine Creek watershed – moderate and relatively even flow. Site 1E has sufficient flow that, under normal conditions periodic flushing would reduce the amount of fines in the substrate. However, these sediments are subject to constant replenishment from a development site just upstream.

As nearly as we could determine while electrofishing, even in true riffles most E. scotti were found in short flat-topped sections, with apparently laminar flow. If we are right, flow conditions which favor E. scotti tend to be patchy in larger streams with varying substrate particle sizes, but may be nearly uniformly available in the very smallest streams with sand or fine gravel substrates.

It may be that the habitat preferences published for E. scotti are based primarily on observations made in larger streams and/or in the main center of population upstream of Allatoona Reservoir. In the latter case, this would be one more argument in support of the hypothesis that the 14

Cherokee darters of the Pumpkinvine and Raccoon Creek watersheds are genetically distinct from the isolated populations of the upper Etowah River watershed.

Our tentative conclusions must be further qualified by 2 factors:

1. It is easier to observe small fishes, or to make complete collections, in very small streams with uniform substrate and few riffles than in any other type of stream. Thus we may be exaggerating the relative abundance of E. scotti in these habitats.

2. There may be a seasonal component in our observations. Sampling at other times of year could produce a completely different pattern of habitat preferences.

Nevertheless, the least that can be said is that in the effort to further understand and protect this particular Threatened species the importance of marginal habitat, in the form of very small and heavily sedimented streams, should not be written off.

Size (age) distribution :

A total of 63 individuals of E scotti were captured from 10 sites in 3 sectors of the upper Pumpkinvine Creek watershed. (The visual survey of Site 2B made no attempt to be quantitative; E. scotti was visibly common at this site.) Of these 63, standard length of 60 was measured (3 escaped before they could be measured.) The range of lengths was from 19.1 to 59.5 mm., with the majority (36) measuring between 40 and 50 mm. Undoubtedly this count underestimates the number of very small individuals which may have either escaped undetected or passed through our nets.

Figure 2: Length-Frequency Histogram for Etheostoma scotti from Bluffy Creek, Paulding County, Georgia, August 2004

12 No. Individuals 10

15-20 20-25 25-30 30-35 35-40 40-45 45-50 50-55 55-60

Standard Length (mm.) 15

The only area from which there are sufficient individuals to attempt a length-frequency analysis is Area 1. A length-frequency histogram for this Area (Figure 2) does not show any obvious length (year) classes. However, we suggest that with more effective capture of the smallest individuals (presumptive young-of-the-year) one year class division would appear. We note that neither in Area 1, nor among the 60 total fish measured, did we find a single individual measuring between 33.3 and 37.9 mm. total length.

It is interesting to note that at sites 3A and 3D (lower Hulseytown Creek and its small tributary), both heavily sedimented, no individuals under 43.0 mm. were taken. This size range accounted for 46.5 percent (20 individuals) of all Cherokee darters measured from Areas 1 and 2. This suggests poor spawning success under conditions of high sediment loading.

On the other hand, all of the individuals captured or observed over sandy substrates in the beaver meadow area (Sites 2A and 2B) were small (estimated 45 mm. or less). The 5 smallest individuals measured (19.5 – 30.1 mm) came from sites 1C and 1D - mainstem of Bluffy Creek above Clark Road, a reach relatively unimpacted by sediment of anthropogenic origin. (One individual which appeared to fall into this size range was taken from Site 3B, but escaped during the measuring process.)

Natural and anthropogenic factors affecting distribution and abundance of Etheostoma scotti .

Stream size and flow rate : Freeman (personal communication) advised us at the outset of this study to look for E. scotti at sites with watershed areas as small as 0.2 sq. mi . The smallest stream in which we found Cherokee darters was a tributary of Hulseytown Creek (Sites 3C and 3D) which had a watershed area of 0.28 sq. mi.. The limiting factor would appear to be not size, but flow rate. Per Bowers (2004) we observed no Cherokee darters in stream reaches with significant areas of subsurface flow. However, their use of such reaches during periods of high flow cannot be ruled out.

Stream morphology and substrates : As observed above, we found E. scotti in a variety of stream types and over various substrates. We rarely found it over extensive areas of bedrock and never over deep silt and leaf litter. It was absent from pools and from very shallow riffles (which were typically devoid of fish of any kind). The only accessible stream reaches from which it was totally absent were those which were intermittent, extremely steep or altogether lacking in areas of moderate, laminar flow.

Barriers : We observed two situations where creek chubs (the typical headwater fish of the region) were present, but Cherokee darters absent, above a natural barrier:

• The most clearcut case is the upper portion of Area 2, where a double natural barrier separates an upper reach with creek chubs and no darters from a lower reach with apparently identical habitat and presence of E. scotti.

• Site 1H has some apparently suitable (marginal) habitat but is located above a long, steep, mostly shallow bedrock reach which may function as a barrier simply because of its length. (Site 1I, which also lacked darters, is located within the barrier reach.) 16

See also the discussion of artificial barriers in the following section.

Threats and impacts to E. scotti :

Sedimentation : In this study we found adult Cherokee darters over even the most unstable and heavily sedimented substrates so long as there was a steady, perceptible current. On the other hand our data suggest that reproductive success and/or survival of first year fish may be higher in relatively sediment-free reaches. E. scotti in the upper Pumpkinvine Creek watershed do not appear to be as sensitive to sediment as suggested by Butler (1994), but it is reasonable to suppose that, as in the case of other benthic stream fishes, sedimentation well in excess of natural rates will have a negative effect.

Present sources of sedimentation are roads and residential development on the periphery of The Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area (especially in the watershed of Hulseytown Creek). One particularly severe problem must be noted. At the end of Clark Road, a large pile of fill material has apparently resulted in extreme damage to an unnamed tributary stream inhabited by Cherokee darters (Site 1E) and also affects a tributary to that stream and the reach of Bluffy Creek immediately downstream. The damage is exacerbated by the access road. A portion of this reach upstream of the degraded area was classified as suitable habitat by Bowers (2004). This site may be in violation of erosion control regulations, and may have resulted in a “take” of Cherokee darters and/or isolation of an upstream population.

Impoundments and other human-made barriers : Mention has been made of the role of natural barriers in restricting the range of E. scotti . Artificial barriers may also play a role. A long culvert with a significant vertical drop may be restricting access by E. scotti to a tributary stream above Site 1E. The dam and impoundment of Goldmine Lake certainly restrict upstream movement by darters. Even if the isolated population of Cherokee darters above the lake survives indefinitely, up to 2,000 ft. of lotic habitat are lost in the impoundment. Some of several small ponds located within the study area may contribute to loss of habitat.

Urbanization : In addition to sedimentation, stresses due to the urbanization of the surrounding area include those associated with significant areas of impervious surface, loss of buffer zones along streams, nutrient enrichment (ranging from lawn fertilizer to leaky septic tanks), and incidental inputs of toxic chemicals. With the exception of erosion from development sites, these effects are as yet minimal in most of the upper Pumpkinvine Creek watershed.

However, the watershed of Hulseytown Creek (Area 3) is heavily affected by SR 278 and the Clear Creek development, including realignment of a portion of the stream channel. While the worst of erosion associated with construction may have already occurred, the development is new and not yet fully occupied, and stresses associated with human population may be expected to increase.

Predation : E. scotti , like any successful species, has adapted to deal with its natural predators, but we would like to call attention to one situation which may be unnatural. We found E. scotti to be present but rare at Site 3B (2 individuals in 51 m. of habitat surveyed). However, in the 17 same sample we took 5 Micropterus , measuring 75 – 150 mm. One individual was clearly the native redeye bass, Micropterus coosae , but the rest appeared to be smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieui , not native to the Etowah watershed. Regardless of species, the presence of this number of Micropterus , of any size, in a shallow stream averaging less than 9 ft. wide and far from any larger stream is notable. The few other Micropterus we captured or observed were all in the mainstem of Bluffy Creek. There is a small pond on a tributary just upstream of Site 3B, and it may be that the bass we caught originate with fish stocked in this pond. Under these circumstances, an unnatural abundance of a piscivorous species could be a serious limiting factor on abundance or survival of E. scotti .

REFERENCES CITED:

Bauer, B.H., D.A. Etnier, and N.M. Burkhead. 1995. Etheostoma (Ulocentra ) scotti (Osteichthyes: Percidae), a new darter from the Etowah River system in Georgia. Bull. Ala. Mus. Nat. Hist. 17: 1- 16.

Bowers, R. 2004. Proposed Airport Site Determination, Endangered Aquatic Species Habitat Assessment. Memo to: Patricia Stultz, the LPA Group, Inc. 4 pp. + maps.

Butler, R.S. 1994. Final Rule: Cherokee darter/Etowah Darter. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Endangered Species (adapted from the Federal Register for Tuesday, December 20, 1994). 13 pp.

Wood, R.M. and R.L. Mayden. 1993. Systematics of the Etheostoma jordani species group (Teleosti: Percidae), with descriptions of three new species. Bull. Ala. Mus. Nat. Hist: 16: 29-44.

APPENDIX A: Fish Assemblages of Upper Pumpkinvine Creek Watershed (Paulding County Airport Environmental Assessment Site)

Concurrrent with a survey of the Cherokee darter (Etheostoma scotti ) related to siting and construction of a proposed Paulding County airport, we took advantage of the opportunity to carry out a fish inventory of the study site, comprising the Pumpkinvine Creek watershed upstream of Hulseytown Road, Paulding County, Georgia (Bluffy and Hulseytown Creeks and tributaries). Table 2 lists all the species or species groups taken, with their relative abundance, at the 18 sites which were surveyed.

Sites are identified by their code numbers from Figure 1, as used in the text of this report. Sites beginning with the number 1 are from the mainstem of Bluffy Creek and its tributaries between a point just below Hulseytown Road and Goldmine Lake Dam. Sites with number 2 are from the Bluffy Creek watershed above Goldmine Lake Dam. Sites with number 3 are from the watershed of Hulseytown Creek from a point just below Hulseytown Road to the headwaters.

This information is not to be taken as a definitive list of the fishes of the upper Pumpkinvine Creek watershed. Several caveats must be stated:

1. Since the focus was on darters, principally E. scotti , some habitats (especially pools) were undersampled. More diligent sampling in non-darter habitat would probably have produced some more species and altered our abundance estimates for others. 2. On some sites sampling was minimal, to determine presence/absence and an idea of the abundance of E. scotti . Thus species may have been missed, even in riffle/run habitat. 3. Some significant streams and stream reaches were missed altogether. This applies particularly to the reach of Bluffy Creek between the foot of Clark Road and Goldmine Lake Dam, tributaries to that reach and Goldmine Lake itself. The rationale for skipping stream reaches was, variously, time limitations, low probability of finding E. scotti and remoteness from the airport site such that direct effects are unlikely. 4. Due to the principal investigator’s lack of familiarity with Etowah River fishes, there may be some misidentifications and some species are lumped together. These instances are explained in the annotation which follows.

Table 2 . Fish Species and Relative Abundance in Bluffy Creek Watershed Above Hulseytown Rd.

SITE Moxostoma stellifer Fundulus Ameiurus leptacanthus Noturus auritus Lepomis macrochirus Lepomis Micropterus Cottus Etheostoma scotti Etheostoma nigrofasciata Percina Ichthyomyzon mykiss Oncorhynchus Campostoma Cyprinella chrosomus Notropis lutipinnis Notropis stilbius Notropis Semotilus Hypentelium etowanum Hypentelium

1A R C R C C C R A 1BCARRRR C RRRRC RA 1CRRR RRR C CR CR RA 1DRCR C RCRC R C RA 1E C R RR 1F R 1G C 1H R R 1I A 2A C C CR R 2B P 2C P 2D C 2E AR R 3A C C R A R RRA 3B R 3C R R 3D R C R

* Relative Abundance A - abundant C - common R - rare P - present Petromyzontidae (lampreys)

Ichthyomyzon sp.

Small ammocoetes of a lamprey, probably Ichthyomyzon gagei , southern brook lamprey, but possibly Ichthyomyzon greeleyi, mountain brook lamprey, were found at 3 of 4 sites sampled on the mainstem of Bluffy Creek below Goldmine Lake dam. No attempt was made to identify to species these individuals, taken, as would be expected, from silty/sandy substrates in quiet water.

Salmonidae (trouts)

Oncorhynchus mykiss , rainbow trout.

One adult of this species was taken from a deep, swift run on Bluffy Creek above Hulseytown Rd. This fish was almost certainly stocked, but appeared to have naturalized to some degree and presented the appearance of good condition.

Cyprinidae (minnows)

Campostoma sp.

Stonerollers (mostly small) were common to abundant in Hulseytown Creek near Hulseytown Road, particularly adjacent to the road where there was no shade on the water. A few individuals were also taken at 2 stations on Bluffy Creek below Goldmine Lake dam. Lacking appropriate keys, we were unable to determine if these were largescale stoneroller ( Campostoma oligolepis ) or bluefin stoneroller ( Campostoma pauciradia ), both known from the Etowah watershed.

Cyprinella spp.

Two, and perhaps three species of Cyprinella were conspicuous, but usually rare components of the fish assemblage of the mainstem of Bluffy Creek below Goldmine Lake dam. Cyprinella callistia (Alabama shiner) and Cyprinella trichroistia (tricolor shiner) were certainly present. We also observed some Cyprinella with red in the dorsal fin membranes, but no black in that fin. We hazarded a guess that this was Cyprinella venusta (blacktail shiner). Cyprinella appeared to be most abundant in a reach of Bluffy Creek with much bedrock substrate.

Notropis chrosomus , rainbow shiner

A single specimen of this species was taken from a pool in Hulseytown Creek above Hulseytown Rd. Others, including presumptive young-of-the-year of this species, were taken from Bluffy Creek upstream of Clark Road.

Notropis lutipinnis , yellowfin shiner

A few individuals of what appeared to be this presumably exotic species were taken from Bluffy Creek above Hulseytown Rd. However, they were pallid and indistinctly marked compared with other N. lutipinnis I have seen, and seemed to intergrade with Notropis stilbius . In other watersheds, introduced N. lutipinnis have been seen to hybridize with native shiners, and this may occur in Bluffy Creek.

Notropis stilbius , silverstripe shiner

This was by far the dominant shiner in our survey, taken in pools and runs at all sites on Bluffy Creek downstream of Goldmine Lake dam.

Semotilus atromaculatus , creek chub

As contrasted to most of the species in the survey, S. atromaculatus appeared everywhere but the lower mainstem of Bluffy Creek. (A single small specimen was taken from the mainstem above Clark Rd.) It varied from rare to abundant, but was usually among the most numerous fish at any site, and was observed to be absent only from a few intermittent streams (We also saw it in some intermittent streams). At 3 sites it was the only fish present, including Site 1 I where it was very abundant.

Catostomidae, suckers

Hypentelium etowanum , Alabama hogsucker

H. etowanum occurred at 8 sites; it was rare to common at all sites on the mainstem of Bluffy Creek downstream of Goldmine Lake dam and in Hulseytown creek near Hulseytown Road. It was less predictably present in small tributaries, but juveniles turned up in small streams in all 3 areas, including above barriers which were apparently impassable by other benthic species.

Moxostoma

Three small adult Moxostoma from the mainstem of Bluffy Creek above Camp Road were identified as Moxostoma erythrurum , golden redhorse, but no attempt was made to identify several juveniles taken from a muddy backwater on the same stream not far above Hulseytown Road; they could have been this species or Moxostoma duquesni , black redhorse.

Fundulidae, topminnows

Fundulus stellifer , studfish

Two adults of this species were taken from pools on Bluffy Creek, one not far above Hulseytown Road and the other above Clark Road.

Ictaluridae, bullhead catfishes and madtoms

Ameiurus natalis , yellow bullhead

One large and very robust individual of this species was taken from a pool on Bluffy Creek not far above Hulseytown Road.

Noturus leptacanthus , speckled madtom

N. leptacanthus was taken chiefly from the mainstem of Bluffy Creek (all sites below Goldmine Lake dam), but a single individual was taken from the severely sedimented lower reaches of a tributary stream at Clark Road. Although the speckled madtom is supposedly a riffle species, we were not able to detect any clear habitat preference – specimens came from pools, deep and shallow runs, riffles and sedimented areas along shore.

Centrarchidae, sunfishes and black basses

Lepomis auritus, redbreast sunfish

This exotic species was less abundant than expected, but occurred at 4 stations on Bluffy Creek and lower Hulseytown Creek. Most specimens were juveniles, only one pan-sized individual was taken (from a deep pool on Bluffy Creek above Clark Road)

Lepomis macrochirus , bluegill

While native to the Etowah River watershed, at least one of the occurrences of the bluegill is open to doubt as to its native status. Several large juveniles and small adults were taken from pools at site 2E, the uppermost and highest altitude site sampled, above a considerable double barrier. It is suggested that these individuals were escapees from ponds at the top of the watershed. A few juveniles taken in the lower reaches of Hulseytown Creek may also be escaped pond fish, but could be native.

Micropterus

Three species of black bass are native to the Etowah watershed. We did not observe the largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides , which at this altitude in this size stream would be suspected to be a pond escapee. (It would be surprising if there were not a population of M. salmoides in Goldmine Lake and perhaps other small impoundments in the Bluffy Creek watershed.) We did take several redeye bass , Micropterus coosae and one individual which appeared to be a spotted bass , Micropterus punctulatus (from Bluffy Creek above Clark Road). In addition, 4 out of 5 Micropterus taken at site 3D, on Hulseytown Creek above the Clear Creek subdivision were identified as smallmouth bass ( Micropterus dolomieui ) not native to the Etowah watershed. The presence of Micropterus at all (let alone a non-native species) in a stream of this size (watershed area 181 ac.{0.28 sq.mi.}) suggests escape from a pond (and there is one nearby). Our records for Micropterus are supplemented by visual observations in pools on Bluffy Creek, for which it was not possible to make species determinations. It would not be a total surprise to find 24 juveniles or small adults of any of the 4 species mentioned at almost any point in the upper Bluffy Creek watershed.

Percidae, perches and darters

Etheostoma scotti, Cherokee darter

The Cherokee darter is the object of this study, found at 11 of 18 stations spread throughout the Pumpkinvine Creek watershed above Hulseytown Road. See the text of this report for more detail

Percina nigrofasciata, blackbanded darter

Unlike the Cherokee darter, P. nigrofasciata seems to be restricted to the mainstem of Bluffy Creek below Goldmine Lake dam. It was more abundant than Etheostoma scotti on large particle and bedrock substrates, but less abundant elsewhere. Most P. nigrofasciata taken were small (less than 50 mm. SL), but some large individuals up to 95 mm. were taken.

Cottidae, sculpins

Cottus carolinae, banded sculpin

As far as we could tell, C. carolinae was the only sculpin species we took, although Cottus bairdi , mottled sculpin, is known from the Etowah watershed. It should be emphasized that both species are undergoing revision, and are thus best identified as C. carolinae “group” and C. bairdi “group”, and that even experts sometimes have difficulty distinguishing between these two species groups. In any event, all specimens we examined carefully lacked the distinctive orange band in the dorsal fin characteristic of C. bairdi and conformed to the C. carolinae model in terms of banding, body shape, chin mottling and preopercular spines. Cottus was found at 9 sites, and was the most abundant fish, often by far, at sites on the mainstem of Bluffy Creek below Goldmine Lake Dam and in lower Hulseytown Creek. Occurrences in small tributaries were sporadic and tended to consist of one or a few small individuals. Only one occurrence was recorded from a site above a presumed barrier for Etheostoma scotti (a single individual at Site 1 I). High relative abundance of Cottus , which share riffle habitat with darters, is sometimes taken to suggest impacts on darters due to sedimentation.

Appendix B.

GPS Data of Sampling Locations Map Label Easting Northing Comments 1B 2066204.207 1416999.577 upstream limit of sample section 1A 2066652.991 1416816.4 downstream limit of sample section 1C 2063778.661 1419492.711 downstream limit of sample section 1D 2063022.499 1419821.842 upstream limit of sample section 1E 2064759.4 1419019.102 downstream limit of sample section 1E/F 2064713.606 1419227.466 barrier (road culvert) 1F 2064496.083 1419488.493 upstream limit of sample section 1G - botm 2064616.526 1422815.647 downstream limit of sample section 1G - top 2064050.034 1423170.519 upstream limit of sample section 1H - top 2061720.732 1421570.301 upstream limit of sample section 1H - botm 2061972.893 1421477.424 downstream limit of sample section 1I 2062092.927 1420627.4 downstream limit of visual search 2B 2056069.277 1423502.551 limit of visual search 2E 2058167.637 1424682.249 upstream limit of sample section 2C 2057362.57 1423695.939 barrier (natural flume and waterfall) 3A - botm 2069118.378 1421202.06 downstream limit of sample section 3A - top 2068903.157 1421739.384 upstream limit of sample section 3C 2068651.909 1421505.728 limit of sample and visual search 3B - botm 2064349.541 1425288.331 downstream limit of sample section 3B - top 2064031.272 1425508.144 upstream limit of sample section Coordinates in (NAD 1983, State Plane - GA west, feet)