Appendix L Survey and Other Protocols
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APPENDIX L SURVEY AND OTHER PROTOCOLS TABLE OF CONTENTS Reserved...........................................................................................................................L-1 Indiana Bat Habitat Assessment Protocols ......................................................................L-2 Determination of Potential Winter Habitat for Indiana Bats ...........................................L-3 Indiana Bat Survey Protocols...........................................................................................L-4 Service Guidelines for Bog Turtle Surveys April 2006...................................................L-5 Bog Turtle Pre-construction Survey Protocol..................................................................L-6 Bog Turtle Recovery Plan - Appendix A April 18, 2001 ................................................L-7 Karst Monitoring Protocols..............................................................................................L-8 Figure 6.2.3.3_2 Sinkhole Mitigation Procedures ...........................................................L-9 Figure 6.2.3.3_3 Sinkhole Mitigation Procedures .........................................................L-10 Figure 6.2.3.3_4 Sinkhole Mitigation Procedures .........................................................L-11 Figure 6.2.3.3_5 Sinkhole Mitigation Procedures .........................................................L-12 WV Sinkhole Mitigation Guidance ...............................................................................L-13 Herbicide List for use in Madison Cave Isopod Habitat................................................L-14 Mussel Survey Protocols................................................................................................L-15 Mussel Relocation Mark/Recapture Protocols...............................................................L-16 Sediment Transport Estimation Method ........................................................................L-17 Disinfection Techniques ................................................................................................L-18 Riparian Restoration Standard .......................................................................................L-19 NRCS standards for water quality and riparian corridors..............................................L-20 Nashville Crayfish Survey Protocols.............................................................................L-21 American Burying Beetle Survey Guidance May 20, 2009 ..........................................L-22 American Burying Beetle Baiting Away Guidance May 20, 2009 ...............................L-23 American Burying Beetle Trapping and Relocating Guidance May 20, 2009..............L-24 Attachment L-1 Reserved Attachment L-2 Indiana Bat Habitat Assessment Protocols Attachment L-3 Determination of Potential Winter Habitat for Indiana Bats Attachment L-4 Indiana Bat Survey Protocols Attachment L-5 Service Guidelines for Bog Turtle Surveys April 2006 Attachment L-6 Bog Turtle Pre-construction Survey Protocol Attachment L-7 Bog Turtle Recovery Plan - Appendix A April 18, 2001 Attachment L-8 Karst Monitoring Protocols Attachment L-9 Figure 6.2.3.3_2 Sinkhole Mitigation Procedures Attachment L-10 Figure 6.2.3.3_3 Sinkhole Mitigation Procedures Attachment L-11 Figure 6.2.3.3_4 Sinkhole Mitigation Procedures Attachment L-12 Figure 6.2.3.3_5 Sinkhole Mitigation Procedures Attachment L-13 WV Sinkhole Mitigation Guidance Attachment L-14 Herbicide List for use in Madison Cave Isopod Habitat Attachment L-15 Mussel Survey Protocols Attachment L-16 Mussel Relocation Mark/Recapture Protocols Attachment L-17 Sediment Transport Estimation Method Attachment L-18 Disinfection Techniques Attachment L-19 Riparian Restoration Standard Attachment L-20 NRCS Standards for Water Quality and Riparian Corridors Attachment L-21 Nashville Crayfish Survey Protocols Attachment L-22 American Burying Beetle Survey Guidance May 20, 2009 Attachment L-23 American Burying Beetle Baiting Away Guidance May 20, 2009 Attachment L-24 American Burying Beetle Trapping And Relocating Guidance May 20, 2009 Appendix L-2 Indiana Bat Habitat Assessment Protocols These protocols are currently being prepared and will be included in this MSHCP when available from the Service. Appendix L-3 Indiana Bat Winter Habitat Assessment Protocols NiSource personnel or its consultants will determine whether potentially-suitable winter habitat exists within the project area by conducting “Winter Habitat Assessments” as described below. The results of these assessments will be recorded and documented in NiSource’s annual compliance report. Results will be valid for two years and can be completed anytime of year. The Winter Habitat Assessment Protocols are: i. Examine identified potential winter habitat for the following characteristics: 1. The openings should be at least one foot in diameter or larger. 2. The passage should continue beyond the dark zone and not have an obvious end within 40 feet of entrance (Note: This may not be verifiable by surveyor due to safety concerns). 3. Entrances that are flooded or prone to flooding (i.e., debris on ceiling), collapsed, or otherwise inaccessible to bats will be excluded. 4. Openings that have occurred recently (i.e., within the past 12 months) due to creation or subsidence will be excluded. However, a written description and photographs of the opening must be included in the pre-survey report. Appendix L-4 Indiana Bat Survey Protocols The current “Indiana Bat Mist Netting Guidelines” provided in Appendix 5 of the 2007 Indiana Bat draft Revised Recovery Plan or future versions of superseding Service-approved guidelines will be applied. GUIDELINES FOR BOG TURTLE SURVEYS1 (revised April 2006) RATIONALE A bog turtle survey (when conducted according to these guidelines) is an attempt to determine presence or probable absence of the species; it does not provide sufficient data to determine population size or structure. Following these guidelines will standardize survey procedures. It will help maximize the potential for detection of bog turtles at previously undocumented sites at a minimum acceptable level of effort. Although the detection of bog turtles confirms their presence, failure to detect them does not absolutely confirm their absence (likewise, bog turtles do not occur in all appropriate habitats and many seemingly suitable sites are devoid of the species). Surveys as extensive as outlined below are usually sufficient to detect bog turtles; however, there have been instances in which additional effort was necessary to detect bog turtles, especially when habitat was less than optimum, survey conditions were less than ideal, or turtle densities were low. PRIOR TO CONDUCTING ANY SURVEYS If a project is proposed to occur in a county of known bog turtle occurrence (see attachment 1), contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and/or the appropriate State wildlife agency (see attachment 2). They will determine whether or not any known bog turtle sites occur in or near the project area, and will determine the need for surveys. < If a wetland in or near the project area is known to support bog turtles, measures must be taken to avoid impacts to the species. The Service and State wildlife agency will work with federal, state and local regulatory agencies, permit applicants, and project proponents to ensure that adverse effects to bog turtles are avoided or minimized. < If wetlands in or adjacent to the project area are not known bog turtle habitat, conduct a bog turtle habitat survey (Phase 1 survey) if: 1. The wetland(s) have an emergent and/or scrub-shrub wetland component, or are forested with suitable soils and hydrology (see below), and 2. Direct and indirect adverse effects to the wetland(s) cannot be avoided. See Bog Turtle Conservation Zones2 for guidance regarding activities that may affect bog turtles and their habitat. In addition, consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service and/or appropriate State wildlife agency to definitively determine whether or not a Phase 1 survey will be necessary. 1 These guidelines are a modification of those found in the final “Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii), Northern Population, Recovery Plan” (dated May 15, 2001). Several minor revisions were made to facilitate survey efforts and increase searcher effectiveness. As additional information becomes available regarding survey techniques and effectiveness, these survey guidelines may be updated and revised. Contact the Fish and Wildlife Service or one of the state agencies listed in Attachment 1 for the most recent version of these guidelines. 2 See Appendix A of the “Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii), Northern Population, Recovery Plan” (dated May 15, 2001). 1 BOG TURTLE HABITAT SURVEY (= Phase 1 survey) The purpose of this survey is to determine whether or not the wetland(s) are potential bog turtle habitat. These surveys are performed by a recognized, qualified bog turtle surveyor (contact the Service or the appropriate State wildlife agency to receive a list of recognized, qualified bog turtle surveyors). The following conditions and information apply to habitat surveys. < Surveys can be performed any month of the year (except when significant snow and/or ice cover is present). This flexibility in conducting Phase 1 surveys allows efforts during the Phase 2 survey window to be spent on wetlands most likely to support bog turtles (i.e., those that meet the criteria below). < Potential bog turtle habitat is recognized by three criteria