BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT MANUAL for the Hudson River Estuary Corridor By Erik Kiviat & Gretchen Stevens New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Erin M. Crotty, Commissioner George E. Pataki, Governor ii biodiversity assessment manual About Hudsonia Hudsonia is an institute for research, education, and technical assistance in the environmental sciences. Hudsonia conducts pure and applied research on natural and social science aspects of the environment, offers technical assistance to public and private agencies and individuals, and produces educational publications on natural history and conservation topics. Hudsonia is a non-advocacy, non-profit, public interest organization that works to increase scientific knowledge and discover effective solutions to environmental management problems. About the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Hudson River Estuary Action Plan The Hudson River Estuary Action Plan, released by Governor George E. Pataki in 1996 and updated every two years, is administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and sets an agenda of immediate action projects to protect, restore and increase enjoyment of the river and its natural environment. The Action Plan includes biodiversity conservation as a major focal point of its efforts to protect habitats of the Hudson Estuary and its water- shed. The Hudson Valley is one of the richest and most biologically diverse regions in all of New York State. This Biodiversity Assessment Manual is intended to support local governments and landowners in identifying significant local biodiversity resources and developing strategies for conservation. The Estuary Action Plan emphasizes measures which can be taken voluntarily and addressed locally in the context of local home rule and an individual’s property rights. Original printing © 2001 by Hudsonia Ltd. Second printing with corrigenda © 2005 by Gretchen Stevens. All rights reserved. Line drawings © 2001 by Kathleen A. Schmidt. Published by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 50 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12233. ISBN 0-9615433-1-0 To obtain copies of this document, contact Hudsonia Ltd., Bard College, PO Box 5000, Annandale, NY 12504 (845-758-7053). biodiversity assessment manual funding sources iii Funding Sources Hudson River Estuary Program of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (project sponsor) NY Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (project sponsor) Geoffrey C. Hughes Foundation Hudson River Foundation Norcross Wildlife Foundation Sweet Water Trust Wildlife Conservation Society Harry J. Bly Evan A. Davis Lincoln Magill Tom Brener Mary and Dennis Dempster Marilyn Marinaccio Theodora Budnik Sue Morrow Flanagan Sheila Newman Canal Press Elizabeth Shafer The Poughkeepsie Journal Citizens for Responsible Growth Lawrence D. Freedman Rhinebeck Health Foods Walter and Ursula Cliff J. Kenneth and Elizabeth Greenburg Santa Fe Rhinebeck Health Center Hudson and Pacific Designs, Inc. Peter and Toshi Seeger William R. Coleman Woodlea Associates Mrs. C. Sidamon-Eristoff Nancy Cook Hudson River National Estuarine Anton Wilson Marian H. Rose Research Reserve The Woodstock Chimes Fund Bill and Susan Koff kiviat, e. and g. stevens. biodiversity assessment manual for the hudson river estuary corridor. © 2005 gretchen stevens www.hudsonia.org published by the new york state department of environmental conservation iv funding sources biodiversity assessment manual kiviat, e. and g. stevens. biodiversity assessment manual for the hudson river estuary corridor. © 2005 gretchen stevens www.hudsonia.org published by the new york state department of environmental conservation biodiversity assessment manual contents v Contents FUNDING SOURCES . .iii 7.7 Hudson River Rocky Island. 111 FOREWORD . .ix 7.8 Supratidal Railroad and Road Causeway . 115 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . .xi DREDGE SPOIL HABITATS (TIDAL & NON-TIDAL) 1.0 INTRODUCTION . .1 7.9 Hudson River Dredge Spoil Habitats . 119 1.1 Who Should Use This Manual . 7 NON-TIDAL HABITATS: WETLANDS 1.2 How to Use the Manual . 9 7.10 Wet Clay Meadow . 123 1.3 The Study Area . 15 7.11 Intermittent Woodland Pool . 127 7.12 Fen and Calcareous Wet Meadow . 131 2.0 CRITERIA OF RARITY . .21 7.13 Non-Calcareous Wet Meadow. 135 2.1 Federal Lists . 24 7.14 Kettle Shrub Pool. 137 2.2 Other National Lists . 24 7.15 Nontidal Hardwood Swamp . 141 2.3 New York State Lists . 25 7.16 Springs and Seeps. 145 2.4 New York Natural Heritage Program Lists . 26 7.17 Beaver Pond . 147 2.5 Regional Lists. 26 7.18 Circumneutral Bog Lake . 151 7.19 Acidic Bog . 155 3.0 OUTLINE OF A BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT . .29 7.20 Nontidal Marsh . 159 4.0 USING BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION IN LAND USE PLANNING . .35 NON-TIDAL HABITATS: STREAMS, LAKES, AND PONDS 7.21 Intermittent Stream . 163 4.1 Identifying and Mapping Biodiversity Resources . 37 7.22 Perennial Stream. 165 4.2 Setting Conservation Goals and Priorities . 37 7.23 Riparian Corridor . 169 4.3 Developing a Biodiversity Conservation Plan . 39 7.24 Constructed Ponds and Lakes . 173 4.4 Implementing a Biodiversity Conservation Plan . 41 4.5 Planning Resources for Biodiversity Conservation . 43 NON-TIDAL HABITATS: TERRESTRIAL 7.25 Cool Ravine . 175 5.0 ANALYZING AND USING INFORMATION . 47 7.26 Mature Mesophytic Lowland Forest. 179 5.1 Analyzing Maps and Photographs . 49 7.27 Rich Rocky Woodland. 183 5.2 Sample Map Analysis. 59 7.28 “Young Woods”. 187 5.3 Analyzing Environmental Documents. 63 7.29 Conifer Plantation . 189 7.30 Shrubby Oldfield . 191 6.0 KEYS TO HABITATS . .69 7.31 Upland Meadow . 195 7.0 HABITAT PROFILES . .79 7.32 Clay Bluff and Ravine . 197 TIDAL AND SUPRATIDAL HABITATS 7.33 Non-Carbonate Crest, Ledge, and Talus. 201 7.1 Fresh and Brackish Subtidal Shallows . 85 7.34 Carbonate Crest, Ledge, and Talus . 207 7.2 Estuarine Rocky Shore. 89 7.35 Caves and Mineshafts . 211 7.3 Fresh and Brackish Intertidal and Supratidal Marsh. 93 NON-TIDAL HABITATS: VARIOUS 7.4 Intertidal and Supratidal Swamp . 99 7.36 Sand Plains and Barrens . 213 7.5 Supratidal Pool . 103 7.37 Waste Ground . 217 7.6 Tidal Tributary Mouth . 107 7.38 Catskill Mountains Eastern Escarpment . 221 kiviat, e. and g. stevens. biodiversity assessment manual for the hudson river estuary corridor. © 2005 gretchen stevens www.hudsonia.org published by the new york state department of environmental conservation vi contents biodiversity assessment manual 8.0 HABITAT PHOTOGRAPHS . .225 MAMMALS 9.37 Bats . 353 9.0 SPECIES PROFILES . .265 9.38 Harbor seal . 355 ANIMALS PLANTS INVERTEBRATES 9.39 Walking fern . 359 9.1 Butterflies of crests . 269 9.40 Ostrich fern. 361 9.2 Butterflies of fens and wet meadows . 271 9.41 Spiny coontail . 363 9.3 Butterflies of dry meadows. 273 9.42 Goldenseal . 365 9.4 Phantom cranefly . 275 9.43 Hackberry. 367 FISHES 9.44 Eastern prickly-pear . 369 9.5 Northern hog sucker. 277 9.45 Swamp cottonwood . 371 9.6 Eastern silvery minnow. 279 9.46 Winged loosestrife . 373 9.7 American brook lamprey. 281 9.47 Fringed gentian . 375 9.8 Rare fishes of cold, clear streams . 283 9.48 Dodders . 377 REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS 9.49 Heartleaf plantain . 379 9.9 Spotted turtle . 285 9.50 Winged monkey-flower . 381 9.10 Bog turtle . 287 9.51 Swamp lousewort . 383 9.11 Wood turtle . 291 9.52 Green dragon . 385 9.12 Diamondback terrapin . 293 9.53 Goldenclub . 387 9.13 Map turtle . 295 9.54 Kidneyleaf mud-plantain . 389 9.14 Blanding’s turtle . 297 9.15 Ribbon snake . 301 10.0 REFERENCES CITED . .391 9.16 Northern copperhead . 303 9.17 Timber rattlesnake . ..