Michigan’s Wildlife Action Plan Warmwater Streams and Their Headwaters Michigan’s Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025 Today’s Priorities, Tomorrow’s Wildlife Contents What are Warmwater Streams and Their Headwaters? ........................................................................... 3 Plan Contributors .................................................................................................................................... 4 What Uses Warmwater Streams and Their Headwaters? ......................................................................... 4 Why Are Warmwater Streams & Their Headwaters Important? ............................................................... 6 What is the Health of Warmwater Streams & Their Headwaters? ............................................................ 6 Goals ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Call Out Box ............................................................................................................................................. 7 Call Out Box: Pipes in Streams ................................................................................................................. 7 What Are the Warmwater Streams & Their Headwaters Focal Species? ................................................... 7 Orangethroat Darter (Etheostoma spectabile) – .................................................................................. 7 Goals ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus) – .............................................................................................. 8 Goals ............................................................................................................................................... 9 Southern Redbelly Dace (Chrosomus erythrogaster) – ......................................................................... 9 Goals ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Silver Shiner (Notropis photogenis) – ................................................................................................. 10 Goals ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Rayed Bean (Villosa fabalis) – ............................................................................................................ 11 Goals ............................................................................................................................................. 12 1 Michigan’s Wildlife Action Plan Riverine Clubtail Dragonfly (Stylurus amnicola)- ................................................................................. 12 Goals ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Northern Clubshell (Pleurobema clava) – ........................................................................................... 13 Goals ............................................................................................................................................. 14 Call Out Box: How Vulnerable are Focal Species to Climate Change? ..................................................... 14 What are the Conservation Threats and Actions? .................................................................................. 15 Threats to Habitat.............................................................................................................................. 15 Natural Systems Modifications....................................................................................................... 15 Agriculture & Aquaculture ............................................................................................................. 15 Transportation & Service Corridors ................................................................................................ 15 Pollution ........................................................................................................................................ 15 Climate Change .............................................................................................................................. 15 Conservation Actions for Habitat ....................................................................................................... 16 Land & Water Management ........................................................................................................... 16 Raising Awareness ......................................................................................................................... 16 Livelihood, Economic & Moral Incentives ....................................................................................... 16 Conservation Designation & Planning ............................................................................................ 16 Law & Policy .................................................................................................................................. 16 Research & Monitoring .................................................................................................................. 16 Threats to All Focal Species ................................................................................................................ 17 Lack of Knowledge ......................................................................................................................... 17 Invasive & Other Problematic Species, Genes & Diseases ............................................................... 17 Natural Systems Modifications....................................................................................................... 17 Transportation & Service Corridors ................................................................................................ 18 Conservation Actions for Focal Species .............................................................................................. 18 Conservation Designation & Planning ............................................................................................ 18 Law & Policy .................................................................................................................................. 18 Research & Monitoring .................................................................................................................. 18 How Will We Monitor? .......................................................................................................................... 18 Habitat .............................................................................................................................................. 18 Orangethroat Darter .......................................................................................................................... 18 Redside Dace ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Southern Redbelly Dace ..................................................................................................................... 19 2 Michigan’s Wildlife Action Plan Silver Shiner....................................................................................................................................... 19 Rayed Bean ....................................................................................................................................... 20 Riverine Clubtail ................................................................................................................................ 20 Northern Clubshell ............................................................................................................................ 21 Where Are There Places For Partnership? .............................................................................................. 21 How Does This Plan Link With Other Conservation Plans?...................................................................... 23 For More Information/References ......................................................................................................... 23 Photo Credits ........................................................................................................................................ 26 Recommended Citation ......................................................................................................................... 27 About The Wildlife Action Plan .............................................................................................................. 27 What are Warmwater Streams and Their Headwaters? In this plan, Warmwater Streams are small to medium-sized streams with watersheds less than 300 square miles and average July water temperatures greater than 70oF. Headwater tributaries flowing into Warmwater Streams provide critical habitat for many aquatic species and are therefore included in this plan. Headwaters in these systems generally begin in hilly, coarse-textured morainal areas, are influenced by groundwater inputs, and tend to have cool temperatures and relatively stable flows. Headwaters transition into Warmwater Streams as they move downslope across finer glacial