VERMONT WETLANDS BIOASSESSMENT PROGRAM An Evaluation of the Chemical, Physical, and Biological Characteristics of Seasonal Pools and Northern White Cedar Swamps Final Report June 2003 Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, Nongame and Natural Heritage Program Acknowledgements Many people have contributed significantly to the implementation of this project. Eric Sorensen of the Vermont Departmetn of fish and Wildlife and Jessica Rykken, Kara Lenorowicz, and Henry Bush ot he Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation have served as principal investigators. Jim Kellogg, Rich Langdon, Heather Pembrook, Steve Fiske, Doug Burnham and Alan Quackenbush of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, and Mark Ferguson and Bob Popp of the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife Nongame and Natural Heritage Program have contributed to all aspects of this project throughout its extended life. The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s RA LaRosa Environmental Laboratory and Aquatec Biological Services provided chemical and biological analytical services respectively. Special thanks to Beth Alafat and Matt Schweisberg of USEPA Region 1 for their support and patience in the face of challenging delays in the completion of this project. And special thanks to landowners who allowed us access to their properties to conduct the critical field work associated with this project. Contacts for further information about this project are below. Doug Burnham Eric Sorensen VTDEC/WQD VTFW-NNHP 103 South Main Street – 10N 103 South Main Street Waterbury, VT 05671 Waterbury, VT 05671 802-241-3784 802-241-3714 [email protected] [email protected] The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation is an equal opportunity agency and offers all persons the benefits of participating in each of their programs and competing in all areas of employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors. Persons with a TDD may call 1-800-253-0191 (Vermont Relay Information Service) to communicate requests to offices that do not have a TDD. Disclaimer The mention of trade names or commercial products within this document does not constitute endorsement or recommendations by the State of Vermont, Agency of Natural Resources. The research in this program has been partially funded by the US EPA. It has not been subject to the US EPA's required peer and policy review, and therefore, does not necessarily reflect the views of that Agency, and thus no official endorsement should be inferred. The full report can be found at http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/waterq/bassvernal.htm 2 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 2 Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 3 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND .................................................................................... 8 PROJECT GOALS.......................................................................................................................... 9 PART 1 – SEASONAL POOLS ................................................................................................... 11 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND OVERVIEW....................................................................... 11 Regulatory Protection of Seasonal Pools in Vermont........................................................... 11 State.................................................................................................................................. 11 Local................................................................................................................................. 12 Federal.............................................................................................................................. 12 METHODS ............................................................................................................................... 13 Site Selection ........................................................................................................................ 13 Reference Pools................................................................................................................ 13 Disturbed Pools ................................................................................................................ 13 Data and Sample Collection and Processing Methods ......................................................... 16 Physical Habitat Measurements ....................................................................................... 16 Water Chemistry Sampling And Analytical Procedures .................................................. 17 Biological Sampling Procedures ...................................................................................... 18 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates......................................................................................... 18 Algae............................................................................................................................ 21 Amphibians.................................................................................................................. 22 Quantitative Vegetation Sampling ............................................................................... 22 Additional Site Information.................................................................................................. 23 Mapping of Surrounding Natural Communities............................................................... 23 Watershed Area............................................................................................................ 23 Bedrock and Surficial Geology.................................................................................... 23 Disturbance Ranking.................................................................................................... 23 Data Analysis Methods......................................................................................................... 24 Precision and accuracy ..................................................................................................... 24 Macroinvertebrates........................................................................................................... 25 Multivariate Analysis Techniques.................................................................................... 25 Site Reports ...................................................................................................................... 25 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ............................................................................................... 26 Raw Data Presentation.......................................................................................................... 26 Physical and Chemical ..................................................................................................... 26 Disturbance Ranking.................................................................................................... 30 Biological ......................................................................................................................... 32 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates......................................................................................... 32 Amphibians.................................................................................................................. 37 Plants............................................................................................................................ 39 Algae............................................................................................................................ 40 Zooplankton. ................................................................................................................ 41 Quality Assurrance and Quality Control .............................................................................. 42 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates ............................................................................................. 42 Precision....................................................................................................................... 42 Accuracy ...................................................................................................................... 43 Method characteristics ................................................................................................. 43 Water Chemistry............................................................................................................... 44 Field Method Precision ................................................................................................ 44 Laboratory Analysis Precision..................................................................................... 44 Laboratory Analysis Accuracy..................................................................................... 44 Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Sampling Method Evaluation ................................................... 44 Scoop Method: ................................................................................................................. 44 3 Trap Method:...................................................................................................................