Georgia Ecological Services U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 2/9/2021 HUC 10 Watershed Report HUC 10 Watershed: 0315010506 Chattooga River HUC 8 Watershed: Upper Coosa Counties: Chattooga, Floyd Major Waterbodies (in GA): Chattooga River, Raccoon Creek, Clarks Creek, Hinton Creek, Taliaferro Creek, Lake Tightsqueeze Federal Listed Species: (historic, known occurrence, or likely to occur in the watershed) E - Endangered, T - Threatened, C - Candidate, CCA - Candidate Conservation species, PE - Proposed Endangered, PT - Proposed Threatened, Pet - Petitioned, R - Rare, U - Uncommon, SC - Species of Concern. Upland Combshell (Epioblasma metastriata) US: E; GA: E Historical Occurrence; No surveys necessary, presumed extirpated from Georgia. Southern Acornshell (Epioblasma othcaloogensis) US: E; GA: E Historical Occurrence; No surveys necessary, presumed extirpated from Georgia. Southern Combshell (Epioblasma penita) US: E; GA: E Historical Occurrence; No surveys necessary, presumed extirpated from Georgia. Finelined Pocketbook (Hamiota altilis) US: T; GA: T Historical Occurrence; Survey period: year round, when water temperatures are above 10° C and excluding when stage is increasing or above normal. Alabama Moccasinshell (Medionidus acutissimus) US: T; GA: T Historical Occurrence; Survey period: year round, when water temperatures are above 10° C and excluding when stage is increasing or above normal. Coosa Moccasinshell (Medionidus parvulus) US: E; GA: E Historical Occurrence; Survey period: year round, when water temperatures are above 10° C and excluding when stage is increasing or above normal. Southern Pigtoe (Pleurobema georgianum) US: E; GA: E Historical Occurrence; Survey period: year round, when water temperatures are above 10° C and excluding when stage is increasing or above normal. Updated: 2/9/2021 0315010506 Chattooga River 1 Georgia Ecological Services U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 2/9/2021 HUC 10 Watershed Report Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens) US: E; GA: E HUC 10 Watershed: Occurrence; Survey period: 15 May - 15 Aug. Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) US: T; GA: T Occurrence; habitat model; Survey period: 15 May - 15 Aug. Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) US: E; GA: E Potential Range (habitat model); Survey period: 15 May - 15 Aug. Monkeyface Orchid (Platanthera integrilabia) US: T; GA: T Potential Range (county); Survey period: flowering 15 Jul - 31 Aug. Kral's Water-Plantain (Sagittaria secundifolia) US: T; GA: T Potential Range (county); Survey period: 1 May - 30 Sep. Large-flowered Skullcap (Scutellaria montana) US: T; GA: T Occurrence; Survey period: mid May - early Jun. Use of a nearby reference site to more accurately determine local flowering period is recommended. Federal Candidate, Candidate Conservation, or Petitioned Species: (likely or known to occur in the watershed) Cave or close proximity to a cave (Caves) Named cave; At least one cave or an area with 0.25 mi of a cave occurs in this watershed. Coosa Creekshell (Villosa umbrans) US: Pet Occurrence; Survey period: year round, when water temperatures are above 10° C and excluding when stage is increasing or above normal. Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) US: Pet; GA: R Occurrence; Survey period: 1 Apr - 30 Jun, 01 Oct - 30 Nov. Cherokee Clubtail (Gomphus consanguis) US: Pet; GA: T Occurrence; Survey period: 1 -30 Jun Georgia Aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum) US: CCA; GA: T Occurrence; Survey period: flowering early Sep - early Nov. Use of a nearby reference site to more accurately determine local flowering period is recommended. State Listed or Other At-risk Species: (likely or known to occur in the watershed) Chattooga River Crayfish (Cambarus scotti) GA: T Occurrence; Please consult with GDNR for survey efforts. Updated: 2/9/2021 0315010506 Chattooga River 2 Georgia Ecological Services U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 2/9/2021 HUC 10 Watershed Report Coldwater Darter (Etheostoma ditrema) GA: E HUC 10 Watershed: Occurrence; Please consult with GDNR for survey efforts. Lined Chub (Hybopsis lineapunctata) GA: R Historical Occurrence; Please consult with GDNR for survey efforts. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) GA: T Occurrence; Survey period: year-round. Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) GA: R Occurrence; Please consult with GDNR for survey efforts. Pink Ladyslipper (Cypripedium acaule) GA: U Occurrence; Please consult with GDNR for survey efforts. Cumberland Rose Gentian (Sabatia capitata) GA: R Occurrence; Please consult with GDNR for survey efforts. Royal Catchfly (Silene regia) GA: E Occurrence; Please consult with GDNR for survey efforts. Any of the above species may occur in suitable habitat in this HUC 10 watershed. Survey dates are provided for reference only. Please coordinate with your lead federal agency, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, or USFWS to determine if surveys will help assess project impacts to species of concern. Watershed Specific Concerns: There are federally listed aquatic/wetland and terrestrial species that occur or could occur in this watershed. If the project contains suitable habitat for listed species, please contact your lead federal agency to determine the appropriate next step for those species to inform their NEPA and ESA decisions. Coordination with Georgia Department of Natural Resources may also be helpful in those decisions. Bats/Caves: Please determine if your project will impact caves or cave-like habitats. Microclimates in cave or cave-like habitats can be impacted when drilling or other activities impact karst areas. Please coordinate with our office if your project will impact these habitats or is within 0.5 of these habitats. A 4(d) rule exempts take of Northern Long-eared Bats from the Endangered Species Act's prohibitions, except in areas surrounding known winter hibernacula or summer maternity roosts. Clearing of hardwood trees identified as potential habitat during the winter or when young bats are able to fly (August 1 through May 14) may reduce the risk of take for a project proponent. Our records indicate that there are named caves or areas in the immediate vicinity of a cave in this watershed. These caves could represent maternity habitat for Gray Bats and hibernacula for Gray and Northern Long-eared Bats. Freshwater Aquatics: Please use guidance found in the Riparian Buffer, Streambank, and Stream Channel Protection and Water Quality Protection sections below for projects that may impact populations of this species. Please coordinate any avoidance and minimization efforts for the federally listed species with our office. Bald Eagle: Bald Eagles and their nests are protected from take, including disturbance, under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. For information about Bald and Golden Eagles see the Service's regional web page: https://www.fws. Updated: 2/9/2021 0315010506 Chattooga River 3 Georgia Ecological Services U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 2/9/2021 HUC 10 Watershed Report HUCgov/southeast/our-services/permits/eagles/ 10 Watershed: Georgia Rockcress: Georgia Rockcress occurs in shallow soils of rocky slopes/bluffs and river banks, over limestone or granite. This species is identifiable when fruiting, from May to early July. Monkeyface Orchid: This orchid occurs in seeps, springheads, seepy streambanks, or other swampy habitats. Many of the orchid species are highly sought after for ornamental or gardening purposes. Protecting locations of populations of Monkeyface Orchid is important to the recovery of this species. Avoidance of ditching, draining, or filling can help protect the hydrology of orchid habitats. Kral's Water-Plantain: Kral's Water-Plantain occurs in streams with sandstone, rocky shoals, and boulders. This aquatic species is typically found in unpolluted streams with minimal sedimentation. Proper erosion and sedimentation controls should be used in any project in watersheds containing this species. If activities upstream of populations could release large amounts of sedimentation or fine materials into the waterway, methods should be used to protect the plants from burial or smothering. Large-flowered Skullcap: This watershed has known occurrences of Large-flowered Skullcap. This species occurs in hardwood or mix-hardwood forests with a relatively open understory. Any activities in the vicinity of skullcap populations should minimize disturbances that would promote invasive species. Georgia Aster: This watershed is within the range of candidate conservation species Georgia Aster. Georgia Aster can be found in open forests or forest edges and right-of-ways. Use of prescribed fire or mowing in winter or early spring to create or maintain sunny openings, avoiding the use of herbicides, and avoiding clear-cutting and soil disturbance can help protect areas where this species occurs. Trout Stream: This watershed contains streams designated as Primary or Secondary Trout Streams by the State of Georgia. These streams support native and introduced trout populations. Maintenance of cold water temperatures, preservation of vegetated stream buffers, and strict sediment and erosion control are critical for these streams. Priority Watershed: This watershed has been identified as a moderately significant high priority watershed for aquatic species. This indicates that the watershed contains important populations of high priority aquatic species or is an important watershed for aquatic organisms. For more information, please see the following fact sheet: https://www.fws.gov/athens/transportation/pdfs/SWAP_Priority_Watershed_fact_sheet_2017.pdf Species