Ecosystem Accomplishments 2002

Ohio River Valley Ecosystem

The Ohio River Valley Ecosystem Setting

The Ohio River Valley Ecosystem (ORVE) includes portions of 10 states and straddles three Service Regions (Region 5, Northeast; Region 4, Southeast; and Region 3, Great Lakes-Big Rivers). The ORVE drains a total area of approximately 141,000 square miles (excluding the Tennessee and Cumberland river watersheds as well as the New River drainage in the western portions of Virginia and North Carolina) and includes portions of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Ohio, the ecosystem's primary river, is formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Major tributaries flowing into the Ohio, from upstream to downstream, include the Muskingum, Kanawha, Guyandotte, Big Sandy, Scioto, Licking, Great Miami, Kentucky, Green, and Wabash rivers. The Ohio River flows 981 miles in a southwesterly direction, joining the Mississippi River at Cairo, Illinois. Much of the ORVE's economic activity (agriculture, lumbering, mining, and recreation) is based on the watershed's natural resources.

Ohio River Valley Ecosystem Issues and Opportunities

Numerous Service trust resources occur in the ORVE, including many federally listed species, waterfowl and other migratory birds, native fish and mussels, and an assortment of mammals. However, stress from human activities has adversely affected the ecological integrity of the ORVE, and there are indications that this stress is increasing. These stresses include land conversion, poor land-use practices, direct and indirect physical alteration of the area's rivers and streams, acid mine drainage, destruction of wetland habitats, and both point- and non-point-source discharges of pollutants. Herbicides, insecticides, nutrients, and sediment are significant components of the agricultural runoff that adversely affect aquatic systems throughout the area. Acid precipitation and other airborne pollutants are having dramatic effects on aquatic and terrestrial communities, particularly at high elevations. Acid mine drainage and the accidental release of toxic chemicals into both aquatic and terrestrial systems remains a threat. Operation and maintenance of the inland navigation system and the recent invasion of the non-indigenous zebra mussel continue to impact native flora and fauna.

The Ohio River Valley Ecosystem Team

The ORVE Team is composed of Service personnel from three Service Regions (5, 4, and 3) plus State and NGO partners, and is charged with the development and implementation of a strategic plan for conserving Service trust resources in the ecosystem. The Team's mission is to work cooperatively with other government agencies and the private sector for the conservation of the ORVE's native animal and plant diversity through perpetuation of a dynamic, healthy ecosystem

The Team has established four broad goals to guide its activities:

protect, restore and enhance habitats and essential processes necessary to maintain healthy native animal and plant populations;

· protect, restore and enhance diversity of native flora and fauna;

· promote and support compatible and sustainable uses of the ecosystem's resources and utilize existing laws, regulations, and influence to control incompatible and unsustainable uses of these resources; and

· develop public awareness and support for ecosystem resource issues.

In support of these goals, the Team has established seven resource priorities and a public use priority for the Ecosystem. These include:

• -In cooperation with partners, reverse the decline of native aquatic mollusks within the ORVE with emphasis on endangered, threatened and candidate species and species of concern.

• -In cooperation with partners, reverse the decline and achieve stable, viable populations of migratory landbirds and other bird species of concern.

• -In cooperation with partners, reverse the decline of native fishes with emphasis on interjurisdictional listed and candidate species and species of concern.

• -In cooperation with partners, protect and restore karst/cave habitat supporting listed and candidate species and species of concern.

• -In cooperation with partners, protect and restore wetland, riverine and riparian habitat in the Ohio River watershed for the protection and enhancement of migratory waterbirds and other wetland dependant species of concern.

• -In cooperation with partners, reduce the decline and promote the recovery of rare resources identified as listed/proposed/threatened and endangered species, candidate species, and species of concern not otherwise addressed in Resource Priorities 1- 5 (e.g. plants, reptiles, amphibians, etc.).

• -In cooperation with partners, achieve the necessary level of protection for those high priority areas within the ORVE that would help meet the goals of the ORVE Team. In particular, emphasis will be placed on the objectives of Resource Priorities #'s 1 through 6 and Public Use Priority #1.

• -In cooperation with partners, promote and support sustainable fish and wildlife-oriented recreational uses while maintaining the long-term health of the ecosystem and the Service's trust resources.

Ohio River Valley Ecosystem Team Accomplishments for FY2002

Mollusks

In 2000, the ORVE funded(30K), the Elk River/Hackers Creek mussel survey and threat analysis project. Although there was significant preparation in 2001, actual field work began this spring and summer 2002. To summarize, we worked 12.3 miles of the Elk River, up stream from slackwater of Winfield Navigation Pool. In 87.25 hours, we collected 2,663 mussels representing 24 species (30.5 mussels/hour). Personnel from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and the Asheville Field Office participated in the week long effort. Prior to the survey, a reconnaissance was conducted of the lower 25 miles. Next year, the reconnaissance of the Elk River will be completed and the mussel survey and threat analysis will continue.

Fishes

In 2001, we acquired flex funds(20K) through the ORVE to determine the habitat use and distribution of the crystal darter, Crystallaria asperella, in the Elk River. The Cooperative Fisheries ResearchUnit at West Virginia University was awarded the funds, and the project is being coordinated by the assistant unit leader, Dr. Stuart Welsh, on the project. Reconnaissance and survey work started this summer and is anticipated to be finished in 2004. In addition, preliminary results of a second taxonomic study confirm that the crystal darter is a separate species confined to the Elk River. The Service will probably proceed to list the fish as a candidate.

Wolf Creek NFH distributed 117,300 trout in Kentucky to mitigate the impacts of 11 federal water development projects. This activity generated 70,000 angler days and $5.6 million in total economic effect for Kentucky.

Wolf Creek NFH distributed 175,810 trout in 54 economically important waters through a reimbursable agreement with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. This activity generated 108,000 angler days and $8.4 million in total economic effect for Kentucky. Many of these waters have been altered by man and would not sustain a viable fishery if not for these stockings. In many cases, these stockings greatly reduce the negative impacts on nearby waters which contain imperiled aquatic species.

Endangered Species

In 2000, we acquired kitty funds($7.2K) through the ORVE to conduct monitoring studies to determine the buffer widths necessary to protect the threatened Cheat Mountain salamander, Plethodon nettingi, from activities such as road construction, timber harvest, etc. Dr. Thomas Pauley, the authority on the species, was awarded the contract. This is long term monitoring study, primarily conducted on the Monongahela National Forest, should be completed in 2005.

In 1999, we acquired kitty funds ($9K) to conduct genetic studies on the endangered West Virginia northern flying squirrel, Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus, to determine population structure, metapopulation extent, and evolutionary significant lineages. That work has not been completed due to problems associated with the technique of using hair follicles. When these problems are overcome, which we understand should be soon, the project will be completed.

Migratory Birds

The ORVET Migratory Bird Subgroup, which includes a variety of federal and state agency and conservation group partners, initiated the ORVE Migratory Bird Resource Priority GAP Metaproject to identify areas of importance to species of migratory birds. The target bird species are mainly songbirds that winter in South and Central America and breed or inhabit the Ohio River Watershed during the spring and summer. The GAP metaproject will identify areas in the ORVE that are of particular importance to these species of birds and present the information in an ArcView GIS database.

Using the GIS coverage, the group is presently:

-identifying various size classes of forest and grassland habitat based on PIF and other reference sources concerning theoretical minimum sizes for the identified species of concern.

-cooperatively working with the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region (BCR) to incorporate our extensive GIS information on breeding birds with their development of a GIS for the Central Hardwoods BCR.

The ORVE team supported a Ball State University (primary investigator, Dr. Kamal Islam) study concerning habitat and landscape characteristics of cerulean warbler territories in Indiana. During the 2002 field season, which extended from 1st week in May through mid-August, 30 cerulean warbler territories were located, monitored, and mapped, and several vegetative parameters associated with these territories were measured at Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge, Indiana. In addition, 30 random sites were selected and vegetative parameters associated with these sites were collected. An additional 10 birds were located on territory. However, due to time and weather constraints, these territories were not mapped. Nests were monitored at 14 territories in 2002. A total of 4 of these 14 nests fledged young. Nests were found in black walnut, white oak, tuliptree, sweet gum, and black gum trees

The ORVE team supported a study of Bewick's wrens in Kentucky and Tennessee concerning their current distribution, breeding success, habitat use, and interactions with house wrens. This was the second year of a 2-year study by Eastern Kentucky University (EKU; primary investigator, Dr. Gary Ritchison) funded through Region 4. From 1 May - 15 August 2001, EKU searched for Bewick's Wrens (Thryomanes bewickii) in central and western Kentucky and Tennessee. Five nests were located (4 in TN and 1 in KY), and 5 unpaired males were located. Vegetation was sampled at nest sites as well as at randomly-selection locations within the territories. Previously-used locations were identified based on responses to requests for information on birding listservers in both Kentucky and Tennessee and on discussions with a number of birders in both states. EKU observations along with discussions with land-owners indicate that vegetation had been altered at all previously-used sites, and these changes likely contributed to the abandonment of these formerly-used areas by wrens.

Other bird studies:

Several other grassland bird studies were coordinated/reviewed by ORVE team members in the ORVE. The Henslow's sparrow monitoring work continued at Big Oaks NWR (the former Jefferson Proving Grounds). The study at Big Oaks NWR has monitored 135 Henslow's sparrow nests during the last 4 years. This is the largest sample of nests ever monitored for this species. This study has indicated that Henslow's sparrows can successfully nest in grasslands treated with prescribed fire during the treatment year, and nesting densities are highest the season following the prescribed fire treatment. Also, some data at Big Oaks NWR indicates that mowing could decrease nest densities and be a less desirable treatment for nesting Henslow's sparrows.

Contaminants

Technical assistance was provided to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on contaminant removal actions and monitoring at several Superfund (CERCLA) sites and RCRA-permitted facilities. This was done to decrease contaminant exposures to trust resources and to the public.

Technical assistance was provided to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Department of Energy (DOE), and DOE contractors on contaminant sampling and data assessment at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) and West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area (WKWMA). Our assistance resulted in the enhancement and protection of approximately 5,000 acres of habitat and decreased contaminant exposures to the Federally endangered Indiana bat and migratory birds on the WKWMA.

Technical assistance was provided to the Natural Resources Conservation Service on sampling for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at a Wetland Reserve Program site within the floodplain of the Mud River in Logan County, Kentucky.

Technical assistance was provided to individual river basin teams of the Kentucky Watershed Framework on water quality and biological monitoring. Biological data collection was initiated in the Big Sandy River basin management unit. Biological data assessment continued in the Tennessee/Cumberland/Mississippi River, Upper Cumberland, and Green/Tradewater River basin management units. Data generated from water quality and biological monitoring in these basins will benefit trust resources and provide important information to the ORVE team.

GIS

Land use analyses were performed for caves within the ORVE that support gray bat maternity colonies. This Geographic Information System (GIS) assessment identified specific land uses (agricultural), vegetative cover types, and riparian zone conditions within a 5-mile radius of select caves evaluated in the Cookeville Field Office's environmental contaminants investigation.

GIS layers were created for the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region (BCR) displaying 10-year change in population by county and state breeding bird atlas data within the Central Hardwoods.

Outreach