Heidi Dunn and David Ford EcoAnalysts/Ecological Specialists, Inc.

Mussel Surveys, Relocation, and Permitting

• Clean Water Act – Section 404 – construction/dredging – 316A – thermal effluent – NPDES – discharge

• Rivers and Harbors Act – Section 10 – construction/dredging navigable waters

• FERC licensing – hydropower

• Federal Action (issue permit) – Endangered Species Act

• State Permits – State specific– but most have endangered species legislation

• State or USFWS– survey to detect whether mussels affected

Why a Mussel Survey?

Most Important Aspect of Determining how to Sample: Clear Idea of SAMPLE OBJECTIVES

• What question am I trying to answer?

• How do I want to use the data?

• How general or specific of an answer do I need?

Basic Sample Types

Method Objective Technique

Informal Sampling

Reconnaissance – cover a large area quickly

Distribution over large area Presence/absence

Site selection

Brail Spot dives

Look for shells Look for hydraulic changes

Semi–quantitative – sample a defined area with specific effort

Map distribution with a site Map limits of a mussel bed

Transects spaced and marked at intervals/

Cells

Qualitative – collect numerous individuals

Estimate species richness Estimate effort for new species Timed dives or collect in lots

Formal Sampling

Quantitative–collect ALL individuals in small area

Unbiased estimate of community demographics

0.25 m2 dig to 10–15 cm Sieve and sort samples

Complete removal – remove MOST mussels from larger area

Collect and translocate mussels from impact area; dewatering

Systematic collection, repeated collecting

Mark/Recapture – mark all animals in small area, repeat over

time

Determine survival, growth, movement over time

Collect and mark animals at T1, repeat at T2, etc.

HOW COULD THESE AFFECT RESULTS?– Keep in mind • Collector experience

‾ If you don’t know where mussels live– how are you going to find them or ID correctly

‾ Experienced collector can spot or feel mussels/know habitat

• Field conditions ‾ Turbidity effect visibility ‾ High current velocity

‾ Difficult to stay in place, fear factor

• Size and shape of animals ‾ Bigger and sculptured animals easier to find

• Behavior ‾ Some species live deeper in the substrate– have to dig ‾ Mussels move vertically

• Spawning, releasing glochidia, may not be UP at certain times

Sampling Bias!

Quantitative

• Probability based sampling

• Determine unbiased estimate ‾ Density ‾ Relative abundance ‾ Age structure ‾ Distribution

• Statistical Temporal and Spatial

Comparison

• EXPENSIVE – LABOR INTENSIVE

- (but….you get what you pay for)

• Simple Random Design

• Systematic Design

• Stratified Random Design

• Adaptive Design

• Two Stage Sequential Design

• Double Design

see Strayer, D. L. and D. R. Smith. 2003. A guide to sampling freshwater mussel populations. Also, D. R. Smith has several papers with examples and analysis of methods.

Common Objectives

• Mussel presence/absence

• Species composition?

• Mussel distribution?

• Community change over time?

• Will activity affect community?

• Baseline characteristics of community?

• Population estimate of community/species

• Remove mussels from unavoidable impact area

Presence/Absence

Area

Data Precision

Method

Results

Large Low

Reconnaissance Quick searches Brail Spot dives

Mussel and/or habitat available Relative abundance Delineate areas

Small High

Semi–quantitative or quantitative

Probability of detection

Mussels or species present or absent with x% probability

Osage River • Objective

– Project–Determine mussel distribution with respect to hydropower operation

– Reconnaissance–select sample sites

• Field - Boat from dam to dam - Stopped at likely mussel habitat - Walked around (timed) - Recorded relative abundance,

distribution - Scouted access

• Pre–field – Reviewed previous reports – Reviewed aerial photos – Prepared maps of area

Semi–Quantitative or Quantitative • Find rare species/low density area

• Probability of detection

• Estimate time or area needed

• Objective – 95% prob of rare species at density of

0.1/m2 (1 per 10 x 1 grid cell)

– Search Area = –LN (1– prob det)/ (species density x search efficiency)

• Search efficiency ‾ Surface search

Distribution

Area

Data Precision

Method

Results

Large to small Low Semi–quantitative

Transects

Cells

Delineate mussel bed area

Map habitat

Large to small High

Quantitative Systematic

Random starts

Stratified

Distribution and density

Semi–Quantitative Transects – Methods

• Perpendicular to flow - Mussels generally in parallel strips

• Equal intervals or random starts

• Mark intervals on lines (10m)

• Visual/tactual search within 1m of line

• Record at 10m intervals - Species, number (juv/adult) - Shells - Substrate type (Wentworth Scale) - Depth - Velocity (Hydropower) - Temperature/DO (316a)

• L&D 21

• Bed boundaries

- Upstream silt

- Riverward

• Coarse sand

• Depth change

• Increase velocity

- Downstream silt

Habitat Map

Mussel Bed

Sand

Silt

Clay

Sand

Silt

Clay

Quantitative • Set up sample area in GIS

• Download to GPS system

• Navigate to points

• Dig 0.25 m2 quadrat, sieve substrate

• Not effective in low density areas

• Distance between points dependent on sample size, distribution of mussels

Systematic Sampling with Multilple Random Starts

• Objective

- Determine density and distribution in 2 mile reach

• Results - Low density mussel bed (2/m2)

Systematic Sampling with One Random Start • Objective

- Determine density and distribution within 100 m of bank in Pool 15

Species Richness/Rare Species

Data Precision

Method

Results

Moderate

Qualitative Timed searches

Collect in lots

Species accumulation curve

70 to 80% of species with diminishing returns on

species curve

High

Quantitative/Semi–quantitative

Species accumulation curve Probability of detection

70 to 80% of species with diminishing returns on species

curve

Prob of detection– dependent on effort, objective, and experience

Qualitative • Free search (usually timed) of loosely defined area

• Objective – Collect enough to detect the majority of species and/or size classes

• Inexpensive

• Collect a large number of individuals quickly

Qualitative • Techniques

– Timed increments or lots (number/bag)

– Stop– several samples with no new species

– Generate species accumulation curve

– Regress – determine effort for next species

– Rarefaction species richness

• Record – Depth – Substrate – Species, number – Adults/juveniles – Locations

no. species=a + b(log(1+cumulative individuals))

Chart1

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Model

Cumulative individuals

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Appendix E

ECOLOGICALAppendix E. Evenness plots, Q. fragosa monitoring area, 2009.ESI

SPECIALISTS, INC.

Appendix E

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8

Quan evenness

Rank

Relative abundance (%)

Quantitative Evenness

28.3018867925

28.3018867925

18.8679245283

9.4339622642

6.2893081761

3.1446540881

2.5157232704

0.6289308176

0.6289308176

0.6289308176

0.6289308176

0.6289308176

species curve

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Rank

Relative abundance (%)

Qualitative Evenness

45.0495049505

23.597359736

15.3465346535

5.4455445545

3.1353135314

2.4752475248

1.8151815182

0.9900990099

0.8250825083

0.495049505

0.495049505

0.1650165017

0.1650165017

Sheet1

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Total evenness

Rank

Relative abundance (%)

Total Evenness

41.568627451

22.614379085

18.0392156863

6.2745098039

3.2679738562

3.137254902

1.4379084967

0.9150326797

0.7843137255

0.6535947712

0.522875817

0.522875817

0.1307189542

0.1307189542

ECOLOGICALFigure 4-6. Species area curve, Q. fragosa monitoring area, 2009.ESI

SPECIALISTS, INC.

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Actual Data

Model

Cumulative individuals

Cumulative species

3

3.5857161222

3

5.13

4

6.033348159

5

6.6742838778

7

7.1714322445

7

7.5776320367

7

7.9210690675

7

8.2185677555

7

8.4809801957

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8.7157161222

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9.1219159145

8

9.4653529453

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9.7628516333

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10.0252640734

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10.26

8

11.8042838778

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12.7076320367

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13.3485677555

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13.8457161222

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14.2519159145

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14.5953529453

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14.8928516333

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subfamily

Sum of L

Qual(blank)Grand Total

Species689101112131415171925283031334045464749505354565859606162636465697274757677787980818385878990919293959699100104105106107108109110111114115116118119122123124125126127129130134137139142143146148152159160161164167168176181123456789101112131415161718192021222324(blank)

Fusconaia flava111111111111151111111120113911132121312741721474121018173

Amblema plicata1111131111111111321112211111121111111163225513717774198101016851110282310318

Truncilla truncata11111111112111241113222334548

Pleurobema sintoxia1111127

Quadrula pustulosa pustulosa11111111121218124

Lampsilis siliquoidea111115

Potamilus alatus31111112121311112111111121211121111655313444123136109394331138

Ligumia recta11114

Obovaria olivaria211111111221113211125

Utterbackia imbecillis11

Lampsilis cardium1111116

Leptodea fragilis11114

Pyganodon grandis112321111

Plethobasus cyphyus11

Grand Total3122421132111231112111123222212113212111182111122244111232211113121112112213412311121114111127504992913351310135151330304917332621494939765

Cum ind3468121415161921222324262930313234353637384043454749515254555659616264656667687678798081828486889296979899101104106108109110111112115116118119120121123124125127129130133137138140143144145146148149150151155156157158159186236285294296305318353366376389394409422452482531548581607628677726765

Cum species3345777778888888889999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999991010101010101010101010101111111111111111111212121212121313131313131313131313131313141414141414141414

Cum ind5101520253035404550607080901002003004005006007008009001000

Cum species3.65.16.06.77.27.67.98.28.58.79.19.59.810.010.311.812.713.313.814.314.614.915.215.4

How Many Mussels Affected or Comparison Over Space or Time

Data Precision

Method

Results

Moderate Semi–Qualitative Transects/cells 30 to 60% of actual density

Biased

High

Quantitative Random within polygon

Systematic with random starts

...... many designs

Density with conf interval

Species relative abundance

% Recruitment

Other useful metrics

Moderate to High

Mark/Recapture Establish grid

Mark all animals

Doesn’t destroy habitat

Survival

Surface density

Growth

Movement (horz and vert)

Species behavior

Simple Random Sampling Sampling objective

• Unbiased estimate - Mussel density - Age structure - Recruitment - Mortality - Relative abundance

• Best in smaller sample areas in known limits of mussel community

- One mussel bed - Small area of impact

Systematic Sampling with One Start • Objective

‾ What is the population and community structure in Pool 18?

• How many mussels would be

affected by a drawdown?

Mark Recapture • Mark individuals, resample

later

• Objectives: Long–term monitoring - Timing: Months, 1–2 year, 5 years,

10 years - Growth rates - New individuals/density changes - Is existing community enhanced? - Movement over time? - Recolonization of impacted

areas? - How many is too many? - Assess impacts

(upstream/downstream)

•Pros -Same individuals -Compare growth, survival, movement -Calculate mortality, recruitment

•Cons -High sample for statistical comparisons -Not all are at the surface and collectable

• Minimize area – Labor intensive

• Select suitable recipient site

• Handle mussels carefully – Keep cool/ambient

conditions – Leave in water – Relocate as soon as

possible • Dunn et al. 2000

Relocate Animals from Impact Area

• Delineate impact area + buffer zones – 5 to 10 m around perimeter of

impact

– Divide area into manageable sections

– Systematically collect animals • Compare number per search • Density estimate pre, post • Spread marked mussels and collect

until 90% recovered

• Can I move only T&E’s?

• How do I know I collected all the T&E’s if I don’t collect them all?

Collecting Animals

What Method do I use?

It depends: • Objective • Data goals • Sampling conditions • Resources available Protocols:

FMCS website– MolluskConservation.Org Guidelines and Techniques

TPWD– https://tpwd.texas.gov/

Combination of Techniques

Where should we look?

• Reconnaissance • Determine sample area

• Semi–quantitative

• Determine distribution of mussels/habitat

• Qualitative • Refine estimate of mussel bed

edges– polygon

• Quantitative • Random 0.25m2 samples in

mussel bed to determine community metrics

• Qualitative • 5 minute qualitative samples to

estimate species richness

Combination: I74 – Relocation • 2014/2015

– Determine collection area – Direct impact areas

• 2015 – Survey and select

relocation areas

• 2016 – Baseline data for

monitoring studies – Relocate mussels from

new bridge corridor

I74 – Relocation Process

I74 – Relocation Process • Dive team – collect mussels

– Grid cells, diminishing returns (IL)

– General searches (IA) • Mark mussels, sort into

relocation areas

• Record data

• Transport mussels to relocation areas – 6 for common/state

T&E – Grids for fed species

I74 – Relocation Results – Illinois • Habitat

– Gravel, sand, silt, zebra mussel shells

– Dead mussel shells

• 140,694 mussels of 32 species

• 3 federally endangered species, 4 IL threatened species – 2 not reported from this pool

since 1980

• Juveniles of 26 species; 21.3% ≤5 years old

What Does This Mean for Texas?

• Texas mussels - Approximately 52 species - 15 state listed (2009)

• Survey triggers: - Dewatering, maintenance, and/or construction activities in water

• Potential to harm aquatic life • Criminal offense to kill T&E species in TX • TPWD can investigate and assign restitution for destruction of state wildlife

resources (mussels, fish, etc.)

• Requires state permits and TPWD approval

• Type depends on presence/absence of T&E – Survey to determine T&E – Either move project or move mussels (requires ARRP) – Dewatering– require salvage of aquatic species (requires ARRP) – Surveys take time! Plan ahead

Dewatering– TRWD Southwest Blvd. Dam

• COMPLICATED!

– Longer than planned and requires machinery

• Removal of water from an area – Harms aquatic life

• Objective: Collection and relocation – Fish, mussels, turtles

(sometimes) – Determine relocation site – Write Aquatic Resource

Relocation Plan (ARRP) – Collect the majority of

aquatic life and relocate

Aquatic Resource Relocation Plan • ARRP (any relocation)

– 10 items detail the relocation • Why, where, how

– Selection of relocation site • Must be similar

– Collection methods – Decontamination

• Clean, drain, dry • Zebra mussels an issue

– Approved before project begins

• Obtain introduction permit

Dewatering– TRWD Southwest Blvd. Dam

• Objectives – Collect and relocate aquatic species – Determine presence/absence of listed

species

• Collect fish before/during dewatering

– Electroshocking – Seining

• Collect mussels and turtles – Visually search – Continue to search as water drops

• 2 teams – Fish crew – Mussel/turtle crew – Shore area for shade/sorting

Summary • More TX mussels may be federally listed soon

- Change how regulations are implemented in TX • Be aware of the time/effort required

- Takes time. Plan ahead • Consider your sampling objective • Select design based on objective/field conditions

This is the spot

Seriously? Do we also have

a point at the top of those trees?

Questions? David Ford– dford@ecologicalspecialists.com

Heidi Dunn– Hdunn@ecologicalspecialists.com

Mussel Surveys, Relocation, and PermittingWhy a Mussel Survey?Most Important Aspect of Determining how to Sample:�Clear Idea of sample objectivesBasic Sample TypesSampling Bias!QuantitativeCommon ObjectivesPresence/AbsenceOsage RiverSemi–Quantitative or QuantitativeDistributionSemi–QuantitativeHabitat MapQuantitativeSystematic Sampling with �Multilple Random Starts��Systematic Sampling with One Random Start��Species Richness/Rare SpeciesQualitativeQualitativeHow Many Mussels Affected or Comparison Over Space or TimeSimple Random SamplingSystematic Sampling with One StartMark RecaptureSlide Number 24Collecting AnimalsWhat Method do I use?Combination of TechniquesCombination: I74 – RelocationI74 – Relocation ProcessI74 – Relocation ProcessI74 – Relocation Results – IllinoisWhat Does This Mean for Texas?Dewatering– TRWD �Southwest Blvd. DamAquatic Resource Relocation PlanDewatering– TRWD �Southwest Blvd. DamSlide Number 36Slide Number 37Questions?