State-Listed Threatened Mussels & Invasive Zebra Mussels: What You Need to Know to Avoid Project Delays

1. Jean Krejca, Ph.D. State-Listed Threatened Mussels & Invasive Zebra Mussels: What You Need to Know to Avoid Project Delays Ashley Oliver, CE, LEED AP®

2. OUTLINE • Why do we care about native mussels? • Ecosystem role • Life history • Threats • State and federal listing status • Zebra mussels vs. native species • State and Federal regulations • Types of projects requiring mussel surveys • Case study in Dallas • Project planning and scheduling • Aquatic resource relocation plan • Presence/absence surveys and mussel relocation • Fish relocation • Monitoring of relocated mussels

3. Why do We Care About Native Mussels? Important Role in the Aquatic Ecosystem • Ecosystem Engineers • Monitors of aquatic health • Natural filter feeders • Valuable food source for wildlife • Stabilize bottom • Minimize scouring • Biodiversity

4. Why do We Care About Native Mussels? Life history • Adults buried in suitable substrate • Free swimming sperm pulled in by female to fertilize • Larvae (glochidia) released to find fish host • Glochidia develop as parasites • Juveniles drop and will grow in suitable substrate http://www.fws.gov/midwest/mussel/images/life_cycle_620.gif

5. Why do We Care About Native Mussels? Threats to native mussels • Changes to habitat • Pollution (non-point source, etc.) • Sedimentation • Drought • Sand and gravel mining • Invasive species (i.e., zebra mussels)

6. Why do We Care About Native Mussels? STATE STATUS: 15 species listed as Threatened by TPWD on January 17, 2010 • 6 known to occur in Trinity River Basin: • Texas pigtoe (Fusconaiaaskewi) • Louisiana pigtoe (Pleurobemariddellii) • sandbank pocketbook (Lampsilissatura) • southern hickorynut(Obovariajacksoniana) • Texas heelsplitter(Potamilusamphicaenus) • Texas fawnsfoot(Truncilladonaciformis)

7. Why do We Care About Native Mussels? FEDERAL STATUS: Texas has one federally listed endangered mussel Ouachita rock pocketbook (Arkansia wheeleri) One federal candidate added in 2001 Texas Hornshell (Popenaias popeii) Five Central Texas mussels added as Federal candidates on October 6, 2011 Listing anticipated in 2017 • Texas fatmucket (Lampsilis bracteata) • Golden orb (Quadrula aurea) • Smooth pimpleback (Quadrula houstonensis) • Texas pimpleback (Quadrula petrina) • Texas fawnsfoot (Truncilla macrodon)

8. Texas Pimpleback Distribution

9. Why do We Care About Native Mussels? FUTURE FEDERAL STATUS: Six additional species petitioned as federal candidates in 2009 • Triangle pigtoe (Fusconaia lananensis) • Louisiana pigtoe (Pleurobemariddelli) - Trinity • Texas heelsplitter (Potamilusamphichaenus ) - Trinity • Salina mucket (Potamilus metnecktayi) • False spike (Quadrula mitchelli) • Mexican fawnsfoot (Truncilla cognata) No further federal action anticipated until 2016

10. Invasive Zebra mussels vs. native species Invasives vs. natives • Family: Dreissenidae; Two species of Dreissena • Invaded great lakes from the old world in late 80’s • Zebra mussels are small (see picture), and reproduce quickly without needing host fish like native unionids • Zebra mussels do not need to bury in substrate, they grow on any object with adhesive byssal threads • Zebra mussels have a large biomass; clogging pipes and screens and covering objects including native mussels • Clarify water and accumulate pollutants, causing an array of ecological changes from algal blooms to avian botulism

11. Invasive Zebra mussels vs. native species Lakes with Zebra Mussels or DNA Update 9/25/2013

12. Invasive Zebra mussels vs. native species http://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/mollusks/zebramussel/maps/current_zm_quag_map.jpg

13. State Regulations & Requirements Protection of State-Listed Species in Texas • State law prohibits take (incidental or otherwise) of state-listed species (Chapters 67-68 TPW Code; Section 68.015 TPW Code; and Section 65.171 of TAC) • State-listed species may only be handled by persons possessing a Scientific Permit or Letter of Authorization issued to relocate a species. Penalties: • Up to a Class A Misdemeanor & 1 year in jail; and • Fines & Restitution values per individual, vary by species (TPWD developing mussel values)

14. Federal considerations Why do I care if there’s a federal candidate on my site? • Today • No federal requirements or protection (STATE LAW STILL APPLIES) • By 2017 for the five Central Texas candidate species • Protects these species under the Endangered Species Act • may not “take” a listed species (harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect) without a permit • Critical habitat areas established • take can not be permitted in these areas “critical for species survival” • May be located on private property • Any future action on the site with a federal nexus (permit, funding, etc.) will require consultation with USFWS (assessment, review, permitting, mitigation)

15. Types of Projects that may Require Mussel Surveys • Placement of fill in channel or reservoir • Dredging • Changes to banks • Dewatering/Cofferdamming • River Channel Modifications • Projects requiring 404 permits • Geotechnical boring, even in the case where the drill rig is on the bank • Any project that impacts the bottom of a channel or reservoir

16. Case study: Dallas water utilities Rehabilitation of three dams • Project planning and scheduling • Aquatic resource relocation plan • Presence/absence surveys and mussel relocation • Fish relocation • Monitoring of relocated mussels

17. PROJECT PLANNING & SCHEDULING TO AVOID DELAYS Prepare Aquatic Resource Relocation Plan (2-4 weeks) Assess Specific Project Needs & Determine Best Survey Methodology (2-4 weeks) “Assume Presence” Methodology Selected (100% of impact area + sedimentation) Obtain TPWD Approval on Plan (up to 8 weeks) “Demonstrate Absence” Methodology Selected (625 m2) Presence/Absence Surveys (April-Oct) (1-8 weeks) Conduct Survey & Relocation Activities (April-Oct) (4-8 weeks, depending on project size) Begin Construction State-listed Species Found No State-listed Species Found; Report Findings (2 weeks) More Surveys During Dewatering (if Determined Necessary) Take Away Message: Plan Project Early to Avoid Delays Suggest ≥6 months before construction Begin Construction Report Detailed Findings (> 4weeks)

18. Western Dams Rehabilitation Project

19. California Crossing Dam Construction Schedule: Begin in Summer/Fall 2013

20. Aquatic resource relocation plan • TPWD requires RP to formulate a written plan • Necessary when dewatering streams, ponds, reservoirs, stilling basins, and other flood control structures • Project plan received approval on 9/11/12

22. General Methodology – Mussel SURVEY Survey (Prior to Dewatering) • SCUBA safety concerns for elevated E. coli and contaminated sediment: positive pressure full face masks and drysuits • SCUBA divers conduct tactile searches (Sept 2012) • Visual ID by a TPWD-permitted biologist • Sort by species and record relevant data • Transport live mussels in coolers to the pre-selected relocation site

23. General Methodology – Mussel relocation Relocation • Mark mussels with a Biomark PIT tag & color coded bead • Establish baseline data to facilitate monitoring program • Relocate marked mussels to a pre-selected relocation site

24. Selection of The Relocation Site Step 1: Develop List of Potential Sites • Use aerial photography/GIS • Proximity of known projects • Proximity of highly developed areas • Proximity of known zebra mussel populations • Site accessibility • Riparian buffer zone Step 2: Spot Check Potential Sites via SCUBA • Habitat characteristics (i.e., depth, substrate, flow, bank morphology) • Species assemblage • Mussel density • Avoid “overloading” the selected relocation site

25. California Crossing – preliminary results Summary: - >1,100 live mussels collected & relocated - 15 total species; 2 state-listed threatened species (Texas & Louisiana pigtoes)

26. California Crossing Dam – Preliminary Results

27. California Crossing Dam – Preliminary Results Day 1 Day 2 Day 5 Day 4 Day 3 • Total Survey: 2,190 person minutes, 1041.5 m2 • All 15 species encountered after 200 m2 of survey • TX pigtoe found in 5 m2& LA pigtoe found in 46 m2

28. California Crossing – Preliminary Results • Number of Relocated State-Listed Threatened Mussels • Relocated41 Texas pigtoes & 5 Louisiana pigtoes • To date, most ever found at one location in the Trinity River Basin

29. California crossing – next steps

30. Additional recommended research Post-Relocation Monitoring of Texas & Louisiana Pigtoes Research Questions: - How successful was the relocation? - Survival Rate? Growth Rate? Recommendations: - Monitoring once per year

31. acknowledgements • City of Dallas, Dallas Water Utilities • Kimberlie Brashear for project coordination & management • Halff Associates, Inc for project management, field assistance, report preparation, and presentation preparation • Greg Conley & Alan Butler with TPWD, for Aquatic Resource • Relocation Plan development/approval & assistance with fish • relocations. • Dr. Robert McMahon (UT Arlington) & Brian Van Zee (TPWD) for • assistance with zebra mussel information. • Dr. Stirling Robertson and Jay McCurley (TxDOT) for relocation site coordination, and field assistance. • Magnolia Fisheries for performing electrofishing/fish relocations . • David Ford (graduate student at UT Tyler) for assistance with fieldwork.

32. QUESTIONS? Contact Information: Jean Krejca Zara Environmental Email: jean@ zaraenvironmental.com Phone: (512) 291-4555