Ecological Impacts of Status Report Concept on the Housatonic River Floodplain Ecosystem

Robert P. Brooks, Ph.D.

12-13 September 2012

Pittsfield, MA

Remediation done in the upper 2 miles is not appropriate for the PSA

ACEC Designation, 30 March 2009

ACEC Designation recognizes Primary Study Area has:

• Regionally Significant Biodiversity and Wildlife Habitat • Exceptional Number of State Listed Species and Certified

and Potential Vernal Pools • Large Areas of Relatively Unfragmented Wildlife Habitat • Regionally Significant Bird Habitat and Migratory Corridor for

over 200 species

5

Housatonic River - Species of Concern

control,… the protection of fisheries, and the

Also, from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s ACEC designation:

“…the wetland resource areas…are significant to the protection of groundwater supply …, flood control,… the protection of fisheries, and the protection of wildlife habitat – all of which are public interests defined in the Wetlands Protection Act …”.

Floodplain forests are “highly distinctive and intrinsically important”

because they have: 1) high biological diversity 2) high productivity 3) high habitat dynamism3) high habitat dynamism

Hughes 2003

“

The Nature Conservancy’s Massachusetts Office in a comment letter on the ACEC designation, stated:

“…floodplain forests along the Housatonic … are …floodplain forests along the Housatonic … are among the most threatened, globally significant wetland community types in New England” …

Hydrorogbca~

Exohange Pat hrways

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FLOODPLA.I N

U n:constratned Reach

Yetter (in press)

Yetter (in press)

As stated clearly in the Revised CMS (October 2010), remedial actions will cause:

• changes in soil composition, chemistry, and stratigraphy

As presented in the Revised CMS (October 2010), remedial actions will cause: • changes in soil composition, chemistry, and

stratigraphy • changes in floodplain hydrology (including,

flood flows, water tables, water quality, microhabitats)microhabitats)

•

As stated clearly in the Revised CMS (October 2010), remedial actions will cause: • changes in soil composition, chemistry, and

stratigraphy • changes in floodplain hydrology (including,

flood flows, water tables, water quality) • changes in vegetation structure, composition, changes in vegetation structure, composition,

succession, and function

Trees are very importance for maintaining the hydrology and function of floodplain forests.

Hughes 2003

•

As stated clearly in the Revised CMS (October 2010), remedial actions will cause: • changes in soil composition, chemistry, and

stratigraphy • changes in floodplain hydrology (including,

flood flows, water tables, water quality) • changes in vegetation structure, composition, changes in vegetation structure, composition,

succession, and function • changes in wildlife populations, communities,

migration patterns, and survivorship

•

As stated clearly in the Revised CMS (October 2010), remedial actions will cause: • changes in soil composition, chemistry, and

stratigraphy • changes in floodplain hydrology (including,

flood flows, water tables, water quality)• changes in vegetation structure, composition, changes in vegetation structure, composition,

succession, and function • changes in wildlife populations, communities,

migration patterns, and survivorship • changes in landscape and corridors conditions

and patterns (fragmentation)

Fig. A shows forest connectivity, Fig. B is fragmented (Hughes 2003).Most proposed remediation activities will fragment forests and reduce connectivity.

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FLOODPLA.I N

U n:constratned Reach

Yetter (in press)

Yetter (in press)

Ecological restoration to recover critical ecosystem services has been widely attempted, but the degree of actual recovery of ecosystem functioning and structure from these efforts remains uncertain.

Overall, mitigation sites displayed lower potential to perform a characteristic wetland function than reference wetlands.

TilE RIVERINE EJCOSYSTEM SYNTHESIS

L tJ ,.,_ R _•lief G,rus~~lnutls

mubilc FPZ

' I (A)

lioi • \ 1 ... 1 .......

uoeon~b".ained lo\\land FPZ

..... "

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. , I ndering I•PZ -

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' l I

1~ •11abr 11rh t' PZ I

' I floodplain F P z,

pla1,,4 Fore. t

Functional Process Zones (FPZs)

Thorp et al. 2006

Temporary Taxa

Specialized Floodplain Taxa

Natural River & Floodplain

Organic, Standing Water Taxa

Stream Taxa

Permanent, Lentic Taxa

S. Yetter

mov

MA Alt Status Report Concept

Pre-Remediation EPC (ppm) 83

Re al Area (ac) 0.6 11

EXAMPLE - EA 19 Summary MA Alt vs. Status Report Concept

Removal Area (ac) 0.6 11

Removal Volume (cy) 1,000 17,000*

Post-Remediation EPC (ppm) 23 38

Direct Contact IMPG

Attainment

10-5 Cancer

10-4 Cancer

Non-cancer

Examples of movements of wildlife using all portions of a riparian corridor, from stream to upland.

23 Forman 1995

Vernal pools in forested floodplain settings along the Housatonic support species of concern, such as Jefferson Salamanders.

Photo by Bill Byrne

SPECIES WITH STRONG SITE FIDELITIES

25J. McDonald

Riparian species require natural & vertical banks

M. DanzenbakerM. Konchar R. Brooks

SPECIES WITH STRONG SITE FIDELITIES

Cavity dwelling wildlife require a variety of tree sizes

R. Brooks

J. McDonald

Wide-ranging species found in

Primary Study Arearequire suitable,

continuous habitats, in both

mature forests and riverine ecosystems

26

Diverse patterns and processes contribute to the species pool of riverine landscapes.

Ward et al. 2002

Conclusions

Implementation of the Status Report Concept will severely impact critical riparian species and habitats.

Attempts to replace mature floodplain forests, forested vernal pools, and other sensitive floodplain forested vernal pools, and other sensitive floodplain habitats and functions are not ecologically feasible or desirable, and will cause severe alterations to existing ecosystems.