Opportunity for Recovery of Mussels in Copper Creek, Russell and Scott Counties, Virginia:

1. Opportunity for Recovery of Mussels in Copper Creek, Russell and Scott Counties, Virginia: in Search of Refugium Shane D. Hanlon (USFWS) and Dr. Richard J. Neves (USGS) Preliminary results of a Science Supported Partnership Project

2. Study Goals • Investigate current status and trend of mussel populations within Copper Creek • Identify threats and determine potential for habitat restoration and species recovery • Identify suitable sites within Copper Creek for augmenting mussel populations • Engage in propagation and augmentation of the federally listed purple bean (Villosa perpurpurea) population within Copper Creek

4. ~ 84,960 acres (133 square miles) • Entire watershed is underlain by karst topography • Comprised of Cambro-Ordovician aged dolostone and limestone, and middle Ordovician aged limestone • 10 documented occurrences of rare, cave obligate fauna, including the Federally listed endangered grey bat • 76 species of fish (13 families, 36 genera) • Significant mussel assemblage

5. Yellowfin madtom (Noturus flavipinnis) Duskytail darter (Etheostoma percnurum) Purple bean (Villosa perpurpurea) Shiny pigtoe (Fusconaia cor) Fluted kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus subtentum) Rough rabbitsfoot (Quadrula cylindrica strigillata) Oyster mussel (Epioblasma capsaeformis) Fine-rayed pigtoe (Fusconaia cuneolus)

6. Surveyed 47 sites • Between February 2004 and April 2005 • Timed searches by snorkeling or view bucket

7. Surveyed most historic survey sites • Ahlstedt 1981 (conducted 1980) • Fraley and Ahlstedt 1999 (conducted 1998) • Surveyed newly identified sites

8. Mussel Surveys of Copper Creek, Virginia 1980 1998 2004 Actinonaias pectorosa X X Alasmidonta viridis XX Amblema plicata X Elliptio dilitata X X X Epioblasma capsaeformisX Fusconaia barnesiana X X X Fusconaia cuneolusX X X Fusconaia corX X Lampsilis fasciola X X X Lampsilis ovata X Lasmigona costata X X Medionidus conradicus X X X Pleurobema oviforme X X X Ptychobranchus fasciolaris X X Ptychobranchus subtentumX X X Quadrula cylindrica strigillataX X Villosa iris X X X Villosa perpurpureaX X X Villosa v. vanuxemensis X X X 19 10 16

9. Additional Relic specimens found • Pegius fabula • Epioblasma brevidens • Ligumia recta • Actinonaias ligamentina An estimated 25 mussel species once inhabited Copper Creek

10. 2004/05 Total Survey Faunal Composition

11. Catch Per Unit Effort Over all survey effort 1980 1998 2004/05 Total search time ~182 hrs* 62 hrs 111 hrs Total live specimens 1,639 651 4,106 Live mussel CPUE ~9.0* 10.5 36.9 Number of species 19 10 16 Number of sites 36 20 47 *crude calculation based on vague description of survey effort

12. Catch Per Unit Effort Comparative survey effort 1980 1998 2004/05 Total search time ~71 hrs* 46 hrs 35 hrs Total live specimens 709 408 730 Live mussel CPUE ~10.0* 8.9 36.9 Number of species 17 8 12 Number of sites 14 14 14 *crude calculation based on vague description of survey effort

13. Comparison of faunal composition based on 14 sites 1998 1980 2004/05

15. Three Pressure Points Watershed-scale Hydrology Localized Stability Stream Inputs

17. What happened 8 or 9 years ago? • Manure disposal directly to creek • Fish, mussel, and crayfish kill • The creek turned white • Rocket fuel?

19. 1972 USGS land cover 2002 Clinch and Powell Valley Watershed Ecological Risk Assessment Forest 42.3% Non-forest 57.7% Non-forest 40.9% Forest 57.7% General Copper Creek Watershed Land Cover

20. Good Bad Trashed

22. Watershed-scale Hydrology Localized Stability Stream Inputs The 4th wheel Redneckia

23. I like killin things It’s just a way of life

24. Recovery?

25. Recovery Advantages • No railroads • No coal mining • No major urbanization (<0.1%) • No major highways • No major industry (NPDES) • Important meta-populations for the Clinch River

26. Obeys Creek Confluence ~ CCM 14 Grassy Creek Confluence ~CCM 43

30. Yellowfin Madtoms • Copper Creek is one of three strongholds for the yellowfin madtom • Almost entire length of Copper Creek is Designated Critical Habitat for the yellowfin madtom in Virginia • 1999 survey of Copper Creek for yellowfin madtom identified only 3 miles of the creek as inhabited • Propagated yellowfins were released to Copper Creek by CFI • 46 on June 22, 2000 • 210 on October 8, 2002

31. Purple bean (Villosa perpurpurea) • Host fish has been identified and still exist in Copper Cr. • Juveniles have been successfully propagated and reared in captivity • Gravid individuals can still be found in Copper Cr. • Identified “Suitable” habitat in Copper Cr. 16 propagated juveniles were released 2004 85 propagated juveniles were released 2005 Third attempt scheduled for 2006/2007

32. Action • Phase II of study—micro and macro habitat assessment • Establish arch population of purple bean • Continue propagation efforts • BMP cost share programs • Purchase lands and riparian easements • Dam removal/modification • Monitoring

33. Much thanks to Dave Garst, Missy Petty and Brett Ostby for survey and propagation work. Thanks also to Rachel Mair, Jake Rash, John Schmerfeld, and Sumalee Hoskin for assisting in survey work.