Appendix 8.11 V6 Cricket Frog Rpt.FINAL 8.11_Jan-1… · 11/1/2008 · Project Map for Northern Cricket Frog. The nearest known population of northern cricket frog to the project

CARVEL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT Pine Plains and Milan,

Dutchess County, New York

APPENDIX 8.11 – NORTHERN CRICKET FROG SURVEY

January 11, 2008

Prepared for:

1133 Taconic, LLC 1155 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036 &

Landmark Land Company, Inc. 2817 Crain Highway

Upper Marlboro, MD 20774

Prepared by:

Matthew D. Rudikoff Associates, Inc. 427 Main Street, Suite 201

Beacon, NY 12508 (845) 831-1182

www.rudikoff.com

[This page is left blank intentionally.]

CARVEL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

NORTHERN CRICKET FROG SURVEY Towns of Pine Plains and Milan, Dutchess County, New York

PREPARED FOR 1133 TACONIC, LLC 1155 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036-2711 and LANDMARK LAND COMPANY, INC. 2817 CRAIN HIGHWAY UPPER MARLBORO, MARYLAND 20773

PREPARED BY MATTHEW D. RUDIKOFF ASSOCIATES, INC. BEACON BUILDING 427 MAIN STREET • SUITE 201 BEACON, NEW YORK 12508 TEL (845) 831-1182 • FAX (845) 831-2696 www.rudikoff.com

SEPTMBER 12, 2005 / REVISED JUNE 2006


www.rudikoff.com Matthew D. Rudikoff Associates, Inc. DEIS Chapter 8 Appendix 8.11, Northern Cricket Frog Survey

Carvel Property Development / DEIS / HV05504 / September 12, 2005 / Revised June 2006 Page i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPENDIX 8.11 NORTHERN CRICKET FROG SURVEY

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1 Project Purpose and Site Description.................................................................................. 1 Herptile Surveys Conducted for the DEIS.......................................................................... 2 Northern Cricket Frog Description ..................................................................................... 2 Habitat Requirements.......................................................................................................... 3 Species Distribution ............................................................................................................ 4

HABITAT ASSESSMENT AND SURVEY METHODOLOGY.......................................... 4 Site Habitat Assessment...................................................................................................... 4 Survey Methods and Materials ........................................................................................... 4

HABITAT ASSESSMENT AND FIELD SURVEY RESULTS ........................................... 5 Habitat Assessment Findings.............................................................................................. 5 Field Survey Findings ......................................................................................................... 8

CONCLUSIONS..................................................................................................................... 9 REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................... 9

FIGURES Figure 1, Photo Illustration of an Adult Northern Cricket Frog Figure 2, NYSDEC Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project Map for Northern Cricket Frog Figure 3, Northern Cricket Frog Survey Sites



Carvel Property Development / DEIS / HV05504 / September 12, 2005 / Revised June 2006 Page 1 of 10

CARVEL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

TOWNS OF PINE PLAINS AND MILAN

DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK

NORTHERN CRICKET FROG SURVEY INTRODUCTION

On behalf of the property owner, 1133 Taconic, LLC, a survey for northern cricket frog (Acris crepitans) was conducted by Matthew D. Rudikoff Associates, Inc. (MDRA) on the Carvel Property Development project site. Northern cricket frog is listed as an endangered species by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and is ranked G5S1 by the New York Natural Heritage Program (NHP). Refer to DEIS Appendix 8.9, NHP Ranking System for an explanation of the ranking codes by the NHP. Northern cricket frog is essentially a southern amphibian with its northern range limit extending into southeastern New York. The need to conduct this survey was prompted by concerns expressed by the environmental consultants for the Town of Pine Plains (the project SEQR Lead Agency) and the Town of Milan Planning Boards, as well as members of the Town of Milan Conservation Advisory Commission (CAC). The concerns expressed were that, because of the size and extent of aquatic resources on the project site, suitable habitat for northern cricket frog and possibly the species itself might be present on the project site. The nearest confirmed northern cricket frog population is located in the Town of Clinton, approximately 6 miles southwest of the project site. In response to the foregoing concerns, the objective of this survey was to:

Determine the extent to which suitable habitats for northern cricket frog are present on the project site; and

Conduct field surveys for the presence of northern cricket frog in areas of potentially suitable habitat.

The results of the northern cricket frog survey are intended to augment the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) as part of a comprehensive assessment of project site natural resources, with an emphasis on federal and state-listed Endangered and Threatened animal species, and state-listed Special Concern animal species. Project Purpose and Site Description

The Carvel Property Development project proposes the development of a golf and recreation orientated golf and second home community on approximately 2,200 acres of land located in the Towns of Pine Plains (1,772 acres) and Milan (428 acres), Dutchess County, New York. Refer to DEIS Figure 2.3, Site Overview Map.



Ecological communities of the project site consist largely of former agricultural fields (hayfields and pastures) in various successional stages, shrub thickets, several forest community types, and several types of aquatic and semi-aquatic communities, including wetlands. Refer to DEIS Figure 8.2, A & B, Ecological Communities Map. Approximately 222 acres of aquatic communities exist on the project site, including Lake Carvel, smaller ponds, wetlands, and streams. Ham Brook, a major tributary to the Roeliff-Jansen Kill (located to the north and off-site), flows northeasterly across the southeasterly portion of the project site. Site topography encompasses areas of nearly level ground to rolling fields and golf links and moderate to steeply sloped wooded hillsides separated by generally narrow valleys. Herptile Surveys Conducted for the DEIS

As part of the natural resource site assessment for the DEIS, data records of the location and distribution records of herptiles (i.e., “cold-blooded” vertebrates, collectively, reptiles and amphibians) in New York were obtained from the New York State Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project 1990 – 1999 (NYSDEC 2004), which represent the efforts of more than 1,000 experienced volunteers reporting the location and distribution of herptiles throughout the State. These records combined with spring-breeding amphibian egg mass counts, overland searches for amphibians and reptiles, and a review of the pertinent literature, were used to assess herptile biodiversity and estimate the regional population size of rare herptiles. All site wetlands were surveyed for the presence of herptiles for the period of June 2003 to August 2005. A survey for spring-breeding amphibians, notably spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), Jefferson salamander (A. jeffersonianum, NYSDEC-listed Special Concern), blue-spotted salamander (A. laterale; NYSDEC-listed Special Concern), and hybrids of the latter two species was conducted in April and early May 2004. A survey of adult wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) and their egg masses was also conducted at this time. Selected breeding pool locations were resurveyed in April 2005 to confirm species recorded in 2004 and to conduct additional egg mass counts. Jefferson salamander was recorded during both the 2004 and 2005 surveys. Also, in 2005, eggs identified as those of Jefferson salamander were collected from the headwaters of Wetland RF-1, reared to early adults, and determined to be Jefferson x blue-spotted salamander hybrids. Refer to DEIS Figure 8.1, Site Amphibian Breeding Pools. No endangered or threatened amphibians or other herptiles were found on the project site during initial site fieldwork for the DEIS. Although northern cricket frog was not found on the project site during the herptile surveys, this species has been confirmed to occur in Dutchess County within approximately 6 miles of the project site (NYSDEC 2004). Northern Cricket Frog Description

Northern cricket frog is one of New York’s smallest frogs, similar in size to the more common spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer). Northern cricket frog ranges from approximately 5/8 inches to 1 3/8 inches (1.6 – 3.5 cm) in length. Distinctive morphological features of northern cricket frog include a blunt snout, a dark brown inverted triangular spot between the eyes, green to olive-green back with brown markings on legs and sides, anal warts, and irregular ragged-edge



brown stripes on lighter brown thighs. Refer to Figure 1, a photo illustration of an Adult Northern Cricket Frog. The call or voice of the northern cricket frog is distinctive and not readily confused with the voice of other frogs of the region. A group of chorusing northern cricket frogs can readily be heard a considerable distance away from the calling location (often several hundred feet away). Its voice is described as “gick, gick, gick, gick, gick…,” similar to the sound of two pebbles being clicked together. The call starts slowly and then picks up tempo and repeats for 20-30 beats (Conant and Collins 1991). Habitat Requirements

In New York, the northern cricket frog inhabits sunny, shallow ponds with abundant floating mat vegetation (extensive areas of lily pads are usually present) and vegetated shores. Slow moving, algae-filled watercourses with sunny banks are also utilized. Deep water is generally avoided (Dickinson 1994). Other suitable habitats include pools within herb/shrub dominated wetlands. Ponds with suitable habitat for northern cricket frog are indicated by the presence of a combination of habitat features which have been documented for known Ulster, Orange, and Dutchess County northern cricket frog sites (Dickinson 1993, 1994; Hecht et al. 1994). Most northern cricket frog habitats in the Hudson Valley are surrounded primarily by forests (Kiviat and Stevens 2001). Habitat features associated with extant northern cricket frog populations in New York include:

Open, sunlit (unshaded) ponds with shallow, extended shoreline gradients. Wide emergent zones of vegetation, dominated by herbaceous plants (e.g., low-growing

grasses and sedges). Extensive mats or islands of floating wetland vegetation (e.g., waterlilies) or floating

organic mats interspersed with open water pools and channels. Pond bottoms with soft mucky soils, particularly Carlisle muck and Canandaigua silt

loam. In ponds, adult northern cricket frog calling sites are usually lily pads and floating mat vegetation. In Ulster and Orange Counties, New York, northern cricket frog has been confirmed calling from mid-May into August from 7:00 PM onward, with greatest chorusing occurring from dusk to after midnight (Roland Bahret, pers. comm. July 2005).

Figure 1: Adult Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans). SOURCE: http://wwknapp.home.mindspring.com/ docs/northern.cricket.frog.html



Species Distribution

Extant populations of northern cricket frog occur in Orange, Ulster and Dutchess Counties (Dickinson 1993, NYSDEC 2004). Refer to Figure 2, NYSDEC Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project Map for Northern Cricket Frog. The nearest known population of northern cricket frog to the project site is located in the Town of Clinton, approximately 6 miles southwest of the project site. HABITAT ASSESSMENT AND SURVEY METHODOLOGY

Site Habitat Assessment

Ponded areas of the project site were evaluated for the presence of the following habitat features associated with known northern cricket frog habitats (Dickinson 1993):

Ponds with extended, low-gradient shorelines and broad emergent zone of mainly herbaceous vegetation.

Areas of extensive lily pads and floating mat vegetation, or floating organic mats surrounded by open water.

Areas underlain by organic muck soils (Carlisle muck and Canandaigua silt loam) Ponded areas surrounded by forest.

Most project site ponds or wetlands lack suitable northern cricket frog habitat characteristics; therefore, these areas were not considered to provide potentially suitable habitat for this species (refer to DEIS Appendix 8.5, Wetlands Delineation Report for complete habitat description of all project wetlands). Habitats on the project site lacking potentially suitable northern cricket frog habitat features described above are not discussed further in this report. Survey Methods and Materials

Evening field surveys for northern cricket frog were conducted on the project site by MDRA from dusk (approximately 8:00 PM) to 11:30 PM on July 1, 5, 6, and 15, 2005. The following materials were used to conduct northern cricket frog surveys:

Compact Disc (CD) Player with attached speaker

Figure 2: NYSDEC Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project Map for Northern Cricket Frog, Acris crepitans.



Commercially available CD with recorded northern cricket frog call (Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology 1982)

Hand operated flood light 7 x 35mm binoculars

For each evening survey, MDRA verified that northern cricket frog was calling at the nearest known population location immediately prior to or following the survey conducted on the project site. During the survey period, northern cricket frogs were readily heard calling at the Town of Clinton site. When the northern cricket frog recorded call was played at the Town of Clinton site, the intensity of chorusing increased, particularly within a few hundred feet of the playing location. Consequently, if northern cricket frogs were present at the project site, they would be calling spontaneously, or would call in response to the played voice recording. All potentially suitable northern cricket frog habitats were surveyed at the project site on each evening surveys were conducted.

Surveys on the project site were conducted by listening and calling for male frogs at 10 -15 minute intervals while wading at the edge of the wetland, walking along the shoreline, or by canoe (Wetland SF-1). Between listening periods, the northern cricket frog call was played at different locations several times over a period of 5 – 10 minutes. Additional survey time was spent at Wetland SF-1, because this wetland had the best and most extensive potential habitat for northern cricket frog. A portable floodlight was also used during surveys to scan the surface of lily pads, floating mat vegetation and shoreline areas for the presence of northern cricket frog. The flood light used during nocturnal surveys for northern cricket frog was essentially a powerful hand-held flashlight, a standard and effective tool for conducting nocturnal amphibian surveys (Myers 2000, Conant and Collins 1991). Using a strong flashlight, Roland Bahret (personal communication July 2005) has observed northern cricket frog on lily pads in a pond in Ulster County. Based on his observations, use of a powerful light source does not appear to invoke a hiding response in amphibians, rather it causes them to “freeze” in position. HABITAT ASSESSMENT AND FIELD SURVEY RESULTS

Habitat Assessment Findings

Only five (5) project site wetlands were considered to provide potentially suitable habitat for northern cricket frog. These wetlands were ranked in order of highest to lowest potentially suitable northern cricket frog as follows: SF-1, RF-1, LC-1, HF-4, and HF-5. Areas of potentially suitable northern cricket frog habitat within the highest ranked wetlands, SF-1 and RF-1 (two of the project site’s 63 wetlands) encompass approximately 17 acres, which is approximately 7.5% of the total area of project site wetlands. The three (3) other project site wetlands (Wetlands HF-4, HF-5, and LC-1) were considered to provide marginally suitable habitat for northern cricket frog (refer to Figure 3, Northern Cricket Frog Survey Sites).


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Potentially Suitable Northern Cricket Frog Habitats

Wetland SF-1 and RF-1 are considered to provide potentially suitable habitat for northern cricket frog, the characteristics of which are described below: Wetland SF-1

This deep marsh, approximately 4 acres, is located near the east end of the project site north of NYS Route 199. The marsh contains several small open pools with large mats of white water lily (Nymphaea odorata), one of the principal habitat features associated with known northern cricket frog habitats (Dickinson 1993, Roland Bahret, pers. comm. July 2005). The marsh retains water year-round and has low-gradient shorelines, dominated by a broad band of largely herbaceous vegetation – other habitat features associated with known northern cricket frog habitats. Emergent and bank vegetation of the marsh includes broad-leaf cattail (Typha latifolia), woolgrass (Scirpus cyperinus), marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris), and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). The marsh is underlain by soils mapped as Fredon silt loam, not Carlisle muck or Canandaigua silt loam which are usually associated with northern cricket frog habitats. The upland community bordering the north side of the marsh is mainly hardwood forest, also a characteristic of suitable northern cricket frog habitat in New York. NYS Route 199 borders the south side of the pond. Wetland RF-1

The deep marsh community of this wetland, located south of Woodward Hill Road was also considered to provide potentially suitable habitat for northern cricket frog. The entire wetland is approximately 10 acres and occurs on both sides of Woodward Hill Road. The marsh contains an abundance of floating and emergent vegetation including burreed (Sparganium eurycarpum), rushes (Juncus spp.), cattail (Typha sp.), tussock sedge (Carex stricta), and sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis). The marsh, which retains water year-round, has several areas of open water. The broad emergent zone is consistent with known habitat characteristics of northern cricket frog. The marsh borders a shrub swamp and wet meadow-shrub swamp complex, which are also associated with suitable northern cricket frog habitat. The wetland is underlain by sun silt loam soils, which have not been identified as underlying suitable northern cricket frog habitat. Extensive open water and abundant floating and emergent vegetation, are the primary habitat features of this marsh associated with known northern cricket frog habitat.

Potential Marginally Suitable Wetlands

Wetlands LC-1, Wetland HF-4 and Wetland HF-5 exhibited only marginally suitable habitat characteristics associated with known northern cricket frog habitat. Wetland LC-1

Wetland LC-1 (approximately 40 acres) encompasses Lake Carvel and NYSDEC Wetland PP-2 at the south of the Lake. Three (3) areas of wetland LC-1 provide marginal habitat for



northern cricket frog: the marsh at the southern end of Lake Carvel, and the two small open ponds further south. These wetland areas possess shallow gradient shorelines and some emergent vegetation, but lack floating mat vegetation. The southern end of the lake has extended shorelines, and shallow water emergent vegetation is sparse. Wetland LC-1 is almost entirely surrounded by hardwood and mixed conifer-hardwood communities, which are consistent with suitable northern cricket frog habitat. Primary vegetation within the three surveyed wetland areas consists of bank/shoreline species including spicebush (Lindera benzoin), silky dogwood (Cornus amomum), willow (Salix sp.), common reed (Phragmites australis), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) and skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus). Wetland LC-1 is underlain by sun silt loam soils, which are not usually associated with potentially suitable northern cricket frog habitat. Wetland HF-4

This wetland area is located in the southwest portion of the project near the former Hedge farm and is approximately 2.5 acres. Wetland HF-4 is a constructed farm pond bordering a wet meadow to the north. The pond is deep, surrounded by mown fields and supports a narrow fringe of emergent vegetation. No floating mat vegetation is present. Pond emergent and wet meadow vegetation, includes tussock sedge (Carex stricta), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), and soft rush (Juncus effusus). The pond basin is steep-sided, and is underlain by Massena silt loam soils which are associated with known northern cricket frog habitats. The pond and wet meadow lack most of the habitat characteristics associated with known northern cricket frog habitats in the Hudson Valley region, particularly, extensive floating mat vegetation and broad expanses of emergent vegetation. Wetland HF-5

Wetland HF-5 is also located at the former Hedge farm. This wetland is a constructed farm pond with bordering shrub swamp wetland and is approximately 2 acres. The pond is similar to that of Wetland HH-4 and is dammed at its south end. The pond lacks extensive floating or emergent vegetation usually associated with northern cricket frog habitat and is generally steep-sided. Vegetation within the bordering shrub swamp includes red maple (Acer rubrum), speckled alder (Alnus rugosa), willow (Salix sp.), tussock sedge (Carex stricta), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), and American brooklime (Veronica americana). This wetland is also underlain by Massena silt loam soils which are not usually associated with suitable northern cricket frog habitat. The wetland is surrounded by mown fields.

Field Survey Findings

No northern cricket frogs were heard or observed in any areas of potentially suitable habitat on the project site during the survey period. During this same survey period, northern cricket frogs were confirmed to be calling approximately 6 miles from the project site immediately prior to or following each survey conducted on the project site. Therefore, based on the results of the survey, it is considered unlikely that northern cricket frog is present on the project site.



Frogs heard during the survey were gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor), green frog (Rana clamitans), bullfrog (Rana catesbiana), and toad (Bufo sp.). CONCLUSIONS

Five project site wetlands (or portions thereof) were determined to have potentially suitable and/or marginally suitable habitat for northern cricket frog. Wetlands SF-1 and RF-1 were considered to provide the best potential habitat for northern cricket frog and Wetlands LC-1, HF-4 and HF-5 were assessed to have only marginal northern cricket frog habitat. Surveys for northern cricket frogs were conducted in all wetlands with at least some potentially suitable habitat. Northern cricket frogs were confirmed to be calling at a nearby off-site location on the same evenings surveys were conducted on the project site. However, no northern cricket frogs were heard or observed in areas of potentially suitable habitat on the project site on these same evenings during the survey period. Consequently, it is unlikely that northern cricket frog is present on the project site. REFERENCES

Bahret, R. July 2005. Personal Communication with MDRA regarding northern cricket frog locations and habitat features.

Conant, R. and J.T. Collins. 1991 Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton – Mifflin Co., NY. 618 pp.

Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology. 1982. Voices in the Night: Calls of the Frogs and Toads of Eastern North America.

Dickinson, R.A. 1993. Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans) Survey in Ulster County, New York, 1992. M.S. thesis. Bard College: Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.

Dickinson, R.A. 1994. Habitat Characteristics of Northern Cricket Frog Sites, Ulster and Dutchess Counties, New York. Abstract presented for The New York Natural History Conference III, April 13-April 16, 1994: A Forum for Current Research. New York State Museum. Albany, New York.

Hecht, J.H., Breisch, A.R., and R.A. Dickinson. 1994. Status and Distribution of Northern Cricket Frogs in New York. Abstract presented for The New York Natural History Conference III, April 13-April 16, 1994: A Forum for Current Research. New York State Museum. Albany, New York.

Kiviat, E. and G. Stevens. 2001. Biodiversity Assessment Manual for the Hudson River Estuary Corridor. New York State of Environmental Conservation. Albany, NY. 508pp.

Myers, C.W. 2000. A History of Herpetology at the American Museum of Natural History. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. No. 252. New York, NY.



New York State of Environmental Conservation. 2003. Northern Cricket Frog Fact Sheet. http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/endspec/crfrfs.html. Accessed 2005.

New York State of Environmental Conservation. 2004. New York State Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project 1990-1999. http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/herp/ Accessed 2005.

Documents

Appendix 8.11 V6 Cricket Frog Rpt.FINAL 8.11_Jan-1… · 11/1/2008 · Project Map for Northern Cricket Frog. The nearest known population of northern cricket frog to the project