EXISTING RARE, THREATENED, AND ENDANGERED TERRESTRIAL ... · 2-1 Section 2 - Study Objectives During 2003, the Terrestrial RWG discussed, identifie d, and finalized the objectives

© 2005 Progress Energy

Yadkin-Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Project FERC No. 2206

EXISTING RARE, THREATENED, AND ENDANGERED TERRESTRIAL

WILDLIFE POPULATIONS

Terrestrial Resources Working Group Issue No. 1 - Monitoring of Existing RTE Populations

PROGRESS ENERGY

NOVEMBER 2005

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Title Page No. ACRONYM LIST ....................................................................................................AL-1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..........................................................................................ES-1 SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 1-1 SECTION 2 - STUDY OBJECTIVES ............................................................................. 2-1 SECTION 3 - SITE DESCRIPTION ............................................................................... 3-1

3.1 General Description ........................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 Piedmont Ecoregion.......................................................................... 3-4 3.1.2 Southeastern Plains........................................................................... 3-4

3.2 Terrestrial Vegetation and Communities ........................................................ 3-5 3.2.1 Terrestrial Natural Communities ...................................................... 3-6 3.2.2 Wetland Natural Communities ......................................................... 3-7

3.3 Station Descriptions ...................................................................................... 3-10 3.3.1 Dutch John Creek Area................................................................... 3-10 3.3.2 Gold Mine Branch Longleaf Pine Forest........................................ 3-10 3.3.3 Lower Uwharrie River/Hidden Lakes Area.................................... 3-12 3.3.4 Morrow Mountain State Park and Adjacent Reservoir Areas ........ 3-12 3.3.5 Jacobs Creek Area .......................................................................... 3-12 3.3.6 Tillery Dam and Tailrace Area/Great Blue Heron Colony............. 3-18 3.3.7 Leak Island Area............................................................................. 3-19 3.3.8 Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge Area......................................... 3-19 3.3.9 Brown Creek Area .......................................................................... 3-20 3.3.10 Lower Little River Area ................................................................. 3-20 3.3.11 Grassy Islands Complex ................................................................. 3-21 3.3.12 Blewett Falls Dam and Tailrace Area............................................. 3-24 3.3.13 Pee Dee River Gabbro Slopes and Floodplain ............................... 3-24 3.3.14 Hitchcock Creek and Pee Dee River Slopes Area .......................... 3-25

SECTION 4 - METHODS ............................................................................................ 4-1

4.1 Prepare RTE Species List ............................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Survey Existing RTE Populations................................................................... 4-1

4.2.1 Reptile and Amphibian Survey Methods.......................................... 4-5 4.2.2 Bird Survey Methods........................................................................ 4-5 4.2.2 Mammal Survey Methods................................................................. 4-6

4.3 Schedule for Conducting Field Surveys.......................................................... 4-6

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

Section Title Page No.

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4.4 Targeted RTE Species..................................................................................... 4-6 4.5 Assess the Effects of Hydropower Operations ............................................. 4-13

SECTION 5 - RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .................................................................. 5-1 SECTION 6 - SUMMARY ........................................................................................... 6-1 SECTION 7 - REFERENCES........................................................................................ 7-1 APPENDICES APPENDIX A - A COMPILED LIST OF BIRD SPECIES IDENTIFIED WITHIN OR NEAR THE

YADKIN-PEE DEE RIVER PROJECT AREA APPENDIX B - A COMPILED LIST OF MAMMAL SPECIES IDENTIFIED IN OR NEAR THE

YADKIN-PEE DEE RIVER PROJECT AREA APPENDIX C - A COMPILED LIST OF REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN SPECIES IDENTIFIED

IN OR NEAR THE YADKIN-PEE DEE RIVER PROJECT AREA

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Title Page No. Figure 3-1 Project Location map ........................................................................................... 3-2 Figure 3-2 Ecoregions associated with the Project area. ....................................................... 3-3 Figure 3-3 Wildlife inventory study locations (Sheet 1 of 5).............................................. 3-13 Figure 3-3 Wildlife inventory study locations (Sheet 2 of 5).............................................. 3-14 Figure 3-3 Wildlife inventory study locations (Sheet 3 of 5).............................................. 3-15 Figure 3-3 Wildlife inventory study locations (Sheet 4 of 5).............................................. 3-16 Figure 3-3 Wildlife inventory study locations (Sheet 5 of 5).............................................. 3-17

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LIST OF TABLES

Table Title Page No. Table 3-1 Inventory stations, survey points, and associated community habitat types. .... 3-11 Table 4-1 North Carolina state- or federally-listed terrestrial wildlife species known to

occur within the Pee Dee River four-county area (Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, and Stanly Counties) and could potentially occur within the Project area based on preferred habitat type........................................................ 4-2

Table 5-1 RTE terrestrial wildlife species identified in the Project area, 2004-2005.......... 5-1

AL-1

Acronym List Federal/State Agencies Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) National Park Service (NPS) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) formerly known as Soil Conservation Service National Weather Service (NWS) North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (NCEMC) North Carolina Department of Natural and Economic Resources, Division of Environmental

Management (NCDEM) North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDPR) North Carolina Division of Water Resources (NCDWR) North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) North Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer (NCSHPO) North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Other Entities Alcoa Power Generating, Inc., Yadkin Division (APGI) Progress Energy University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNCCH) Facilities/Places Yadkin - Pee Dee River Project (entire two-development project including both powerhouses, dams

and impoundments) Blewett Falls Development (when referring to dam, powerhouse and impoundment) Blewett Falls Dam (when referring to the structure) Blewett Falls Hydroelectric Plant (when referring to the powerhouse) Blewett Falls Lake (when referring to the impoundment) Tillery Development (when referring to dam, powerhouse and impoundment) Tillery Dam (when referring to the structure)

Acronym List

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Tillery Hydroelectric Plant (when referring to the powerhouse) Lake Tillery (when referring to the impoundment) Documents 401 Water Quality Certification (401 WQC) Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) Environmental Assessment (EA) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) Initial Consultation Document (ICD) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) National Wetland Inventory (NWI) Notice of Intent (NOI) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) Preliminary Draft Environmental Assessment (PDEA) Programmatic Agreement (PA) Scoping Document (SD) Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) Laws/Regulations Clean Water Act (CWA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Electric Consumers Protection Act (ECPA) Endangered Species Act (ESA) Federal Power Act (FPA) Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Terminology Alternative Relicensing Process (ALP) Cubic ft per second (cfs) Degrees Celsius (C) Degrees Fahrenheit (F) Dissolved oxygen (DO) Ft (ft) Gallons per day (gpd) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Gigawatt Hour (GWh) Global Positioning System (GPS) Grams (g) Horsepower (hp) Kilogram (kg) Kilowatts (kW) Kilowatt-hours (kWh) Mean Sea Level (msl)

Acronym List

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Megawatt (MW) Megawatt-hours (MWh) Micrograms per liter (µg/L) Milligrams per liter (mg/L) Millimeter (mm) Million gallons per day (mgd) National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) Ounces (oz.) Outstanding Remarkable Value (ORV) Parts per billion (ppb) Parts per million (ppm) Pounds (lbs.) Power Factor (p.f.) Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) Project Inflow Design Flood (IDF) Protection, Mitigation, and Enhancement Measures (PM&E) Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species (RTE) Ready for Environmental Assessment (REA) Resource Work Groups (RWG) Revolutions per Minute (rpm) Rights-of-way (ROW) River mile (RM) Stakeholders (federal and state resource agencies, NGOs, and other interested parties) Volts (V)

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Executive Summary Progress Energy is currently relicensing the Blewett Falls and Tillery hydroelectric developments (i.e., Yadkin-Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Project No. 2206) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). As part of the relicensing process, Progress Energy established Resource Working Groups (RWG) to identify environmental issues associated with Project operations and develop study plans. The Terrestrial RWG identified the need for additional terrestrial wildlife surveys (including rare, threatened, and endangered [RTE] surveys) around Blewett Falls Lake, Lake Tillery, and along the Pee Dee River and its tributaries in the immediate area downstream of Blewett Falls Dam. Progress Energy conducted these surveys during 2004 and 2005 as part of the relicensing process (i.e., Terrestrial RWG Issue No. 1). The surveys were conducted in accordance to a study plan developed with input from the RWG and was approved by the RWG. Surveys were conducted in 2004 to 2005 to identify existing populations of state- or federally-listed terrestrial wildlife species within the FERC Project boundaries and zone of operational influence of the Tillery and Blewett Hydroelectric Plants. Two additional Progress Energy landholdings outside the Project boundary and zone of influence were included in the scope. These two sites (Gabbro Slopes and Hitchcock Creek) were recommended for study by stakeholders in the RWG due to their regional resource importance. A total of six RTE species were identified during the surveys — all birds. Only one of these species, the bald eagle, is federally listed. The other five species are listed by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program as Significantly Rare. An active bald eagle nest has been consistently located at Tater Top Mountain in Morrow Mountain State Park for the past several years. Two additional active bald eagle nests are known within the Project area — one below Tillery Dam and one above Blewett Dam. Adult and young eagles are consistently observed perching or soaring throughout the Yadkin-Pee Dee River area. The characterization of existing terrestrial RTE wildlife populations under the current plant operating regimes indicates that effects to these populations may be positive, nonexistent, or are very limited. As observed during the relicensing studies, impacts to species during the normal daily operations are not significant. However, reservoir water levels greater than 2.0 to 3.0 ft below normal pool for a period of more than one day may adversely affect several aquatic and semi-aquatic species (e.g., American bittern [Botaurus lentiginosus] primarily in the Grassy Islands area). Based on the review of headpond elevation data from 1982 to 2000, this condition occurred approximately 3 percent of the time at Lake Tillery and approximately 15 percent (at 3 ft) of the time at Blewett Falls Lake. These lower elevations at Blewett Falls are assumed to be due to the infrequent loss of flashboards at the dam. High water during the nesting/breeding/fledgling periods can also have negative effect to aquatic water birds, such as American bittern by temporarily changing their habitat community and associated breeding and foraging habitat. There are no planned changes in current operating conditions.

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Section 1 - Introduction Progress Energy is currently relicensing the Blewett Falls and Tillery hydroelectric developments (i.e., Yadkin-Pee Dee River Hydroelectric Project No. 2206) with FERC. As part of the relicensing process, Progress Energy established RWGs during May 2003 to identify environmental issues associated with Project operations and develop study plans, if necessary, specific to Project lands and associated lakes and tailwaters. The Terrestrial RWG identified the need to document any state- or federally-listed RTE terrestrial wildlife species populations within around Lake Tillery. Progress Energy agreed to conduct terrestrial wildlife surveys during 2004 and early 2005 not only around Lake Tillery but also around Blewett Falls Lake as part of its relicensing process (i.e., Terrestrial RWG Issue No. 1, “Monitoring of Existing Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Populations”). This report describes the objectives, methods, and results of these surveys. This study was performed in accordance with the study plan developed within and approved by the Terrestrial RWG.

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Section 2 - Study Objectives During 2003, the Terrestrial RWG discussed, identified, and finalized the objectives for this study to be: (1) to identify existing populations of state- or federally-listed terrestrial wildlife species within the FERC Project boundaries and zone of operational influence of the Tillery Hydroelectric Plant; (2) to qualify the relationship of existing RTE wildlife populations distribution under the current operating regimes and assess the effects of current and reasonable future Project-related hydropower operations (e.g., fluctuations and drawdowns) on these wildlife populations; and (3) to provide information to assist in developing any potential protection, mitigation, and enhancement measures. The original scope of these objectives was expanded to include lands within the FERC Project boundaries and zone of operational influence of the Blewett Hydroelectric Plant and two additional land holdings just below the Blewett Plant. These two areas (Pee Dee River Gabbro Slopes and Hitchcock Creek) are corporate landholdings outside the Project boundary and zone of influence but were requested to be surveyed by the RWG because of their regional resource importance.

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Section 3 - Site Description 3.1 General Description The Project is located on the Yadkin-Pee Dee River in south-central North Carolina (Figure 3-1). The Yadkin-Pee River basin is the second largest in North Carolina covering 7,213 square miles as measured at the North Carolina-South Carolina state line (NCDWQ 1998). The Yadkin-Pee Dee River originates near the town of Blowing Rock and flows northeasterly for approximately 100 miles from the Blue Ridge Mountains into the Piedmont physiographical region. As the river turns southeast, it enters an area in Central North Carolina that has experienced considerable urban growth. This growing urban area extends from Charlotte to Raleigh/Durham and is known as the Piedmont Crescent (ASU 1999). Just to the south of the Piedmont Crescent, the region enters an area known as the Uwharrie Lakes Region. This region is named for the chain of six reservoirs located along this reach of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River, two of which are Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake. It is in this region that the Uwharrie River joins the Yadkin River at the upper end of Lake Tillery to form the Pee Dee River. The flow of the Yadkin-Pee Dee River is regulated by a federal flood control development and six hydroelectric developments on the main stem of the river (Figure 3-1). The first development, traveling downstream from the headwaters, is the W. Scott Kerr Dam, a federal flood control project. The next four developments make up the Yadkin Project. These four hydroelectric developments, High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows, and Falls, are owned and operated by Alcoa Power Generating, Inc., Yadkin Division (APGI) and are located along a 38-mile stretch of the river (river miles [RM] 272 to 234). High Rock Reservoir is operated as a storage reservoir and serves as the principal storage and water regulation facility for the lower Yadkin-Pee Dee River (APGI 2002). The next two hydroelectric developments (dams and powerhouses) on the river, located at RMs 218 and 188 are the Tillery and Blewett Falls Developments, which constitute Progress Energy’s Yadkin-Pee Dee River Project. The primary purpose of the Project is to provide peaking and load-following generation. Its ability to provide such benefits and meet other flow-related needs is largely dependent on the schedule of flows being released from upstream reservoirs. Currently, an agreement between APGI and Progress Energy governs the release of waters from APGI developments to the Progress Energy developments. Addition Project related information is discussed in the Initial Consultation Document for the Project (Progress Energy 2003). Most of the study area is located within the “Piedmont” Level III ecoregion (Figure 3-2) (Griffith et al. 2002). The Piedmont ecoregion includes Lake Tillery downstream to the Blewett Falls Dam. The remaining area downstream of Blewett Falls is located within the Southeastern Plains ecoregion. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines ecoregions as areas of relative homogeneity in ecological systems and their components. The EPA portrays areas within which there is similarity in the mosaic of all biotic and abiotic components of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Factors associated with spatial differences in the quality and quantity of ecosystem components, including soils, vegetation, climate, geology, and physiography, are relatively homogeneous within an

Section 3 Site Description

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Figure 3-1 Project Location map


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Figure 3-2 Ecoregions associated with the Project area.


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ecoregion. These regions separate different patterns in human stresses on the environment and different patterns in the existing and attainable quality of environmental resources. Ecoregion classifications are effective for inventorying and assessing national and regional environmental resources and for developing biological criteria and water quality standards (Griffith et al. 2002). A description of the Level III ecoregions and the associated Level IV “sub” ecoregions (Figure 3-2) are described below: 3.1.1 Piedmont Ecoregion The northeast-southwest trending Piedmont ecoregion comprises a transitional area between the mostly mountainous ecological regions of the Appalachians to the northwest and the relatively flat coastal plain to the southeast. It is an erosional terrain of moderately dissected irregular plains with some hills, with a complex mosaic of Precambrian and Paleozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks. Most rocks of the Piedmont are covered by a thick mantle of saprolite, except along some major stream valley bluffs and on a few scattered granitic domes and flatrocks. Rare plants and animals can be found on the rock outcrops. Stream drainage in the Piedmont tends to be perpendicular to the structural trend of the rocks across which they flow (Griffith et al. 2002). The soils are generally finer-textured than those found in coastal plain regions with less amounts of sand and a higher percentage of clay. Several major land cover transformations have occurred in the Piedmont over the past 200 years, from forest to farm, back to forest, and now in many areas, spreading urban and suburbanization. The historic oak-hickory-pine forest is now in planted pine or has reverted to successional pine and hardwood woodlands, with some pasture in the landcover mosaic (Griffith et al. 2002). Within the Piedmont ecoregion, the Project area from Lake Tillery downstream to approximately the Rocky Creek confluence is located within the Carolina Slate Belt “sub” ecoregion. This region extends from southern Virginia through the Carolinas and includes mineral rich metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks with slatey cleavage. Streams tend to dry up and water yields to wells are low in this region due to low water-bearing rock formations (Griffith et al. 2002). The Project area from Rock Creek downstream to the Little River confluence is located with the Triassic Basin “sub” region. This area is characterized by an unusual geology consisting of unmetamorphosed shales, sandstones, mudstones, siltstones and conglomerates. 3.1.2 Southeastern Plains The Southeastern Plains ecoregion is located between the Piedmont and Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain ecoregions. The physiography consists of dissected irregular plains with moderate to steep sides and low to moderate sandy bottomed streams (Griffith et al. 2002). The soils typically consist of medium to coarse Cretaceous or Tertiary-age sand, loamy sand, and sandy loam. Seepage and groundwater support steady streamflows and saturated wetlands (Griffith et al. 2002). On drier sites, turkey oak and blackjack oak grow with longleaf pine and wiregrass cover. Red maple and evergreen shrubs are common in the wetland areas. Within the Southeastern Plain


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ecoregion, from Blewett Falls Lake Dam downstream through part of South Carolina is located within the Sand Hills “sub” ecoregion (Griffith et al. 2002). 3.2 Terrestrial Vegetation and Communities Wildlife habitat is frequently described as an area supporting a particular type of vegetation for food and cover, in combination with other resources such as water and environmental conditions including climate, predators and competition (Morrison et al. 1992). According to Morrison et al. (1992), high quality wildlife habitat can be defined as those areas that afford conditions necessary for relatively successful survival and reproduction over relatively long periods when compared with other similar environments. In general, the majority of terrestrial natural communities along the Yadkin-Pee Dee River shoreline consist of hardwood and pine woodlands. These deciduous areas can range from dry to mesic hardwood forest to rather extensive piedmont bottomland forest (Schafale and Weakley 1990). Planted and managed pine stands are also scattered throughout and adjacent to the shoreline areas. Representative tree species in these deciduous areas include red maple (Acer rubrum), boxelder (A. negundo), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), white ash (Fraxinus americana), red oak (Quercus rubra), southern red oak (Q. falcata), willow oak (Q. phellos), white oak (Q. alba), and chestnut oak (Q. montana). Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), Virginia pine (P. virginiana), shortleaf pine (P. echinata), and longleaf pine (P. palustris) are also scattered throughout this community (Bates 2002; EA 2000; Sorrie 2001). Typical shrubs and vines include mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), dangleberry (Gaylussacia frondosa), common serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), St. John’s wort (Hypericum hypericoides), fetter-bush (Leucothoe racemosa), poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), greenbrier (Smilax spp.), and muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia) (Bates 2002; EA 2000; Sorrie 2001). The representative and rather diverse herbaceous plant community typically consists of bottlebush grass (Elymus hystrix), poverty oatgrass (Danthonia spicata), tick trefoil (Desmodium rotundifolium), white avens (Geum canadense), perfoliate bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata), upright yellow woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta), woodland sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus), white wood aster (Aster divaricatus), whorled coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata), halberd-leaved yellow violet (Viola hastata), black bugbane (Cimicifuga racemosa), Virginia dayflower (Commelina virginica), Carolina elephant’s-foot (Elephantopus carolinianus), downy rattlesnake-plantain (Goodyera pubescens), ebony spleenwort (Asplenium platyneuron), Christmas fern (Polystichium acrosticoides), and broom-sedge (Andropogon virginicus) (Bates 2002; Sorrie 2001). Larger stands of monotypic pine plantation are also found within some of the Progress Energy landholdings. Most of these areas are actively managed for timber production. The common pine species include loblolly and shortleaf pine. The relatively sparse understory, due to the closed canopy, typically consists of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), and poison ivy.


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3.2.1 Terrestrial Natural Communities Terrestrial natural communities that are classified by the NC Natural Heritage Program and found within the study area include the following types. According to Schafale and Weakley (1990), a natural community is a distinct and reoccurring assemblage of populations of plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi naturally associated with each other and their physical environment. A natural community is characterized by vegetation composition and physiognomy, animal assemblages, topography, soils, hydrology, and other abiotic factors (Schafale and Weakley 1990). 3.2.1.1 Dry Oak-Hickory Forest This common community is typically found on ridgetops, upper slopes, steep south-facing slopes, and other dry areas on acidic soils (Schafale and Weakley 1990). This community is found throughout the Piedmont and Coastal Plain area of North Carolina. Species representative of the canopy include water oak, white oak, southern red oak, blackjack oak (Q. marilandia), red maple, sweet gum, and Virginia pine. Representative understory and shrub species include American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), flowering dogwood, persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), American holly (Ilex opaca), sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), sparkleberry, and Virginia creeper. The typical herb species include ebony spleenwort, spotted wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata), rattlesnake hawkweed (Hieracium venosum), arrowleaf heartleaf (Hexastylis arifolia), northern oatgrass, and creeping bushclover (Lespedeza repens) (Bates 2002; Schafale and Weakley 1990). Representatives of this community are found on the west shoreline of Lake Tillery in association with the Morrow Mountain area, north of the Lake Tillery Dam, and along the slopes of the Little River north of Blewett Falls Lake. 3.2.1.2 Dry-Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest This community is typically located on mid slopes, low ridges, flats on acidic soils (Schafale and Weakley 1990). The canopy of this community consists for chestnut oak (Q. montana), water oak, white oak, willow oak, bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and shortleaf pine (P. echinata). The understory layer includes American hornbeam, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), American basswood (Tilia americana), flowering dogwood, spicebush (Lindera benzoin), bigleaf snowball (Styrax grandifolius), sparkleberry, Japanese honeysuckle, common greenbrier (Smilax rotundifolia), and poison ivy. Herbs typical of this community include ebony spleenwort, southern lady fern (Athyrium asplenoides), rattlesnake fern (Botrychium virgianianum), spotted wintergreen, plume grass (Erianthus contortus), may apple (Podophyllum peltatum), Christmas fern, false Soloman’s Seal (Smilacina racemosa), and little sweet trillium (Trillium cuneatum) (Bates 2002). A good community representative is found along the east shore slopes of Lake Tillery in the Dutch John Creek area. 3.2.1.3 Basic Oak-Hickory Forest This community is found on slopes, ridges, upland flats, and other dry areas associated with basic or circumneutral soils (Schafale and Weakley 1990). Locations of this community are scattered throughout the Piedmont. The species found in this community are indicative of basic soils and include canopy and shrub species such as chalk maple (Acer leucoderme), downy serviceberry


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(Amelanchier arborea), Georgia hackberry (Celtis tenuifolia), eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), flowering dogwood, American beech, smooth blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), painted buckeye (Aesculus sylvatica), and sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus). Herbs include thick-pod white wild indigo (Baptisia alba), dwarf iris (Iris verna), downy false indigo (Aureolaria virginica), and bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) (Bates 2002; Sorrie 2001). A good representative of this community is found below the Blewett Falls Lake Dam within the Pee Dee River Gabbro Slopes and Hitchcock Creek areas. 3.2.1.4 Pine Plantation This community consists of managed pine plantation consisting of loblolly and shortleaf pine. Due to the pine density, the shrub and herb layer is typically sparse. Japanese honeysuckle and poison ivy can be common in locations. This community is scattered along Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake and also is adjacent to areas such as Hitchcock Creek. 3.2.1.5 Early Successional Communities The early successional communities include existing maintained utility right-of-ways and recent timber harvesting areas. The existing utility corridors are maintained in an early successional stage ranging from herbaceous to shrub-dominated habitats depending upon maintenance schedules and native vegetation. Timber harvesting is common throughout the area and clearcutting is one of the dominant harvest techniques. Vegetation composition and structure associated with these areas gradually change over time through natural successional processes. Blackberries, raspberries (Rubus spp.), broom-sedge, and other herbaceous plants typically dominate these areas in the first few years following the harvest. Fast growing tree species such as cherries (Prunus spp.), sweetgum, red maple, and pines gradually shade the herb species and quickly dominate the clearcuts. These early successional habitats generally remain thick and shrubby for up to 20 years following harvest unless they are replanted in the first few years. 3.2.1.6 Agricultural Areas Agricultural cover types along the Yadkin-Pee Dee River include cropland, pastures, hayfields, and fallow fields. The most common croplands include cotton, soybeans, and corn. Agricultural areas are common along the Pee Dee River between Lake Tillery and the upper reaches of Blewett Falls Lake including areas within the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge and Leak Island. 3.2.2 Wetland Natural Communities Palustrine (i.e., freshwater) wetlands are relatively common within and adjacent to the waterbodies associated with the Yadkin-Pee Dee study area. The majority of the wetlands within the study area are associated with islands and the surrounding shoreline floodplains of Blewett Falls Lake. The area known as the Grassy Islands is representative of these wetlands. These islands are found in the upper reaches of the impoundment. Emergent and scrub/shrub wetlands are also associated with several of the larger protected coves distributed in the upper portion of Blewett Falls Lake and Lake Tillery (CP&L 2002a). Wetland natural communities that are classified by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program and found within the Project area include the following types.


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3.2.2.1 Piedmont Bottomland Forest The bottomland forests consist of floodplain ridges and second and third terraces adjacent to the river channel or at least open water of the reservoirs. The hydrology in this system is typically seasonally flooded (i.e., surface water present for extended periods at certain times of the year) to temporarily flooded. Although depending on the terrace location, semipermanently, and intermittently flooded areas are also found within this community. The bottomland hardwood community consists of a high quality wetland and mature forest community. This community is diverse in vegetative structure and species richness and is relatively undisturbed. Most of the bottomland forest areas are associated with the Grassy Islands and surrounding floodplains of Blewett Falls Lake. These islands and floodplains are found in the upper reaches of the impoundment and support some of the best remaining bottomland forests in the piedmont of North Carolina (Sorrie 2001). There are several areas where swamp chestnut oaks, willow oaks, and loblolly pines are estimated to be at least 150 to 200+ years old and have a diameter at breast height (dbh) from 3 to 4 ft. This area is an excellent representative of relatively undisturbed Piedmont bottomland community, which has been classified as Rare (S3) in North Carolina (Schafale and Weakley 1990). The vegetation associated with the bottomlands forests consist of a mature canopy of various trees such as sycamore, green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), American elm (Ulmus americana), red maple, lowland hackberry (Celtis laevigata), swamp chestnut oak, water oak, willow oak, loblolly pine, and cottonwood (Populus deltoides). These mature canopy trees are at least 80 to 100 years in age. In most of the bottomlands, the shrub and vine layer consisted of muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia), poison ivy, greenbrier, cross vine (Bignonia capreolata), black willow (Salix nigra), Chinese privet, and pawpaw. This shrub and vine layer varied in density depending on the local hydrologic conditions. The typical herb layer consisted false nettle (Boehmeria cylindrica), Indian wild oats, fleabane species (Erigeron spp.), violet species (Viola spp.), sedge species (Carex spp.), giant cane, Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum), and marsh pepper smartweed (P. hydropiper). The herb layer can be nonexistent to quite dense depending on the duration of standing water and the extent of canopy closure. In several areas, including some channel fringe and cove areas, dense, monotypic stands of southern wild rice or giant cutgrass (Zizaniaopsis miliacea) are evident. Black willow and crimson-eyed mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) are also found in the higher portions of these coves. These large, permanently to semi-permanently flooded areas are found in the vicinity of Mountain Island Creek confluence, fringing the Grassy Islands and along the west shoreline within several large coves. 3.2.2.2 Piedmont Levee Forest This natural community is associated with natural levee and point bar deposits on large floodplains, especially within Blewett Falls Lake (Schafale and Weakley 1990). The community is typically bordered by the river channel and grades into and is closely associated with the bottomland hardwood community. The canopy is dominated by a mixture of large trees including sycamore, river birch, sugarberry (Celtis laevigata), boxelder, sweetgum, American elm, and cottonwood (Populus deltoides). These mature canopy trees are typically at least 80 to 100 years in age. The


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shrub and vine layer consisted of muscadine, poison ivy, greenbriar, cross vine, black willow, spicebush, and pawpaw. This shrub and vine layer varies in density depending on the local hydrologic conditions. The typical herb layer consists of false nettle, river oats, fleabane species, violet species, sedge species (Carex spp.), giant cane, and smartweed species (Polygonum spp). The Grassy Islands associated with Blewett Falls Lake exhibit some of the best remaining levee communities in the piedmont of North Carolina (Sorrie 2001). 3.2.2.3 Oxbow Lake This natural community, locally known as Smith Lake, is associated with relic river channel meanders with permanent hydrology (Schafale and Weakley 1990). Within Blewett Falls Lake, this community is associated with an old oxbow/slough(s) of the Little River. These oxbows and sloughs are old historical channels believed to have formed as the Little River migrated north to its present location. A unique water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) swamp community is located approximately 2,000 ft upstream of the confluence of the Pee Dee River and Smith Lake. Sorrie (2001) believes that this specific Oxbow Lake community occurs nowhere else in the Piedmont region of North Carolina and is of Statewide Significance. This community, including several of the representative plant species, is usually found only in the Coastal Plain physiographic region. 3.2.2.4 Piedmont Alluvial Forest This seasonally or intermittently flooded forested wetland community is located along river and stream floodplains within the Project area. In the Project area the typical canopy species include the sycamore, red maple, river birch, and willow oak. The understory species include red maple, spicebush, box elder (Acer negundo), ironwood, and American holly. Shrubs and vines include brook-side alder, swamp rose, common elderberry, southern arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), poison ivy, and Virginia creeper. Representative herbs include cane, southern lady fern, rattlesnake fern, fringed sedge (Carex crinita), shallow sedge (C. lurida), Virginia dayflower (Commelina virginica), spotted jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), fowl manna grass (Glyceria striata), Japanese grass (Microstegium vimeneum), early meadowrue (Thalictrum dioicum), green dragon (Arisaema triphyllum), and perfoliate bellwort (Bates 2002; Schafale and Weakley 1990). The invasive Chinese privet and Japanese honeysuckle can be prevalent in several areas along the Yadkin-Pee Dee River. Associated with this community, as well as the other bottomlands, are scattered ephemeral or vernal pool depressional areas. These pools are subject to seasonal fluctuation and provide important breeding areas for several amphibian species such as mole salamanders. Emergent hydrophytes such as lizard’s-tail (Saururus cernuus), sedges (Carex spp.), rare Coastal Plain species such as water purslane (Didiplis diandra), and peripheral stands of large water tupelo are also associated with these vernal pools. 3.2.2.5 Other Wetland Communities Several other wetland communities are found throughout the Project area. One of the more common emergent wetlands, especially on Lake Tillery, includes shoreline fringing areas consisting of water willow (Justicia americana). The water willow beds found on Lake Tillery are the most frequently


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mapped habitat types on the lake (CP&L 2001a). These semipermanently flooded areas can be found at the mouth of the Uwharrie River, the Richmond Creek confluence, and a fringe along the majority of the southern Lake Tillery shoreline. Submergent and aquatic bed wetlands can also be found throughout study area, especially in protected coves within Lake Tillery. Due to the turbid conditions within Blewett Falls Lake, aquatic bed wetlands are uncommon. These permanently to semi-permanently flooded wetlands include aquatic species such as pondweed (Potomogeton spp.), muskgrass (Chara spp.), coontail (Ceratophyllum sp.), and brittle naiad (Najas minor). 3.3 Station Descriptions Surveys for rare, threatened, and endangered species were conducted in North Carolina from the Yadkin River just upstream of the Uwharrie River confluence south to just downstream of Blewett Falls Lake (Figure 3.3). The study started with a total of 14 stations with 44 points located along the various transects. There was a combination of 14 separate habitat types. Each station was described given a separate habitat combination that best described the area with the station (Table 3-1). These stations are located within the Project boundary, or within the operational zone of influence (e.g., backwaters on Blewett Falls Lake), or within the two requested Progress Energy landholdings outside of the Project boundaries (e.g., Pee Dee River Gabbro Slopes area). Below are descriptions of the wildlife inventory stations. 3.3.1 Dutch John Creek Area The Dutch John Creek Area is located north of the confluence of the Uwharrie and Yadkin Rivers and is not bordered by Lake Tillery. During the first spring survey, it was determined that this site was outside of Project boundaries, and outside zone of operational influence (Figure 3.3). Due to the station location, no further surveys were conducted at this site. 3.3.2 Gold Mine Branch Longleaf Pine Forest The Gold Mine Branch Longleaf Forest is located north of the confluence of the Uwharrie and Yadkin Rivers and is not bordered by Lake Tillery. During the first spring survey, it was determined that this site is outside of Project boundaries, and outside zone of operational influence (Figure 3.3). Due to the station location, no further surveys were conducted at this site.


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Table 3-1 Inventory stations, survey points, and associated community habitat types. Station Name Number of Points Community Habitat Type

Lake Tillery 7 total Lower Uwharrie River 4 Piedmont Bottomland and Alluvial Forest;

isolated Floodplain Ephemeral Pools and adjacent waterbodies

Morrow Mountain State Park 2 Alluvial Forest and Reservoir Jacobs Creek Area 1 Mesic Oak-Hickory Pee Dee River 11 total Tillery Dam and Tailrace Area (including the great blue heron colony)

4 Tailrace, Piedmont Bottomland, Alluvial Forest, Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest, and Reservoir

Leak Island 1 Agriculture, Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest and Riverine

Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge Area 2 Riverine and Piedmont Bottomland Forest Brown Creek 1 Piedmont Bottomland Forest and Levee Forest Lower Little River 3 Piedmont Bottomland Forest and Levee Forest Grassy Islands Complex 14 total Grassy Islands 6 Piedmont Bottomland Forest, Levee Forest Oxbow Lake (Smith Lake) 2 Piedmont Bottomland Forest, and Oxbow Lake Water Tupelo Swamp Area 2 Oxbow Lake and Piedmont Bottomland Forest Mountain Creek/Southern Rice Beds 2 Piedmont Bottomland Forest, Levee Forest,

Oxbow Lake Vernal Pools 4+ Isolated Floodplain Ephemeral Pool Lower Pee Dee River 10 total Blewett Falls Dam and Tailrace Area 3 Tailrace, Reservoir, Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest Pee Dee River Gabbro Slopes and Floodplain

4 Basic Oak-Hickory forest and Piedmont Bottomland/Levee Forest

Hitchcock Creek and Pee Dee River Slopes

3 Basic Mesic and Basic Oak-Hickory Forests, Piedmont Bottomland Forest


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3.3.3 Lower Uwharrie River/Hidden Lakes Area The part of the Uwharrie River corridor identified as State Significant by the NC Natural Heritage Program is upstream of the flowage easement or property of Progress Energy. Along the lower Uwharrie River, just before the confluence with the Yadkin/Pee Dee River, residences line the western shoreline. The eastern shoreline, which is within the zone of Project influence, is primarily a narrow Piedmont Alluvial Forest with mature red maple, river birch, willow oak, water oak, sweet gum, and sycamore. The understory layer is dominated with tag alder, flowering dogwood, American holly, muscadine grape, poison ivy, crossvine, river oats, and Christmas fern. The station has 75 percent forest canopy coverage with an estimated average height of 60 ft with four observed snags. Several large ephemeral or vernal pools within the floodplain and two backwater coves (locally known as Hidden Lakes) are located to the south of the Uwharrie River. Dense layers of vegetation lined the shores of the Hidden Lakes, from the dominant trees in this Piedmont Alluvial Forest community of red maple, sugarberry, and tulip tree to the silky dogwood, buttonbush, green ash, black willow, and tag alder understory. The herbaceous emergent layer is diverse and includes numerous sedge species including broadleaf arrowhead, Ludwegia, Lizard’s-tail, and pickerel weed. Dense submerged aquatic vegetation consisting of chara fringes the emergent vegetation at this site. There is one wildlife inventory station and four sample points within this area. The sample points are located in the Alluvial Forest community (Figure 3.3 and Table 3-1). 3.3.4 Morrow Mountain State Park and Adjacent Reservoir Areas Morrow Mountain State Park covers approximately 4,700 acres of upland and wetland areas in Stanly County including approximately four linear miles of shoreline on Lake Tillery. Steep Piedmont Acidic Cliff rock outcrops, Piedmont Heath Bluff dominated by mountain laurel, and Dry-Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest with oaks, hickory, shortleaf pine, and Virginia pine communities characterized the habitat from Falls Dam to the Morrow Mountain boat ramp. River birch, water oak, red maple, pawpaw, giant cane, and river oats dominate these moist shoreline areas. The station has 65 percent forest canopy coverage with an estimated average height of 60 ft with three snags observed. Progress Energy primarily has only flowage easements along the shoreline of Morrow Mountain State Park. There are two wildlife inventory stations with one associated sample point for each station (Figure 3.3 and Table 3-1). The sample points are located in the Alluvial Forest community and the adjacent reservoir. 3.3.5 Jacobs Creek Area The Jacobs Creek Area is located on the Stanly County side of Lake Tillery about half way down the lake. During the first spring survey, it was determined that this site has residential development that is not conducive to providing quality wildlife habitat (Figure 3.3). No further surveys were conducted at this site.


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Figure 3-3 Wildlife inventory study locations (Sheet 1 of 5).


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3.3.6 Tillery Dam and Tailrace Area/Great Blue Heron Colony This station includes sample sites both immediately above and below the Tillery Dam. The area immediately above Tillery Dam on the west shoreline of Lake Tillery is managed as a loblolly pine plantation. The understory is sparse and consists primarily of Japanese honeysuckle and anglers heavily use the area for bank fishing. The west shore area below the dam is a Piedmont Alluvial Forest dominated by mature plantation loblolly pines with an understory dominated with the non-native, invasive species Japanese honeysuckle and Chinese privet. There also are scattered areas of Mesic Oak-Hickory forest at this site including dominant canopy species of water oak, red oak, pignut hickory, and sweet gum. The understory consists primarily of American holly, flowering dogwood, pipsissewa (Chimaphila maculate) and arrowleaf heartleaf (Hexastylis arifolia). The station has approximately 85 percent forest canopy coverage with an estimated average height of 65 ft with six snags observed. There is an established great blue heron breeding colony in the loblolly pines along the west shoreline (i.e., loblolly pine plantation) adjacent to the tailrace area. Approximately 80 pairs of herons were counted in this growing breeding colony in 2004. A bald eagle nest has consistently been observed in this area over the past three years. There is one wildlife inventory station and three associated sample points at this site (Figure 3.3 and Table 3-1). The sample points are located in the Alluvial Forest community within Project boundaries and one point also overlooks adjacent Lake Tillery just to the west of the dam. The tailwater area for this survey extends 0.5 miles from the base of Tillery Dam to the NC Highway 731 Bridge. Numerous rocks and emergent vegetation consisting of water willow and smartweeds (Periscaria spp.) are scattered in this tailwater area and are exposed primarily during low flow conditions when the power plant is not operating or it is generating at less than full load. This tailwater area is extensively used for foraging by a variety of wading and waterbirds including the great blue herons associated with the adjacent breeding colony. There is one station with one associated point overlooking the tailwater foraging area.


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The Lake Tillery Dam tailwater during low flows. Notice large area of water willow and

foraging use by wading birds such as the great blue heron. 3.3.7 Leak Island Area Leak Island is located in Richmond County approximately six miles below the Tillery Dam and south of the confluence with the Rocky River. This island sits within the Pee Dee River at the northern boundary of the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge. Habitat consists primarily of riverine, agricultural fields (e.g., corn), and a Mesic Mixed Hardwood riparian fringe consisting of red maple, sycamore, water oak, red oak, muscadine, and poison ivy. Several large snags with cavities are located in this fringe. A bald eagle, along with several juveniles, is commonly observed on Leak Island, although no nesting site has been found to date. There is one station with one associated point associated with Leak Island (Figure 3.3 and Table 3-1). 3.3.8 Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge Area The Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge straddles both sides of the Pee Dee River between Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake in Anson and Richmond Counties below Leak Island down river to just above the NC Highway 109 Bridge. These approximately 8,843 acres are part of the Savannah-Santee-Pee Dee Ecosystem comprising 3,000 acres of bottomland hardwoods; 1,200 acres of upland pine forest; and 4,300 acres of croplands, old fields, moist soil units and mixed pine hardwoods. Cooperative farming is associated with 1,150 refuge acres, with 20 percent of crops left in the field for wildlife food and cover. Steep river banks keep the fluctuating water level of the Pee Dee River from flooding the upper terraces except in extreme precipitation events. The west shore of the refuge consists of Piedmont Bottomland Forest and Levee Forest dominated by canopy species such as red maple, hackberry, water oak, sycamore, sweet gum, and box elder. Understory vegetation such as giant cane, Christmas fern, Japanese honeysuckle, and poison ivy are common at this site.


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There is one wildlife inventory station with two associated sample points within this area. The sample points are located in the Bottomland/Levee Forest community and adjacent Pee Dee River (Figure 3.3 and Table 3-1). 3.3.9 Brown Creek Area The Brown Creek area near the confluence with the Pee Dee River is similar to other upstream areas along the river. At this site, steep river banks also keep the fluctuating water level of the river from flooding the upper terraces except in extreme precipitation events. This area consists of Piedmont Bottomland Forest and Levee Forest dominated by canopy species such as red maple, hackberry, water oak, sycamore, sweetgum, and box elder. Understory vegetation such as giant cane, Christmas fern, Japanese honeysuckle, and poison ivy are also common at this site. There is one wildlife inventory station with one associated sample points within this area (Figure 3.3 and Table 3-1). The sample point is located in the Levee Forest community and adjacent to Brown Creek and the Pee Dee River. 3.3.10 Lower Little River Area The Lower Little River is listed by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program as Regionally Significant primarily due to its large remaining natural tract of high quality bottomland with a high canopy diversity of hardwoods mixed with loblolly pines in this river terrace community (Sorrie 2001). The Little River enters the Pee Dee River just upstream of Blewett Falls Lake. A Piedmont Levee Forest community with river birch, sycamore, hackberry, and box elder along the shoreline gives way to a Piedmont Bottomland Forest inland and on the flat terraces about 8 to 15 ft above the river (Sorrie 2001). The bottomland forest consists of a canopy of red maple, river birch, sycamore, hackberry, green ash, and sweet gum. Flowering dogwood, pawpaw, ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana), American holly, giant cane, Japanese honeysuckle, muscadine, poison ivy, and Chinese privet make up the subcanopy and understory. The station has approximately 70 percent forest canopy coverage with an estimated average height of 65 ft. At least nine snags with large cavity openings were observed. There is one wildlife inventory station with three associated sample points within this area (Figure 3.3 and Table 3-1). The sample points are located adjacent to the Levee Forest community and the Pee Dee River.


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Photograph of the Lower Little River and the adjacent Levee Forest community.

3.3.11 Grassy Islands Complex The area known as the Grassy Island Complex occurs in the upper half of Blewett Falls Lake. This area supports a wide variety of communities on the numerous islands, sloughs, rocky slopes, vernal pools, and expansive bottomland floodplains that have formed naturally by river flows and sedimentation. The area has a mixture of managed loblolly pine plantation forests, slope forests, levee forests, emergent wetlands, and bottomland hardwood forests along the Pee Dee River shoreline. The complex is notable for its mixture of coastal plain and piedmont/mountain species co-existing side by side (Sorrie 2001). The Grassy Islands Complex is a natural area of Statewide Ecological Significance as designated by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program states that very few intact bottomlands of any significant size remain in the Piedmont region. Thus, the Program has classified this system as Rare (S3) in the Piedmont. Project lands incorporate all Grassy Islands with significant acreage on the Richmond County side and only a narrow flowage easement along the west shore on the Anson County side. The vegetated islands of varying sizes (the largest is over 1 mile long) occur in the transitional area between the free-flowing Pee Dee River and Blewett Falls Lake. These islands formed as the river meandered, changed channels, and accompanying sediment loads were deposited. Within these original bottomlands were geomorphic features known as point bar/swale and natural levee deposits (Wharton et al. 1982). Most sediment deposition, characteristically high in Piedmont rivers, occurs along the main channel waterways during the periodical overbank flooding. Materials (e.g., alluvial sands and silts) are eroded along the concave sides of the channel meanders and redeposited on the convex bends to form the point bars. During overbank flooding, small ridges of bed load deposition form a natural levee on the convex side of the meanders. Currently, the islands are the higher


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elevation areas of these original point bars and to some extent the natural levee formations. The swale formations (in most cases the open water channels between the islands) and the majority of the original point bars have been inundated by the impoundment. The wetlands associated with the Grassy Islands and the associated floodplains along the mainland shoreline (including tributary floodplains of streams such as Mountain Creek and Coleman Creek) are generally classified as Piedmont Bottomland Forest and Levee Forest by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (Sorrie 2001; Schafale and Weakley 1990). Other specific communities such as Piedmont Swamp Forest, emergent marsh, and Floodplain Pool appear to be inclusions within this broader community type. Bottomland forests occur on the floodplain ridges and terraces adjacent to the river channel. The hydrology or water regime in this system is typically seasonally flooded (i.e., surface water present for extended periods at certain times of the year). Semipermanently, intermittently, and temporarily flooded areas are found within these bottomland areas. This area includes a series of ephemeral or vernal pools that occur within the slight depressions of the bottomland terrace. These vernal pools are typically fringed by large water tupelo and water hickory. The vegetation associated with the bottomlands forests consist of a mature canopy of various trees such as sycamore, green ash, American elm, red maple, lowland hackberry, and cottonwood. These mature canopy trees were at least 80 to 100 years in age. No mature oaks were found on these bottomlands. The stations at this site typically have approximately 75 percent forest canopy coverage with an estimated average height of 65 to 70 ft. From 6 to 12 snags with large cavity openings were observed in this area. In most of the bottomlands, the shrub and vine layer consisted of muscadine, poison ivy, greenbriar, cross vine, black willow, and pawpaw. This shrub and vine layer varied in density depending on the local hydrologic conditions. The typical herb layer consisted false nettle, river oats, fleabane species (Erigeron spp.), Virginia dayflower, pennywort, violet species (Viola spp.), sedge species (Carex spp.), giant cane, Pennsylvania smartweed, and marshpepper smartweed (P. hydropiper). The herb layer can be nonexistent to quite dense depending on the duration of standing water and the extent of canopy closure. Large monotypic areas of southern wild rice or giant cut-grass can be found among the islands in several protected coves and backwaters. These wetlands are a unique plant community to the Piedmont of North Carolina (Sorrie 2001). Wetland shrubs such as crimson-eyed mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), buttonbush, and black willow (Salix nigra) are found along the fringes of these emergent areas. Connected to the Pee Dee River by a narrow canal, an oxbow lake know as Smith Lake is thought to be an old historical channel of the Little River which is presently over 1.5 miles to the north of the oxbow. A mature water tupelo stand at the northern end of the oxbow lake, primarily along the west side of the oxbow, is a unique habitat in the North Carolina Piedmont (Sorrie 2001). The changing river course has left several channels or sloughs that are inundated and drained by the dynamic water level of the Pee Dee River in conjunction with the combination of power plant operations and inflow from natural precipitation events within the basin. An estimated 300 water tupelos, with ages ranging from about 10 to 250+ years, populate the portion of the swamp area owned by Progress Energy. In addition to the water tupelo in and along the edges of the sloughs, red maple and water hickory on the slightly higher elevations characterize this healthy, self-sustaining wetland


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community. Although the shrub and herb layer is sparse within the sloughs due to frequent water inundation (i.e., semi-permanent), several common herb species (e.g., lizard-tail, clearweed, inflated sedge, and pennywort) were identified in this area. On either side of the oxbow lake is a broad flat terrace above the 5 to 10 ft bank that supports the adjacent bottomland hardwood forest (Figure 3.3 and Table 3-1).

Southern wild rice beds located within the Grassy Islands complex.


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The water tupelo swamp associated with Smith Lake.

3.3.12 Blewett Falls Dam and Tailrace Area This area includes upland pine/hardwood forest above the Blewett Falls Dam and along the tailrace area. Mature canopy trees include sweet gum, loblolly pine, and water oak. Red cedar, flowering dogwood, and Japanese honeysuckle are common in the subcanopy and understory. The points at this site typically have approximately 60 percent forest canopy coverage with an estimated average height of 55 ft. Few snags with cavities were observed in this area. This station also includes points overlooking the lake such as near the boat access area and a point overlooking the tailwater below the dam (Figure 3.3 and Table 3-1). For the past several years an eagle nest has consistently been observed in the area above the dam. 3.3.13 Pee Dee River Gabbro Slopes and Floodplain This North Carolina Natural Heritage Program State Significant natural area follows the eastern shore of the Pee Dee River in Richmond County below Walls Landing at Seaburn Branch to just below U.S. Highway 74. The unique geology of the area, gabbro rock which weathers to basic soils, supports good quality hardwood Basic Mesic Oak-Hickory forest and a drier Basic Oak-Hickory forest on rocky slopes (Sorrie 2001). This very diverse area also has a wide river terrace which supports good quality floodplain Piedmont Levee Forest with diverse canopy species, Piedmont Bottomland Forest, and two large marshy beaver ponds. Like most of the Pee Dee River megasite, this area is notable for its mixture of coastal plain and piedmont/mountain species coexisting. Predominant canopy species at this station include the tulip poplar, red maple, bitternut hickory, sycamore, overcup oak (Q. lyrata), red oak, and sweet gum. The subcanopy and understory includes winged elm, red maple, spicebush (Lindera benzoin), redbud, Chinese privet, giant cane, and white wood aster (Aster divaricatus). There is approximately 75 percent canopy closure at this station


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with two snags with nest cavities. Upper slopes have been converted to loblolly pine plantation. The southern edge of this unique site abuts the Hitchcock Creek Area. This station and associated four survey points are outside Project boundaries and the zone of operational influence but as mentioned earlier in the report was selected as requested by stakeholders in the Terrestrial RWG due to its resource importance (Figure 3.3 and Table 3-1).

View of Gabbro Slopes Basic Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest.

3.3.14 Hitchcock Creek and Pee Dee River Slopes Area This area is located in Richmond County along the Pee Dee River below U.S. Highway 74, across a railroad track, to just below Hitchcock Creek. Listed as having Regional Significance by North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, the area supports several plant communities from a Piedmont Levee Forest of the numerous near-shore islands and banks along the floodplain of the Pee Dee River to a Basic Oak-Hickory Forest on the dry, upland slopes. Rocky slopes, steep ravines and floodplain forests flank Hitchcock Creek and portions of the Pee Dee River. Like the geology of the Gabbro Slopes Area, rare gabbro bedrock weathers to form relatively high pH soils. Along Hitchcock Creek to the confluence with the Pee Dee River, the alluvial forest is composed of sycamore, water oak, river birch, sweetgum, pignut hickory, red maple, and loblolly pine, with hornbeam, American holly, Florida maple, Vaccinium spp., pawpaw, Chinese privet, Christmas fern, arrowleaf heartleaf, and goldenrod (Solidago spp.) in the understory. The canopy closure at this site is approximately 75 percent. Upslope and away from the numerous ravines the area has been planted in loblolly pine. Hitchcock Creek/Pee Dee River Slopes is notable for its mixture of coastal plain and piedmont/mountain species coexisting (Sorrie 2001). This station and associated four survey points are outside Project boundaries and the zone of operational influence but as mentioned earlier


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in the report was selected as requested by stakeholders in the Terrestrial RWG due to its resource importance (Figure 3.3 and Table 3-1).

View of Hitchcock Creek Basic Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest.

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Section 4 - Methods The methodology used to conduct RTE species surveys was approved by the Terrestrial RWG in December 2003 to address Terrestrial Issue No. 1 - Ongoing Monitoring of Existing RTE Populations. Below are the tasks and methods for this study. 4.1 Prepare RTE Species List Based on existing literature and databases such as South Carolina and North Carolina Natural Heritage Program database information, county species lists, agencies databases, and other information such as Christmas bird counts and discussions with area biologists, a list of terrestrial wildlife species known or potentially occurring in or near the study area was compiled (Appendices A through C). From this list, state- or federally-listed terrestrial wildlife species known or potentially occurring in or near the four-county study area was identified. Areas within the Project boundary, and in the zones of influence were reviewed and surveyed to identify those areas determined to be “high value wildlife habitat”. In addition, two locations outside of the Project boundary were requested by stakeholders in the RWG to be surveyed. These selected areas were evaluated based on plant community type, unique features, and the results of the wildlife inventories including species abundance and richness. The resource agency biologists and local experts were also contacted for information on additional habitats of importance. A Project-wide landscape assessment was conducted to determine areas likely to provide suitable habitat for the known or potentially-occurring terrestrial RTE wildlife species. A list of 14 preliminary survey locations was selected and included in the original study plan (Table 3-1). Three of these original sites were subsequently dropped or modified because they were determined to be outside the area of Project influence (i.e., Dutch John Creek and Gold Mine Branch Longleaf Pine Forest) or the area was not present as expected from initial analysis (i.e., residential developments along Jacobs Creek). Existing information on the preferred/critical habitats and the specific breeding periods were reviewed for each of these species and the list was further refined to include only those species that may be present within the Project area based on community habitat types potentially present within the study area. A list of 25 targeted RTE species was reviewed and approved by the RWG. Subsequently, a second mammal species, the southeastern myotis, was added to the list since it was collected during a bat survey conducted at the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge in August 2004. The final list with 26 RTE species was used for this study (Table 4-1). 4.2 Survey Existing RTE Populations Directed surveys were conducted within the areas selected for each of the 26 targeted species based on species-specific habitat preferences, habits, or previously known occurrences. In addition to surveying the selected established stations for identified RTE species, special surveys were conducted for bald eagle and bats within the Project facilities. Aerial surveys of bald eagle nesting

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Table 4-1 North Carolina state- or federally-listed terrestrial wildlife species known to occur within the Pee Dee River four-county area (Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, and Stanly Counties) and could potentially occur within the Project area based on preferred habitat type.

Common Name Federal Status

State Status Preferred Habitat Pee Dee

River Range Directed Survey Areas Survey Occurrence

Four-toed Salamander

--- Species of Concern

Vernal pools, bogs, and other wetlands in hardwood forests; Springs with sphagnum moss preferred.

Year-round Uwharrie River Corridor, Tillery Dam and Tailrace area, Grassy Islands Complex, Gabbro Slopes and floodplain

Not observed during inventories.

Mole Salamander --- Species of Concern

Breeds in fish-free semipermanent woodland ponds and vernal pools; forages in adjacent woodlands

Year-round Uwharrie River Corridor, Tillery Dam and Tailrace area, Grassy Islands Complex, Gabbro Slopes and floodplain

Not observed during inventories; to be targeted during late winter 2005

Timber Rattlesnake --- Species of Concern

Wetland forest in coastal plain; rocky upland forests elsewhere

Year-round Morrow Mountain State Park, Blewett Dam area, Gabbro Slopes area, and Hitchcock Creek


Anhinga --- Significantly Rare

Coastal wooded lakes or ponds, or open swamps

Summer, Breeding, Migration

Grassy Islands Complex, Lower Little River

Observed at Grassy Island Complex summer 2004

American Bittern --- Significantly Rare

Coastal/tidewater fresh or brackish marshes

Summer, Migration

Grassy Islands Complex Heard at Mountain Creek rice beds summer 2004

Bachman’s Sparrow Species of Concern

Species of Concern

Open longleaf pine forests; old fields

Year-round, Migration

No appropriate habitat located within survey area to conduct a directed survey

Not observed during inventories

Bald Eagle Threatened (proposed for

delisting)

Threatened Mature forests near large body of water

Year-round, Migration

Tater Top Mountain, Lake Tillery Dam, Blewett Falls Dam, Leak Island, and along all shorelines

Observed at Uwharrie River Corridor, Tater Top Mountain, Lake Tillery Dam, Grassy Island Complex, Blewett Falls Dam, Pee Dee River, Leak Island

Black-billed Cuckoo --- Significantly Rare

Mountainous deciduous forests, mainly at higher elevations

Migration Grassy Islands Complex, Lower Little River, Uwharrie River area-bottomland forest areas


Black-throated Green Warbler-coastal plain pop

--- Significantly Rare

Coastal nonriverine wetland forests, especially associated with white cedar or cypress

Migration Grassy Islands Complex, Lower Little River, Uwharrie River area-bottomland forest areas


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Brown Creeper --- Species of Concern

Mountain high elevation forests, favoring spruce-fir mixed with hardwoods

Winter, Migration

Grassy Islands Complex, Lower Little River, Brown Creek, Hitchcock Creek, Uwharrie River area-bottomland forest areas


Henslow’s Sparrow Species of Concern

Significantly Rare

Coastal clear-cut pocosins and other damp weedy fields

Rare, Winter No appropriate habitat located within survey area to conduct a directed survey


Hermit Thrush --- Significantly Rare

Mountain spruce-fir forests Migration, Winter

Grassy Islands Complex, Lower Little River, Uwharrie River, Gabbro Slopes-Oak-Hickory Forests

Observed in Grassy Island Complex and Gabbro Slopes fall 2004

Lark Sparrow --- Significantly Rare

Sandhills barren, sandy fields with scattered saplings

Rare No appropriate habitat located within survey area to conduct a directed survey


Little Blue Heron --- Species of Concern

Coastal forests or thickets on maritime islands

Year-round Uwharrie River Corridor, Lake Tillery Dam and Tailrace, Grassy Islands Complex, Blewett Falls Dam and Tailrace


Loggerhead Shrike --- Species of Concern

fields and old pastures with perches and thorny scrubs

Year-round No appropriate habitat located within survey area to conduct a directed survey


Magnolia Warbler --- Significantly Rare

Mountain spruce-fir forests, especially in immature stands

Migration Grassy Islands Complex, Lower Little River, Brown Creek, Hitchcock Creek, Uwharrie River area-bottomland forest areas

Heard at Grassy Islands Complex fall 2004

Mississppi Kite --- Significantly Rare

Coastal mature, extensive bottomland forests, mainly in Roanoke River floodplain

Summer, Breeding

Grassy Islands Complex, Lower Little River, Uwharrie River area-bottomland forest areas


Northern Harrier --- Significantly Rare

Coastal/tidewater extensive brackish marshes

Winter, Migration

Grassy Islands Complex, Pee Dee River

Observed at Leak Island fall and winter 2004

Peregrine Falcon --- Endangered cliffs (for nesting); coastal ponds and mudflats (foraging in winter)

Migration No appropriate habitat located within survey area to conduct a directed survey


Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Endangered Endangered Open stands of old growth longleaf/loblolly pine (> 80 yrs)

Year-round No appropriate habitat located within survey area to conduct a directed survey


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Sharp-shinned Hawk

--- Significantly Rare

Mountain/piedmont forests and woodlands

Winter, Breeding, Migration

Grassy Islands Complex, Lower Little River, Uwharrie River area-bottomland forest areas and Oak-Hickory Forests


Snowy Egret --- Species of Concern


Year-round Uwharrie River Corridor, Lake Tillery Dam and Tailrace, Grassy Islands Complex, Blewett Falls Dam and Tailrace

Not observed during inventories (observed during past tailrace surveys).

Swainson’s Warbler --- Watch List bottomlands, swamps, and stream bottoms

Migration, Breeding

Uwharrie River Corridor, Tillery Dam and Tailrace area, Leak Island, Brown Creek, Lower Little River, Grassy Islands Complex, Gabbro Slopes and floodplain, Hitchcock Creek


Tricolor Heron --- Species of Concern


Year-round Uwharrie River Corridor, Lake Tillery Dam and Tailrace, Grassy Islands Complex, Blewett Falls Dam and tailrace


Southeastern Myotis Species of Concern

Species of Concern

Buildings, hollow trees, forested areas near water

Year-round, though

hibernate in winter

Project facilities Not observed during inventories. * recently documented at Pee Dee NWR.

Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat

Species of Concern

Threatened Colonial roosts in old buildings, caves and mines, usually near water

Year-round Tillery and Blewett powerhouses and power plant structures


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locations within the Project lands in recent years have documented the continued nesting activity of these threatened species along the Pee Dee River corridor. During the early summer field surveys in 2004, the three known nesting locations within the Project area were viewed by land to determine nesting activity. At the request of the NCWRC, the powerhouses and other structures associated with Blewett and Tillery Hydroelectric Plants were added as a species-specific location and surveyed for the presence of bats. In addition to directed surveys, RTE species observed during the surveys conducted for the Wildlife Inventory Study (Terrestrial Issue No. 8) or any incidental sightings of RTE species were noted. The methodologies associated with the various wildlife surveys conducted with the Blewett Falls Lake and Lake Tillery Project area are described below. The methods associated with the reptile and amphibian, bird, and mammal surveys were agreed upon by the Terrestrial RWG before surveys began in 2004. These methods following conventional wildlife survey techniques. 4.2.1 Reptile and Amphibian Survey Methods Surveys for the aquatic species (frogs, salamander, and turtles) consisted of direct searches for egg masses and larval forms in any pool areas, searching shallow water zones for amphibians, and turning over rocks, debris, and litter to find both adults and larval amphibians. At least two, 2- to 3-hour nocturnal surveys were also conducted in the study area to document breeding amphibian use in the early spring. Limited dip-net and funnel trap sampling was conducted in the aquatic areas and the vernal pool areas. Terrestrial species such as lizards, snakes, and certain salamanders were surveyed through use of visual encounter surveys along designated transects established during the survey. The visual encounter surveys will be augmented through cover-object surveys (e.g., turning over rocks, logs and other debris). Surveys for both aquatic and terrestrial species were conducted through the appropriate breeding periods which can include early spring (i.e., late March) for the vernal pool breeding species such as most mole salamanders and between June and September for the aquatic and terrestrial species. Survey forms were developed for the study and will include information on species numbers, life stages, habitat conditions, and survey conditions. Species richness (total number of species) was determined. 4.2.2 Bird Survey Methods Surveys for avian resources were conducted through use of point counts along established transects (Cooperrider et al. 1986; Ralph et al. 1993; Ralph et al. 1995). Point counts for avian species involved a qualified observer surveying at established sample points and recording all the birds seen and heard over a ten minute period. The point counts for migratory species began near sunrise and continued through the day in an effort to capture both passerine and non-passerine species. Breeding bird surveys focused on the time period from sunrise through approximately 10:30 a.m. to coincide with the territorial males’ peak singing time. The order in which the points were surveyed changed from survey to survey to reduce temporal bias. The approximate location of each bird detected was recorded on a field map along with notes on activity. This reduced the probability of recording the

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same individual more than once and was used to estimate the number of birds present at each point (i.e., relative abundance). Strip census or meander surveys were also conducted in the area of the point count surveys to bolster the probability of species occurrence. A strip census involves walking a line established through an area and recording individuals observed along the line. The point count stations were located in representative habitat areas within the entire Project area, areas within the zone of operational influence, or within corporate lands. Waterfowl and other waterbird survey points were located in or adjacent to wetland, tailrace, riverine, or shoreline areas in an effort to more accurately document these species. Additional significant areas such as the known great blue heron rookery were also documented. Each station was visited twice during the spring migration period (early March through late May); twice during the breeding period (late May through late July); and four times during the fall migration period (mid August through mid December). A winter survey (mid-January) concentrating on waterbird and waterfowl species was also conducted along the waterbodies (i.e., reservoirs and riverine areas) and wetlands. The migration surveys during the spring and fall coincided with the passage of weather fronts (i.e., warm fronts in the spring and cold fronts in the fall) (Lincoln 1989). Surveys were not conducted when rain or wind interfered with the audibility of bird sounds, or when fog or rain interfered with bird identification. Species richness (total number of species) and abundance at each station/point was determined. 4.2.2 Mammal Survey Methods Surveys for mammals were conducted through use of visual encounter surveys along designated transects established during the survey. The visual encounter surveys were augmented through incidental observations and observations of sign of presence such as tracks, scat, and den areas. Mammal surveys were conducted concurrently with the other wildlife surveys. 4.3 Schedule for Conducting Field Surveys Surveys were conducted as scheduled from March 2004 through March 2005. Specific time periods were dictated by species type (see methods above). One exception was the originally planned field work for September 2004 was postponed a few weeks due to poor weather conditions and autumn tropical storms. However, the majority of the sites were surveyed at least once during the scheduled periods; most sites were surveyed two to three times. Two special directed surveys were conducted. Bald eagle nests previously identified within the Project area were surveyed in March 2004 and power plant buildings and structures were surveyed for bats or sign of bats in June 2004. 4.4 Targeted RTE Species A description of the 26 targeted RTE species are listed below. The preferred community habitat type or habitat requirements of each species were reviewed to determine in which of the established

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survey stations they would most likely be found (Table 4-1). Special effort was made at these locations to look for the targeted species based on their specific habits and needs. ■ Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) The four-toed salamander (North Carolina Special Concern) is a small, slender brown amphibian with a white underside and scattered black dots on its back. As its name indicates, this salamander has four toes on each hind foot. This bog-dwelling species inhabits vernal pools, shallow ponds, and other wetlands in hardwood forests where mosses (specifically sphagnum moss) are abundant. In piedmont North Carolina, the four-toed salamander female lays a large mass of eggs under the moss in early March and the larvae hatch in May. The search for this salamander was primarily at stations where vernal pools, hillside seeps, and other wetlands were found in hardwood forests, specifically the Lower Uwharrie River corridor, Lake Tillery Dam and tailrace area, throughout the Grassy Islands complex, and in the wet areas of the Pee Dee River Gabbro Slopes and floodplain. ■ Mole Salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum) The mole salamander (North Carolina Special Concern) is gray or brown with a large head and a stocky body. The adult has a bluish gray underside. White flecks are present on the top, sides, undersides, and on the short, thick legs. This secretive amphibian lives in underground burrows most of the year but congregates in fish-free semipermanent woodland ponds and vernal pools during the breeding season in the winter. Females attach lay loose clusters of eggs to stems or other objects in these shallow ponds. The search for this salamander was also at stations with known vernal pools and other wetlands, specifically the Lower Uwharrie River corridor, Lake Tillery Dam and tailrace area, throughout the Grassy Islands complex, and in the wet areas of the Pee Dee River Gabbro Slopes and floodplain. ■ Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) The timber rattlesnake (North Carolina Special Concern), also known as canebrake rattlesnake, is a large, heavy-bodied snake that has different color phases depending on the local region. The phase most likely encountered in the southern piedmont has a pinkish-tan background with dark black or brown wavy crossbands although the yellow phase which has a yellow or tan background with brown or black crossbands may also be found. Like other pit vipers, its head is very broad in comparison to the neck, pupils are elliptical, end of tail has one or more rattles, and it has heat-sensitive pits. Timber rattlesnakes are found primarily in wetland forests in the coastal plain or in the rocky upland forests elsewhere and winters in deep crevices of rock outcrops when available. Both of these habitat types may be found within the Project area. This venomous reptile may be active day or night but nocturnal activity is especially common during the hot summer months. Directed searches for this species were primarily within the dry, rocky upland forests of Morrow Mountain State Park, around Blewett Falls Dam area, and in the uplands areas of the Pee Dee River Gabbro slopes and Hitchcock Creek.

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■ Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) The anhinga (North Carolina NHP Significantly Rare) is a large, mostly blackish water bird with a thin long neck, a narrow long pointy bill, and a long tail with white tips. Both sexes have large silvery upperwing coverts but the male has a black head and neck while the female has a buff colored head and neck. This uncommon bird is often seen soaring hawk like, often in flocks. Perches and stands like a cormorant with wings half extended. The anhinga prefers coastal wooded lakes or ponds, or open swamps and roosts in trees over water. Its breeding range is generally south and east of the Project area along the coast of the Carolinas but an occasional sighting may be seen during the summer season or during migration. Surveys for anhingas were concentrated along the forested shorelines of the Grassy Islands complex and the Lower Little River where suitable habitat exists. ■ American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) The American bittern (North Carolina NHP Significantly Rare) is a stocky brown heron with a black stripe from the base of its bill downs its neck. The outer wing flight feathers are black. This uncommon bird has yellow legs and tends to point its thick bill upward while standing. It prefers reedy lakes, coastal or tidewater fresh or brackish marshes. The solitary American bittern may be seen within the Project area primarily during migration and in the summer. It winters along the coast. Directed searches were conducted within the marshy emergent areas and southern rice bed areas within the Grassy Islands complex. ■ Bachman’s Sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis) The Bachman’s sparrow (North Carolina Special Concern/Federal Species of Concern) has a striped reddish-brown back and a dingy buff colored unstreaked breast contrasted to the whitish belly. The Bachman’s sparrow may be seen within the North Carolina piedmont year-round or during migration. An uncommon bird, this solitary and secretive bird and prefers open longleaf pine forests with patchy understory of grass and brush. This habitat does not occur within the Project area. Since no appropriate habitat was located within the survey areas, no directed surveys were conducted for the Bachman’s sparrow. ■ Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) The bald eagle (North Carolina Threatened/Federal Threatened [proposed for delisting]) is a distinctive large brown bird of prey with a white head and tail as an adult and a massive yellow bill. Juveniles are all brown including a dark bill with varying degrees of white patches as it matures. Bald eagles are found along lakes, rivers, and coasts where large trees afford nest sites and perch trees with unobstructed view of the water. The Pee Dee River shoreline and the two impoundments within the Project area provide suitable habitat for this bird species to nest, roost, and perch and can be viewed year-round throughout the area. Bald eagles were observed during most of the surveys in 2004. Nests were documented near Tater Top Mountain at Morrow Mountain State Park, Lake Tillery Dam tailrace area, and above Blewett Falls Dam for the past several years. These nest trees were located from land during the 2004 study period and were determined to be active.

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■ Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) The black-billed cuckoo (North Carolina NHP Significantly Rare) is a slender, brown-backed bird with a plain white breast. It has a thin black bill, small white tail spots, and the adult has a narrow red eye-ring. This uncommon, solitary bird prefers mountainous deciduous forests, often in wet openings with willows, and may be found in the Project area during migration. Direct searches for the black-billed cuckoo were conducted in the bottomland hardwood areas of the Grassy Islands complex, Lower Little River, and Lower Uwharrie River. ■ Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens waynei) The coastal plain population of the black-throated green warbler (North Carolina NHP Significantly Rare) is a small bird with a relatively long tail. This perching bird has a bright yellow face, an olive green crown and back, and a whitish-yellow underside with dark streaks along its sides. The coastal plain population breeds in nonriverine wetland forests, especially where white cedar or cypress are mixed with hardwoods. Direct searches for this migratory warbler were conducted in the bottomland hardwood areas of the Grassy Islands complex, Lower Little River, and Lower Uwharrie River. ■ Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) The brown creeper (North Carolina Special Concern) is a very small, slender bird that is cryptic brown above and white below. It has a slender bill that is curved slightly downward and a stiff tail which braces against the tree while this climber ascends the tree. Normally solitary but may mix with flocks of other small song birds. This bird prefers mountain high elevation forests, favoring spruce-fir mixed with hardwoods but may frequent the Project area during migration and during the winter. This bird may use the bottomland hardwood areas of the Grassy Islands complex, Lower Little River, Brown Creek, Hitchcock Creek, and Lower Uwharrie River during migration or during the winter. ■ Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) The secretive, rare Henslow’s sparrow (North Carolina NHP Significantly Rare/Federal Species of Concern) is a very small short-tailed, large but flat-headed sparrow. Its striped olive-colored head with reddish wings and back identifies this bird. It has a big pale bill and fine strips on the breast. The Henslow’s sparrow has a distinctive, odd song which may be the best way to identify this species. This bird prefers damp grassy meadows with old matted vegetation. Within the four counties surrounding the Project area, Henslow’s sparrow has only been identified during a winter Christmas bird count survey in the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge. Its preferred habitat does not occur within the Project area; therefore, no directed surveys were conducted for the Henslow’s sparrow. ■ Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) The hermit thrush (North Carolina NHP Significantly Rare) is a heavily spotted brown thrush with a reddish tail and a thin white eye-ring. Similar to the Swainson’s thrush, it has a habit of cocking its

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tail and letting it slowly drop. It prefers mountain spruce-fir forests for breeding but may migrate through the Project area or winter there. Directed surveys were conducted in the Oak-Hickory Forests of the Grassy Islands complex, Lower Little River, and the Pee Dee River Gabbro Slopes area. ■ Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) The lark sparrow (North Carolina NHP Significantly Rare) has towhee-like white tail corners which are distinctive for this sparrow species. It also has a single central dark spot on a clean whitish breast and a bold head and face pattern of red, black, and white. A very rare species for this area, it may be found in pastures, farms, sandhill barrens, or open fields with scattered saplings. This habitat does not occur within the Project area. Within the four counties surrounding the Project area, the lark sparrow has only been identified during a winter Christmas bird count survey in the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge. No directed surveys were conducted for this species. ■ Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) The little blue heron (North Carolina Special Concern) is a slender, medium-sized heron that is bluish gray with a dark maroon or brown neck. It has a pale bluish bill tipped with black and dull yellow legs. Breeds along the coast in forests or thickets on maritime islands but may frequent inland year-round along edges of shallow marshy ponds. Surveys were conducted for this species along the shorelines of the coves and marshy areas of the Lower Uwharrie River and Grassy Island complex and in the tailrace areas of Lake Tillery Dam and Blewett Falls Dam. ■ Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus ludovicianus) The loggerhead shrike (North Carolina Special Concern) is a gray bird with black wings, black tail with white edges, and broad black mask. With its heavy black bill and big head, its slightly smaller than a robin. This solitary shrike is similar to its relative, the northern shrike, whose range is from Virginia northward. The loggerhead shrike can be found in open pastures and fields with perches and thorny scrubs year-round in the piedmont North Carolina region. Although this species has been frequently documented during surveys conducted within the four-county region, its preferred habitat does not occur within the Project area. No directed surveys were conducted for this species. ■ Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia) The magnolia warbler (North Carolina NHP Significantly Rare) is a small, relatively long tailed warbler with a gray head, narrow white wing bars, white undertail coverts, a broad white band crossed midway on its tail, heavily black streaked sides, and a bright yellow breast and rump. Breeding males have an additional black band under its neck and a white wing panel. Although its preferred breeding habitat is primarily in mountain spruce-fir forests, the magnolia warbler may be observed in piedmont North Carolina in any wooded or brushy area during migration. Direct searches for this migratory warbler were conducted in the bottomland hardwood areas of the Grassy Islands complex, Lower Little River, Brown Creek, Hitchcock Creek, and Lower Uwharrie River.

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■ Mississppi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) The Mississippi kite (North Carolina NHP Significantly Rare) is slender, sleek falcon-like shaped bird that is dark gray above and lighter below with a much lighter gray head. The unbarred tail and underwing are blackish and the outermost primaries are shortened. This solitary raptor is most often seen soaring over open or wooded areas and nests in the summer from the piedmont to the coast in tall trees of mature, extensive bottomland forests. Surveys for this species were conducted along the bottomland hardwood areas of the Grassy Islands complex, Lower Little River, and Lower Uwharrie River. ■ Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) The northern harrier (North Carolina NHP Significantly Rare) is a slender, long tailed, long pointed-winged hawk with distinctive white uppertail coverts (rump). Males are pale gray with wing tips black and females are streaked brown. This solitary bird often glides with its wings in a dihedral angle low over marshes, farmland, and grasslands. It breeds along coastal or tidewater extensive brackish marshes but may be observed along the North Carolina piedmont during winter or during migration. Direct surveys for the northern harrier were conducted near the marshes and agricultural fields along portions of the Grassy Islands complex and the Pee Dee River, especially Leak Island and the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge. ■ Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) The peregrine falcon (North Carolina Endangered) has the characteristic pointed wings, narrow tail, and quick wing beats indicative of all falcons. This solitary bird, about the size of a crow, is slate gray on the top and uniformly patterned underneath with a whitish neck and breast and distinctive black “sideburns”. Peregrine falcons nest on cliff ledges or buildings in cities and may forage in the winter and during migration near ponds, mudflats, and other open areas near water. Any sighting within the Project area would be transient in nature. No appropriate habitat was located within the survey areas; therefore, no directed surveys were conducted for the peregrine falcon. ■ Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) The red-cockaded woodpecker (North Carolina Endangered/Federal Endangered) has a black cap, black and white barred back and flanks, and a white cheek patch. This colonial bird is found in open stands of old-growth longleaf, and sometimes loblolly, pine savannas. Rare but local year-round residents may be found in scattered patches of managed forests in the sandhills region of North Carolina. This habitat does not occur within the Project area. Since no appropriate habitat was located within the survey areas, no directed surveys were conducted for this species. ■ Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) The sharp-shinned hawk (North Carolina NHP Significantly Rare) is the smallest accipiter in the U.S. with the characteristic small head, short rounded wings and long tail. It has a dark gray back and a rusty barred breast. The tip of the barred tail is slightly notched or squared. This uncommon, solitary hawk prefers mountain or piedmont forests and woodlands and may migrate, winter, or even

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breed in the North Carolina piedmont. Directed surveys were conducted in the Oak-Hickory Forests of the Grassy Islands complex, Lower Little River, and the Pee Dee River Gabbro Slopes area. ■ Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) The snowy egret (North Carolina Special Concern) has distinctive yellow feet with black legs (during breeding). This small white heron has a slender black bill and yellow lores. It is primarily a solitary bird but may be found in large groups in the North Carolina piedmont around marshes, swamps, and ponds year-round. The snowy egret has been identified previously near the Project area and was identified foraging for small fish in the Tillery tailrace area shallow waters in 2002. Surveys were conducted along the shorelines of the coves and marshy areas of the Lower Uwharrie River and Grassy Island complex and in the tailrace areas of Lake Tillery Dam and Blewett Falls Dam. ■ Swainson’s Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) The Swainson’s warbler (North Carolina Watch List) is a dull olive-brown above and plain yellow-white below bird with a brown crown, a light eyebrow stripe, and a distinctive very large pale bill. This uncommon species can be found in patches of brush within mature deciduous forests in bottomlands, swamps, and stream bottoms although not always near water. This bird may be found in the region during migration or breeding. Direct searches for this migratory warbler were conducted in the bottomland hardwood areas of the Lower Uwharrie River, Tillery Dam and tailrace, Leak Island, Brown Creek, Lower Little River, Pee Dee River Gabbro slopes and floodplain, and Hitchcock Creek. ■ Tricolor Heron (Egretta tricolor) The tricolor heron (North Carolina Special Concern), also called the Louisiana heron, is a slender, dark gray and brown heron with a contrasting white belly and under wing coverts. It is much smaller than the great blue heron. This typically solitary heron often nests and roosts in mixed colonies and may be found in open shallow water or marshy pools year-round in the North Carolina piedmont. Within the four counties surrounding the Project area, the tricolor heron has only been identified during a winter Christmas bird count survey in the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge. Surveys were conducted for this species along the shorelines of the coves and marshy areas of the Lower Uwharrie River and Grassy Island complex and in the tailrace areas of Lake Tillery Dam and Blewett Falls Dam. ■ Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat (Plecotus rafinesqueii) The Rafinesque’s (or Eastern) big-eared bat (North Carolina Threatened/Federal Species of Concern), as its name indicates, has tremendous ears (>1 inch high) joined in the middle which is the characteristic that distinguishes this pale brown bat from all others in North Carolina. The bases of the white-tipped ventral hairs are black. This colonial mammal roosts in old buildings, caves and mines, usually near water. Special directed surveys were conducted in the Tillery and Blewett Hydroelectric Plants powerhouses and structures.

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■ Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius) The southeastern (or Mississippi) myotis (North Carolina special Concern/Federal Species of Concern) has dull yellowish brown, woolly hair. In the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain in the southeastern U.S., it is common at best in cypress-gum swamps and abandoned buildings adjacent to permanent sources of water, over which it forages. Special surveys for bats were conducted in the Tillery and Blewett Hydroelectric Plants powerhouses and structures. 4.5 Assess the Effects of Hydropower Operations The habitat requirements, habits, and life cycles for each of the 26 potential RTE species that may be within the Project area were reviewed and compared to the influences of the current power plant operation regime on these criteria.

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Section 5 - Results and Discussion Surveys were conducted as outlined in the approved study plans in 2004 to 2005 to identify existing populations of state- or federally-listed terrestrial wildlife species within the FERC Project boundaries and zone of operational influence of the Tillery and Blewett Falls Hydroelectric Plants, and two Progress Energy landholdings outside the Project boundary below the Blewett Plant. These two natural areas (Gabbro Slopes and Hitchcock Creek) were added in response to RWG requests. Within the scope of the study, 26 RTE terrestrial wildlife species (two amphibians, one reptile, 21 birds, and two mammals) were known to occur within the four-county area and could potentially occur within the Project area if the preferred habitat type is available (Table 4-1). All RTE species observed during the directed surveys based on appropriate community habitat type, during the wildlife surveys conducted for the Wildlife Inventory Study (Terrestrial Issue No. 8), or as an incidental sighting while in the Project area were included in this report. Six RTE species were identified during the field study: three birds during the breeding season and three birds during migratory periods (Table 5-1). Five of the six species were observed within the diverse habitats of the Grassy Islands Complex Area. Bald eagle was the only federally-listed species observed within the FERC Project boundary or zone of operational influence of the Tillery Hydroelectric Plant. Table 5-1 RTE terrestrial wildlife species identified in the Project area, 2004-2005. Common Name Listed1 Location Identified Anhinga SR Grassy Island Complex - Grassy Islands American Bittern SR Grassy Island Complex - Mountain Creek southern rice beds

Bald Eagle T Lower Uwharrie River, Morrow Mountain State Park - Tater Top Mountain, Lake Tillery Dam, Grassy Islands Complex - Grassy Islands, Blewett Falls Dam, Pee Dee River - Leak Island

Hermit Thrush SR Grassy Islands Complex, Pee Dee River Gabbro Slopes Area Magnolia Warbler SR Grassy Islands Complex - Grassy Islands Northern Harrier SR Pee Dee River - Leak Island 1 Listed codes: SR = North Carolina Natural Heritage Program Significantly Rare, T = Threatened (NC and Federal). The anhinga and the American bittern were identified at the Grassy Islands Complex during the summer survey 2004. The anhinga was observed flying overhead along the Grassy Islands and the bittern was heard calling within the Mountain Creek southern wild rice emergent wetlands. These birds prefer wooded lakes, ponds, or swamps and marshes — habitat that is abundant in this area of Blewett Falls Lake. The bald eagle is currently listed as federal/state threatened but this large raptor has been proposed by USFWS for delisting. The mature forests along the Pee Dee River shoreline and the two impoundments within the Project area provide suitable habitat for this bird species to nest, roost, perch, and feed and can be viewed year-round throughout the area. Adults and young bald eagles have been routinely observed in the Project area for at least the past five years and were observed during most of the surveys in 2004 at several different locations. Nests have been documented near Tater Top Mountain at Morrow Mountain State Park, Lake Tillery Dam tailrace area, and above Blewett Falls Dam for the past several years. During 2004, all three of these known nesting sites

Section 5 Results and Discussions

5-2

were visited by land and were determined to be active by observing adults tending or perching on or near the each nest. The three migratory species were observed during the fall and winter survey periods. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program listed Significantly Rare species hermit thrush and magnolia warbler were observed at the Grassy Islands Complex in autumn 2004. There was a second sighting of the hermit thrush at the Pee Dee River Gabbro Slopes area in the fall. These species prefer the mountain spruce-fir forests and likely migrate through the Pee Dee River region in route to their over-wintering locations in Central and South America. The northern harrier, another Significantly Rare species, was observed during the fall and winter 2004 surveys along the Pee Dee River at Leak Island. This species also uses the Pee Dee River corridor as a migratory route and wintering area. The large patches of undisturbed mature trees along the river corridor provide migratory birds areas to rest and feed. Probably due to the rarity of RTE species, none of the 15 remaining target listed bird species were observed during the 2004 to 2005 surveys. Of these, five species prefer habitat types that were not found within the Project area. The Bachman’s sparrow and the red-cockaded woodpecker prefer open, old growth longleaf pine forests; the Henslow’s sparrow prefers coastal clear-cut pocosins; the lark sparrow prefers sandhill barrens and sandy fields; and the loggerhead shrike prefers fields and old pastures with perches and thorny scrubs. Although the shrike has been frequently documented during surveys conducted within the four-county region, its preferred community type is not located within the Project area. Four woodland song birds (black-billed cuckoo, black-throated green warbler, brown creeper, and Swainson’s warbler) could have been present in the bottomland hardwood forests within the Project area during the late spring and summer breeding period and during migration but none were identified. The little blue heron, snowy egret, and tricolor heron could potentially be seen within the Project area year-round along the edges of shallow marshy ponds such as in the tailrace areas or in the back cove areas within the Grassy Islands Complex; however, none were observed during the surveys. The bottomland forests at the Grassy Islands Complex, the Lower Little River, and the Lower Uwharrie River were communities where directed searches for Mississippi kite and sharp-shinned hawk were conducted. Neither of these rare birds was observed. The peregrine falcon prefers cliffs for nesting but may be seen passing through the Pee Dee River corridor during migration. No listed mammal, reptile or amphibian species were documented during the field surveys in 2004 and early 2005. The two listed mammal species that could potentially occur within the Project area were the Rafinesque’s big-eared bat and the southeastern myotis. The buildings associated with the Tillery and Blewett Hydroelectric Plants were surveyed in 2004 and neither bats nor evidence of bat presence were found. Neither the two salamander species (four-toed salamander and mole salamander) nor the reptile species (timber rattlesnake) were observed during the surveys in 2004 and early spring 2005 although these rare species have been identified within the four-county area. The characterization of existing terrestrial RTE wildlife populations under the current plant operating regimes indicates that effects to these populations are either positive, nonexistent, or are very limited. It is unlikely that hydro operations would influence the listed terrestrial reptile and amphibian species to any significant degree. The timber rattlesnake prefers drier, upland environments and is quite mobile. It is possible, however, that hydro operations could influence the

Section 5 Results and Discussions

5-3

listed aquatic amphibian species such as the four-toed salamander and the male salamander, by influencing the amount of suitable aquatic and wetland habitat available during certain periods of operation. Based on field observations at Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake, reservoir water levels greater than 2.0 to 3.0 ft below normal pool for more than one day may adversely affect several aquatic and semi-aquatic species by limiting habitat and increasing predation especially during the breeding period (Graves and Anderson 1987). Based on the review of headpond elevation data from 1982 to 2000, this condition occurred approximately 3 percent of the time at Lake Tillery and approximately 15 percent of the time at Blewett Falls Lake. These lower elevations at Blewett Falls are assumed to be due to the infrequent loss of flashboards at the dam. Impacts to these species during the normal daily operations are not significant. Ambystomid salamanders, such as the listed mole salamander, prefer hydrologically isolated vernal pools (i.e., lack fish predators) in bottomland habitats. These vernal pool habitats are not hydrologically connected to any potential hydraulic effect from the daily hydro operations and thus will not be affected by any reservoir water level. Based on the review of the populations of RTE bird species associated with the Project area, it can be determined that there is potential for impacts, both negative and positive, from Project operations. Based on field observations, excessive flooding during nesting, breeding/egg laying, and fledging periods for bird species, caused by water releases from the upstream reservoirs due to large precipitation events into downstream bottomlands of Blewett Falls Lake, can have a negative affect (although not a significant affect) on local ground, shrub and low cavity nesting species. The American bittern, which was heard during the summer among the southern rice beds at Mountain Creek, is a species that nests low to the ground and in emergent vegetation. Flooding during the breeding season (May to June) could drive the mated pairs out and could potentially destroy any nest that had been constructed. The primary area for this type of seasonal or temporary flooding within the Project includes the Grassy Islands of Blewett Falls Lake and specifically the southern wild rice wetlands. A decrease in water level in these wetland areas can also affect this species through a temporary loss of foraging habitat. Impacts to these species during the normal daily operations are not significant. The presence of the Project also has a positive affect on the avian fauna that utilize the lakes and reservoirs. All listed RTE bird species observed around the Project area use the aquatic resources to varying extent. An example is the Lake Tilley tailrace area which provides high value foraging habitat for wading and waterbirds such as the listed little blue heron, snowy egret, and the tricolor heron. The use of this tailrace area as a foraging area is dependent on the flow and subsequent tailwater elevation. With a lower water level (i.e., no generation or one unit generation), numerous shallow pools with small fish are available, and exposed rocks and emergent vegetation is apparent. The federally-threatened bald eagle has often been observed feeding in this area. The majority of mammalian species within the Project area will not be affected by Project operations due to the fact that they are mobile and inhabit the more terrestrial areas. Based on the survey conducted in the summer 2004, the structures associated with the power plants did not provide suitable bat roosting habitat.

6-1

Section 6 - Summary Twenty-six RTE terrestrial wildlife species (two amphibians, one reptile, 21 birds, and two mammals) were known to occur within the four-county area and could potentially occur within the Project area if the preferred habitat type is available. A total of six RTE species were identified during the surveys — all birds. Only one of these species, the bald eagle, is federally listed. The other five species are listed by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program as Significantly Rare. These species include the anhinga, American bittern, hermit thrush, magnolia warbler, and northern harrier. However, the hermit thrush, magnolia warbler, and northern harrier were observed during the migratory periods. The only federally-listed RTE species observed around Lake Tillery was the bald eagle. An active bald eagle nest has been consistently located at Tater Top Mountain in Morrow Mountain State Park for the past several years. Two additional active bald eagle nests are known within the Project area— one below Tillery Dam and one above Blewett Dam. Adult and young eagles are consistently observed perching or soaring throughout the Yadkin-Pee Dee River area. The characterization of existing terrestrial RTE wildlife populations under the current plant operating regimes indicates that effects to these populations may be positive, nonexistent, or are very limited. Based on field observations and analysis, reservoir water levels greater than 2.0 to 3.0 ft below normal pool for a period of more than one day may adversely affect several aquatic and semi-aquatic species (e.g., American bittern in the area of the Grassy Islands) by temporarily changing their habitat community and associated breeding and foraging habitat. Based on the review of headpond elevation data from 1982 to 2000, this condition occurred approximately 3 percent of the time at Lake Tillery and approximately 15 percent of the time (at 3 ft) at Blewett Falls Lake. These lower elevations at Blewett Falls are assumed to be due to the infrequent loss of flashboards at the dam. Impacts to species during the normal daily operations are not significant.

7-1

Section 7 - References Allen, A.W. 1983. Habitat suitability index models: beaver. USFWS. FWS/OBS-82/10.30

revised. pp. 20. Allen, A.W., and R.D. Hoffman. 1984. Habitat suitability index models: muskrat. USFWS.

FWS/OBS-82/10.46. pp. 27. Bates, M. 2001. Montgomery County Natural Heritage Inventory. In association with: The Land

Trust for Central North Carolina, Salisbury, North Carolina. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Beane, J.C. 1999. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Reptile and Amphibian County

Records (Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, and Stanly Counties, North Carolina). Burt, W.H., and R.P. Grossenheider. 1976. A Field Guide to the Mammals. Peterson Field Guide

Series. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston, Massachusetts. pp. 289. Conant, R., and J.T. Collins. 1991. Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern/Central North America.

Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston, Massachusetts. pp. 450. Cooperrider, A.Y., R.J. Boyd, H.R. Stuart (eds.). 1986. Inventory and Monitoring of Wildlife

Habitat. U.S. Dept. Inter., Bur. Land Manage. Denver, Colorado. 858 pp. Carolina Power & Light. 2001. Survey of Wading Bird Use and Great Blue Heron Nesting Activity

in the Tailwater of the Tillery Hydroelectric Plant. Yadkin-Pee Dee Hydroelectric Project (U.S. FERC Project No. 2206). Environmental Services Section, CP&L—A Progress Energy Company. New Hill, North Carolina

――. 2002. Survey of Wading Bird Use and Great Blue Heron Nesting Activity in the Tailwater of

the Tillery Hydroelectric Plant - 2002. Yadkin-Pee Dee Hydroelectric Project (U.S. FERC Project No. 2206). Environmental Services Section, CP&L - A Progress Energy Company. New Hill, North Carolina.

Crump, M.L. and N.J. Scott, Jr. 1994. Visual Encounter Surveys. Pp. 84-92 in Measuring and

Monitoring Biological Diversity: Standard methods for Amphibians (Heyer ed.). Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.

DeGraaf, R.M and J.H. Rappole. 1995. Neotropical Migratory Birds-natural History, Distribution,

and Population Change. Comstock Publishing Associates. Ithaca, New York. pp. 676. EA Engineering, Science, and Technology. 2000. Botanical and terrestrial wildlife resources study:

Blewett Falls Hydroelectric Plant. Prepared for Carolina Power & Light Company. EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Baltimore Branch. Sparks, Maryland.

Section 7 References

7-2

Framatome ANP DE&S. 2002. Terrestrial resources report associated with the survey of Smith Lake oxbow swamp and adjacent bottomland wetlands. Yadkin-Pee Dee Hydroelectric Project (U.S. FERC Project No. 2206). Prepared for CP&L - A Progress Energy Company. Framatome ANP DE&S. Charlotte, North Carolina.

Gatens, L.J. 1999. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, List of mammal species in Anson,

Montgomery, Richmond, and Stanly Counties, North Carolina). Graves, B.M., and S.H. Anderson. 1987. Habitat suitability index models: bullfrog. USFWS. Biol.

Rep 82(10.138). pp. 22. Griffith, G.E., Omernik, J.M., Comstock, J.A., Schafale, M.P., McNab, W.H., Lenat, D.R.,

MacPherson, T.F., Glover, J.B., and Shleburne, V.B. 2002. Ecoregions of North Carolina and South Carolina (color poster). Reston, Virginia, U.S., Geological Survey (map scale 1:1,500,000).

LeGrand, H.E., S.E. McRae, S.P. Hall, and J.T. Finnegan. 2004. 2004 Natural Heritage Program

list of rare animal species in North Carolina. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Martin, W.H., S.G. Boyce, and A.C. Echternacht (eds.). 1993. Biodiversity of the Southeastern

United States: Lowland Terrestrial Communities. John Wiley and Sons. New York, New York. 502 pp.

Martof, B.S., W. M. Palmer, J.R. Bailey, and J.R. Harrison. 1980. Amphibians and Reptiles of the

Carolinas and Virginia. The University of North Carolina Press. Chapel Hill, North Carolina. pp. 264.

National Audubon Society. 2002. The Christmas Bird Count Historical Results [Online]. Pee Dee

National Wildlife Refuge (Count Circle: NCPD) Counts 97-103. Available http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc. (Accessed November 18, 2003.)

—―. 2002. The Christmas Bird Count Historical Results [Online]. Pee Dee Area (Count Circle:

SCPD) Counts 94-103. Available http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc. (Accessed January 9, 2004.)

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Undated. Checklist for the 169

known species of bird at Morrow Mountain State Park. North Carolina State Parks, Division of Parks and Recreation. Unpaginated. Raleigh, North Carolina. http://207.4.179.38/ nrid/viewPub.php?majorGroup=BIRD&park=MOMO. (version January 9, 2004.)

North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Guide to federally listed endangered and

threatened species of North Carolina. ――. Undated. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program County element occurrence database

by county (Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, and Stanly Counties, North Carolina). http://www.ncsparks.net/nhp/county.html. (version January 14, 2004.)


7-3

North American Waterfowl Management Plan . Undated. Atlantic Coast Joint Venture Plan. pp.

106. Peterson, R.T. 1980. Eastern Birds. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company.

Boston, Massachusetts. pp. 384. Platts, W.S., W.F. Megahan, and G.W. Minshall. 1983. Methods for evaluating stream, riparian,

and biotic conditions. USDA- Intermountain For. and Range Exp. Station. General Technical Report INT-138. Ogden UT. 70 pp.

Potter, E.F, J.F. Parnell, and R.P. Teulings. 1980. Birds of the Carolinas. The University of North

Carolina Press. Chapel Hill, North Carolina. pp. 408. Progress Energy. 2003. Initial Consultation Document. Section 4.6, Wildlife Resources, Rare,

Threatened, and Endangered Species. Ralph, C.J., G.R. Geupel, P. Pyle, T.E. Martin, and D.F. DeSante. 1993. Handbook of Field

Methods for Monitoring Landbirds. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-144. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 41 pp.

Ralph, C.J., J.R. Sauer, and S. Droege, Technical Editors. 1995. Monitoring Bird Populations by

Point Counts. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-149. Albany, California: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. 187 pp.

Sauer, J.R., J.E. Hines, G. Gough, I. Thomas, and B.G. Peterjohn. 1997. The North American

breeding bird survey results and analysis, Version 96.4. (North American Breeding Routes NC17, NC 207, NC215, NC216, NC 900, NC 904, SC 900) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Undated. South Carolina rare, threatened &

endangered species inventory. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (Darlington and Chesterfield Counties, South Carolina). Columbia, South Carolina. http://www.dnr.state.sc.us.pls.heritage/county_species.list. (version January 14, 2004.)

Schafale, M.P. and A.S. Weakley. 1990. Classification of the Natural Communities of North

Carolina. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Raleigh, North Carolina. Short, H.L., and R.J. Cooper. 1985. Habitat suitability index models: great blue heron. USFWS

Biol. Rep. 82(10.99). pp. 23. Sorrie, B.A. 2001. Natural Areas Inventory for Richmond County. Sponsored by: The Land Trust

for Central North Carolina, Salisbury, North Carolina, and Sandhills Area Land Trust. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Raleigh, North Carolina.


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Sousa, P.J., and A.H. Farmer. 1983. Habitat suitability index models: wood duck. USFWS. FWS/OBS-82/10.43. pp. 27.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Undated. Birds of Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Refuge Service. Unpaginated. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Home Page. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/chekbird/r4/peedee.htm. (version May 22, 1998.)

Washington Department of Ecology and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2003.

Wetlands in Washington State. Volume 1, Chapter 4- A synthesis of the science. Webster, W.D., J.F. Parnell, and W.C. Biggs. 1985. Mammals of the Carolinas, Virginia, and

Maryland. The University of North Carolina Press. Chapel Hill, North Carolina. pp. 254.

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A

A COMPILED LIST OF BIRD SPECIES IDENTIFIED WITHIN OR NEAR

THE YADKIN-PEE DEE RIVER PROJECT AREA

Appendix A - 1

A COMPILED LIST OF BIRD SPECIES IDENTIFIED WITHIN OR NEAR


Common Name (AOU Code) CBC PDNWR

CBCSCPD

USGS routes

USFWSPDNWR

NC Heritage Program

MMSPbird list

Progress Energy Wildlife

Inventories

Progress Energy

Incidental Observations

Gr. White-Fronted Goose (GWFG) X

Snow Goose (LSGO) X Canada Goose (CAGO) X X X X X X X Atlantic Brant (ATBR) X Tundra Swan (WHSW) X X Wood Duck (WODU) X X X X X X X Gadwall (GADW) X X American Widgeon (AMWI) X X X X American Black Duck (ABDU) X X X X X Mallard (MALL) X X X X X X X Blue-winged Teal (BWTE) X X X X Northern Shoveler (NSHO) X X X X Northern Pintail (NSHO) X X X Am. Green-winged Teal (AGWT) X X X X X

Canvasback (CANV) X X Redhead (REDH) X X Ring-necked Duck (RNDU) X X X X X Greater Scaup (GRSC) X X X Lesser Scaup (LESC) X X X X X Bufflehead (BUFF) X X X X X Common Goldeneye (COGO) X X Hooded Merganser (HOME) X X X X Red-breasted Merganser (RBME) X X X X

Ruddy Duck (RUDU) X X X X Wild Turkey X X X X X X X X Northern Bobwhite X X X X X X X X Red-throated Loon (RTLO) X Common Loon (COLO) X X X Pied-billed Grebe (PBGR) X X X X X Horned Grebe (HOGR) X X Double-crested Cormorant (DCCO) X X X X X X

Anhinga (ANHI) X X X American Bittern (AMBI) X X X Least Bittern (LEBI) X X Great Blue Heron (GBHE) X X X X X X X Great Egret (GREG) X X X X X X Snowy Egret (SNEG) X X Little Blue Heron (LBHE) X X Tricolor Heron (Louisiana) (TRHE) X

Cattle Egret (CAEG) X X X Green Heron (Green-backed) (GRHE) X X X X X X

Appendix A - 2


CBCSCPD

USGS routes

USFWSPDNWR

NC Heritage Program

MMSPbird list


Inventories

Progress Energy


Black-crowned Night-Heron (BCNH) X X X

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron(YCNH) X

White Ibis (WHIB) X Glossy Ibis (GLIB) X Wood Stork (WOST) X Black Vulture (BLVU) X X X X X X X Turkey Vulture (TUVU) X X X X X X X X Osprey (OSPR) X X X X X X Mississippi Kite (MIKI) X X X Bald Eagle (BAEA) X X X X X X X Northern Harrier (NOHA) X X X X X Sharp-shinned Hawk (SSHA) X X X X X Cooper's Hawk (COHA) X X X X X X X Red-shouldered Hawk (RSHA) X X X X X X X X Broad-winged Hawk (BWHA) X X X X X X Red-tailed Hawk (RTHA) X X X X X X X Golden Eagle (GOEA) X American Kestrel (AMKE) X X X X X X Merlin (MERL) X Peregrine Falcon (PRFA) X X Black Rail (BLRA) X King Rail (KIRA) X Virginia Rail (VIRA) X Purple Gallinule (PUGA) X Common Moorhen (COMO) X X X American Coot (AMCO) X X X X Killdeer (KILL) X X X X X X Greater Yellowlegs (GRYE) X X Lesser Yellowlegs (LEYE) X X X Solitary Sandpiper (SOSA) X X Spotted Sandpiper (SPSA) X X X Upland Sandpiper (UPSA) X Least Sandpiper (LESA) X X Short-billed Dowitcher (SBDO) X Common Snipe (COSN) X X X X American Woodcock (AMWO) X X X X X X Bonaparte's Gull (BOGU) X X X Ring-billed Gull (RBGU) X X X X X X Herring Gull (HERG) X X X X Black Tern (BLTE) X Rock Pigeon (Dove) X X X X X X Mourning Dove (MODO) X X X X X X X X Black-billed Cuckoo (BBCU) X X Yellow-billed Cuckoo (YBCU) X X X X X X Barn Owl (BNOW) X X X Eastern Screech-Owl (EASO) X X X X X X Great Horned Owl (GHOW) X X X X X X Barred Owl (BDOW) X X X X X X X Common Nighthawk (CONI) X X X Chuck-will’s-widow (CWWI) X X X X X X

Appendix A - 3


CBCSCPD

USGS routes

USFWSPDNWR

NC Heritage Program

MMSPbird list


Inventories

Progress Energy


Whip-poor-will (WPWI) X X X X Chimney Swift (CHSW) X X X X X Ruby-throated Hummingbird (RTHU) X X X X

Belted Kingfisher (BEKI) X X X X X X X Red-headed Woodpecker (RHWO) X X X X X X X X

Red-bellied Woodpecker (RBWO) X X X X X X X X

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (YBSA) X X X X X

Downy Woodpecker (DOWO) X X X X X X X Hairy Woodpecker (HAWO) X X X X X X Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCWO) X X X X

Yellow-shafted Flicker (YSFL) X X X X X X Pileated Woodpecker (PIWO) X X X X X X X X Eastern Wood-Peewee (EAWP) X X X X X Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (YBFL) X

Acadian Flycatcher (ACFL) X X X X X X Eastern Phoebe (EAPH) X X X X X X Great Crested Flycatcher (GCFL) X X X X X X X

Eastern Kingbird (EAKI) X X X X X Loggerhead Shrike (LOSH) X X X X X X White-eyed Vireo (WEVI) X X X X X X Yellow-throated Vireo (YTVI) X X X X X Blue-headed Vireo (Solitary) (BHVI) X X X X X X X

Red-eyed Vireo (REVI) X X X X X X Blue Jay (BLJA) X X X X X X X American Crow (AMCR) X X X X X X Fish Crow (FICR) X X X X X Horned Lark (HOLA) X X X Purple Martin (PUMA) X X X X X Tree Swallow (TRES) X X X No. Rough-winged Swallow (NRWS) X X X X

Cliff Swallow (CLSW) X X Barn Swallow (BARS) X X X X X Carolina Chickadee (CACH) X X X X X X X Tufted Titmouse (ETTI) X X X X X X Red-breasted Nuthatch (RBNU) X X X X X White-breasted Nuthatch (WBMU) X X X X X X X

Brown-headed Nuthatch (BHNU) X X X X X

Brown Creeper (BRCR) X X X X Carolina Wren (CARW) X X X X X X X House Wren (HOWR) X X X X X Winter Wren (WIWR) X X X X X

Appendix A - 4


CBCSCPD

USGS routes

USFWSPDNWR

NC Heritage Program

MMSPbird list


Inventories

Progress Energy


Sedge Wren (SEWR) X Marsh Wren (MAWR) X Golden-crowned Kinglet (GCKI) X X X X X

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (RCKI) X X X X X Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (BGGN) X X X X X X Eastern Bluebird (EABL) X X X X X X X Swainson’s Thrush (SWTH) X X Hermit Thrush (HETH) X X X X X X Wood Thrush (WOTH) X X X X X X American Robin (AMRO) X X X X X X Gray Catbird (GRCA) X X X X X X X Northern Mockingbird (NOMO) X X X X X X

Brown Thrasher (BRTH) X X X X X X European Starling (EUST) X X X X X X X American Pipit (AMPI) X X X Cedar Waxwing (CEDW) X X X X X Orange-crowned Warbler (OCWA) X X

Northern Parula (NOPA) X X X X X X Yellow Warbler (YWAR) X X X X Chestnut-sided Warbler (CSWA) X X

Magnolia Warbler (MAWA) X X X Cape May Warbler (CMWA) X Black-throated Blue Warbler (BTBW) X X

Yellow-rumped Warbler (UYRW) X X X X X X

Blk-throated Green Warbler (BTNW) X X

Yellow-throated Warbler (YTWA) X X X X X

Pine Warbler (PIWA) X X X X X X X Prairie Warbler (PRAW) X X X X Palm Warbler (YPWA) X X X X Blackpoll Warbler (BLPW) X X Black and White Warbler (BAWW) X X X X X X

American Redstart (AMRE) X X X X Prothonotary Warbler (PROW) X X X X X Worm-eating Warbler (WEWA) X

Swainson’s Warbler (SWWA) X X Ovenbird (OVEN) X X X X X X Northern Waterthrush (NOWA) X Louisiana Waterthrush (LOWA) X X X X

Kentucky Warbler (KEWA) X X Common Yellowthroat (COYE) X X X X X X X Hooded Warbler (HOWA) X X X X X X

Appendix A - 5


CBCSCPD

USGS routes

USFWSPDNWR

NC Heritage Program

MMSPbird list


Inventories

Progress Energy


Canada Warbler (CAWA) X Yellow-breasted Chat (YBCH) X X X X X X Summer Tanager (SUTA) X X X X X X Scarlet Tanager (SCTA) X X X X X Eastern Towhee (EATO) X X X X X X X Bachman’s Sparrow (BACS) X X X American Tree Sparrow (ATSP) X

Chipping Sparrow (CHSP) X X X X X X Field Sparrow (FISP) X X X X X X X Vesper Sparrow (VESP) X X Lark Sparrow (LASP) X X Savannah Sparrow (SAVS) X X X X Grasshopper Sparrow (GRSP) X X X X X Henslow’s Sparrow (HESP) X Seaside Sparrow (SESP) X Fox Sparrow (FOSP) X X X X Song Sparrow (SOSP) X X X X X X X Lincoln’s Sparrow (LISP) X Swamp Sparrow (SWSP) X X X X White-throated Sparrow (WTSP) X X X X X X

White-crowned Sparrow (EWCS) X X

Dark-eyed Junco (UDEJ) X X X X X Northern Cardinal (NOCA) X X X X X X X X Rose-breasted Grosbeak (RBGR) X X

Blue Grosbeak (BLGR) X X X Indigo Bunting (INBU) X X X X X X Bobolink (BOBO) X X Red-winged Blackbird (RWBL) X X X X X X X Eastern Meadowlark (EAME) X X X X X X X Yellow-headed Blackbird (YHBL) X

Rusty Blackbird (RUBL) X X X X Brewer's Blackbird (BRBL) X X Common Grackle (COGR) X X X X X X X Brown-headed Cowbird (BHCO) X X X X X X

Orchard Oriole (OROR) X X X X Baltimore Oriole (BAOR) X X X Purple Finch (PUFI) X X X X House Finch (HOFI) X X X X Red Crossbill (RECR) X Pine Siskin (PISI) X X X X American Goldfinch (AMGO) X X X X X X Evening Grosbeak (EVGR) X X X X House Sparrow (HOSP) X X X X X X

Appendix A - 6

1 Taxonomic classification follows: American Ornithologists Union bird order, 7th Edition, 44th Supplement. August 2003. Bolded common name indicates a state or federal listed rare, threatened, or endangered species.

2 List compiled from the following sources: CBC PDNWR: National Audubon Society. 2002. The Christmas Bird Count Historical Results [Online]. Pee Dee National Wildlife

Refuge (Count Circle: NCPD) Counts 97-103. Available http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc [11/18/03] CBC SCPD: National Audubon Society. 2002. The Christmas Bird Count Historical Results [Online]. Pee Dee Area (Count Circle:

SCPD) Counts 94-103. Available http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc [01/09/04] USGS routes: Sauer, J.R., J.E. Hines, G. Gough, I. Thomas, and B.G. Peterjohn. 1997. The North American breeding bird survey

results and analysis, Version 96.4. (North American Breeding Routes NC17, NC 207, NC215, NC216, NC 900, NC 904, SC 900) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland.

EA Engineering, Science, and Technology. 2000. Botanical and terrestrial wildlife resources study: Blewett Falls

Hydroelectric Plant. Prepared for Carolina Power & Light Company. EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Baltimore Branch. Sparks, Maryland.

USFWS PDNWR: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Undated. Birds of Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge

Service. Unpaginated. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Home Page. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/chekbird/r4/peedee.htm (version 22MAY98).

USFWS CSNWR: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1991. Birds of Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Refuge Service. Unpaginated. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Home Page. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/chekbird/r4/sandhill.htm (version 22MAY98).

NC/SC Heritage Program: NCNHP. Undated. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program County element occurrence database by county

(Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, and Stanly Counties, North Carolina). http://www.ncsparks.net/nhp/county.html (version 01/14/2004).

SCDNR. Undated. South Carolina rare, threatened & endangered species inventory. South Carolina Department of

Natural Resources (Chesterfield, Darlington, and Marlboro Counties, South Carolina). Columbia SC. http://www.dnr.state.sc.us.pls.heritage/county_species.list (version 01/14/2004)

Bates, M. 2001. Montgomery County Natural Heritage Inventory. In association with: The Land Trust for Central North

Carolina, Salisbury, NC. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Raleigh, NC.

Sorrie, B.A. 2001. Natural Areas Inventory for Richmond County. Sponsored by: The Land Trust for Central North

Carolina, Salisbury, NC, and Sandhills Area Land Trust. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Raleigh, NC.

MMSP bird list: NCDENR. Undated. Checklist for the 169 known species of bird at Morrow Mountain State Park. North Carolina State

Parks, Division of Parks and Recreation. Unpaginated. Raleigh, NC. http://207.4.179.38/nrid/viewPub.php?majorGroup=BIRD&park=MOMO (version 01/09/04).

Progress Energy Incidental sightings: Carolina Power & Light. 2001. Survey of Wading Bird Use and Great Blue Heron Nesting Activity in the Tailwater of

the Tillery Hydroelectric Plant. Yadkin-Pee Dee Hydroelectric Project (U. S. FERC Project No. 2206). Environmental Services Section, CP&L - A Progress Energy Company. New Hill, NC

Appendix A - 7

――. 2002. Survey of Wading Bird Use and Great Blue Heron Nesting Activity in the Tailwater of the Tillery Hydroelectric Plant—2002. Yadkin-Pee Dee Hydroelectric Project (U. S. FERC Project No. 2206). Environmental Services Section, CP&L - A Progress Energy Company. New Hill, NC

Framatome ANP DE&S. 2002. Terrestrial resources report associated with the survey of Smith Lake oxbow swamp and

adjacent bottomland wetlands. Yadkin-Pee Dee Hydroelectric Project (U. S. FERC Project No. 2206). Prepared for CP&L - A Progress Energy Company. Framatome ANP DE&S. Charlotte, NC.



APPENDIX B

A COMPILED LIST OF MAMMAL SPECIES IDENTIFIED IN OR NEAR


Appendix B - 1

A COMPILED LIST OF MAMMAL SPECIES IDENTIFIED IN OR NEAR


Common Name NCMNS Counties

USFWS PDNWR

NC Heritage Program

MMSP Mammals


Inventories

Progress EnergyIncidental

Observations

Opossum X X X X Southeastern Shrew X X Shorttail Shrew X X Carolina Shorttail Shrew X X Eastern Mole X X Star-nosed Mole X X Little Brown Myotis X X Southeastern Myotis X Silver Haired Bat X X Eastern Pipistrel X Big Brown Bat X X X Eastern Red Bat X X Hoary Bat X Evening Bat X Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat X Eastern Cottontail X X X X Marsh Rabbit X Eastern Chipmunk X X X X Eastern Gray Squirrel X X X X X Eastern Fox Squirrel X X Southern Flying Squirrel X X X X Fox Squirrel X American Beaver X X X X X X Eastern Harvest Mouse X White-footed Mouse X X X X Cotton Mouse X Golden Mouse X Hispid Cotton Rat X X X Norway Rat X Black Rat X Pine Vole X Muskrat X X X X X House Mouse X X X Coyote X Red Fox X X X Gray Fox X X X Black Bear Raccoon X X X X X Long-tailed Weasel X X Mink X X X Striped Skunk X X X Northern River Otter X X X X X Bobcat X X X X X Mountain Lion X White-tailed Deer X X X X X

1 Taxonomic classification follows the online Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Mammal Species of

the World based on Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (eds). 1993. Mammal Species of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, 1206 pp. http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw (version 02/04/04).

2 List compiled from the following sources:

Appendix B - 2

NCMNS Counties: Gatens, L.J. 1999. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, List of mammal species in Anson, Montgomery,

Richmond, and Stanly Counties, North Carolina). EA Engineering, Science, and Technology. 2000. Botanical and terrestrial wildlife resources study: Blewett Falls


USFWS PDNWR: PDNWR. Not dated. Mammals, amphibians and reptiles of the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge. U. S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior. Brochure RF-42330-5. USFWS CSNWR: EA Engineering, Science, and Technology. 2000. Botanical and terrestrial wildlife resources study: Blewett Falls




SCDNR. Undated. South Carolina rare threatened & endangered species inventory. South Carolina Department of






MMSP mammals: NCDENR. Undated. Checklist for the 24 known species of Mammal at Morrow Mountain State Park. North Carolina

State Parks, Division of Parks and Recreation. Unpaginated. Raleigh, NC. http://207.4.179.38/nrid/viewPub.php?majorGroup=MAMMAL&park=MOMO (version 01/09/04).

Progress Energy Incidental Sightings: Framatome ANP DE&S. 2002. Terrestrial resources report associated with the survey of Smith Lake oxbow swamp and




3 The southeastern myotis was added to the list following the collection of this species during the August 2004 bat

survey (“Bat Blitz 2004”) conducted at the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge.

APPENDIX C

A COMPILED LIST OF REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN SPECIES

IDENTIFIED IN OR NEAR THE YADKIN-PEE DEE RIVER PROJECT

AREA

Appendix C - 1

A COMPILED LIST OF REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN SPECIES

IDENTIFIED IN OR NEAR THE YADKIN-PEE DEE RIVER PROJECT

AREA


USFWS PDNWR

NC Heritage Program

MMSP Herps


Inventories

Progress Energy


AMPHIBIANS Dwarf Waterdog X Eastern Lesser Siren X Greater Siren X Eastern Newt X X X X Spotted Salamander X X X X X Mabee’s Salamander X Marbled Salamander X X X X X Mole Salamander X X X Tiger Salamander X X Southern Dusky Salamander X Northern Dusky Salamander X X X X X Northern Two-lined Salamander X X Southern Two-lined Salamander X X X Three-lined Salamander X X X Dwarf Salamander X X Four-toed Salamander X X White-spotted Slimy Salamander X X Northern Slimy Salamander X X Eastern Mud Salamander X X X Northern Red Salamander X X X X Eastern Spadefoot X X X Eastern American Toad X X X X X Fowler’s Toad X X X Oak Toad X Southern Toad X Fowler’s Toad X Northern Cricket Frog X X X X Eastern Cricket Frog X Southern Cricket Frog X Pine Barrens Treefrog X X Cope’s Gray Frog X Green Treefrog X Pine Woods Treefrog Barking Treefrog X Squirrel Treefrog X Gray Treefrog X X X X X Spring Peeper X X X X Northern Spring Peeper X Southeastern Chorus Frog X X X X Upland Chorus Frog X Little Grass Frog X Carolina Gopher Frog X American Bullfrog X X X X X Green Frog X X X X X Pickerel Frog X X X X X

Appendix C - 2


USFWS PDNWR

NC Heritage Program

MMSP Herps


Inventories

Progress Energy


Florida Leopard Frog X Southern Leopard Frog X X X Carpenter Frog X Eastern Narrowmouth Toad X X X REPTILES Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell X X Eastern Snapping Turtle X X X Eastern Painted Turtle X X X X X Spotted Turtle X X Chicken Turtle X Striped Mud Turtle X Eastern Mud Turtle X X X Eastern River Cooter X X X Coastal Plain Cooter X Common Musk Turtle (Stinkpot) X X X Eastern Box Turtle X X X X X Yellow-bellied Slider X X X X Northern Green Anole X X X Eastern Fence Lizard X X X X Northern Fence Lizard X X Common Five-lined Skink X X X Southeastern Five-lined Skink X X Broad-headed Skink X X X X Ground Skink X X X Six-lined Racerunner X X Eastern Six-lined Racerunner X X Eastern Slender Glass Lizard X X Eastern Glass Lizard X Copperhead X X X X Eastern Cottonmouth X X Eastern Wormsnake X X Scarlet Snake X X Northern Scarlet Snake X Northern Black Racer X X X X Ring-necked Snake X X Corn Snake X X X Black Rat Snake X X X X X Eastern Mud Snake Eastern Hog-nosed Snake X X X Southern Hog-nosed Snake X X X Mole King Snake X X Eastern King Snake X X X Scarlet King Snake X Eastern Milk Snake X X Eastern Coachwhip X X X Red-bellied Water Snake X X Banded Water Snake X Northern Water Snake X X X Common Water Snake X Brown Water Snake X X Rough Green Snake X X Northern Rough Green Snake X

Appendix C - 3


USFWS PDNWR

NC Heritage Program

MMSP Herps


Inventories

Progress Energy


Northern Pine Snake X X X Brown Snake X X Queen Snake X DeKay’s Brownsnake X Northern Red-bellied Snake X Southeastern Crowned Snake X X Eastern Ribbon Snake X X Eastern Garter Snake X X X X X Rough Earth Snake X Eastern Smooth Earth Snake X X X Timber Rattlesnake X X X Pigmy Rattlesnake X X X 1 Taxonomic classification follows: Martof, B. S. et al. 1980. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia.

The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC, except for (ones in blue). 2 List compiled from the following sources: NCMNS Counties: Beane, J.C. 1999. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, County Records (Anson, Montgomery, Richmond, and

Stanly Counties, North Carolina). EA Engineering, Science, and Technology. 2000. Botanical and terrestrial wildlife resources study: Blewett Falls


USFWS PDNWR: PDNWR. Not dated. Mammals, amphibians and reptiles of the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge. U. S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior. Brochure RF-42330-5. USFWS CSNWR: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Undated. Flora and Fauna at Carolina Sandhills NWR. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge

Service. Unpaginated. http://carolinasandhills.fws.gov/florafauna.html (version 01/12/04). EA Engineering, Science, and Technology. 2000. Botanical and terrestrial wildlife resources study: Blewett Falls




SCDNR. Undated. South Carolina rare, threatened & endangered species inventory. South Carolina Department of






Appendix C - 4

MMSP herps: NCDENR. Undated. Checklist for the 22 known species of amphibian at Morrow Mountain State Park. North Carolina

State Parks, Division of Parks and Recreation. Unpaginated. Raleigh, NC. http://207.4.179.38/nrid/viewPub.php?majorGroup=AMPHIBIAN&park=MOMO (version 01/09/04).

NCDENR. Undated. Checklist for the 34 known species of reptile at Morrow Mountain State Park. North Carolina State

Parks, Division of Parks and Recreation. Unpaginated. Raleigh, NC. http://207.4.179.38/nrid/viewPub.php?majorGroup=REPTILE&park=MOMO (version 01/09/04).

Progress Energy Incidental sightings: Framatome ANP DE&S. 2002. Terrestrial resources report associated with the survey of Smith Lake oxbow swamp and


