Freshwater mussel survey in the Saline Branch in Busey Woods / Crystal Lake Park, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois

Tiemann,Jeremy S.; Douglass,Sarah, D.; Vinsel,Rachel, M.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/106964 Copy

Description

Title

Freshwater mussel survey in the Saline Branch in Busey Woods / Crystal Lake Park, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois

Author(s)

• Tiemann,Jeremy S.
• Douglass,Sarah, D.
• Vinsel,Rachel, M.

Issue Date

2015-08-21

Keyword(s)

• Saline Branch
• freshwater mussels
• artificial riffles

Geographic Coverage

• Busey Woods, Urbana, Illinois
• Crystal Lake Park, Urbana, Illinois
• Champaign County, Illinois

Abstract

This report is submitted in response to a request from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) to conduct a freshwater mussel survey in the Saline Branch (Salt Fork Vermilion River drainage) in Busey Woods / Crystal Lake Park, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois. IDNR proposes to install instream riffles as compensation for a 2002 ammonia release and fish kill in the Saline Branch. The mussel survey will provide updated survey data prior to their restoration effort. Freshwater mussels were collected by hand-­‐picking along an approximate 1,100-­‐yard stretch of stream for 7 person-­‐hours on 14 August 2014. Only one live individual was found [Fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea)] during the survey. Two additional species [Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus) and White Heelsplitter (Lasmigona complanata)] were collected only as fresh-­‐dead and one other [Plain Pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium)] was collected only as relict. No native freshwater mussels collected are listed at the state or federal level. Based upon the Mussel Classification Index (Szafoni, 2001), the mussel resource in the Saline Branch at Busey Woods / Crystal Lake Park is classified as Restricted – only three species were considered extant with no rare or listed species being found, CPUE was <1 individuals per hour, no recruitment was evident. We feel the Saline Branch lacks a significant mussel resource, and hesitate to speculate what effect, if any, the proposed artificial riffles will have on the recruitment of freshwater mussels to the Saline Branch at Busey Woods / Crystal Lake Park.

Publisher

Illinois Natural History Survey

Series/Report Name or Number

Technical Report INHS 2015 (17)

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/106964

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Natural Resources Damage Assessment, Restoration, and Implementation

Copyright and License Information

This document is a product of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and has been selected and made available by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested.

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