Floodplain issues: vernal pools Dr. Aram JK Calhoun Professor of Wetland Ecology calhoun@maine.edu 207 581 3010

Discussion pointsI. Concerns about EPA’s approach to conserving pool-

breeding amphibians

II. Concerns about the SED 9 FP4 MOD remediation strategystrategy

III. Case study failures

IV.Activated carbon

V. Concluding remarks

I. Concerns about EPAs approach to conserving pool-breeding amphibians

Amphibian vs. Human Health IMPGs

Core Area Approach versus Critical Terrestrial Habitat and connectivity

Insufficient time for measuring adverse impacts of vernal pool remediation (majority of pools impacted in first 8 years)

Note: Counts exclude vernal pools located in Core Area 1 habitat. If the lower bound wood frog IMPG were applied to

CountofVernaloolsRemediated

Count of Vernal P Pools Remediated

Vernal Pools Impacted Under

SED 9/FP 4 MOD45

41 4140

35

30

25

20

15 12

10

5

0 Wood Frog Wood Frog Human Direct Contact

(Upper Bound IMPG; (Lower Bound IMPG; 5.6 ppm) 3.27 ppm)

vernal pools located in Core Area 1 habitat, remediation would be required in an additional 17 pools. For the purposes of this figure, remediated pools may be partially or fully impacted..

Status Report Concept Strategy for Vernal Pools

• “avoidance of Core I Areas ”

• “minimization or mitigation for Core Area II”

• “case-by-case determination in Core Area III”

Spotted Salamander

Wood Frog

Minimum travel Distances

100 m

Critical Terrestrial Habitat

100 m

WL -;z7a Hording

Pond

Forested Wetland

Vernal Pool

Complex Habitat Upland Habitat Requirements

D Vema!Pool

Core Area 1

Example Vernal Pools in Core Area 1:40-VP-1 & 40-VP-2

Example Vernal Pools: 23-VP-3, 23A-VP-1, 23-VP-1, & 23-VP-2

Dimauro, D. and M.L. Hunter, Jr. 2002. Reproduction of amphibians in natural and anthropogenic temporary pools in managed forests. Forest Science 48: 397-406.

Faccio, S. D., 2003. Postbreeding Madison, D. 1997. The emigration of radio-implanted spotted salamanders, Ambystoma emigration and habitat use by Jefferson maculatum. Journal of Herpetology 31:542-and spotted salamanders in Vermont. 551.Journal of Herpetology 37:479-489.

once

Adaptive Management won’t work

• Significant number of pools impacted at once

• Minimum time necessary to determine impacts is up to a decade

–

Literature on importance of CTH and Connectivity

Baldwin, R. F., A. J. K. Calhoun, and P. G. deMaynadier. 2006. Conservation planning for amphibian species with complex habitat requirements: a case study using movements and habitat selection of the wood frog Rana sylvatica. Journal of Herpetology 40:443-454.

Faccio, S. D., 2003. Postbreeding emigration and habitat use by Jefferson and spotted salamanders in

Vermont. Journal of Herpetology 37:479-489.

Patrick, D.A., Hunter Jr., M.L., Calhoun, A.J.K. 2006. Effects of experimental forestry

treatments on a Maine amphibian community. Forest Ecology and Management 234: 323–332.treatments on a Maine amphibian community. Forest Ecology and Management 234: 323 332.

Petranka, J.W. and C. T. Holbrook. 2006. Wetland Restoration for Amphibians: Should Local

Sites Be Designed to Support Metapopulations or Patchy Populations? Restoration Ecology Vol. 14: 404–411.

Regosin, J.V., B. S. Windmiller, R.N. Homan, and J. M. Reed. 2005. Variation in terrestrial

habitat use by four pool-breeding amphibian species. Journal of Wildlife Management 69:1481–1493.

Semlitsch, R.D., 2002. Critical elements for biologically-based recovery plans for

aquatic-breeding amphibians. Conservation Biology 16, 619–629.

Windmiller, B.S., R. N. Homan, J. V. Regosin, L. A. Willitts, D.L. Wells, and J. M. Reed. 2008. Two case studies of declines in vernal pool-breeding amphibian populations following loss of

adjacent upland forest habitat. Urban Herpetology. Herpetological Conservation, Volume 3, Society for the

Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Salt Lake City, UT.

available science”II. Remediation and the “best

available science”

t w

EPA Response to National Remedy Review Board Inconsistent with Weight

of Scientific Evidence

“Implementation of effective restoration techniques would reestablish vernal pool functions tha ould allowpool functions that would allow sensitive vernal pool species (including wood frogs, spotted salamanders and Jefferson salamanders) to return to the vernal pools following completion of remediation”

Most common reasons for restoration failure

• Lack of ephemeral hydrology (Vasconcelos and Calhoun 2006; Korfel et al. 2009; Denton 2012)

• Lack of adequate canopy cover (Patrick, Calhoun, and Hunter 2006; Windmiller et al. 2008)

• Invasion by predatory green and bull frogs (Vasconcelos and Calhoun 2006; Korfel et al. 2009)

• Invasion by weedy plant species (cattail, duckweed, purple loosestrife)(Vasconcelos and Calhoun 2006 and others)

Reasons con’t…

• Biological sink; pool fidelity (Korfel et al. 2009 and others)

• Loss of sensitive target species (Petranka et al. 2007; Korfel et al. 2009; Denton 2012, Brown et al. 2012)Korfel et al. 2009; Denton 2012, Brown et al. 2012)

• Increased exposure to disease (Gahl, Calhoun, and Graves 2009; Greenspan , Calhoun, and Longcore 2012)

What is success?

III. Case Studies

Sears Island Study and Residential VP

Sears Island Study 2001-2007EPA-funded

Total Cover: 35% 95%

Sears Island 2001-2006

21 March 2012 60 wf egg masses 3 April 2012 0 masses

Hundreds of green frog tadpoles and duckweed coatingduckweed coating

,

IV. Activated Carbon

Isosceles Group Conclusion

“ the differing results reported for different target species, AC type, and application target species, AC type, and application method underscore a need for well-designed pilot studies before widespread use of AC amendment at a particular site.”

Pilot studies

The report states: “Pilot studies are particularly necessary toare particularly necessary to ensure that the proposed approach will be effective.”

To summarize…

V. Concluding Remarks

Impacts will NOT be short-term

• Removal of animals from pools • Removal of soil, vegetation from pools • Alteration of hydrology • Alteration of hydrology • Tree clearing • Colonization by invasive species • Impacts on non-breeding habitat • Loss of landscape connectivity • Temporary loss of obligate vernal pool species

EPA Response to NRRB on Vernal Pool Restoration Inconsistent with Weight of

Scientific Evidence

“As such, these restoration techniques are expected to be fully effective and reliable in returning these habitats, including vernal pool returning these habitats, including vernal pool habitat, to their pre-remediation state. As a result, the likelihood of effective restoration is equal under any of the alternatives ( Revised comparative analysis p. 22)