Reports, Conservation Management Institute
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Browsing Reports, Conservation Management Institute by Author "Emrick, Verl III"
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- Biological Surveys for Fries Hydroelectric Project in the Upper New River, Grayson County, VirginiaCarey, Caitlin; Orth, Donald J.; Emrick, Verl III (FERC, 2018-04)Operated by Aquenergy Systems, LLC (the Licensee; a subsidiary of Enel Green Power North America, Inc.) and licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Fries Hydroelectric Project (the Project; FERC No. 2883) is currently undergoing relicensing using FERC’s Traditional Licensing Process (TLP). The current license for the Project was issued June 10th, 1980 and is set to expire May 31st, 2020. In compliance with the first stage of FERC’s TLP, the Licensee filed its Notice of Intent (NOI) and Pre-Application Document (PAD) with FERC (May 2015; Aquenergy Systems, LLC 2015), conducted a joint meeting and site visit with resource agencies and members of the public to solicit input on information needs and study plans (September 2015), and received written comments from stakeholders identifying information gaps and necessary studies to be performed. Pursuant to input provided from resource agencies and the public, the Licensee prepared and distributed a draft outline of proposed studies and methodology to agencies on March 18, 2016. The Licensee held a follow-up joint agency conference call (March 24th, 2016) to receive feedback on the proposed study plans and to reach an agreement on all reasonable and necessary studies as requested by the agencies. Agency comments and changes were incorporated into study plans and a revised outline was distributed to the agencies on April 15th, 2016...
- Final Report: Vegetation Map for Brookhaven National LabsKlopfer, Scott D.; Emrick, Verl III (Virginia Tech, 2002-01)
- Freshwater Mussel Assessment in the Upper Nottoway River and its Tributaries on Fort Pickett, VirginiaCarey, Caitlin; Wolf, Eric; Emrick, Verl III (2014-09)The upper reaches of the Nottoway River and its tributaries on Fort Pickett, Virginia are located within one of the most diverse river basins of the Atlantic Slope region. Freshwater mussels are vital components of these aquatic ecosystems and are often referred to as ecosystem engineers. Mussel surveys on Fort Pickett have historically concentrated on the central reaches of the Nottoway below the reservoir. Thus, assessments in tributaries and sites above the reservoir were needed. We evaluated a total of 68 sites across Fort Pickett and implemented a two-phase sampling design using time-constrained and quadrat-based surveys at a sub-set of these sites. We documented a total of 9 mussel species, including the state threatened Atlantic pigtoe and state species of concern eastern lampmussel. We found that mussels were patchily distributed and densities and species richness varied greatly between sites. Generally, species richness was lower and densities were higher in the tributaries compared to the main-stem of the Nottoway. Our findings of local mussel populations in the tributaries suggest that these areas may serve as spatial refugia for populations of several species. We found little evidence of recent recruitment across species, even at sites with high densities, indicating the need for water-quality testing and host fish surveys to identify management actions needed to support long-term population viability across species. Riparian and habitat protection should extend to the tributaries as well as to the main-stem of the Nottoway. Furthermore, we recommend additional surveys above the reservoir and in the Controlled Access Area, routine monitoring for Atlantic pigtoe and eastern lampmussel, as well as water quality assessments.
- Removal, Propagation, and Transplantation of Michaux’s Sumac (Rhus michauxii) Colonies from the Infantry Platoon Battle Course, Fort Pickett –Maneuver Training Center, VirginiaEmrick, Verl III; Fields, Matthew; Fitzpatrick, Jessica (2018-05-01)Michaux’s sumac (Rhus michauxii Sarg.) is a rare and federally endangered, densely pubescent, rhizomatous shrub found in periodically disturbed habitats in the inner Coastal plain and piedmont of the southeastern United States. At Fort Pickett, conflicts between military training and Michaux’s sumac are uncommon. Current management of the Fort Pickett population restricts all military activity, with the exception of foot traffic, within colonies of Michaux’s sumac. However, the dynamic and constantly evolving military mission has resulted in range expansion and alteration thus isolating small colonies of Michaux’s sumac. At Fort Pickett, six colonies of Michaux’s sumac occurred within two active firing ranges. The goal of the research project was the careful excavation of Michaux’s sumac rhizomes from up to six small, isolated colonies on two active direct fire ranges at Fort Pickett, propagation of these individuals in a controlled greenhouse setting, and the subsequent transplantation of the propagated individuals to suitable habitat on Fort Pickett. In March 2017, while the plants were dormant, all rhizomes in colonies were excavated by digging with a hand trowel. We planted 168 bare rhizomes in 1-gallon plastic greenhouse pots with equal parts of peat, clay, and perlite, along with 25 grams of soil from the original colony location to ensure inoculation by native mycorrhizae. Approximately ½ of the individuals showed signs of stress and wilting by May of 2017. The source was a soil-borne pathogen, Rhizoctonia solani. All plants, including the healthy individuals, were treated with fungicides registered for control of rhizoctonia. On April 26-27, 2018, 39 of the greenhouse grown Michaux’s sumac were successfully planted in DF6. The remaining 20 grown outside under shade cloth will be planted in the fall of 2018. In July 2018, all 39-transplanted individuals were alive and vigorous with, 17 (44%) individuals producing female flowers and one (2.5%) male flowers. While these procedures were specifically researched and developed for the removal and transplantation of Michaux’s sumac stems from Range 12 and the IPBC, they can serve as the basis for any future propagation of Michaux’s sumac rhizomes for conservation and recovery.