Project Partners: Chris Davidson Endangered Species Coordinator U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service Arkansas Field Office 110 South Amity Road, Suite 300

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1 Integrated Conservation Actions for Twenty-four Aquatic Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in the Upper Saline River, Ouachita Headwaters, and Caddo River Watersheds, Arkansas Development of a Joint Programmatic Safe Harbor (SHA) and Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) specifically addressing Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Joy DeClerk Ouachita Rivers Project Manager jdeclerk@tnc.org Tel Fax The Nature Conservancy 601 N. University Ave Little Rock, AR Project Partners: Chris Davidson Endangered Species Coordinator U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service Arkansas Field Office 110 South Amity Road, Suite 300 Conway, AR office: cell: fax: chris_davidson@fws.gov Total Project Cost: $37,800 Total Amount Requested: $18,900 Total Matching Funds/In kind Services: $18,900

2 State Wildlife Action Plan Priority to be Addressed: Developing a joint programmatic Safe Harbor (SHA) and Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) specifically addressing Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) within the Upper Saline and Ouachita River watersheds is a high priority goal outlined in the Arkansas State Wildlife Action Plan. This conservation priority is geared to address all mussel species of greatest conservation need, but will serve to enhance habitat for all SGCN occurring within these watersheds (see table 1 and Figure 1). Database Update: The Nature Conservancy commits to updating the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) database at the conclusion of this project. Updating the Scientific Community: The Nature Conservancy anticipates to be prepared to present this project and results to the scientific community by fall of Background: Based upon a 2005/2006 threats assessment for the Upper Saline Watershed, conducted by The Nature Conservancy and partner agencies, the following activities ranked highest (in order) for degrading suitable habitat for species of greatest conservation need; urban development, altered hydrologic regime due to municipal and recreational water withdrawal, lack of adequate riparian buffers, construction and maintenance of county roads, unrestricted cattle access into streams, gravel mining and non point source pollution arising from a broad array of activities. Unfortunately, the Saline headwaters have also been identified by the Arkansas Natural Resource Commission (ANRC) as high priority for the reduction of non point source pollution. A similar assessment of specific threats is still needed for the Ouachita Headwaters and Caddo River watersheds; TNC is currently working to develop these assessments. Completing such an assessment and developing a joint programmatic SHA and CCAA for the Upper Saline, Upper Ouachita, and Caddo River watersheds will encourage proactive management to benefit 24 aquatic endangered, threatened, and species of greatest conservation need (see tables 1, 2, and 3). Of these 24 species, there are 9 fish, 14 mussels, and 1 macroinvertebrate species of concern. Project Objectives: The primary objective of the joint SHA and CCAA (Agreement) is to encourage landowners to implement conservation measures for aquatic species identified on the SGCN list (see table 1). The conservation measures will be determined through a series of meetings with state and federal agencies and non governmental organizations (NGOs), but will likely consist of stream, riparian zone, and watershed protection and restoration. Conservation measures will be implemented by participating Parties to the Agreement (e.g., state or federal agencies or NGOs) and by Cooperators (landowners enrolled by the Parties through a Certificate of Inclusion). Project partners initially will include the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy. Additional project partners will be identified during development of this Agreement. A similar agreement in the upper Little Red River watershed includes involvement

3 in development and implementation of the agreement from about twelve state and federal agencies and NGOs. The following goals will be completed in a 24 month period: Facilitate development and write a Joint Programmatic SHA and CCAA for the upper Saline River and upper Ouachita River watersheds; Host two to four meetings with state and federal agencies and NGOs to provide information about the SHA/CCAA program. These meetings will accomplish the following tasks: o Explain the process for submitting an agreement to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for final approval, including regulatory standards and assurances of the Agreement; o Identify conservation goals and objectives of the Agreement; o Provide a description of existing conditions in the Agreement (covered) area; o Provide a description of eligible lands for enrollment and process for enrolling lands; o Identify potential Parties to the agreement; o Identify and determine the level of participation from agencies and NGOs wishing to participate in the implementation of the Agreement as non Parties; o Determine compliance and biological monitoring needs; o Determine basis for establishing Baseline Conditions; o Determine conservation actions needed to recover the SGCN; o Determine milestones for measuring success of implementing the agreement; o Determine an implementation plan; o Determine term of the Agreement; o Determine an adaptive management strategy, and o Determine Party(ies) responsibilities under the Agreement Identify the number of eligible landowners within each watershed using existing plat books. Plat books will be digitized and added to a GIS project to facilitate implementation of the Agreement; Submit Agreement to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for processing and final approval; and Assist U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service in incorporating comments and revisions to the Agreement during the processing period, including ensuring that all Parties to the Agreement are kept informed of proposed changes and have a role in providing responses back the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Public Connection: The Nature Conservancy commits to hosting a public meeting, in addition to the partner meetings, as a medium for public outreach for this project and its objectives. Monitoring: There is no biological or water quality monitoring component to this project.

4 Proposed Budget: The total project cost for developing a joint programmatic SHA and CCAA for the Upper Saline, Upper Ouachita, and Caddo River Watersheds is $37,800 over the 24 month project period. Budget expenses supporting the deliverables indicated below include personnel costs, supplies (including costs for meetings and field reconnaissance), travel, and other program related expenses. The Nature Conservancy respectfully requests 50% of the total project cost from the Arkansas State Wildlife Grant Funds for a total of $18,900 of which 25% will be applied to indirect expenses. Indirect Costs: The Nature Conservancy has a Federal Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) of 25%, which is accepted by USFWS. The Nature Conservancy will provide the remaining 50% of the total project cost in matching funds and/or in kind services. Deliverables Calendar: Task Timeframe Cost Match Total 1: Host 2 4 Partner Meetings Months 1 6 $3,150 $3,150 $6,300 2: Identify Eligible Landowners (GIS Map) Months 1 5 $3,150 $3,150 $6,300 3: Write Agreement Months 9 12 $3,150 $3,150 $6,300 4: Submit Agreement to USFWS Month 12 $3,150 $3,150 $6,300 5: Incorporate Comments/Revisions Months $3,150 $3,150 $6,300 6: Submit Final Agreement/Host Public meeting Months $3,150 $3,150 $6,300 $18,900 $ 18,900 $37,800

5 Table 1. Safe Harbor/Candidate Conservation Agreement Species List Species, Common Name Global/State Status Ouachita Headwaters Upper Saline Caddo River Watershed 1 Kiamichi shiner G3, S2 2 Longnose darter G3, S2 3 Ouachita madtom G2, S2 4 Crystal darter G3, S2? 5 Paleback darter G2, S2 6 Peppered shiner G3, S2 7 Caddo madtom G1, S1? 8 Ouachita darter G2?, S? 9 Stargazing darter G3, S3 10 Arkansas agapetus caddisfly G?, S? 11 Elktoe G4, S3 12 Western fanshell G2, S2 13 Southern pocketbook G5, S1 14 Arkansas fatmucket G1G2, S2 15 Purple lilliput G2, S2 16 Ouachita creekshell G2, S2 17 Ouachita kidneyshell G3G4, S3 18 Spectaclecase pearlymussel G2G3, S1 19 Southern hickorynut G1G2, S2 20 Rabbitsfoot G3, S2 21 Black sandshell G5, S2 22 Ohio pigtoe G3, S1 23 Pink mucket G2, S2 24 Pyramid pigtoe G2, S2

6 Figure 1.

7 Joy DeClerk, Ouachita Rivers Project Manager, will be responsible for facilitation between groups, and completion of the project. DeClerk is a graduate of Hendrix College with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, and Economics and Business and has worked as project manager with The Nature Conservancy since April In her current position she has completed three courses in Applied Fluvial Geomorphology led by instructor Dave Rosgen, Ph.D., developed a Watershed Restoration Plan addressing Non point Source Pollution for the Upper Saline Watershed, a Species Threats Assessment/Conservation Action Plan for the Upper Saline ranking identified threats and proposing clear conservation strategies towards abatement of the identified threats, and is currently conducting a two year study geared towards measuring and prioritizing sediment sources for the Middle Fork Saline River Watershed. Stephen Haase, is a hydrogeologist with The Nature Conservancy of Arkansas. Dr. Haase received a Ph.D. in Geology and Geochemistry, and has more than 25 years professional experience in basic and applied hydrogeologic research. Since joining the Conservancy in 2002, Dr. Haase has served as the Project Manager for TNC s Lower White River Basin Project and currently serves as a regional hydrologist and river scientist providing technical support to TNC projects throughout the southeastern and south central USA. Dr. Haase will provide technical assistance and oversight to this project. The Nature Conservancy s Arkansas Field Office has a great interest and knowledge in watershed restoration, and has successfully planned for and implemented a large number of watershed projects across the country, including many in Arkansas. As a result of this and other conservation work, TNC recognizes the foundational importance of planning for successful implementation, and utilizes a four step planning process for priority conservation areas with high biodiversity. This extensive experience has proven an excellent track record for TNC in generating public involvement for watersheds across the state. Furthermore, the Arkansas Field Office of TNC has a successful track record for leveraging limited conservation dollars via collaborations with multiple partners toward measurable conservation successes.

8 Sebastian 4 Scott Logan Development of a Safe Harbor/Candidate Conservation Agreement for the Arkansas fatmucket, Pink Mucket, and 22 Other State Species of Concern within the Yell Upper Saline, Ouachita Headwaters, and Caddo River Watersheds Pope Conway Perry Faulkner Pulaski Saline Polk Montgomery Garland Hot Spring Grant Little River Sevier Howard Miles Map Produced by J.DeClerk March 2, 2007 Pike Hempstead Nevada Clark Lakes Legend Ouachita River Ouachita Headwaters Watershed Caddo River Dallas Cleveland Caddo River Watershed Saline River and 4 Forks Upper Saline Watershed County Boundaries