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3.1 Streams 1.3 <br />Potential habitat for freshwater mussels is not present within Streams 1 and 2 within or <br />downstream of the subject property. Potentially suitable habitat is present in Stream. 3 <br />downstream of the property boundary; however, no freshwater mussels were located. <br />Fingernail clams (Family Spharidae) were found to be common in the leaf packs <br />throughout the lower portions of the surveyed reach, but were less abundant near the <br />upstream limits. In addition, mole salamander Family Ambystornatidae) larvae were <br />fairly common throughout the stream. <br />3.2 Collins Creek <br />A total of four freshwater mussel and one aquatic snail species were found in Collins <br />Creek in 2.5 person hours of survey effort (Table 1). <br />Table 1. Collins Creek: Aquatic Mollusk S ecies Collected <br />,Scientific Name Common Name. relative Abundance <br />Freshwater Mussels <br /># (CPiTE) <br />fLh2tio complanata <br />eastern elliptio <br />144 (57.60/hr) <br />fL&fio icterina <br />Variable spike <br />14 (5.60/hr) <br />fyanadon cataracts <br />Eastern floater <br />1 shell (0.0/hr) <br />Uraiomerus carob »ianus <br />Florida pondhorn <br />8 (3.20/hr) <br />Freshwater Snails <br /># (CPUE) <br />Campeloma decisum <br />Pointed campeloma <br />4 (1.14/hr) <br />4.0 DISCUSSION <br />Based on habitat characteristics, Stream. 3 (UT to Collins Creek) is the only stream within <br />the property boundaries that has the potential to support a freshwater mussel fauna. <br />However, no mussels were found during the survey, and are thus unlikely to occur in the <br />stream. The relatively high numbers of fingernail clams . found in the stream., along with <br />the presence of mole salamander larvae are indicative of stagnant flow conditions. These <br />types of aquatic habitats are generally not suitable for most freshwater mussel species. <br />However; small sections of lotic habitat are present in the stream and it is possible that <br />mussels occur in these sections in very low numbers, but were not detected due to the <br />poor survey conditions caused by the thick organic sheen on the water surface. To <br />account for this possibility, a survey was conducted in the receiving water body (Collins <br />Creek) to determine the species composition of the mussel fauna downstream. Four <br />freshwater mussel species were found in the surveyed portion of Collins Creek. All four <br />of these species are considered common and wide ranging, and have no conservation <br />status in North Carolina. Brief descriptions of these species are provided below. <br />Elllptlo complanata (eastern elliptio) - This species was described as Mya complanata <br />from the Potomac River in Maryland (Lightfoot 1785). Shell characteristics are highly <br />variable. Shell shape is typically trapezoidal to rhomboid, and compressed to inflated. <br />Freshwater Mussel Survey 3 <br />Orange County Transfer Station May 2009 <br />TCG Job 4 3250 <br />