Orange County NC Website
56 <br /> Meadowmont Farms Biological Inventory Report Orange County, N.C. <br /> pigtoe is not present within the PSA, or within 400 meters downstream of the PSA. <br /> Streams within the PSA are too small and do not possess the necessary habitat <br /> elements required by this species. <br /> Cursory surveys revealed no freshwater mollusks, snails,or other species indicative <br /> of perennial streams. Two small pools just upstream from the Occoneechee Golf <br /> Club property boundary supported low numbers of eastern mosquitofish <br /> (Gambusia holbrookii) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Amphipods and <br /> aquatic worms were also observed through the stream reach between the PSA and <br /> Occoneechee Golf Club. As a result, surveys for this species are not warranted. <br /> Additionally, review of the Fall 2022 NCNHP dataset indicates no known Atlantic <br /> pigtoe EO's within 1.0 mile of the PSA. <br /> Dwarf wedgemussel <br /> USFWS Optimal Survey Window: March 1 —November 1 (Optimal) <br /> Biological Conclusion: No Effect <br /> Three Oaks aquatic biologist Tom Dickinson (Permit No. 22-ES00343) and <br /> Environmental Scientist Nathan Howell (M.S., PWS) completed a habitat <br /> assessment within the PSA on December 8, 2022. Suitable habitat for dwarf <br /> wedgemussel is not present within the PSA, or within 400 meters downstream of <br /> the PSA. Streams within the PSA are too small and do not possess the necessary <br /> habitat elements required by this species. <br /> Cursory surveys revealed no freshwater mollusks, snails,or other species indicative <br /> of perennial streams. Two small pools just upstream from the Occoneechee Golf <br /> Club property boundary supported low numbers of eastern mosquitofish <br /> (Gambusia holbrookii) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Amphipods and <br /> aquatic worms were also observed through the stream reach between the PSA and <br /> Occoneechee Golf Club. As a result, surveys for this species are not warranted. <br /> Additionally, review of the Fall 2022 NCNHP dataset indicates no known dwarf <br /> wedgemussel EO's within 1.0 mile of the PSA. <br /> In addition to these federally protected species, which were identified via an IPaC search, <br /> three other federally protected species are also known from Orange County (Table 3). <br /> These species were likely not identified by IPaC due to their historical ranking within the <br /> county. As an added precaution, these species were also assessed in this effort and the <br /> results are presented below. <br /> 6 January 2023 <br />