MEMORANDUM OF BOG TURTLE HABITAT INVESTIGATION 410-728-2900 Fax: 410-728-3160 www.rkk.com To: From: CC: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Jennifer A Ottenberg Miller, P.W.S., A.W.B. Narayana Velaga, Todd Rousenberger, Eric Almquist, project file Date: August 22, 2007 Subject: SR 4001 (New Galena Road) Section 62M Bridge Replacement over an Unnamed tributary to North Branch Neshaminy Creek (SIR #25574, MPMS #50650) Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K) conducted a Bog Turtle habitat screening investigation for the proposed bridge replacement and road resurfacing in New Britain Township, Bucks County, PA. The bridge is located on New Galena Road (SR 4001), where New Galena Road crosses an unnamed tributary to North Branch Neshaminy Creek. The study area for the project encompasses approximately 0.25 miles along New Galena Road, extending northeast and southwest from the existing bridge structure (Figure 1). The project consists of the removal and replacement of the existing bridge, realignment, widening and reconstruction of 900 linear feet of roadway approaches, and construction of a new box culvert. SUMMARY The proposed project area is approximately 1.7 acres and will directly affect Unnamed Tributary to North Branch Neshaminy Creek, and may indirectly affect an adjacent palustrine forested/palustrine emergent (PFO/PEM) wetland located northeast of the creek. During a Phase I Bog Turtle Habitat Survey, this wetland was determined to be unsuitable bog turtle habitat due to the absence of the critical criteria necessary to provide suitable wintering sites and nesting habitat. BACKGROUND & EXISTING CONDITIONS A Phase I bog turtle habitat survey was conducted based upon the results of a Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) review. The PNDI database indicates the proposed project has three potential impacts under the following agencies jurisdiction: US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). On April 27, 2007, letters were submitted to the agencies requesting additional information on the three potential impacts. A DCNR response letter was received June 27, 2007 indicating No Project Impact Anticipated. The PFBC response letter was also received June 25, 2007 and indicated the project is located within the known range of the bog turtle and any wetland located within 300 feet of the project limits of disturbance, that maybe directly or indirectly impacted, is subject to a Phase I bog turtle investigation. The USFWS response was received June 1, 2007 and confirmed the same findings as the PFBC. A copy of the PNDI Project Review Receipt is attached and all agency correspondence is included in the Wetland Investigation and Delineation Report-Appendix D.
Prior to field investigations, the Bucks County Soil Survey and the Bucks County Hydric Soils List were reviewed to identify hydric soils within the study area. The USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map (Doylestown Quad), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Wetland Inventory (NWI) Map, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and aerial photography were reviewed to identify the location, extent, and types of wetlands found within the study area. Topography: The topographic relief of the study area ranges from 300 to 320 feet above sea level based on National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) (Figure 2). Flat areas or gently sloping hills and characterize the topography in the study area. The study area is located within the Piedmont Physiographic Province (Wetland Investigation and Delineation Report-Figure 2). Soils: The Bucks County Soil Survey indicates that the study area is located within the Abbottstown- Doylestown-Reaville soil association. The Abbottstown-Doylestown-Reaville association is described as nearly level and gently sloping, moderately deep and deep, poorly drained to moderately well drained soils on uplands. The Bucks County Soil Survey indicates that three (3) soil units are present within the study area. The Hydric Soils List for Bucks County lists the following soil units as hydric: Bowmansville silt loam and Rowland silt loam. The remaining soils unit within the study area is non-hydric. Soils in the study area are listed in Table 1.0 (below) and shown as Figure 3 in the Wetland Investigation and Delineation Report. Soil Map Unit Table 1.0: Soil Units within the Study Area Soil Description Hydric Soils List Bo Bowmansville silt loam Yes DoB Doylestown silt loam, 3-8% slopes No Ro Rowland silt loam Yes Wetlands and Waters of the United States: The National Wetland Inventory (NWI) does not indicate the presence of any wetlands within the study area boundaries (Wetland Investigation and Delineation Report-Figure 4). Floodplains: A portion of the study area is located within the 100-year floodplain, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Mapping (FIRM, panel numbers 42017C0286F and 42017CO287F) (Figure 5). The floodplain area is located along an unnamed tributary to the North Branch Neshaminy Creek. The floodplain is a Zone A floodplain, which FEMA defines as No base flood elevations determined. METHODOLOGY A Phase I Bog Turtle Habitat investigation was conducted on July 20, 2007 by Jennifer A. Ottenberg Miller and Michael Schening, non-qualified bog turtle surveyors. Ms. Miller has experience conducting Phase I habitat surveys and assisting qualified surveyors with Phase II surveys. Mr. Schenning has experience conducting Phase I habitat surveys. Their resumes are attached. The Phase I survey was conducted in accordance with the guidelines established by USFWS and PFBC. The wetland identified southeast of the project limits was investigated for soils, hydrology and vegetation critical to suitable bog turtle habitat. Criteria used in the determination include the presence of muddy/mucky soils (i.e. can be probe >3 deep with a 1 diameter blunt end pole), New Galena Road Bridge Replacement 9/4/2007 Phase I Bog Turtle Habitat Assessment
springs, seeps or shallow rivulets and emergent vegetation consisting of grasses and sedges and possibly having a scrub-shrub community present. RESULTS On July 20, 2007, RKK environmental scientists conducted a wetland delineation and Phase I bog turtle habitat assessment for the New Galena Road Bridge Replacement project. Two potentially jurisdictional features were identified including an intermittent stream and a PFO/PEM wetland (Area WB). A detailed project plan with wetland boundaries is attached. Area WB a PFO/PEM wetland is an oxbow of less than ½ acre, which extends from Unnamed Tributary to North Branch Neshaminy Creek southeast above the left downstream bank of the creek. The hydrologic connection between the stream and oxbow has been disturbed by the presence of large debris piles. No seeps or springhouses were observed to indicate year-round soil saturation/inundation. Flashy storm flows and rain events are likely the main source of hydrology for this wetland. A small area of seasonally saturated soils and evidence of flooding were observed in the southeastern most edge of the wetland. These saturated soils are non-vegetated with dense canopy cover and are firm when probed (1-2 deep). The USFWS Bog Turtle Habitat Evaluation-Field Form, form is attached. It was determined Area WB is not suitable bog turtle habitat. This area lacks the appropriate hydrologic regime to develop and support >3 of mucky soils, hummocks of emergent vegetation and shrubby vegetation and areas of open canopy required for suitable bog turtle habitat. Temporary indirect wetland impacts may occur during the bridge replacement and roadway resurfacing but no bog turtle or critical habitat impacts are anticipated. Photos with a key sheet are attached. New Galena Road Bridge Replacement 9/4/2007 Phase I Bog Turtle Habitat Assessment
SITE LOCATION Figure 1 Vicinity Map New Galena Road (S.R. 4001) PENNDOT Bridge Replacement New Britain Township, Bucks County Pennsylvania
SITE LOCATION Figure 2 USGS Quad Map New Galena Road (S.R. 4001) PENNDOT Bridge Replacement New Britain Township, Bucks County Pennsylvania
SITE LOCATION Figure 3 Soil Survey Map New Galena Road (S.R. 4001) PENNDOT Bridge Replacement New Britain Township, Bucks County Pennsylvania
Figure 4 NWI Map New Galena Road (S.R. 4001) PENNDOT Bridge Replacement New Britain Township, Bucks County Pennsylvania
Figure 5 FEMA New Galena Road (S.R. 4001) PENNDOT Bridge Replacement New Britain Township, Bucks County Pennsylvania
SITE LOCATION Figure 6 Aerial Photograph New Galena Road (S.R. 4001) PENNDOT Bridge Replacement New Britain Township, Bucks County Pennsylvania
Photo 1: Area WB in 2005, northeastern end of the wetland. Photo 2: Area WB in 2007, debris pile in the northeastern end of the wetland. New Galena Road Bridge Replacement 8/22/2007 Bog Turtle Investigation
Photo 3: Area WB in 2007, northwestern portion of the wetland. Photo 4: Area WB in 2007, northeastern portion of the wetland. New Galena Road Bridge Replacement 8/22/2007 Bog Turtle Investigation
Photo 5: Looking at Unnamed tributary to North Branch Neshaminy Creek east New Galena Road. New Galena Road Bridge Replacement 8/22/2007 Bog Turtle Investigation