York Haven Dam Nature-Like Fishway Botanical Survey

Dauphin / Lancaster Counties, PA

ARM’s qualified botanist conducted a survey in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (PADCNR) Protocols for Conducting Surveys for Plant Species of Special Concern within a 36-acre area, which included portions of Three-Mile Island (restricted access) and the scoured bedrock habitat within the Susquehanna River downstream of the York Haven Dam in Dauphin and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania. The survey was conducted to support the permit approval process for the construction of a nature-like fishway passage structure for migrating fish.

ARM consulted with the PADCNR, Bureau of Forestry in support of preparation of a Clean Water Act §404 permit application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a related application to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) for a Clean Water Act §401 water quality certification. The survey included five species of special concern (SOSC), additional information for one species of concern (Erythronium albidum), and an ecological community of concern (Riverside Ice Scour Community). The five species included aster-like boltonia (Boltonia asteroids), short’s sedge (Carex shortiana), flat-stemmed spike-rush (Eleocharis compressa), ellisia (Ellisia nyctelea), and sida (Sida hermaphrodita).

Project Highlights

Botanical surveys for the five plant SOSC were planned and conducted to accommodate the species blooming periods and suitable low river flow conditions
Representative plant populations and habitats at reference sites in the Conewago Falls Natural Heritage Area, were used to aid in the proper identification of the SOSC and potential habitats during the botanical survey
Two SOSC (aster-like boltonia and flat-stemmed spike-rush) were identified and recorded in the project vicinity and the ecological community of concern was identified and delineated
Vouchers of the two SOSC were processed and submitted to an approved Pennsylvania herbarium, as required
PADCNR concurred with the findings of the botanical survey and determined that the project would not likely impact SOSC or ecological community of concern