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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 8, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
Larson et al. 2010, p. 2; Loughman and Simon 2011, p. 50. Virile crayfish are generalists, able to withstand various conditions, and have the natural tendency to migrate Loughman and Simon 2011, p. 50. This species has been documented to spread approximately 124 mi 200 km over 15
years B. Williams 2018, pers. comm.;
Williams et al. 2011, entire.
Based on comparison of body size, average claw size, aggression levels, and growth rates, it appears that the virile crayfish has an ecological advantage over several native crayfish species, including those in the Cambarus and Procambarus genera Hale et al. 2016, p.
6. In addition, virile crayfish have been documented to displace native crayfish Hubert 2010, p. 5; Loughman and Welsh 2010, pp. 70 and 72.
Virile crayfish were first collected near the range of slenderclaw crayfish in 1967 Schuster 2017, unpublished data.
Since then, the virile crayfish has been documented in Guntersville Lake a Tennessee Valley Authority reservoir constructed in 1939, on the Tennessee River mainstem Schuster 2017, unpublished data; Taylor 2017, unpublished data. In addition, the virile crayfish was found in 2015 at the type locality location where the species was first described for the slenderclaw crayfish in Short Creek Short Creek population, in which the slenderclaw crayfish no longer occurs Schuster 2017, unpublished data; Taylor 2017, unpublished data. In 2016, the virile crayfish was found at two sites in Drum Creek within the Short Creek population boundary and at the confluence of Short Creek and Guntersville Lake Schuster 2017, unpublished data; Taylor 2017, unpublished data. During 2017, 20
virile crayfish were again found at the location where slenderclaw crayfish was first described in Short Creek Taylor 2017, unpublished data. Also during 2017, this nonnative crayfish was documented at four new sites in adjacent watersheds outside of the Short Creek population boundary. Juvenile virile crayfish have been collected in the Short Creek population, indicating that the species is established there Taylor 2017, unpublished data. To date, no virile crayfish have been documented within the Town Creek population boundary Schuster 2017, unpublished data; Taylor 2017, unpublished data.
The adaptive nature of the virile crayfish, the effects of this nonnative species on other crayfish species in their native ranges, and records of the virile crayfishs presence in the slenderclaw crayfishs historical and current range indicate that the virile crayfish is a factor that negatively influences the
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viability of the slenderclaw crayfish in the near term and future. Also, considering that the virile crayfish is a larger crayfish, is a strong competitor, and tends to migrate, while the slenderclaw crayfish has low abundance and is a smaller bodied crayfish, it is reasonable to conclude that once the virile crayfish is established at a site, it will out-compete slenderclaw crayfish.
Water Quality Direct impacts of poor water quality on the slenderclaw crayfish are unknown; however, aquatic macroinvertebrates i.e., mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies are negatively affected by poor water quality, and this may indirectly impact the slenderclaw crayfish, which likely feeds on them.
Degradation of water quality impacts aquatic macroinvertebrates and may even cause stress to individual crayfish Arthur et al. 1987, p. 328; Devi and Fingerman 1995, p. 749; Rosewarne et al. 2014, p. 69. Although crayfish generally have a higher tolerance to ammonia than some aquatic species i.e., mussels, their food source, larval insects, is impacted by ammonia at lower concentrations Arthur et al.
1987, p. 328. Juvenile slenderclaw crayfish likely feed exclusively on aquatic macroinvertebrates, which are impacted by elevated ammonia and poor water quality.
Within the range of the slenderclaw crayfish, Scarham Creek and Town Creek were identified as impaired waters by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management ADEM.
These creeks were listed in 1996 and 1998, respectively, on Alabamas list of impaired water bodies list of waterbodies that do not meet established State water quality standards under section 303d of the Clean Water Act hereafter, the 303d list ADEM 1996, p. 1; ADEM 2001, p.
11. Scarham Creek was placed on the 303d list for impacts from pesticides, siltation, ammonia, low dissolved oxygen/organic enrichment, and pathogens from agricultural sources;
this section of Scarham Creek stretched 24 mi 39 km upstream from its confluence with Short Creek to its source ADEM 2013, p. 1. However, Scarham Creek was removed from Alabamas 303d list of impaired waters in 2004, after the total maximum daily loads TMDLs; maximum amount of a pollutant or pollutants allowed in a water body while still meeting water quality standards were developed in 2002 ADEM 2002, p. 5; ADEM 2006, entire. Town Creek was previously listed on the 303d list for ammonia and organic enrichment/dissolved
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oxygen impairments. Although TMDLs have been in development for these issues ADEM 1996, entire, all of Town Creek is currently on the 303d list for mercury contamination due to atmospheric deposition ADEM 2016a, appendix C. One identified source of wastewater discharge to Town Creek is Hudson Foods near Geraldine, Alabama ADEM 1996, p. 1.
Pollution from nonpoint sources stemming from agriculture, animal production, and unimproved roads has been documented within the range of the slenderclaw crayfish Bearden et al.
2017, p. 18. Alabama is ranked third in the United States for broiler chicken production Alabama Poultry Producers 2017, unpaginated, and DeKalb and Marshall Counties are two of the four most active counties in Alabama for poultry farming Conner 2008, unpaginated. Poultry farms and poultry litter a mixture of chicken manure, feathers, spilled food, and bedding material that frequently is used to fertilize pastureland or row crops have been documented to contain nutrients, pesticides, bacteria, heavy metals, and other pathogens Bolan et al. 2010, pp.
676683; Stolz et al. 2007, p. 821. A
broiler house containing 20,000 birds will produce approximately 150 tons of litter a year Ritz and Merka 2013, p. 2.
Surface-spreading of litter allows runoff from heavy rains to carry nutrients from manure into nearby streams. Poultry litter spreading is a practice that occurs within the Short Creek watershed Short Creek population of slenderclaw crayfish Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments 2015, p. 8.
During recent survey efforts, water quality was impaired due to nutrients and bacteria within the Short Creek population, and levels of atrazine may be of concern in the watershed Bearden et al. 2017, p. 32. In Bengis Creek Town Creek population, lead measurements exceeded the acute and chronic aquatic life criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA and ADEM Bearden et al. 2017, p. 32; ADEM 2017, p. 107. These criteria are based on levels developed by the EPA and ADEM to protect fish and wildlife ADEM 2017, entire, and exceedance of these values is likely to harm animal or plant life EPA 2018b, unpaginated. Elevated ammonia concentrations in Town Creek were also documented and reflected nonpoint source pollution at low-flow and highflow measurements Bearden et al. 2017, p. 21. In late summer and fall surveys, potential eutrophication likely stemming from low-water conditions, elevated nutrients, and low dissolved oxygen was documented within both
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