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Manager
Environmental Services Section
Progress Energy
Harris Energy & Environmental Center
3932 New Hill-Holleman Road
New Hill, North Carolina 27562-0327

A shoreline habitat mapping study was conducted at Lake Tillery during July and August 2000 to aid in the development of a Shoreline Management Plan for the Tillery Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 2206). Six habitat types, important to fish and wildlife, were identified through site visits by biologists with Progress Energy, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).

The habitat types that were identified for mapping were: (1) emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation areas, (2) water willow beds, (3) water willow-submerged timber/woody debris areas, (4) submerged timber-woody debris areas, (5) fringed wetlands areas, and (6) scrub-shrub habitat areas.

A total of 655 habitat areas were mapped around the entire shoreline of Lake Tillery with water willow beds (86% of the total mapped habitat areas) the most frequently mapped habitat type. Water willow beds were dispersed throughout the lake and commonly found in developed and undeveloped shoreline areas. Water willow was the habitat type that comprised the highest amount of linear feet followed by emergent/submerged wetlands.

Emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation habitat areas were scattered throughout the reservoir and commonly associated with undeveloped shoreline areas near the confluence of tributaries. These areas are considered important because of the wetlands habitat present in these areas and its associated value for fish and wildlife habitat. Notable areas of this habitat type were near the confluence of the Uwharrie River with the lake, the Mountain Creek arm, the Jacobs Creek arm, the Cedar Creek Complex arm, the Richmond Creek arm, and the Lower Richland Creek arm (adjacent to Lilly's Bridge boating access area).

Submerged timber-woody debris habitat areas occurred infrequently along the reservoir shoreline with pockets of this habitat clustered in the upper portion of the lake on the Morrow Mountain State Park shoreline, in the middle reservoir area across from the Cedar Creek Complex arm of the lake, and in the lower reservoir adjacent to the Lower Richland Creek arm. This habitat type was associated with deep coves along undeveloped shoreline where trees had fallen into the water due to periodic high winds from storms.

Water willow-woody debris areas were also scattered throughout the reservoir and pockets of this habitat type was most often found in the back of undeveloped coves where wave action accumulated woody debris. Some pockets of this habitat were also found in developed shoreline areas.

Scrub-shrub habitat was frequently encountered in the upper portion of the reservoir due to the number of islands just below Falls Dam and the peninsulas associated with the emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation habitat located adjacent to the confluence with the Uwharrie River. This habitat type was also often associated with emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation habitat throughout the reservoir. Scrub-shrub peninsulas were most likely formed as deltas, which resulted from sediment accumulation over time from tributaries entering into the lake.

Fringed wetlands occurred infrequently throughout the lake in undeveloped areas, and these patches of habitat were not concentrated in any particular area of the lake.

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to identify and map the various types of aquatic habitat present along the shoreline and littoral zone of Lake Tillery. This study was conducted to provide information on aquatic habitat present in Lake Tillery. This information is being used in the development of a Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) for Lake Tillery, which is associated with the Tillery Hydroelectric Project (FERC Project No. 2206). The SMP will be filed with the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission during 2001.

Shoreline aquatic and riparian habitat provides important habitat areas for fish and other wildlife, such as reptiles (snakes, turtles), amphibians (frogs, salamanders, etc.), and birds (raptors, waterfowl, wading birds, and neotropical migratory birds). These areas provide important reproductive and nursery areas for fish, reptiles, and amphibians, foraging areas for a variety of fish and other wildlife species, and protective cover for various life stages of various species of fish and wildlife. Additionally, these areas may have aesthetic appeal to some user groups who utilize the reservoir for recreational purposes. Development of the SMP has taken into consideration the various shoreline habitat areas that are important in fulfilling these fish and wildlife functions, particularly in the identifying natural and sensitive aquatic habitats and restricting or prohibiting development in these identified areas within the reservoir.

Study Objectives

The objectives of this study were to: (1) map the aquatic shoreline habitat of Lake Tillery utilizing Global Positioning System (GPS)/Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques, (2) identify areas that were considered of high value based on habitat attributes such as spawning or nursery areas, foraging areas, or protective cover areas for fish and/or other wildlife, and (3) identify aquatic plants (submergent, emergent, and floating types) and animals observed during the habitat mapping of the study.

Study Site Description

Lake Tillery is a mestrophic reservoir with a surface area of 2,130 hectares, a shoreline length of 190 km, and a drainage area of 12,520 km2 (Progress Energy 1993). The reservoir is 18.6 km in length with a mean depth of 10 m, and a maximum depth of 21m. Land use around the impoundment is primarily forest, agricultural, pasture, and residential development (NCDWQ 1998). The Uwharrie River enters Lake Tillery to form the Pee Dee River at the confluence with the Yadkin River portion of the impoundment (Figure 1). Other named tributaries entering the reservoir include Sugar Loaf Creek, Mountain Creek, Little Mountain Creek, Jacobs Creek, Cedar Creek, Rocky Creek, Big Island Creek, Wood Run Creek, Upper Wood Run Creek, Davids Creek, Bunny Creek, Richmond Creek, Lower Richland Creek, and Dutch John Creek (NCDWQ 2000). Morrow Mountain State Park borders the western shoreline in the upper portion of the impoundment located in Stanly County. The Uwharrie National Forest bounds the eastern shoreline of this upper portion of the reservoir in Montgomery County. The N.C. Division of Water Quality has classified the reservoir as WS-IV, B CA, which is suitable for drinking water supplies and other consumptive uses and primary and secondary recreation.

Progress Energy biologists initially surveyed the shoreline of Lake Tillery on June 19-20, 2000, to identify habitat types present within the reservoir. An additional site visit was conducted on June 26, 2000, with biologists with the NCWRC and the USFWS to discuss habitat types within the lake, to review the habitat mapping approach that Progress Energy proposed for the study, and to tour developed and undeveloped shoreline areas of the lake.

Based on these site visits, six habitat types were identified and defined as: (1) Habitat Type 1 (ESWT designation code)-emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation areas were defined as a diverse assemblage of herbaceous and woody plant species (not dominated by one species) in relatively shallow water habitat (generally less than 6 feet deep) and associated with a tributary stream, (2) Habitat Type 2 (WWBD designation code)-water willow Justicia americana beds were defined as beds having at least four square feet in areal coverage; sparse sprigs or isolated beds less than this areal coverage were not be mapped, (3) Habitat Type 3 (WWWD)-water willow-submerged timber/woody debris was defined as a mixture of these types, typically associated with the back of coves with either a continuous or intermittent tributary stream, (4) Habitat Type 4 (STWD designation code)-submerged timber was defined as downed trees submerged in coves with at least 5 trees per 100 linear feet with diameters of 10 inches or greater at the trunk base. This habitat type was generally associated with deep water in a large portion of a cove (10-20 feet in depth), (5) Habitat Type 5 (FRWT designation code)-was defined as fringed "wetland area" with a diverse assemblage of herbaceous and woody plant (emergent/submersed and scrub/shrub) species in shallow water habitat (less than 6 feet) of coves and not associated with a tributary stream, and (6) Habitat Type 6 (SCSB designation code)-scrub-shrub habitat was defined as islands or peninsula areas associated typically associated with emergent/submerged vegetation areas. Figures 2 through 7 illustrate the representative habitat types that were mapped throughout the reservoir.

Habitat Types 1 and 6 were commonly referred to as "wetlands"; but, these areas were not strictly delineated as jurisdictional wetlands during this study according to criteria specified by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. These areas, however, had several attributes, such as aquatic vegetation species and standing water, that were indicative of wetlands.

Shoreline habitat mapping of Lake Tillery was conducted during July and August 2000. The entire lake shoreline was traversed with an airboat, habitat identified, and mapped electronically with a Global Positioning System (GPS) instrument (Trimble Pro XR with a TDC1 data logger with sub-meter accuracy) linked to a depth recorder (Sokkia Model DS50). The GPS data were differentially corrected for true geographical position using post-processing techniques (i.e., base station correction data). The GPS data were recorded in ARCVIEW electronic data files and imported into GIS for map compilation of shoreline habitat types. Because of time constraints, most habitat types were mapped as linear distances; however, in some instances, the areal coverage was also obtained.

Bathymetry data was recorded along a straight-line track from the front (entering the reservoir) to the back of the habitat area. Additionally, a zigzag track line of depths was recorded from the front to the back of the identified habitat. For water willow beds (Habitat Type 3), the depth at the edge of the bed was recorded. In cases where depths were less than 3 feet and the depth recorder data was considered unreliable due to interference from vegetation, other bottom obstructions or sediment disturbance, spot measurements of depth were performed and the data were recorded on the field data sheets. Reservoir surface water elevations (elevations at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m) were obtained daily during the duration of the study.

A petite ponar or similar grab device was utilized to take spot samples of the substrate in the mapped areas to qualitatively characterize substrate sediment type. Sediment types will be categorized as: (1) clay, (2) sand, (3) silt/organic muck, (4) gravel, (5) cobble, (6) boulder or man-made rip-rap, and (7) bedrock. Some substrates were characterized as a mixture of these substrate types. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity were also measured at a representative spot in or adjacent to the mapped area with laboratory-calibrated water quality instruments.

During habitat mapping, observations were made on the terrestrial (riparian) and aquatic vegetation types present in each mapped area. Dominant vegetation types were qualitatively ranked as those species comprising at least 10% of the areal coverage in the mapped area. Identification of plants was made to at least genus level, and species level, where taxonomic characteristics permitted. Taxa lists of plants and animals were compiled for each habitat type.

Any piers, docks, or other manmade structures that were located in the mapped areas were recorded as points during the mapping, and field notes made on the type and extent of development.

U.S. Geological Survey topographical maps (7.5 minute series) were also used to identify mapped areas as part of the field notes. Digital and slide photographs were taken of all mapped areas with the exception of water willow beds. Representative photographs will be taken of this habitat type. Other ancillary information that was collected during habitat mapping was qualitative notes on the presence of any aquatic or terrestrial wildlife that inhabited these areas during the study.

Habitat types were recorded with the character nomenclature and sequential numbers assigned to mapped areas within each habitat type (e.g., third emergent/submerged vegetation "wetland" area mapped in the reservoir-ESWT-3).

A voucher collection of vegetation types was established and maintained at Progress Energy's herbarium located at the Harris Energy & Environmental Center. Vegetation specimens collected during the study were compared to existing voucher specimens catalogued in the herbarium collection. References that were utilized for identification of aquatic and terrestrial plants included Fernald (1970), Gleason (1974), Beal (1977) and Schmidt (1990).

Results and Discussion

A total of 655 habitat types were mapped along the entire shoreline of Lake Tillery (Table 1). Water willow beds were the most frequently mapped habitat type and comprised approximately 86% of the total mapped habitat types. Water willow was commonly encountered in developed and undeveloped shoreline areas throughout the reservoir and some extensive beds occurred in the vicinity of boat docks and shoreline bulkheads (see Figure 4 as an example). The second and third most frequently mapped habitat was water willow-woody debris and scrub-shrub habitat types, respectively (Table 1). Water willow was the habitat type with the most mapped linear feet, followed by emergent/submerged wetlands (Table 1).

The distribution of mapped habitat types throughout the reservoir is shown in Figure 8. As stated previously, water willow beds were common throughout the reservoir. This habitat type, which provides protective cover and feeding areas for young and adult fish, was abundant in developed and undeveloped shoreline areas of the lake. Water willow provides a seasonal cover during the spring through autumn months. This vegetation dies back with colder temperatures associated with the winter months.

Emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation habitat areas were also scattered throughout the reservoir and commonly associated with undeveloped shoreline areas near the confluence of tributaries (Figure 8). Notable areas of this habitat type were near the confluence of the Uwharrie River with the lake, the Mountain Creek arm, the Jacobs Creek arm, the Cedar Creek Complex arm, the Richmond Creek arm, and the Lower Richland Creek arm (adjacent to Lilly's Bridge boating access area). These areas are considered important areas because of the wetlands habitat present in these areas and its associated value for fish and wildlife habitat. Centrarchid (sunfish family) spawning nests were frequently encountered in emergent-submergent aquatic vegetation areas. Additionally, this habitat provided important foraging and resting habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, and raptors. Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were most frequently observed in the vicinity of this habitat type, as well as scrub-shrub habitat. Most sitings of bald eagles during this study were made in the upper portion of the lake near Falls Dam (Figure 1).

Water willow-woody debris areas were also scattered throughout the reservoir, and pockets of this habitat type were most often found in the back of undeveloped coves where wave action accumulated woody debris. Some pockets of this habitat were found in developed shoreline areas. This habitat also provided protective cover for juvenile fish and nesting areas for nest-building centrarchids.

Submerged timber-woody debris habitat areas occurred infrequently along the reservoir shoreline with pockets of this habitat clustered in the upper portion of the lake on the Morrow Mountain shoreline, in the middle reservoir area across from the Cedar Creek Complex arm of the lake, and in the lower reservoir adjacent to the Lower Richland Creek arm of the lake (Figure 8). This habitat type was associated with deep coves along undeveloped shoreline where trees had fallen into the water due to periodic high winds from storms. Such habitat provides protective cover for both juvenile and adult fish and spawning areas in the shallower parts of the coves.

Scrub-shrub habitat was frequently encountered in the upper portion of the reservoir due to the number of islands just below Falls Dam (Figures 1 and 8) and the peninsulas of this habitat type associated with the emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation habitat located adjacent to the confluence with the Uwharrie River. Additionally, this habitat type was often associated with emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation habitat throughout the reservoir. This type of habitat was most likely formed as part of a delta that resulted from sediment accumulation over time from tributary input.

Fringed wetlands also occurred infrequently throughout the lake in undeveloped areas (Figure 8). These patches of habitat were not concentrated in any particular area of the lake.

A total of 25 aquatic and riparian terrestrial plant taxa were observed for the submerged timber-woody debris habitat type; 27 plant taxa for the water willow bed habitat type; 35 taxa for both the emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation and fringed wetland habitat types; 39 for the water willow-woody debris habitat type; and 54 plant taxa for the scrub-shrub habitat type (Table 2).

Dominant plant taxa that were most frequently associated with the emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation habitat and fringed wetlands habitat types included American pondweed, arrowhead, bladderwort, brittle naiad, common cat-tail, common rush, coontail, creeping water primrose, muskgrass (Chara), pickerelweed, rose mallow, southern naiad, tag alder, unidentified panic grass species, and water willow (Table 2). For scrub-shrub habitat, the dominant species were black willow, common rush, green ash, loblolly pine, red maple, tag alder, water oak, and water willow. Red maple, sweet gum, tag alder, green ash, loblolly pine, sourwood, southern red oak, sycamore, tulip poplar, and water willow were dominant taxa in either the water willow-woody debris or submerged timber-woody debris habitat types. Water willow bed habitat had the following dominant plant taxa-water willow, bladderwort, brittle naiad, dodder (parasitic plant associated with water willow), Lyngbya (filamentous bluegreen algae), muskgrass (Chara), and tag alder.

A shoreline habitat mapping study was conducted at Lake Tillery during July and August 2000 to aid in the development of a Shoreline Management Plan for the Tillery Hydroelectric Project. Six habitat types, important to fish and wildlife, were identified through site visits by biologists with Progress Energy, NCWRC and USFWS.

A total of 655 habitat areas were mapped around the entire shoreline of Lake Tillery with water willow beds (86% of the total mapped habitat areas) the most frequently mapped habitat type. Water willow beds were dispersed throughout the lake and commonly found in developed and undeveloped shoreline areas. Water willow was the habitat type with the most linear feet followed by emergent/submergent wetlands.

A total of 25 aquatic and riparian terrestrial plant taxa were observed for the submerged timber-woody debris habitat type; 27 plant taxa for the water willow bed habitat type; 35 taxa for both the emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation and fringed wetland habitat types; 39 for the water willow-woody debris habitat type; and 54 plant taxa for the scrub-shrub habitat type. Generally, the number of aquatic plant species was greater for emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation habitat and fringed wetlands habitat. Scrub-shrub habitat had a greater number of terrestrial riparian vegetation taxa associated with this habitat type.

Emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation habitat areas were scattered throughout the reservoir and commonly associated with undeveloped shoreline areas near the confluence of tributaries. These areas were regarded as environmental natural or sensitive areas because of the wetlands habitat present in these areas and its associated value for fish and wildlife habitat. Notable areas of this habitat type were near the confluence of the Uwharrie River with the lake, the Mountain Creek arm, the Jacobs Creek arm, the Cedar Creek Complex arm, the Richmond Creek arm, and the Lower Richland Creek arm (adjacent to Lilly's Bridge boating access area).

Submerged timber-woody debris habitat areas occurred infrequently along the reservoir shoreline with pockets of this habitat clustered in the upper portion of the lake on the Morrow Mountain shoreline, in the middle reservoir area across from the Cedar Creek Complex arm of the lake, and in the lower reservoir adjacent to the Lower Richland Creek arm of the lake (Figure 8). This habitat type was associated with deep coves along undeveloped shoreline where trees had fallen into the water due to periodic high winds from storms.

Water willow-submerged timber/woody debris areas were also scattered throughout the reservoir and pockets of this habitat type were most often found in the back of undeveloped coves where wave action accumulated woody debris. Some pockets of this habitat were found in developed shoreline areas.

Scrub-shrub habitat was frequently encountered in the upper portion of the reservoir due to the number of islands just below Falls Dam and the peninsulas associated with the emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation habitat located adjacent to the confluence of the lake with the Uwharrie River. This habitat type was often associated with emergent-submerged aquatic vegetation habitat throughout the reservoir. Scrub-shrub peninsulas were most likely formed as deltas, which resulted from sediment accumulation over time from tributaries entering into the lake.

Fringed wetlands occurred infrequently throughout the lake in undeveloped areas, and these patches of habitat were not concentrated in any particular area of the lake.

Beal, E. O. 1977. A manual of marsh and aquatic vascular plants of North Carolina with habitat data. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Technical Bulletin No. 247. North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC.

CP&L. 1993. Tillery Hydroelectric Plant. 1992 environmental monitoring report. CP&L. New Hill, NC.

Fernald, M. L. 1970. Gray's manual of botany. Eighth edition illustrated. D. Van Nostrand Company. New York, NY.

Gleason, H. A. 1974. The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. Volumes I-III. Hafner Press. New York, NY.

NCDWQ. 1998. Yadkin-Pee Dee River basinwide water quality management plan. North Carolina Division of Water Quality. Raleigh, NC.

NCDWQ. 2000. NCDENR stream classifications-hydrologic order. Internet web page of the N.C. Division of Water Quality, Department of Environmental and Natural Resources. Internet address: http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/strmclass/sclasses.html.

Schmidt, J. C. 1990. How to identify and control water weeds and algae. 4th edition. Applied Biochemists, Inc. Milwaukee, WI.

Table 1.
Shoreline habitat types and total linear distance (feet) of each
habitat type mapped in Lake Tillery during July-August 2000.

Habitat Type	Number of Mapped Areas	Total Linear Distance (Feet) of Mapped Habitat
Emergent-submerged vegetation Water willow beds Water willow-submerged timber/woody debris Submerged timber-woody debris Fringed wetlands Scrub-shrub areas	15 561 35 8 11 25	69,601 81,035 23,062 14,498 8,723 22,658
Total mapped habitat areas	655	219,577

Table 2.
Plant and animal species observed for each habitat type during the Lake Tillery shoreline habitat mapping study, July-August 2000.

Figure 1. Map of Lake Tillery, North Carolina.

Figure 2. Photograph of emergent-submergent wetlands habitat type located in Dutch John's Creek arm of Lake Tillery.

Figure 3. Photograph of scrub-shrub habitat type associated with emergent/submergent aquatic type located in Richmond Creek arm of Lake Tillery.

Figure 4. Photograph of water willow bed habitat type associated with developed shoreline located across from Goat Island in the Bunny Creek arm of Lake Tillery.

Figure 5. Photograph of water willow-woody debris habitat associated with shoreline adjacent to the Lower Richland Creek arm of Lake Tillery.

Figure 6. Photograph of submerged timber-woody debris type associated with shoreline at Morrow Mountain State Park between Mill and Tater Top Mountains.

Figure 7. Photograph of fringed wetland habitat type associated with shoreline located along the Morrow Mountain State Park shoreline of Lake Tillery.

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