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Protecting Federally Listed Fish Species at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Environmental Assessment
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park » Protecting Federally Listed Fish Species at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Environmental Assessment » Document List
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (CUGA) is seeking public comment on the development of an environmental assessment (EA) to protect the federally threatened blackside dace. Blackside dace are found only in a small number of streams within the upper Cumberland River drainage in East Tennessee and Southeast Kentucky. This fish is typically found in small, cool, upland streams located in heavily forested areas. Outside the park boundary, blackside dace habitat has been negatively impacted by mining, logging, agriculture, and roads.
Blackside dace were first discovered in the park in 1981 in the Davis Branch watershed. At that time Davis Branch was considered to be one of two streams most vital for the survival of the blackside dace. In the last decade, the blackside dace population in Davis Branch has drastically declined to the point that dace may no longer exist in the stream. The decline of the blackside dace population in Davis Branch coincides with the onset and proliferation of beaver dams within the watershed beginning in 1993. Today, nearly a dozen dams are found within a half mile section of the stream. The impact of the beaver in Davis Branch have led to habitat loss, stream corridor degradation, and water quality changes that are all harmful to blackside dace.
A 2012 fish survey on lands recently added to the park, Little Yellow Creek above Fern Lake, documented a healthy blackside dace population in the stream with no beaver dams and very little beaver activity. Little Yellow Creek above Fern Lake, because of its location within the protection of the park, is now considered a key stream for blackside dace survival and recovery.
CUGA is planning to prepare an environmental assessment in order to provide strategies for park staff to protect the blackside dace population in Little Yellow Creek. An EA will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act to provide the decision-making framework that 1) analyzes a reasonable range of alternatives to meet project objectives to protect the blackside dace population in Little Yellow Creek above Fern Lake, 2) evaluates issues and impacts to park resources and values, and 3) identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts.
The park encourages public participation throughout the planning process. There will be two opportunities to comment formally on the project – now during initial project scoping and again following release of the draft Environmental Assessment. The park is currently in the scoping phase of this proposed project and invites the public to submit written suggestions, comments, and concerns regarding the proposed project. If you are not able to submit comments electronically through this website you may submit written comments at the address below. Please provide comments by April 1, 2013. These comments will be considered during preparation of the Environmental Assessment.
We appreciate your input on this project and can provide a copy of the draft EA for your review as soon as it is available. If you have any initial input or questions regarding the project, please contact Superintendent, Mark Woods at (606) 246-1050 or via email at cuga_superintendent@nps.gov.
Superintendent
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
91 Bartlett Park Road
Middlesboro, KY 40965
Phone: 606-246-1050; Fax: 606-248-7276
eMail: cuga_superintendent@nps.gov
Blackside dace were first discovered in the park in 1981 in the Davis Branch watershed. At that time Davis Branch was considered to be one of two streams most vital for the survival of the blackside dace. In the last decade, the blackside dace population in Davis Branch has drastically declined to the point that dace may no longer exist in the stream. The decline of the blackside dace population in Davis Branch coincides with the onset and proliferation of beaver dams within the watershed beginning in 1993. Today, nearly a dozen dams are found within a half mile section of the stream. The impact of the beaver in Davis Branch have led to habitat loss, stream corridor degradation, and water quality changes that are all harmful to blackside dace.
A 2012 fish survey on lands recently added to the park, Little Yellow Creek above Fern Lake, documented a healthy blackside dace population in the stream with no beaver dams and very little beaver activity. Little Yellow Creek above Fern Lake, because of its location within the protection of the park, is now considered a key stream for blackside dace survival and recovery.
CUGA is planning to prepare an environmental assessment in order to provide strategies for park staff to protect the blackside dace population in Little Yellow Creek. An EA will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act to provide the decision-making framework that 1) analyzes a reasonable range of alternatives to meet project objectives to protect the blackside dace population in Little Yellow Creek above Fern Lake, 2) evaluates issues and impacts to park resources and values, and 3) identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts.
The park encourages public participation throughout the planning process. There will be two opportunities to comment formally on the project – now during initial project scoping and again following release of the draft Environmental Assessment. The park is currently in the scoping phase of this proposed project and invites the public to submit written suggestions, comments, and concerns regarding the proposed project. If you are not able to submit comments electronically through this website you may submit written comments at the address below. Please provide comments by April 1, 2013. These comments will be considered during preparation of the Environmental Assessment.
We appreciate your input on this project and can provide a copy of the draft EA for your review as soon as it is available. If you have any initial input or questions regarding the project, please contact Superintendent, Mark Woods at (606) 246-1050 or via email at cuga_superintendent@nps.gov.
Contact Information
Mail:Superintendent
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
91 Bartlett Park Road
Middlesboro, KY 40965
Phone: 606-246-1050; Fax: 606-248-7276
eMail: cuga_superintendent@nps.gov