WETLAND HABITAT AND AQUATIC SPECIES

WETLAND HABITAT AND AQUATIC SPECIES

Somerset County has approximately 81,500 acres of wetlands, or 38% of its total land area. Of this acreage, three quarters are tidal wetlands and one quarter are non-tidal wetlands. Tidal wetlands are influenced by tidal action, although this may range from inundation twice a day to areas flooded on an irregular basis. Non-tidal wetlands are not linked to tides and are designated based on the level of groundwater, soil characteristics, and plant life that is adapted to wet conditions. Non-tidal wetlands may be less apparent to the average citizen since they range from fresh water swamps to forested areas that appear to be dry for at least part of the year.

Given the low-lying topography of the County, it is very important that property owners address the question of wetlands early in any building or subdivision plan. Filling and disturbance of wetlands is regulated under the Federal Clean Water Act and the Rivers and Harbors Act, as well as Maryland State regulations. Soils designated as "hydric" in the County Soil Survey may be an indicator that wetlands are present on a site and the identification of these soils on a development site may warrant further study.

Striped Bass

Wetlands provide habitat for a variety of wildlife and many of Maryland's endangered species. Nationwide, over one third of endangered or threatened species live in wetlands. As most people now realize, wetlands provide spawning and nursery grounds for a number of species, including both salt and fresh water fish, serve as a water purification or filter system, and provide storage area for flood waters.

Wetlands are protected through the regulation of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Department of the Environment and are not locally regulated. However, Somerset County maintains soil maps, infrared aerial photos and wetland maps that are used in subdivision and site plan reviews and for public information purposes. The County does require permits before work can begin on piers and shore erosion control measures based on the previous approval of the joint State and Federal permit.

A specific concern of the Critical Area program is the protection of Anadromous fish propagation waters. Anadromous fish live primarily in the ocean, but travel upstream to fresh water to spawn. Many of the Eastern Shore's popular fishing species fall into this category. Also, at various life stages, these fish provide major food sources for other species. Anadromous fish occurring within Somerset County include white perch, yellow perch, striped bass (rock), alewife, blueback herring and hickory shad. Most of the streams in the County are considered Anadromous fish streams and may host such fish if stream flow is sufficient at spawning time.

White Perch

As part of the Critical Area Program, Somerset County implements several measures to ensure the protection of habitat for these fish. While Buffers and natural vegetation help maintain the stream and streambanks by filtering and trapping nutrients and sediment and providing shade to regulate temperature, fish must also be protected from alteration of the streambed and disturbances to the stream from March 1 through June 15th should be avoided. Most Joint Permits for riprap or piers include this prohibition as part of their conditions, as do dredging permits. Construction and repair of roads and bridges associated with stream crossings for both public and private entities must also address anadromous fish protection.

Under a recent Watershed Restoration Action Strategy Plan for the Manokin River Watershed, a survey was done recently to update information on anadromous fish (Roman Jesien, University of Maryland Eastern Shore). A tabular summary of the findings is shown below:

Stream	Location	Watershed	Latitude and Longitude
Manokin Branch	UMES campus	Manokin River	38 12' 50" 75 40' 18"
Taylor Branch	Bridge at Rt. 13 Bridge at Stewart Neck Rd	Manokin River	38 12' 27" 75 40' 59"
Kings Creek	Bridge at Westover Rd Bridge at Stewart Neck Rd	Manokin River	38 9' 53" 75 41' 06"
Somerset Creek	Bridge at Rt. 529	Wicomicoa	38 15' 51" 75 40' 50"
Wicomico Creek	Bridge at Eden Allen Rd	Wicomicoa	38 17' 00" 75 41' 21"
acontrol site

Table 2. Summary of migratory fish species collected in Manokin Creek

	April 13	April 20	May 11	June 22	July 6	July 13	Aug 16	Aug 25	Sept 12
Eel American eel		Adults	Adults	Adults	Adults	YOY			YOY
Herrings Blueback Herring Alewife Gizzard Shad	Adults Adults Adults								YOY
Temperate basses White Perch	Adults						YOY		YOY
Perches Yellow perch	Adults		Adults	YOY	YOY		YOY	YOY	YOY

YOY = Young-of-the-Year

Table 2. Summary of migratory fish species collected in Kings Creek

	April 18	April 20	April 25	May 3	July 13	August 3
Eel American eel		Adults	Adults	Adults	Adults	Adults
Herrings Blueback Herring Alewife Gizzard Shad	Adults Adults		Adults	Adults	YOY	YOY YOY
Temperate basses White Perch	Adults	Adults	Adults
Perches Yellow Perch	Adults		Adults	YOY

YOY = Young-of-the-year

Table 4. Summary of fish species collected in the study.

Species	Manokin Creek	Kings Creek	Taylor Branch	Allens Creek	Somerset Creek
American Eel	X	X	X	X
Herring Sp	X
Blueback Herring	X	X		X
Alewife	X	X
Gizzard Shad	X	X
Eastern mudminnow	X	X
Redfin Pickerel	X	X
Golden Shiner	X	X	X	X	X
Spot Tail Shiner	X	X	X
Creek Chubsucker	X	X	X
Brown Bullhead	X	X
Pirate Perch	X	X	X
Mosquito Fish	X
Banded Killfish	X	X	X		X
Mummichog	X	X
White Perch	X	X		X
Bluespot Sunfish	X	X
Blackbanded Sunfish	X
Pumpkinseed Sunfish	X		X	X	X
Bluegill	X			X
Largemouth Bass	X
Yellow Perch	X	X	X		X
Total Number Species	21	14	7	6	4