Proposed U.S. Forest Service Cranberry Spring Creek Project should consider impacts to the candy darter

The United States Forest Service’s Cranberry Spring Creek Project proposed to conduct silviculture activities including timber harvesting, thinning and salvage, cutbacks, construction, and road improvement in the Monongahela National Forest, which may impact the endangered candy darter. In this comment, we outline how the proposal may negatively impact candy darter populations and provide guidance on how best to prevent harm to the candy darter or its critical habitat. 

We request that the U.S. Forest Service consider potential impacts to the candy darter before implementing the proposed project. Toward that goal, we recommend reviewing best management practices for sedimentation prevention, limiting activities in riparian zones, and consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service early in the project to avoid making plans that would unnecessarily harm the candy darter or its critical habitat. Additionally, before, during, and after activities are carried out we recommend the U.S. Forest Service collect empirical water quality data (in addition to modeling sedimentation) as well as monitoring the affected candy darter metapopulations.