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bass, which were the most abundant species collected, bluegill, and walleye. Other <br />species included shorthead and golden redhorse, pumpkinseed and green sunfish, carp, <br />golden, spottail and spotfin shiner, spotted, white and northern hog sucker, <br />quillback carpsucker, logperch, and longnose gar. Another sampling site about 4 <br />miles downstream from the project area recorded most of these same species, plus <br />rainbow trout, rock bass, longear sunfish, yellow bullhead, silver redhorse, and <br />bluntnose minnow. <br />Since that time, a major anadromous fishery project has been undertaken by the <br />States of Michigan and Indiana to construct fish ladders around dams on the St. <br />Joseph River, under the Federal Aid to Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program. <br />Steelhead are the major anadromous species that run up the river from Lake Michigan <br />and return, but coho and chinook salmon are present in smaller numbers. These <br />species pass through the project area and travel as far upstream as Twin Branch Dam <br />in Mishawaka, about 7 miles up the St. Joseph River. Both Michigan and Indiana now <br />also stock walleye, which have been found to be utilizing the fish passages at <br />various times and may have increased in number in the South Bend area. <br />Freshwater mussels have been recorded for the St. Joseph River, but we do not have <br />any information available about possible beds in the project area. Numerous aquatic <br />invertebrates can be expected to be present. <br />The most predominant wildlife in the project area is waterfowl. During our site <br />visit, numerous mallards and Canada geese were utilizing the river. These 2 species <br />are known to nest in suitable habitats throughout the South Bend area, but there is <br />little nesting habitat for them in the immediate project area. Some wood ducks may <br />nest in the vicinity. Songbirds are also numerous and nest in the trees and shrubs <br />along the riverbanks and in residential yards. Muskrats may be present along the <br />river. Urban wildlife such as squirrels and Eastern cottontails are likely found in <br />the general project area. <br />ENDANGERED SPECIES <br />The proposed project is within the range of the Federally endangered Indiana bat <br />(Myotis sodalis) and the threatened bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocenhalus). However, <br />there is no suitable habitat for either of these endangered and threatened species <br />within the project area. <br />This precludes the need for further consultation on this project as required under <br />Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. If, however, new <br />information on endangered species at the site becomes available or if project plans <br />are changed significantly, please contact our office for further consultation. <br />In summary, the FWS recognizes the need for bank protection in the project area in <br />order to protect North Shore Drive and other public and private property. However, <br />we do not believe that the erosion problems have been adequately studied to <br />determine the specific causes due to the dynamics of the river in the area. For <br />vvamnl� t-.�c-. .i��Fa (-,� canimo.,i- tsar ham fnrmAn arr�c� +-h <br />south bank. in the vicinity of CSU 46 may be having a significant impact on the <br />direction and velocity of flows affecting the north bank. If it is determined that <br />this delta is a problem and should be removed, it will then also be necessary to <br />address the problem of the source of the sediments, because the delta will otherwis- <br />.;imply reform. <br />B - 6 <br />