The Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail is going to plan B to find a group of endangered shrimp-like creatures it says would be harmed by construction of the Purple Line light rail.
The Friends group (FCCT) on Wednesday asked the Town of Chevy Chase for another grant — this time $25,388 that would mostly go toward DNA testing of the water and sediment of Rock Creek and Coquelin Run. FCCT claims the testing would let researchers from the University of South Dakota “determine that a seep is occupied even if they do not capture a specimen.”
The FCCT and two environmentalists in the Town filed a federal lawsuit in August seeking to stop the Purple Line, which they said would degrade and harm the habitats of two species of amphipods – the small, shrimp-like creatures known to live in seeps along Rock Creek in Washington, D.C.
With the help of a $15,000 grant from the Town of Chevy Chase, the FCCT hired American University biologist Dr. David Culver to survey for amphipods last winter and spring near the proposed Purple Line route.
He didn’t find any amphipods, but did find new areas of seeps and wetlands where three species of amphipods could live, FCCT claimed.
“These three species are rare and elusive,” the FCCT wrote in its grant request. “Therefore, [Culver] may not find them even if they do inhabit the seeps. Having a DNA test to supplement his survey make it much more likely that he could detect the presence of the species.”
The DNA testing and additional surveying time would cost $20,388, FCCT said. An additional $5,000 would go toward a consultant’s report on stormwater runoff and water pollution issues that could come as a result of cutting down trees in the Purple Line’s route. The FCCT said that report would prove useful in future litigation.
The FCCT also said that even if no amphipods are found (they are are colorless, blind and live most of their lives underground) the additional surveying could help make the case that the area should be designated an official Critical Habitat. That could lead the way to a Recovery Plan, as requested by the Center for Biological Diversity.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reviewed its findings from 2013 in light of the new information from Culver and the FCCT. A spokesperson said officials found no need to revaluate protections for the amphipods because there is no evidence that amphipods exist in the seeps near the Purple Line route.
A public hearing and vote on the grant request will be held in November during the regular meeting of the Town Council.
The Council will also discuss a grant request for $132,000 from the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, which is again asking the Town to help it buy new equipment.
The Writer’s Center is also asking the Town for $100,000 so it can build ADA accessibility into its renovated facility. Finally, the Chevy Chase Elementary School PTA is asking the Town for $9,000 to to buy six iMac computers for a sixth grade arts program.
Photo via Brett Hartl/Center for Biological Diversity
