Preconstruction Survey for Rare Plant Species in Lookout Valley, Hamilton County,

Chattanooga, TN, United States on May 25, 2022

Bailee Lessenberry
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
616 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403

Report prepared for Joey Shaw, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, for Biology 4195
Report compiled on June 18, 2022
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Executive Summary
A botanical survey with an emphasis on rare plant species was conducted on two separate
occasions, May 25, 2022 and June 12, 2022, in Lookout Valley, Hamilton County, Tennessee on
a thirty-seven-acre plot of land between US11 (Birmingham Highway) and Interstate 24. The
purpose of this survey was to catalogue rare plant species (specifically Scutellaria montana) and
assess any threats to biodiversity that would be present if the area was cleared for construction.
In the process, sixty other plant species were listed, with two of those carrying special status in
the state of Tennessee. However, all other plants identified in the area hold a global conservation
ranking of G4 and G5 or state ranking of SNR, which do not place them under any special
federal or state protections. The plants identified in the site ranged in c-values, with almost half
being intolerable of habitat disturbance and the other half handling it quite well. After the on-site
surveys were completed, the specimens were brought to the University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga botany lab to be identified and pressed for consideration in the University of
Tennessee at Chattanooga Herbarium. Future clearing and construction on this property will not
pose momentous harm to biodiversity; however, a reassessment of plans regarding the site
should be considered to protect the threatened species that currently live there. A prior cost
estimate for a survey of the site has also been provided.

Table of Contents
Introduction pg. 1
Materials and Methods pg. 3
Results and Discussion pg. 3
Conclusions pg. 5
Recommendations pg. 5
References pg. 5
Cost Estimate pg. 6

List of Figures and Tables

1.1 – Topographic map of Lookout Valley survey site pg. 2
1.2 – Google Earth image of Lookout Valley survey site pg. 2
1.3 – Lookout Valley plant species list pg. 4
1.4 – Cost estimate for Lookout Valley survey site pg. 6

Introduction
The location of interest for this botanical survey was a thirty-seven-acre plot of land
between US11 (Birmingham Highway) and Interstate 24 in Lookout Valley, Hamilton County,
Tennessee, a few miles outside of the city of Chattanooga. The coordinates for the site are
(35.001451, -85.394414). The habitat is a secondary oak and hickory forest around fifty to
seventy years old that is proposed as a fill area for future construction. It is a sandstone
dominated sloping plot of land with around 200 feet of relief throughout and includes a small
creek that runs through the area. A topographic map of the survey site is shown below in Figure
1.1, as well as a Google Earth image of the area shown in Figure 1.2 with the survey site outlined
in red.
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Figure 1.1 – Topographic map of Lookout Valley survey site

Figure 1.2 – Google Earth image of Lookout Valley survey site

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While many different plant species were collected, the main objective of this survey was
to evaluate the rare plant species present in the Lookout Valley site and assess any threats to
biodiversity that may occur due to clearcutting and construction. One particular species of
interest was Scutellaria montana, also known as mountain skullcap or large-flowered skullcap, a
species of the Lamiaceae family that has been listed on the Endangered Species Act since 1986
(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Scutellaria montana have a small range, limited to the Ridge
and Valley and Cumberland Plateau regions of Tennessee and Georgia (NatureServe). This
species does not compete well with invasive vines and is very sensitive to harsh sunlight, making
the shaded Lookout Valley site a prime location for it to exist.

Materials and Methods

An initial survey of the property was conducted on May 25, 2022 from 11:00 am until
2:30 pm. This included a group of 10-12 individuals forming a body line and traversing the
property from border to border and collecting plant species encountered for further examination,
with an emphasis on searching for and cataloguing rare plant species. A second survey of the site
was later carried out on June 12, 2022 from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm on my own time in order to
collect more species.
Upon completion of the site surveys, collected species were then brought back to the
botany lab to be identified and pressed for consideration in the University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga Herbarium curated by Dr. Joey Shaw. This took place over several weeks,
beginning with identification on May 27, 2022 and ending with the final pressings on June 20,
2022.
Materials utilized in this process were plastic grocery bags for plant collecting, hand
lenses and dissecting scopes for closer examination of species characteristics, the Guide to the
Vascular Plants of Tennessee textbook for identification help, plant presses and newspapers for
preserving the specimens, as well as identification labels for each specimen including the species
name, location, collectors, date, habitat, and field number.

Results and Discussion

The Lookout Valley site surveys resulted in the successful discovery of nine Scutellaria
montana (threatened). Sixty other individual plant species were also recorded, two of which have
special status in the state of Tennessee. Arnoglossum plantagineum, or prairie Indian plantain, is
a state threatened species with a global conservation ranking of G4 and a state ranking of S2.
Lonicera diocia, or limber honeysuckle, is a species of special concern in the state of Tennessee
and has a global conservation ranking of G5 and a state ranking of S2.
The other plants found in the site had a global conservation rank of G4 or G5, meaning
they are “apparently secure” (G4) or “secure” (G5) (NatureServe). These plants also all held an
unranked status (SNR) for Tennessee (Tennessee-Kentucky Plant Atlas).
C-values for each plant were also listed. C-values, or coefficient of conservatism values,
are part of a floristic quality assessment that provides a way to determine the quality of an area,
compare multiple areas, or compare the same area at different points in time. Species are
numbered 0-10, with 0 being non-native species and 10 being a native species that does not
tolerate disturbed habitats well. Several c-values were not available for species on the list and
have been marked as “N/A”.
A comprehensive list of plant species found in the area is shown below in Figure 1.3.
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Figure 1.3 – Lookout Valley plant species list

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Conclusions
In conclusion, this site has a wide variety of plant species, but future construction does
not pose a significant threat to biodiversity. Most species have a global ranking of G4 and G5,
therefore there is no substantial harm to biodiversity by clearing this property for construction.
While there are several threatened species and species of special concern present in the area
(Arnoglossum plantagineum, Lonicera diocia, Scutellaria montana) that are protected under
federal and state law, private property owners are not prohibited from collecting or destroying
endangered plants on their own property (U.S. Forest Service). There is a considerable range in
c-values of these plants, with about half being rather intolerable of habitat disturbance; however,
the other half are plants that tolerate human-alteration quite well.

Recommendations
For this site, I would recommend closely monitoring Scutellaria montana populations
and reassess clearing the site for future construction to maintain integrity of the current habitat.
As Scutellaria montana has a very limited range of viability, I believe it is important to preserve
as much land as possible for this species to have the opportunity to thrive.

References
NatureServe. Definition of NatureServe conservation status ranks. NatureServe.
https://help.natureserve.org/biotics/content/record_management/Element_Files/Element_
Tracking/ETRACK_Definitions_of_Heritage_Conservation_Status_Ranks.htm.

Shaw, J., Estes, D., Ruhfel, B., Morris, A.B., Littlefield, T.R., (2021). Tennessee-Kentucky Plant
Atlas. USF Water Institute, University of South Florida, University of Tennessee at
Chattanooga, Austin Peay State University, University of Michigan, Furman University,
Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission. https://tennessee-
kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Scutellaria montana. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
https://www.fws.gov/species/large-flowered-skullcap-scutellaria-montana.

U.S. Forest Service. Laws and regulations to protect endangered plants. United States
Department of Agriculture.
https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/Rare_Plants/conservation/lawsandregulations.shtml.
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Cost Estimate

Figure 1.4 – Cost estimate for Lookout Valley survey site