BAER Accomplishment Report

2004 BAER Accomplishment Report

Region7 US Fish and Wildlife Service

September 15, 2005

Emergency Stabilization

Treatment Specification Weed Monitoring and Control Specification V2

Activity Accomplishment

Tetlin NWR Biologist Buddy Johnson in collaboration with John Morton of Kenai NWR and the Alaska Natural Heritage Program (AKNHP) developed an invasive species sampling protocol for the Alaska BAER program.

Two AKNHP botanists (H. Cortes-Burns and M. Sturdy) coordinated Tetlin fieldwork with a USFWS biologist (Merban Cebrian) and visited three campgrounds, and investigated sites on the north side of the Alaska Highway that were burned in 2004 for invasive species.

The three campgrounds investigated for invasive plans where Lakeview, Deadmans Lake and a small campground along the Alaska Highway. These camps where used by fire fighting resources during the 2004 fire season. Invasive plant species where found at two of the three campgrounds (Lakeview and Deadmans Lake). Plots where established and will continue to monitored.

The Gardiner creek fire was investigated. The fire burned just North of the Tetlin refuge across the Alaska highway. Several non-native plant species where discover. The fact that these plants where discover gives concern to their potential spread to disturbed areas as a result of fire suppression actions. The Tetlin NWR provide quarters for AKNHP staff.

Actual Implementation Cost (These cost should be available from the BTS reports.)

Treatment Effectiveness.

The effectiveness of doing the invasive plant monitoring was to verify that invasive plant species are present on and near NWR lands. It further define which species are present, site location, and population.

Recommendations

Continue to monitor plots and determine if invasive are spreading and if control actions will be required.

Treatment Specification (Make tie to the BAER plan specifications, i.e. the cultural resource work was from specification C-1)

Activity Accomplishment (Described the work complete, number of sites visited, plot installed, miles of trail survey,methodology, lat/longs of site, photographs, monitoring results etc.)

For those of you who had general salary dollars for participation in the BAER work this summer, or for the seasonals working at Fairbanks and Galena, you will need to describe involvement in the BAER program that justifies those positions/salary expenses. Participation in the public meetings, reviewing BAER documents, coordinating BAER projects, etc. would be appropriate things to mention. Participation in the overall Spring Assessment with the full BAER team means that we can also site the 2005 spring assessment report (which is being sent to each FMO) as an accomplishment.

Actual Implementation Cost (These cost should be available from the BTS reports.)

Treatment Effectiveness.

Recommendations (findings that would lead towards further rehabilitation work then we also need to have a written specification using the templates from the http://fire.r9.fws.gov/ifcc/rehab/guidance/plantemplate.htm website and we will have to amend the next years Rehabilitation plan).

Rehabilitation

Treatment Specification Acquire Extended Assessment data Specification O3

Activity Accomplishment

Aquire 15 landsat images for 15 fires.

Actual Implementation Cost

Treatment Effectiveness.

The sceneces proved to be very effective in directing sampling effectency and The images where used to compare pre-and post fire scenecs to show changes in normalized burn ratio between two scences. Comparison of these scenecs aid in detecting site charteristcis changes and the ability to apply on the ground treatments and sampling for reahbilitatitve needs.

Recommendations

Use Landsts or other appropriate image as and aid to determine on the ground effectionsy and determine location of rehabilitation needs and potentiall severed of need.

BAER Accomplishment Report

Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge

September 6, 2005

Rehabilitation

Treatment Specification (Make tie to the BAER plan specifications, i.e. the cultural resource work was from specification C-1)

Activity Accomplishment

Tetlin NWR Biologist Buddy Johnson in collaboration with John Morton of Kenai NWR and the Alaska Natural Heritage Program worked between April and June to develop an invasive species sampling protocol for the 2005 Alaska BAER program.

Two AKNHP botanists (H. Cortes-Burns and M. Sturdy) coordinated Tetlin fieldwork with a USFWS biologist (Merban Cebrian) and visited three campgrounds, Gardiner Creek (unburned in 2004), and investigated sites on the north side of the Alaska Highway that were burned in 2004, as well as sites burned in 1998 and 1990.

On 6 July 2005 we surveyed the Lakeview Campground and took data for three plots. One plot was located near the lake edge in the campground and had a low density of Hordeum jubatum, Matricaria discoidea, Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale, Plantago major, and Trifolium hybridum. A permanent plot was not established since the plants were in the center of an established campground. A second plot was located on a small campground path approximately 30 m from the campground and no non-natives were observed. The third site at Lakeview was a cleared area of forest adjacent to the Alaska Highway. This third site was quite rich in non-native species, including the highly invasive Melilotus alba, as well as Crepis tectorum, Bromus inermis, and Taraxacum officinale. A permanent plot was erected at this site.

The Deadman’s Lake Campground was surveyed on 6 July 2005 and three non-permanent plots were read at this location. The first site was on at area of disturbed ground next to the boardwalk near the lake, and had the two weedy species: Hordeum jubatum (potentially native to Alaska) and Phleum pratense. The Hordeum jubatum was manually removed. The second site was at the boat launch at the edge of the lake on imported mineral soils, and was composed of a wide range of non-native plants: Matricaria discoidea, Taraxacum officinale, Plantago major, Crepis tectorum (tentative identification), Hordeum jubatum, and Phleum pratense. Permanent monitoring plots were not constructed since the populations of Hordeum jubatum were located within high use areas. The last site at Deadman’s Lake Campground was in an open area on a sandy-gravelly substrate within a black spruce forest in the campground. This site had a high density of Trifolium hybridum and smaller densities of Taraxacum officinale, Hordeum jubatum (pulled), and Plantago major. No other non-native taxa were observed in Deadman’s Lake Campground.

The crew surveyed a small campground by the Alaska Highway (RV rest area on the south side of the highway) in a white spruce-aspen forest and did not observe any non-native species. This is somewhat surprising since the site was situated on imported, mineral soils and receives a considerable amount of traffic.

On 7 July 2005, the crew surveyed the Gardiner Creek area as well as a number of sites that had burned in years previous to 2004. The first site, next to Gardiner Creek and the road (that was hydroaxed this year), had small amounts of the non-natives: Lappula squarrosa, Plantago major, Hordeum jubatum, and Trifolium hybridum. On the east side of Gardiner Creek a second plot was read (permanent plot) that had a high species richness of non-native species: Trifolium hybridum, Bromus inermis, Plantago major, Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale, Matricaria discoidea, Melilotus alba, Polygonum aviculare, and Hordeum jubatum. The third Gardiner Creek site was a mixed white spruce-aspen/cottonwood forest along the creek edge on the north side of the Alaska Highway that had a few non-native plants (Lepidium densiflorum, Trifolium hybridum, T. repens, Hordeum jubatum, Chenopodium alba, and Plantago major) at low density.

Two non-permanent sites were established within the Gardiner Creek Fire on the north side of the Alaska Highway. One site was heavily burned (burn severity – 2) and did not have any non-native species. A nearby site was surveyed closer to the highway in an area that had been driven over with earth moving equipment the previous year. This site had a high percent cover of the non-native grass Bromus inermis.

The crew was unable to locate Gardiner Creek downstream from the right-of-way as it began flowing underground through course cobbles and gravel in a dense alder shrubland.

Burns from 1998 and 1990 were also inventoried at Tetlin Refuge. Non-natives were not located within the burned areas, but were restricted to the adjacent, disturbed roadsides.

AKNHP field staff stayed at Tetlin NWR facilities during the course of this work

Actual Implementation Cost (These cost should be avaialbe from the BTS reports.)

$4,500 (Melinda still has to RDS some salary to bring it to this total)

Treatment Effectiveness.

Monitoring was the only activity undertaken in 2005. No treatments were undertaken.

Recommendations Continue to monitor permanent plots on a yearly basis. Initiate treatments as necessary.

BAER Accomplishment Report

Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge

Prepared September 6, 2005

Emergency Stabilization

Treatment Specification

Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) staff participated in two BAER projects:

1.  Invasive Plant Inventory (Specification V-2)

2.  Cultural Resources Assessment (Specification C-1)

Both projects were conducted by principal investigators outside of Kanuti NWR. The invasive plant inventory was conducted by a contractor hired by the Anchorage Regional Office, and the cultural resources assessment was conducted by the Region 7 Regional Archaeologist. Complete reports of these activities will be submitted by the principal investigators. This accomplishment report only documents time commitments and expenses incurred by Kanuti NWR staff.

Activity Accomplishment:

Specification V-2: Refuge Manager Mike Spindler and Deputy Refuge Manager Merry Maxwell each spent four hours assisting with permit requirements and other logistical assistance for this project. Wildlife Biologist Lisa Saperstein contributed three hours to this project, most of which was during the initial planning and contract development and review stage.

Specification C-1: Refuge Manager Spindler spent four hours coordinating logistics for this project. Wildlife Biologist Saperstein contributed 27 hours toward this project. Twenty-four hours of Saperstein’s time was spent assisting Regional Archaeologist Debra Corbett in the field. Additional time was required to obtain field supplies (food) and correspond with archaeological staff in the Regional Office regarding this project. Additional activities associated with this project, such as background research, the number of sites visited, and their locations, will be provided in the project report by Corbett.

Actual Implementation Cost (These cost should be available from the BTS reports.)

The charges listed in Table 1 were charged to cost code 70137-9142-A4XV under Specification C-1. All charges, with the exception of OAS charges, were to Saperstein’s credit card. The table does not include travel or other expenses accrued by Corbett.

Treatment Effectiveness.

All work conducted was to asses potential effects of the 2004 fires; the assessment was required to formulate treatment options, if appropriate. No treatments were conducted.

Recommendations

Recommendations for rehabilitation will be included in reports submitted by the principal investigators.

Table 1. Kanuti NWR charges for Specification C-1. These charges do not include charges by Regional Archaeologist Debra Corbett.

BAER Accomplishment Report

Koyukuk and Northern Unit Innoko National Wildlife Refuges

August 24, 2005

Emergency Stabilization

Treatment Specification: PART D – SPECIFICATION. NOXIOUS AND INVASIVE PLANTS MONITORING AND CONTROL. 12 Plant activities Innoko, Koyukuk, Nowitna – Row 8; Bio/tech fire; 40 days New Position to Assist GALENA FMO in Spring. 13 Assessment Innoko, Koyukuk, Nowitna – Row 8; Bio/tech fire; 40 days.

Activity Accomplishment: The summer seasonal position at Galena was involved in the following activities: Five sites (three sites with permanent plots and two photo points) were inventoried for noxious weeds and checked for first order fire effects. Sites are located at: (Photo Points) - 878-903 - N 64º 27.229' W 157º 25.049 and HELI ASPEN - N 64º27.253' W 157º 25.053'; (Permanent Plots) – BOPL1 - N 64º 41.766' W 157º 12.966'; BOPL2 - N 64º 31..950' W 157º 23..083': BOPL3 - N 64º 24..867' W 157º 38..483'.

The BURNED AREA EMERGENCY STABILIZATION AND REHABILITATION PLAN 2004 ALASKA FIRES was reviewed in order to obtain FY05 field season program direction. Objectives of the BAER Plan were reviewed along with the objectives of the fire severity mapping. The summer seasonal also: (1) coordinated logistical support of the SCA fire severity mapping team that spent one week mapping the Bonanza Creek Fire; (2) met with AFS – Galena Zone AFMO to discuss their concerns with the planned BAER work for the summer of FY05; (3) reviewed the 2004 Alaska Fires Spring 2005 Assessment Emergency Stabilization Plan ADDENDUM for consistency with the 2004 BAER Plan and to establish work objectives for the FY06 field season; and, (4) was involved with public and individual meetings regarding the Bonanza Creek and Louis Lake Fires of 2004 and how they affected individuals residing in the villages of Galena, Koyukuk, and Nulato.

Actual Implementation Cost: $12,000

Treatment Effectiveness: The summer seasonal position was exceptionally effective in assisting in the accomplishment of FY05 BAER goals (fire severity mapping and noxious plant assessments) along with providing much-appreciated support to the FMO during another unusually active fire season.

Recommendations: none

Rehabilitation

Treatment Specification: NA

Activity Accomplishment: NA

Actual Implementation: NA

Treatment Effectiveness: NA

Recommendations: None

BAER Accomplishment Report

Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge

September 9, 2005