Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge Annual Narrative ... - ECOS

Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge

Annual Narrative Report

Calendar Year 2002

REVIEW AND APPROVALS

DES LACS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Kenmare, North Dakota

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 2002

~1A. ~ ~ry\._ fh}_f>$ Refuge Manager Date Project Leader Date

.:£~a~ 101;11~ Regional Office Approval Date 7

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ......................................................... 1

A. HIGHLIGHTS ......................................................... 2

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS .............................................. 3

C. LAND ACQUISITION .................................................. 5 2. Easements ......................................................... 5

D. PLANNING .............. : . ........................................... 5 1. Comprehensive Conservation Plan ..................................... 5 2. Management Plan .................................................. 6 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates ............ 6 5. Research and Investigations .......................................... 6 6. Other ........................................................... 13

E. ADMINISTRATION ................................................... 14 1. Personnel ........................................................ 14 2. Youth Program ................................................... 18 4. Volunteer Program ................................................ 19 5. Funding ......................................................... 20 6. Safety .......................................................... 22 7. Technical Assistance ............................................... 22 8. Other ........................................................... 22

a~ Training and Meetings ........................................ 23 b. Asbestos ................................................... 26

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT ............................................ 27 1. General ......................................................... 27 2. Wetlands ........................................................ 27 4. Croplands ....................................................... 29 5. Grasslands ....................................................... 29 7. Grazing ......................................................... 29 8. Haying .......................................................... 32 9. Fire Management ................................................. 33

a. 2002 Prescribed burns ........................................ 36 b. 2002 Wildfires ............................................. 38

10. Pest Control ..................................................... 39 11. Water Rights .................................................... 39

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G. WILDLIFE ........................................................... 40 1. Wildlife Diversity ................................................. 40 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species ................................ 40 3. Waterfowl ....................................................... 41 4. Marsh and Water Birds ............................................. 42 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species ............................ 42 6. Raptors ......................................................... 42 7. Other Migratory Birds .............................................. 42 8. Game Mammals .................................................. 42 10. Other Resident Wildlife ........................................... 43 16. Marking and Banding ............................................. 43 17. Disease Prevention and Control ..................................... 43

H. PUBLIC USE ......................................................... 44 1. General ......................................................... 44 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students ...................................... 45 5. Interpretive Tour Routes ............................................ 46 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations .................................. 47 7. Other Interpretive Programs ......................................... 47 8. Hunting ......................................................... 47 10. Trapping ....................................................... 48 11. Wildlife Observation .............................................. 49 14. Picnicking ...................................................... 49 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation .............................. 49 17. Law Enforcement ................................................ 49

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES ......................................... 52 1. New Construction ................................................. 52 2. Rehabilitation .................................................... 59 4. Equipment Utilization and Re_placement ............................... 63 5. Communication Systems ........................................... 64 6. Computer Systems ................................................ 64 7. Energy Conservation ............................................... 65 8. Other ........................................................... 65

J. OTHER ITEMS ....................................................... 67 1. Cooperative Programs .............................................. 67 3. Items of Interest ................................................... 67 4. Credits .......................................................... 67

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INTRODUCTION

"Des Lacs" is french, meaning "of the lakes." Early trappers originally called the area "Riviere des Lacs," literally, "River of the Lakes," which aptly described its prominent features. Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge is a 28-mile long river valley with three natural lakes. The distinctive physiography was created by glacial meltwater cutting through a vast ground moraine known as the Drift Plain. The refuge is in Burke and Ward counties in northwestern North Dakota, about 50 miles northwest of Minot and 90 miles east of Montana; it borders Saskatchewan to the north. Upland topography changes from the gently rolling Drift Plain to steep slopes that descend 50-125 feet to the river. The slopes are interrupted with numerous wooded draws and coulees, which have intermittent streams that drain hundreds of square miles of adjacent Drift Plain.

The refuge was established in 1935, amidst the "dust bowl era." Construction of dikes and water control structures, beginning with work by the Civilian Conservation Corps, created more permanent, large pools and several smaller marshes in a region historically known for high numbers of nesting waterfowl. Hence, primary objectives of the refuge are waterfowl production and protection, and enhancement of migratory bird habitat. An additional objective is to restore and maintain prairie vegetation.

Water management on the refuge is complicated by the flat topography of the valley. The original, natural lakes formed when natural dams were created by glacial outwash at the mouths of several large coulees draining the Drift Plain. When water levels are high, water travels south toward the Souris River. Much of Des Lacs refuge water comes from adjacent coulees, however, not from upstream sources in Canada. If coulee water flows are low to the north, water can flow north. Water builds very little "head" going either direction, making water manipulation more difficult than at other riverine refuges.

Des Lacs NWR's 19,544 acres include 13,600 acres of upland grass and grass-shrub communities, 230 acres of wooded draws and coulees, 5,014 acres of open water, and 700 acres of marsh. Grass and grass-shrub slopes are native sod dominated by western snowberry shrub, wheatgrasses and needlegrasses, grama, bluestem, and native forbs, but are invaded by exotics especially Kentucky bluegrass, smooth brome, and leafy spurge. Prairie on level Drift is similar though generally more degraded by exotic invasion. Green ash and American elm dominate woodlands, and chokecherry, juneberry, and sapling trees encroach into prairie at the woodland edge. Other upland communities include quaking aspen clumps, remnant farm shelterbelts, and old crop fields seeded in tame grass-legume ("dense nesting") cover. Conspicuous vertebrate fauna of open prairies and woodland margins include northern harrier, sharp-tailed grouse, mourning dove, eastern kingbird, gray catbird, yellow warbler, house wren, western meadowlark, song, clay-colored, and savannah sparrows, white-tailed deer, meadow vole, and deer mouse. Common wetland fauna during summer include western and eared grebes, white pelican, Canada goose, mallard, gadwall, blue-winged teal, ruddy, sora, Wilson's phalarope, Franklin's gull, black tern, yellow-headed and red-winged blackbirds, and muskrat.

A. HIGHLIGHTS

A large bio-monitoring effort continued with grassland bird nest searching, treatment/control study of grazing effects on upland nesting birds, DNC duck nesting, sharp-tailed grouse lek surveys, grebe colony surveys, vegetation transects, breeding bird survey, and other biological monitoring.

Scientific papers were presented at the National meeting of The Wildlife Society in Mandan, ND in September by Biologists Rubin, Ivan and Murphy.

Construction was started on the new office addition and remodeling project.

Complex firefighters again supported the national wildfire suppression effort.

Figure 1. Honker showed up at many locations during the year including Lostwood NWR during the June open house week. 6 / 02 DJS.

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B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Table 1 shows the 2002 weather conditions measured at Des Lacs NWR headquarters weather station.

TABLE 1. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS ON DES LACS NWR JANUARY 2002-DECEMBER 2002 MEASURED AT KENMARE, ND

MONTH TEMPERA TURES PRECIPITATION (inches)

HIGH LOW SNOW MOISTURE AVERAGE MOISTURE

JANUARY 2002 47 -22 5.10 0.47 0.47

FEBRUARY 56 -10 1.75 0.15 0.49

MARCH 51 -18 11.95 1.03 0.62

APRIL 70 -7 4.25 1.61 1.64

MAY 89 14 12.00 1.44 2.44

JUNE 93 40 3.63 3.83

JULY 97 44 1.08 2.32

AUGUST 88 36 4.10 2.02

SEPTEMBER 87 28 1.50 2.06

OCTOBER 74 3 1.50 .69 0.85

NOVEMBER 59 -2 .30 .19 0.51

DECEMBER 2002 45 -17 14.05 2.00 0.47

TOTAL2002 ' 50.90 17.89 17.72

We got a little better taste of winter in January after a mild fall of 2001. We only received 0.47" of precipitation and 5.1" of snow during the month. We had a warm maximum temperature of 47° Fon January 8 but the minimum temperature was -22° .Fon January 28. February started off unusually warm, melting all the snow cover we had. We even had a record high 56° Fon February 22, but then the weather turned more normal with lows below zero the rest of the month. We only received 0.15" of precipitation and 1.75" of snow on 2 days during the month. Average temperatures for the month were atypical with 33° F for highs and 13° F for lows. We recorded 17 days of high temperatures above freezing. At this point it was not looking like a good runoff year for the birds.

We finally received some winter weather and snow in March. We had a variety of weather, from a high of51° Fon March 27 to a low of-18° Fon March 9. On 12 days the low was

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below zero. We also received some much needed precipitation recording 1.03" of moisture and 11.95" of snow on 12 days during the month. The spring remained relatively cool through April. We had a variety of weather, from a high of 70° F on April 13 to a low of -7° Fon April 3. On 20 days the low was below freezing. We also received some much needed precipitation recording 1.61" of moisture and 4.25" of snow on 15 days during the month, but never very much at one time. Average temperatures for the month were cool with 47° F for highs and 24° F for lows. May continued to be cool and fairly dry. We had a variety of weather, from a high of 89° F on May 28 to a low of 14° F on May 1. On 16 days the low was below freezing and the last sub freezing day was May 23. We also received some much needed precipitation with a snowstorm on May 7-8 bringing 12" of snow and 1.17" of moisture which helped put some moisture into wetlands and into the dry soils and helped the grasslands. Average temperatures for the month were cool with 62° F for highs and 35° F for lows. Phenology of all the plants ran about 2 weeks later than normal with trees finally leafing out the last week of May.

June finally turned warm and wetter with more average precipitation received. We again had a variety of weather, from a high of 93° Fon June 29 to a low of 40° Fon June 7. Total precipitation for June was 3.63". Precipitation in July was below normal and temperatures were very warm. The high was 97° Fon July 13 and the low was 44° Fon July 5. Total precipitation for the year is 9.32" which is about normal but vegetation showed signs of the lack of soil moisture.

We started to catch up on annual precipitation in August, which is typically a dry month. Total precipitation for August was 4.1 O" of moisture with rain on 13 days during the month. Average temperatures for the month were moderate with 76° F for highs and 53° F for lows. We had three straight days of hail on August 25-27 and large damaging hail that dented vehicles and broke several windshields on August 26. We continued to get frequent rain in September keeping grasses growing. Total precipitation for September was 1.50" of moisture on 11 days during the month. First real frost was on September 27 and was the only day below freezing for the month.

It finally dried out in October but then turned unseasonably cold. Total precipitation for October was 0.69" of moisture on seven days during the month. The high was 74° Fon October 10 and the low was 3° Fon October 29. It remained dry in November with normal cool temperatures. Total precipitation for November was 0.19" of moisture on two days during the month. The high was 59° F on November 7 and the low was -2° F on November 14-15. We were snow free at the end of the month but there is fair soil moisture at freezeup for a decent frost seal. We finally picked up some moisture in December but with above normal temperatures. Total precipitation for December was 2.00" of moisture on seven days during the month. Total precipitation for the year was just slightly above normal at 17.80" with 50.90" of snow. A snowstorm in the middle of the month brought us over 12" of snow and snow was piled everywhere at the end of the year.

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C. LAND ACQUISITION

2. Easements

Nothing to report.

D. PLANNING

1. Comprehensive Conservation Plan

The first kick-off CCP meeting was held in Minot on June 4 for the Des Lacs NWR. Severson, Giese, Murphy and Rubin attended along with the Planning staff of Spratt, McCann and Griffen and Refuge Supervisor Shupe, and Deputy Refuge Chief Heffernan and J. Clark Salyer and Upper Souris NWR staff. "Plans for planning were planned" and a schedule was set for completion of the "Plan" in late 2006. Someone determined that it would be best for all three "Souris Loop Refuges" should go through the CCP at the same time since we have so many similarities and planners could work on the refuges at the same time.

Figure 3. Project Leader Giese with Planner Toni Griffin

~~~~~at the "Rose Colored Glasses" mmamima•CCP planning meeting. 6/02 DJS

Figure 2 . A group working on Souris River refuges CCP. planning. 6/02 DJS

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Received a copy of the approved acquisition boundary for the Des Lacs NWR from the Regional Realty Office in July and the boundary is much larger than we previously had thought.

PL Giese attended required CCP training in Portland in September and Refuge Manager Severson and Biologist Rubin attended the same training in November at NCTC.

Commented on draft Workplan for the CCP in October and also scheduled dates for Vision and Goals Planning and Public Scoping for January and February 2003.

Biologist Murphy attended a Biological Resources planning meeting with BRD on November 12 to discuss BRD's role in helping the refuges set goals and objectives and to assist in the development of a sound biological plan.

2. Management Plan

Des Lacs 2002 Water Management Plan/2001 Water Management Report was completed and forwarded to RO for approval in February.

Fire Management Plan revised to meet standards for the National Fire Plan was finally received back from the RO in April. Efforts will begin this spring to update the plan in full based on it's five year anniversary.

4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates

Tier II Hazardous Substances report completed and sent to State, County and local Emergency Response Coordinators.

A Compatibility Determination was completed for Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative wanting to install underground electrical lines across the Upper Des Lacs Lake and sent to the RO for approval on November 27. We received back a signed CD and provided that information and a SUP to Burke-Divide Coop in December. It is still unknown when they plan on actually proceeding with the project.

5. Research and Investigations

The Des Lacs Ecological Monitoring program was expanded to continue to collect needed information to complete the Comprehensive Conservation Plan which was started early in 2002 rather than as originally scheduled for 2005. Funds for the project are provided through RONS at $68K annually for four years.

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A research presentation entitled, Grassland songbird productivity in degraded mixed­grass prairie in northwestern North Dakota, co-authored by C. Rubin, R. Murphy, and M. Ryan was accepted for oral presentation at the 5th Annual Wildlife Society Meeting in Bismarck, ND in September, 2002. Rubin also submitted a news release article to Fish & Wildlife News entitled, "Little Birds on the Prairie". Biotech hiring for the 2002 field season at Des Lacs was completed and graduate student Courtney Kerns (University ofMissouri­Columbia) arrived at headquarters on April 30.

A Challenge Cost Share Agreement between Des Lacs and University of North Dakota was approved by the Regional Office in January. Professor Rick Sweitzer, Biologist Rubin, and a graduate student will coordinate the project entitled, "Impact of Refuge Habitat Management on the Abundance of Small Vertebrate Predators of Grassland Songbird Nests in North Dakota." The 2001-02 Challenge Cost Share Agreement with cooperators Montana State University and North Dakota State University entitled, "Effects of Fire on Weed Invasion in Mixed Grass Prairie" is currently in the analysis phase and a report should be completed by Post-doc Jennifer Rubin on schedule by April 30.

Biologist C. Rubin and D. Gins resumed sharp-tailed grouse counts this April after a ten-year hiatus. It was difficult to ascertain the relative status of grouse on the refuge given the lack of recent comparative data and that new leks have yet to be discovered, or the older leks have moved. In 2002, only 16 leks were located on five mornings. We are planning on continuing with grouse lek counts again as an annual spring tradition at Des Lacs NWR.

Two separate studies were initiated during the 2002 field season to investigate nest success and nest-site selection of grassland nesting birds at Des Lacs NWR. Biologist Cory Rubin led an on-going investigation of nesting grassland birds in native prairie habitat within HB­units. University of Missouri, Columbia Master's student Courtney Kerns started a companion study looking at the effects of grazing on grassland nesting birds. Rotation grazing cells were set up in units HB-2, 3, 4 and 5 with control pastures with no grazing adjacent. Study units were also utilized on Lostwood NWR (Green Needle unit) and at Coteau Prairie WP A (Lostwood WMD) for additional comparison sites.

Another facet of the Des Lacs Ecological Monitoring was for duck nest searching in DNC fields. Severson conducted the searches assisted by several others including Biologists Murphy and Rubin and Biological Technicians Randy Smith and Camille Kerschner. Eleven randomly selected DNC units totaling approximately 637 acres. DNC fields were searched with a two-person crew, using a chain-drag method with all-terrain vehicles (ATVs); with three searches in each field. Information collected at each nest included species, visit date, number of eggs, incubation stage, fate (successful, destroyed, abandoned, unknown), and cause of nesting failure if known. Two random Robel pole surveys were completed in each unit in May and again in early July. Vegetation composition surveys were not done as they were in 2001 because the vegetation is so similar across the units as they have all been planted with similar vegetation. All nests were marked with a single 1-cm dia. x 1-m fiberglass pole, located lm to the north, plotted with a GPS, and Robel pole measurements taken.

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Final analysis of nesting ducks will be completed after the 2003 study year. Preliminary indications show fewer duck nests (106) and less diversity of nesting ducks (four species) was found in 2002 compared to 2003. But Mayfield nesting success increased to 21 % compared to 14.5% in 2001. Skunks and badgers were the most prevalent predators in DNC fields with each taking about 26% of the nests and red fox about 14%.

Figure 4. It is always great to see a successful nest hatching out as these mallards were found. 6 / 2002. DJS

to many nests one

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Figure 5. Many sharp-tailed grouse nests were found in DNC fields in 2002. 5 / 2002. DJS

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A Joint Fire Science proposal grant was written by Des Lacs NWR Biologist Murphy in collaboration with J. Clark Salyer NWR Biologist Grant and Medicine Lake NWR Biologist Madden. The proposal is titled "Prescribed fire for fuel reduction in northern mixed grass prairie influence on habitat and population dynamics of indigenous wildlife". The project objectives are 1) Document effects of recent prescribed fire on productivity of grassland passerines and upland-nesting ducks in examples of northern mixed grass prairie characteristic ofNWR's, and compare to control areas; 2) Assess extent of predation and parasitism of nests of grassland passerines on recently prescribe-burned and control areas; 3) Quantify and compare small mammal composition and abundance on recently prescribe­burned and control areas; 4) Compare vegetation composition, structure, and biomass on recently prescribe-burned and control areas, and establish basis for long-term monitoring; 5) Quantify nest site habitat of nesting birds, and compare to composition and structure of available habitat on recently prescribe-burned and control areas; 6) Use Geographic Information Systems to assess the influence of firebreaks and major sources of woody fuels, which are primary targets of prescribed fire, on grassland passerine productivity and nest distribution by examining relationships of edge and landscape composition; and 7) For land managers, provide basic fire effects models and similar predictive tools supported by the findings, and synthesize relevant literature. The project was approved with a budget of$80K annually for 2002-03 for work on Des Lacs, Upper Souris, and J. Clark Salyer NWR's.

A Joint Fire Science Program grant was approved for funding in 2002 by Biologist Rubin working with Dr. Tad Weaver, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT. Dr Jennifer Hartz­Rubin is the lead field investigator with the work being done on both the Des Lacs and Lostwood NWR's and will be completed in 2004 with a total budget of$I 70K. Project is titled "Effects of prescribed fire on the invasion of northern mixed-grass prairie by non­native plant species: implications for restoration of an endangered ecosystem." The objectives are to 1) determine the effectiveness of current management practices using prescribed fire and interacting factors (e.g., grazing, seasonality, and abiotic factors) and 2) develop biologically-based prescribed fire management regimes specific to cool-season dominated prairies in the northern Great Plains to reduce invasions of weedy species, while promoting native grassland species. The research will extend from May 1, 2002 - August 31, 2004 and build on a 2001 study led by J. S. Rubin at Lostwood NWR, expanding to Des Lacs NWR.

Work in 2002 was primarily on Lostwood NWR, finishing work that started in 2001. At Des Lacs, plots were randomly selected under various management conditions from no grazing and burning, to grazed only, burned only, and grazed and burned sites. Wendy Owen was hired by Dr. Hartz-Rubin to assist with the study in 2002.

Another ongoing project has been work with breeding Cooper's hawks on the refuge by Biologist Murphy and Mel Nenneman who previously worked here, at Northern Prairie WRC, and at other refuges in the state. One paper was published from work over the past several years and include the basic breeding biology and habitat selection by Cooper's on Des Lacs NWR and the Souris basin:

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Figure 7. Another clay-colored sparrow nest in snowberry as they are very abundant in the woody prairie areas. 6/2002 CR

Figure 8. Nests were marked with flags on each side. Typical western snowberry dominated prairie site. 6/2002 CR

Figure 9. Crew searching for nests dragging the weighted rope across the prairie. 6/2002 CR

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Vegetation mapping continued in several study units in September, mapping brush and trees using the Trimble GPS. Biologist Rubin attended the annual meeting of The Wildlife Society held in Bismarck, ND, September 24-28. Rubin presented two years results of the refuge's grassland bird study. His presentation was entitled, "Grassland songbird productivity in degraded mixed-grass prairie in northwestern North Dakota."

In October work continued on producing a GIS map of the refuge. Biologist Rubin began digitizing refuge roads using the Trimble GPS. Rubin and Mark Ely (Cartographer, R6, Division of Planning, USFWS) worked together to produce more user friendly DOQQs of the refuge and surrounding area. We now have one combined DOQQ that covers the entire refuge rather than 12 different maps. Biologist Rubin completed summarizing biological data collected during the 2002 field season at Des Lacs in December. Rubin is currently in the process of compiling a report on the 2001 and 2002 field seasons.

Complex Biologist Murphy and others on the staff have published papers on many topics during the past year. The following list are publications in print and in review. Murphy is continuing to focus on completing reports and publications from the many years of research completed and ongoing at the refuges in the Complex.

Madden, E. M., R. K. Murphy, A. J. Hansen, and L. Murray. 2000. Models for guiding management of northern prairie bird habitat in northwestern North Dakota. Am. Midl. Nat. 144:377-392.

Murphy, R. K., M. J. Rabenberg, M. L. Sondreal, B. R. Casler, and D. A. Guenther. 2000. Reproductive success of piping plovers on alkali lakes in North Dakota and Montana. Prairie Nat. 32:233-242.

Meehan, T. D., C. A. Lott, Z. D. Sharp, R. B. Smith, R. N. Rosenfield, A. C. Stewart, and R. K. Murphy. 2001. Using hydrogen isotope geochemistry to estimate the natal latitudes of immature Cooper's hawks migrating through the Florida Keys. Condor 103:11-20.

Buskness, N. A., R. K. Murphy, K. F. Higgins, and J. Jenks. 2001. Breeding bird abundance and habitat on two livestock grazing regimes in North Dakota. Proc. South Dakota Acad. Sci. 80:241-252.

Knetter, J. M., R. K. Murphy, and R. S. Lutz. 2001. Initial movements of juvenile piping plovers, Charadrius melodus, from natal areas in northwestern North Dakota. Can. Field-Nat. 115: In Press.

Murphy, R. K., K. W. Hasselblad, C. D. Grondahl, J. G. Sidle, R. E. Martin, and D. W. Freed. 2001. Status of the burrowing owl in North Dakota. J. Raptor Res. 35:In Press.

Casler, B. R. and R. K. Murphy. 2001. Badger removes egg from island in prairie alkali lake. Prairie Nat. 33:In Press.

Murphy, R. K., B. R. Casler, K. A. Smith, and D. P. Althoff. 2002. Reproduction and spacing of piping plovers breeding at high density at Appam Lake, North Dakota. Wilson Bull. 114:In Press.

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Larson, M. A., M. R. Ryan, and R. K. Murphy. 2002. Population viability of piping plovers: effects of predator exclusion. J. Wildl. Manage. 66:In Press.

Nenneman, M. P., R. K. Murphy, and T. A. Grant. 2002. Cooper's hawks, Accipiter cooperii, successfully nest at high densities in the northern Great Plains. Canadian Field­Naturalist 116:580-584.

Nenneman, M. P., T. A. Grant, M. L. Sondreal, and R. K. Murphy. Pending. Nesting habitat of Cooper's hawks in northern Great Plains woodlands. J oumal of Rap tor Research in press.

Rosenfield, R. N., J. Bielefeldt, L. J. Rosenfield, S. J. Taft, R. K. Murphy, and A. C. Stewart. In Review. Prevalence ofTrichomonas gallinae in nestling Cooper's hawks among three North American populations.

Murphy, R. K., I. M. G. Michaud, D .. R. C. Prescott, B. J. Anderson, M. L. French. In Review. Depredations of adult piping plovers at predator ex closure cages.

Murphy, R. K., R. J. Greenwood, K. A. Smith, and J. Ivan. In Review. Effect of predator barrier fences on reproductive success of piping plovers in the northern Great Plains.

Larson, M.A., M. R. Ryan, and R. K. Murphy. In Review. Linking optimization and simulation to assess endangered species recovery feasibility: a Great Plains piping plover

·example.

Knetter, J.M., R. S. Lutz, J. R. Cary, and R. K. Murphy. In Review. Relationship of landscape and avian predator occurrence to piping plover productivity on Great Plains alkali lakes.

Murphy, R. K. and M. L. Sondreal. In Review. Breeding birds of the upper Des Lacs River valley, North Dakota: abundance and habitat associations.

Danley, R. F., R. K. Murphy, E. M. Madden, and K. A. Smith. In Review. Species diversity and habitat of grassland songbirds during grazing of prescribe-burned, mixed-grass prairie.

Zimmerman, A. L., M.A. Sovada, T. L. Kessler, and R. K. Murphy. In Review. Redhead nest parasitism on artificial nesting islands in northwestern North Dakota.

Grant, T. A., E. M. Madden, R. K. Murphy, K. A. Smith, and M. P. Nenneman. In Review. A restoration-based approach for rapidly assessing composition of northern prairie vegetation.

Theses and dissertations:

Knetter, J.M. 2001. Relationship of landscape and avian predator communities to piping plover productivity on Great Plains landscapes. M.S. thesis, Univ. Wisconsin, Madison. pp.

Larson, M. A. 2001. Modeling optimal management strategies for piping plovers in the Great Plains. Ph.D. thesis, Univ. Missouri, Columbia. 94pp.

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Popular articles:

Murphy, R. K. 2000. Joint Venture aids imperiled plover. Waterfowl 2000 13(1):23.

Anonymous. 2000. Partnership protects piping plover. Am. Bird Conservancy, Bird Calls, June, 6.

Frerichs, T. 2001. To convert or not to convert, that is the question. Birdscapes, spring­summer:31.

6. Other

Planning for the new office addition got started the week of January 8 when staff met with the contracted Architect and Engineering Team. Priorities were established and preliminary designs were drawn and redrawn during the week. George Newland, R6 Engineering was the facilitator with Robert Preccia and Associates (Helena, MT) as the lead Engineering firm. The Architect firm is Anderson Mason Dale (Denver, CO) and the Mechanical/Electrical Engineering firm is Associated Construction Engineering, (Bozeman, MT). Fifty percent review of plans was scheduled for March 1.

Geo-Technical work completed on January 17 by Maxon Tech, Billings, MT., for new office addition. Holes were drilled and dug with backhoe at foundation site.

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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel

DES LACS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE STAFF 1. Dan Severson, Refuge Manager GS-13 2. David Gins, Eng. Equip. Operator WG-10 3. Duane Dockter, Maintenance Worker WG-08

Des Lacs NWR Complex Staff

Fred G. Giese, Project Leader, GS-14 Dan Severson, Dep Project Leader, GS-13 Edith Goettle, Admin. Support Asst., GS-06 Janet Leet, Office Automation Asst., GS-04 Robert Murphy, Biologist, GS-12 David Walker, Fire Mgmt Officer, GS-11 David Gins, Maintenance Worker, WG-10 Duane Dockter, Maintenance Worker, WG-08 Karen A. Smith, Refuge Manager, GS-12

(Retired 6/1/2002)

PFT PFT PFT

Complex H.Q. Complex H.Q. Complex H.Q. Complex H.Q. Complex H.Q. Complex H.Q. Des Lacs NWR Des Lacs NWR Lostwood NWR

10. Stacy Whipp, (Adolf)Refuge Oper. Spec, GS-9 Des Lacs NWR (Transferred 5/4/2002)

11. Ken Maruskie, Maintenance Worker, WG-9 12. Tim Kessler, Refuge Operations Spec., GS-12 13. Toby Placek, Biological Technician, GS-07 14. Monte Ellingson, Wildlife Biologist GS-09

(Private Lands) 15. Todd Frerichs, Refuge Oper. Spec., GS-11 16. JB Bright, Biol. Technician, GS-6

(EOD 3/11/02) (Private Lands) 17. Chad Zorn, Biol. Tech., GS-05

(5/06/02-7/28/02)

Lostwood NWR Crosby WMD Crosby WMD Crosby WMD

Lostwood WMD Lostwood WMD

Lostwood WMD

17a.Chad Zorn, Refuge Oper Spec. (Trainee) GS-5 Des Lacs NWR EOD 7/29/02

18. Doug Downs, Lead Range Tech. (Fire) GS-7 (Transferred 7/29/2002}

19. Calvin Moldenhauer, Pres. Fire Spec. GS-9 20. Cory Rubin, Wildlife Biologist(Term) GS-9 21. Corey Carstens, CS Range Tech. (Fire),GS-05 22. Shane Martin, CS Range Tech. (Fire),GS-05 23. Mardell Dahlin, CS Range Tech. (Dispatch),

GS-03 EOD 10/01/01

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Seasonals 24. Camille Kerschner Biol. Tech., GS-4

(5/5/02-??/??/02) 25. Curtis Golde, Biol. Tech, GS-2

(5/20/02-8/23/02) 26. Jim Derrig, Biol. Tech, GS-5

(5/20/02-8/9/02) 27. Tim Ludwick, Biol. Tech, GS-3

(5/20/02-8/9/02) 28. McKenzie Graft, Biol. Tech, GS-3

(5/20/02-9/20/02) 29. Joelle Hansen Biol. Tech, GS-2

(5/20/02-8/9/02) 30. Renae Van Berkom, Biol. Tech, GS-2

(5/20/02-7/23/02) 31. Eric Menear, Range. Tech, GS-4

(5/20/02-8/9/02) 32. Josh Rider, Range. Tech, GS-2

(6/3/02-7/29/02) 33. Cory Lawson, Biol. Tech., GS-03

(5/20/02-8/23/02) 34. Chris Kringstad, Biol. Tech., GS-02

(5/20/02-8/9/02) 35. Gary Summerfield, Range Tech. (Fire) ,GS-05

(4/08/02-10/04/02) 36. Todd Wanner, Range. Tech., (Fire) ,GS-03

(4/08/02-10/04/02) 37. Jason Melin, Range Tech. (Fire), GS-04

(4/08/02-10/04/02) 38. JD Hanson, Range. Tech., (Fire), GS-04

(4/15/02-9/6/02) 39. Brandon Biwer, Range Tech. (Fire),GS-02

(6/08/02-08/23/02) 40. Doug Preskey, Range Tech. (Fire),GS-03

(6/10/02-06/26/02) 41. Josh Martin, Range Tech. (Fire) ,GS-03

(6/03/02-09/27/02) 42. Todd Stockwell, Range Tech. (Fire),GS-03

(5/20/02-08/23/02) 43. Jared Ross, Range Tech. (Fire) ,GS-03

(6/18/01-8/17/01) 44. Derrick Ramsdell, YCC

(6/3/02-8/23/02) 45. Brock Zietz, YCC

(6/3/02-8/23/02) .46. Josh Hanson, YCC

(6/3/02-8/23/02)

Other Employees working in Complex

Des Lacs NWR

Des Lacs NWR

Des Lacs NWR

Des Lacs NWR

Des Lacs NWR

Des Lacs NWR

Des Lacs NWR

Lostwood WMD

Lostwood WMD

Lostwood WMD

Crosby WMD

Complex

Complex

Complex

Complex

Complex

Complex

Complex

Complex

Complex

Des Lacs NWR

Des Lacs NWR

Lostwood NWR

47. Courtney Kerns, Master's Student, Univ of Missouri Des Lacs NWR

. (5/6/02-8/9/02)

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48. Randy Smith, Biol. Tech, Univ of Missouri Des Lacs NWR (5 / 20 / 02-8 / 9 / 02)

49. Jennifer Hartz-Rubin, Univ of Montana, Joint Fire Science 5 / 6 / 02-12 / 31 / 02)

50 Wendy Owen, Univ of Montana, Joint Fire Science 5 /2 0 / 02-8 / 23 / 02)

51. Jake Ivan, The Nature Conservancy, Piping Plover Coordinator 52. Ken MacDonald, Ducks Unlimited, Private Lands Biologist

Figure 10. Front row, L-R. Mardell Dahlin, Jason Melin, Gary Summerfield, Janet Leet, Dave Gins, Duane Dockter, Shane Martin , Dave Walker, Cory Rubin, Edie Goettle, Fred Giese, Camille Kerschner; Back row, L-R, Dan Severson, Chad Zorn , Honker, Cal Moldenhauer, Corey Carstens. 6 / 2002

We were still unable to fill the Maintenance Worker position at Lostwood WMD vacated by Lowell Vaage in 1994.

Monte Ellingson, Private Lands Biologist (Crosby WMD) was converted from a Biological Technician GS-7 to the Wildlife Biologist series on January 27. He was later promoted to GS-9 on June 16.

JB Bright also changed from a term Biological Technician to permanent full-time Biological Technician position at Lostwood WMD in March.

The Complex organization chart was updated and approved to reflect minimum staffing needs in February.

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Career seasonal Range Tech Martin was on two-week furlough February 10-23. CS Range Tech Carstens was furloughed March 3-16. Dispatcher Dahlin officially returned to work for the season on March 25 though she worked sporadically during the winter as needed. FMO Walker was designated the Acting Zone FMO for ND/SD on a NTE 120 day appointment as GS-12.

Biological and Range Technicians were hired during March and the certificates were exhausted before we filled all the positions we needed for biological monitoring, fencing, piping plover monitoring. All the needs for Range Techs for fire were filled. Additional beating of the bushes was done and we were able to come up with enough people to hire for the summer.

The biological monitoring crew of technicians started in May. Camille Kerschner started on May 6, along with Univ. of Missouri-Graduate Student Courtney Kerns. Technicians Derrig, Golde, Ludwick, and Graft all started on May 20 along with Univ of Missouri hired Technician Randy Smith.

Biological Technicians hired to work with piping plover recovery efforts were Cory Lawson, Joelle Hansen and Chris Kringstad and they all worked under the supervision of plover coordinator Jake Ivan. They started on May 20 and worked through early August.

Range Technicians Melin, Summerfield and Wanner returned to work on April 8. Range Tech Hansen returned on April 15. Firefighters Todd Stockwell and Jared Ross returned and started work on May 13 with Josh Martin returning to start on June 3.

Two Range Technicians Eric Menear and Josh Rider were hired with maintenance funding to work on fencing and signing projects for the summer. Menear started on May 6 and Rider on June 3 with both leaving early during the summer with many projects left to complete. After Zorn was hired as the Refuge Operations Specialist (Trainee), funds were available to keep Biological Technician Kerschner hired on and she began working on signing and fencing starting August 12.

Refuge Operations Specialist Trainee Stacy Whipp transferred to Arrowwood WMD as the Wetland District Manager in May after spending almost 4 years at the Des Lacs Complex.

Karen Smith, Lostwood NWR Refuge Manager for over 22 years retired on Junel to enjoy life on the outside. She did not move away as she and her husband, Complex Biologist Bob Murphy have a house and land adjacent to the Lostwood refuge where she will put her efforts. There will be a large void at Lostwood as Karen's institutional knowledge of the refuge is not quite as available as before.

Lead Range Technician (Fire) Doug Downs transferred to the Northern Black Hills Ranger District and the US Forest Service leaving here on July 26 to take the Asst. FMO position. Doug started here two years ago on July 31, 2000. The position will be filled as a Fire Program Technician, GS 6/7, and will be the fire operations supervisor for the seasonal fire

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staff at the refuge.

Chad Zorn was hired as the new Refuge Operations Specialist, Trainee and started work at Des Lacs on July 29. Chad had worked several years as a Biological Technician at Lostwood WMD and also with Ducks Unlimited during the past two winters on the easement acquisition program.

We have two employees that are also in the National Guard. Prescribed Fire Specialist Cal Moldenhauer served a 17 day stint in Nicaragua with his ARNO Quartermaster unit from January 17 through February 3. Seasonal Range Technician Todd Wanner spent two 2-week tours with the National Guard in 2002. The first was in May and he went again July 21-August 4 to train for a different job.

As fast as the temporary Bio Techs and Range Techs showed up in May and June, they left as quickly in August. Bio Techs Kringstad (plovers), Derrig, Ludwick, and Smith all left on August 9. Range Tech firefighters also left with Stockwell and Biwer ending August 21 and Hanson on August 22. Bio Techs Golde and Lawson worked until August 23.

Our last seasonal Bio Tech Camille Kershner's last day was November 1. She completed the signing work on the refuge.

Administrative Assistant Edith Goettle took an early retirement on November 1. We attempted to get the position filled as soon as possible with the GS-7 job opening on November 25 and it closed on December 5 with over 60 applications received. Hiring will be completed in mid-January. Thanks to personnel and others for getting this important position opened so quickly. Dispatcher Dahlin was called back to work to help fill in with administrative duties until the new administrative officer is hired.

Hiring will also be completed in early January for the Lostwood WMD Biological Technician (Private Lands) and for the Fire Program Tech for the Des Lacs Complex. Paperwork was submitted to start the hiring process for the Lostwood NWR Refuge Manager, GS-11/12. The seasonal Biological Tech and Range Tech positions were also open in December.

2. Youth Program

Two YCC workers were hired at Des Lacs NWR this year. Derrick Ramsdell and Brock Zeitz of Kenmare worked 10 weeks during the summer from June 4 through August 23. Derrick and Brock worked hard on a variety of projects, including vegetation sampling, grounds maintenance and many days spent on leafy spurge control by collecting and spreading flea beetles. We once again had excellent young people in our YCC program and got a lot of valuable work done. The 2002 YCC report was completed and sent to RO.

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4. Volunteer Program

Seasonal Range Technician Melin, while currently laid off, volunteered for 6 days to travel to Houston, Texas, to pick up excess travel trailers from FEMA. CS Range Technician Martin volunteered for one week to attend Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation training during his furlough period.

Volunteers and Goosefest placed 70 flax bales for goose nesting on the refuge at the end of February. Goosefest bought the bales and 8 volunteers banded the bales in the fall before hauling them to the refuge and waiting for cold weather and good ice to place them. The bales were placed in the following units: 8 in Unit 2, 8 in Unit 3, 6 in Unit 4, 6 in Unit 4a, 18 in Unit 6, 18 in Unit 7 and 6 in Unit 8. Sixty-four hours by nine volunteers were donated to the refuge. Ten additional bales were given to three private landowners to place on their own wetlands.

Many of the volunteers worked on various research projects in the Complex with most work done on grassland bird nesting research on Lostwood and Des Lacs NWR' s.

Twenty-eight refuge volunteers contributed over 4000 hours for the Complex in 2002.

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5. Funding

Specific funding activities for Des Lacs NWR are not available. All funding is administered through the Des Lacs NWR Complex. The budget for the Complex is shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2. FUNDING LEVELS FOR DES LACS NWR COMPLEX FOR 1998-2002.

FY BASE MMS FIRE MISC1 EXPENSE YCC QTRS2 TOTAL O&M FOR

SALES

2002 866.6 764.2 794.1 337.9 18.5 5.4 21.8 2,808.5

2001 1,077.93 417.9 440.6 177.3 18.5 5.1 4.5 2,141.8

2000 864.1 283.4 390.3 73.2 17.0 3.0 5.6 1,636.6

99 720.8 263 259.8 128.7 18.7 4.0 8.5 1,403.5

98 635.3 153 202.7 119.4 18.7 5.7 4.9 1,121.9

1 EXTENSION 1121-64.SK; MIG BIRDS 1231-4.0K; CHALLENGE COST SHARE- 1261-8.4K; VOLUNTEER-1261-0.0K; JOINT FIRE SCIENCE 1971- 193.0K; RONS 1261-68.0K 2ESTIMATE 3ln thousands of$

The Des Lacs Complex was selected for the KPMG audit and all required questionnaires and paperwork were submitted in July.

Updates for 2003 Maintenance Management System (MMS) and Refuge Operations Needs System (RONS) were completed online in May and June in the RMIS module.

Included in the 1261 funds, were RONS project specific funds. These include piping plover recovery ($42.0K) in NW No'rth Dakota and Montana, including the Audubon and Medicine Lake NWR Complexes. The funds were used to hire a plover coordinator (Jake Ivan) through an agreement with The Nature Conservancy TNC), and also hire five Biological Technicians with three in the Des Lacs Complex and one each at Audubon and Medicine NWRs. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) also hired technicians and the ND Game and Fish Department (NDGFD) provided additional funds. Other RONS funds were $68K for Des Lacs Ecological Monitoring. Term Biologist Rubin was hired and a Cooperative Agreement with University of Missouri for $16.2K was used to hire seasonals matched by additional money from the University.

MMS deferred maintenance funding was a big source of money for FY02. The Des Lacs HQ office replacement was $483K, three pickup trucks were ordered, one each for maintenance

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at Des Lacs, Lostwood NWR and Lostwood WMD totaling $78.0K. In addition a replacement 1 O' JD HXl O mower was purchased at Des Lacs NWR for $6.0K.

Annual maintenance funds of$ l 26.5K was received and used for two temporary range techs that primarily worked on fencing and signing in the Lostwood WMD, but also worked on the other stations in the Complex, and equipment and vehicle maintenance. By RO directive, fuel costs were paid out of annual MMS funds in 2002. Annual maintenance funding was also used to replace seven overhead 25 year old fiberglass doors on the Des Lacs cold storage building for $6.0K, put a cab enclosure on the Bobcat for $2.5K, and several other smaller projects.

A new engine ($31.0K) chassis, Ford F550 was ordered and received as a replacement engine for the Lostwood WMD and Model 52 package ($13.6K) was ordered. Also ordered was a flatbed from Prairie Truck, Minot. Unfortunately when the truck was received, we took it to Prairie Truck, and several days later they became aware the truck chassis was missing from their yard and it was determined stolen. The vehicle was never recovered and their insurance company finally covered the loss and they bought us a new F550 chassis for us in 2003.

Joint Fire Science Grant monies of $40.0K (1971 funding) were used to hire seasonal biological technicians to work on the grassland bird nesting study at Des Lacs and J. Clark Salyer NWR's under the coordination of Biologist Murphy and Biologist Todd Grant at Salyer.

The Des Lacs Complex again received funds to hire additional temporary fire personnel. Fire funded FTE's remained stable at 7.5. Nine seasonal Range Technicians were hired through 9263 funding and two career seasonal Range Technicians. Fire funds now come in two categories, 9251 for wildfire preparedness and 9263 for prescribed burning for initial fund target. In FY02 all the salary funding came in 9263 instead of some being split into 9251. Initial fund targets for 9251 were $96.3K with 0.0 FTE's, and it was broken out by equipment ($57.3K) and support ($39.0K) funding. 9263 base funding for prescribed burning was $278.3K with 7.5 FTE's. The 9263 and 9264 Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) funds are deficit spent as prescribed bums are prepared and the bums conducted, and additional funds are spent for training and travel with funding through the RO and wildfire suppression (9261). Total funding spent in FY 02 was $794.lK because of end of year funding for a new Type 4 fire engine with wetlining capability to replace the 2000 gal wetliner that was destroyed in an accident. The engine was ordered through GSA contract to S&S Inc for $165.0K. Additional wildfire suppression funding was spent on interagency assists during the wildfire season for $173 .2K, and $11.0K was spent on a WUI 9264 project to fence for grazing a portion ofHB-24 between the Northern Plains Railroad and the city of Kenmare to reduce hazardous fuels.

Funds were received for the private lands program (1121) to hire one Private Lands Biologist and one Biological Technician in FY02, and Biologist Ellingson continued working at Crosby WMD, and JB Bright at Lostwood WMD until he took a job at Morris WMD as Refuge Operations Specialist.

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We received no volunteer funding in 2002. Even though we had 28 volunteers contribute 4000 hours and we continue to spend $4-5K annually on the program we still receive little to no volunteer funding.

6. Safety

Residence and bunkhouse were tested for lead-based paint on September 10 by Allstate Services Environmental through a regional contract with a report issued showing some lead paint in Quarters 4.

Radon testing revealed higher than normal levels of radon in the Quarters 4 residence at Des Lacs. Various abatement techniques were reviewed and a certified radon abatement specialist (HiRad Inc, Williston, ND) was awarded a contract for $1800 in November 2001 to put in a sub-slab ventilation system in Quarters 4 to reduce radon levels below 4.0 pc/1. The system was installed in March 2002 and retesting showed only low and acceptable levels of radon.

Fire extinguisher check and certification was completed by Dakota Fire Extinguishers, Minot in March.

7. Technical Assistance

Severson talked turkey with a biologist with the National Wild Turkey Federation and local chapter chairman on September 25 and gave them a tour of the refuge. That same night Zorn attended a turkey meeting in Surrey to meet and discuss turkeys in the Souris Basin.

8. Other

Integrated Pest Management (1PM) reports for the Complex were completed and submitted in January. The Universal Crime Report was completed for CY 2002.

Water Management Plan and Report were completed and submitted to RO in February. 1PM report was completed and some of the Pesticide Use Proposals for the Complex were completed.

Completed 2002 Management Activities Report and sent to Bismarck WHO. Refuge Management Information System (RMIS) refuge profile was updated and Public Use Report completed and sent to RO. Completed and submitted reports to RO on Boy/Girl Scouts, and LE incidents. Validation of the Real Property Inventory was completed on the web in August for the Complex.

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In September the FY02 Refuge Comprehensive Accomplishment Report (RCAR) for the Complex was completed, along with the Public Use Report for 2002.

We received another travel trailer from FEMA located in Houston TX. Dockter and Stockwell traveled during the week of August 13-17 to retrieve the brand new trailer for use at Lostwood NWR.

a. Training and Meetings

Quarterly Complex staff meetings were held in early January and April at Des Lacs, Lostwood on July 10 and in October in Crosby.

Downs completed S-490, Advanced Fire Behavior in Missoula, MT the week of January 13. Downs taught S-234, Ignition Techniques at Devils Lake, ND the week of January 28.

Severson attended annual LE Refresher in Marana, AZ, the week of January 23-29.

Rubin, Adolf-Whipp, and Smith attended the National GIS Workshop at NCTC the week of January 22. Adolf-Whipp made a presentation on vegetation mapping at the conference.

Dahlin attended Incident Qualification and Certification System training as well as Intro to the National Fire Danger Rating System in Billings, MT the week of January 28.

Giese attended NA WCA-NCPIII meeting at Lostwood WMD on February 8.

Giese, Kessler, Frerichs and Whipp attended the ND Project Leaders Meeting in Grand Forks, ND, February 11-13, and also the following ND TWS meetings, February 13-15. Biologist Murphy also attended the ND TWS meetings.

The spring FMO meeting was held at Spearfish, SD on February 25-28, with Walker, Downs and Moldenhauer attending.

Severson attended Inland Oil and Chemical Spill Response training at NCTC February 11-15.

Career Seasonal Range Techs S. Martin and C. Carstens attended Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation training at Rapid City, SD February 11-15. FMO Walker instructed at the same course.

Dockter attended Water System training and certification in Bismarck on March 4-6, so we now meet requirements to operate our domestic water system.

Range Tech Shane Martin attended the Prescribed Fire School in Florida for three weeks, March 3-23. He worked on 11 prescribed fires and nearly completed two task books.

Walker attended Operations Section Chief training in Missoula, MT, March 4-7.

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Range Tech Jason Melin attended S-390 Fire Behavior in Billings MT, March 18-22.

Walker attended the National Weather Service spring coordination meeting and the ND Rural Fire Assistance Grant Review meeting in Bismarck on March 181h.

Walker attended the ND Fire Council meeting in Bismarck, March 19-20 and the Executive Committee meeting on the 21 81

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Walker attended the Incident Management Team coordination meeting in Billings, MT, March 25-29. Dave will again serve as Division Supervisor on Chris Hoffs Type II team.

Giese, Severson, Whipp attended the Easement Enforcement meeting in Bismarck on March 19-20.

Giese and Danley attended Centennial Planning Meeting at Audubon NWR on April 9.

Piping plover planning meeting held on April 4 at Des Lacs to discuss RD presentation. Plover coordinator Ivan, Giese, Severson, Murphy, Kreil, Rubin attended. Giese traveled to Denver for the week of April 14-19, and worked on the office expansion project, piping plovers and many other meetings in the RO. A presentation was made by Ivan and Giese to the regional directorate on piping plover funding needs on April 17 in Denver.

Giese met with the ND congressional aide on April 22 with other refuge project leaders to raise awareness of the refuge system.

Frerichs and Giese attended a Wind Energy Meeting in Ross, ND on May 1.

Menear, Kerschner and Kadrmas completed ATV certification training at Upper Souris NWR on May 15. Biwer and Rider completed same ATV training on May 31. Thanks to Volunteer Dave Leslie for this valuable help!

Seasonal employees from Upper Souris and Audubon NWR's were certified on tractors on May 17 by EEO Gins. He also certified several tractor operators at J. Clark Salyer NWR on June 28, and trained and certified tractor operators at Des Lacs in May and June.

Brandon Biwer attended Sl30/190 in Rapid City, SD June 3-7, Mardell Dahlin (CS Dispatcher) and Joshua Rider attended S130/190 in Dickenson, ND June 11-14.

Severson attended Motorboat Operator Certification Course in Minot and Upper Souris NWR June 18-20 for boats and airboats. The lakes are no longer safe! Dockter was an instructor for the course .

Dan Sobieck and Matt Kales, External Affairs visited the Complex on June 12-13 and a picnic at Tasker's Coulee was attended by most staff on June 13 to visit with Dan and Matt.

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We entertained distinguished visitors Jean Dennis (RW), Brian Ostenson (CGS), and Bob Dolehide (WO-Budget) on July 15-16 giving them tours of Lostwood WMD/NWR and Des Lacs NWR. It is good to get some of our budget and contracting people to the field to see what we do, and the good that comes from their work for the field. Thanks to Upper Souris for the use of their airboat for a marsh tour by Duane Dockter.

PL Giese participated in the Grassland Tour for landowners and others set up by Todd Frerichs and staff in the Lostwood WMD on July 17.

Giese, Frerichs, Kessler and Zorn attended the joint R3/R6 Wetland Management District meeting at Detroit Lakes, MN August 12-16.

Gins and Dockter attended the Annual Maintenance Workshop at Ft. Niobrara NWR in Valentine, NE the week of August 19.

Giese attended Comprehensive Conservation Planning training in Portland the week of September 9-13.

Severson attended the annual LE requalification/refresher at Upper Souris NWR on August 28.

Zorn and MacDonald attended the Methamphetamine lab training on September 10 and Partners for Wildlife Training on September 10-11.

Giese and Rubin attended the National meeting of The Wildlife Society the week of September 23-28. Rubin presented a paper "Grassland songbird productivity in degraded mixed-grass prairie in northwestern North Dakota." Biologist Murphy collaborated on a poster for the session with Biologist Grant.

FMO Walker attended the Zone Fire Training Committee meeting in Washburn, ND on October 18. He has now ended his membership on the committee after 5 years.

FMO Walker attended the fall ND Fire Council meeting and Executive Board Meeting in Devils Lake Nov 6-8.

Biologist Murphy attended a Biological Resources planning meeting with BRD on November 12 to discuss BRD's role in helping the refuges set goals and objectives and to assist in the development of a sound biological plan.

Severson and Rubin attended the Comprehensive Conservation Planning training at NCTC on November 19-22.

Range Tech Shane Martin served as instructor trainee for S390 November 18-22 in Kansas.

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Project Leader Giese attended the newly formed Dakotas Board of Directors meeting in Jamestown on the 3rd and 4th_ Discussions included the Board's charter and the issues and concerns that would be addressed. Fred also attended a Board of Directors meeting in Bismarck with the HAPET Staff on the 17th. The group reviewed a directive from Rick Coleman to provide justification and results for allocating 30% of the National MBCC acquisition budget to the Dakotas and to develop a strategy for acquisition.

Fire staff Carstens, Martin, Dahlin and Melin attended S-200/281 Incident Commander/Supervisory Concepts & Techniques training in Devils Lake on December 2-5. PFS Moldenhauer instructed several units.

Dahlin attended S-260 Fire Business Management in Rapid City, SD the week of December 16.

Moldenhauer attended S-410, Smoke Management in Missoula, MT the week of December 9.

Sue K vas, Hapet Office provided RLGIS training to Severson, Rubin and Ivan on December 18-19.

Zorn attended NCTC courses of Computer Support for Field Station and GIS Introduction for Conservation Professionals, December 1-20.

FMO Walker attended meeting with National Weather Service to discuss needed changes to the Annual Operating Plan, and desired products and services as a result of the Zones' Fire Weather Working Group meetings this past fall.

b. Asbestos

Gins completed asbestos inspector annual refresher certification training in Bismarck on March 28. No inspections were requested in 2002.

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F. HABIT AT MANAGEMENT

1. General

A wide variety of habitat management tools are used on the Des Lacs NWR to manipulate vegetation. Cattle grazing, haying, prescribed burning, and farming to re-establish dense nesting cover (DNC) are all used annually. Water management for wildlife is difficult due to the relatively steep banks of the deep lakes and poor gravity flow through refuge wetlands. Therefore, water management is mostly determined by runoff amounts in the spring.

Prescribed burning is used on uplands to remove litter and fuel from extremely decadent grasslands, with the goal of improving native prairie by reducing introduced cool season sod­forming grasses such as smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass. Burning is also used to reduce native woody plant dominance (i.e. western snowberry and silverberry) in the grasslands. Prescribed burning in the past was done sporadically and generally only where it was easy to bum. With the increase in fire funding and personnel over the past 6 years, burning more lands repeatedly with an overall long-term plan will help us to meet our goals. Grazing has been used more in the past 13 years to improve grassland vigor and reduce dense mats of dead vegetation.

The Resource Management database was updated to reflect 2002 management activities and plan 2003 habitat management.

2. Wetlands

The main feature of the Des Lacs Refuge is the large lake area formed from the natural riverine topography of the Des Lacs River (see maps). There are six main water units and three major coulee impoundments within the refuge, ranging in size from the 3,000-acre Unit 1 to the 45-acre Niobe impoundment (Unit 3). Most water entering the refuge originates as runoff from surrounding farm and pasture land and is fed into the pools via numerous coulees. The Des Lacs River itself originates from runoff a few miles north in Canada.

All wetlands still frozen over at the end of the month, though some water began flowing on March 27-28 when temperatures reached the low 50's°F.

Giese and Severson met with the Ward County Water Resources Board on March 26 to discuss the Boards continued interest in ways to hold more water on the refuge during spring runoff. They may get money to survey and make a plan of action to help with Upper Des Lacs Lake water management that will also benefit the refuge, by being able to get rid of more water and manage the upper lake at a lower level.

Slow and minimal runoff got started in mid April and ice-out was on April 17. All structures were boarded up early and no water was released downstream. We need all the runoff to refill marsh units for the year. At the end of April all units except Unit 7 were at desired

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levels and a small flow was going into Unit 7. Dike 2 was burned to assist with maintenance on April 26.

Water levels remained steady throughout May except Pool 7 which was raised over .5' to shallow flood the upper end of the Pool. No water was released downstream in an effort to maintain marshes for brood habitat.

After a very warm and dry May with marsh levels slowly receding, good rainfall in June kept marshes and lakes at optimum levels. No water was discharged from the refuge, as we are holding water for broods and the threat of botulism.

Wetland water levels slowly declined through July due to evaporation but remained at good levels. Sago pondweed made excellent growth in July and good substrate for nesting grebes.

Wetland levels remained stable to slightly increasing with the abundant rainfall during August. Began dewatering Unit 8 on August 26 to enable maintenance and repair work on the concrete screwgate structure later on in the fall.

All wetlands froze over on October 23 except for large holes kept open by the birds. After the birds left on October 29-30 all water areas froze over.

Wetlands and lakes remain mostly frozen over during November, but ducks and geese kept small holes open in Units 1, 2, 4 and 7 during the month. Water levels did not change during November. Unit 8 remained dry and structure maintenance and rehab was almost completed except for rebolting of the screw gate and the screw gates closed to catch next years runoff.

All wetlands were frozen over during December except for two small areas of water kept open by some geese. These areas finally froze over on December 6 pushing the last remaining Canada geese south.

Private Lands Technician Kenny MacDonald built nine small dams on the refuge during September using Harris Construction. Dams will provide additional pair habitat and cattle watering to help in the habitat management program. Dams were built in HB-1, 4, 30, 31, 45, 18, 46, and 21.

3. Forests

Des Lacs has an abundance of wooded slopes and coulees. Many upland areas are being taken over by trees, thus reducing the grassland acres and eliminating grassland bird nesting habitat. In an attempt to control forested areas, especially along roads and trails, wood­cutting by permit is allowed, with five woodcutting permits issued in 2002. Encroaching individual trees and sparse copses of trees on slopes are slowly being killed or damaged by prescribed burning.

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4. Croplands

The Des Lacs refuge farming program is used to maintain tame grass (DNC) habitat for upland nesting birds. Des Lacs has 1825 acres of DNC habitat.

Two PNC units continued to be farmed in 2002, A-25 (40 acres) and A-21 (69 acres), with both being planted to wheat.

Two new units were broken out in 2002. Unit A-8 (44 acres) was sprayed to kill leafy spurge with 2, 4-d in June, hayed and then broken out in July by Cooperator Jack Aufforth. Unit A-12(S) field 6 was prescribed burned on April 30 and then broken out by Cooperator Greg Ankenbauer in May. Both fields were then fallowed all summer for weed control.

All cooperators crops were harvested by the end of September.

5. Grasslands

Cool and dry conditions kept grasslands from starting growth during April, with very little greenup occurring, even in grazed and summer burned units by the end of the month. Grassland growth finally began to catch up in June with the rains and warm weather.

The following maps outline habitat management treatments during 2002.

7. Grazing

Des Lacs refuge allowed season-long grazing for many years. Season-long grazing was terminated in the 1970's because of its detrimental effects on waterfowl nesting cover. From 1985-88, little or no grazing occurred on the refuge. Since 1989, limited-term, short-duration grazing has been applied on the refuge. The goals are to improve grassland conditions and keep grasses productive and suitable for ground-nesting birds. Grasslands on the refuge are in need of some type of defoliation treatment, either burning or grazing to keep the grasslands healthy and prevent continued invasion by woody plants, and cool season sod-forming exotic grasses, smooth bromegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. Non-permanent electric fence is being utilized and cattle are generally moved every 1-3 weeks.

Special Use Permits for the coming grazing season were readied in March, with an eye toward the impending drought. Plans were on the conservative side this year because of the lack of moisture and some areas didn't have the water for cattle.

We used six grazing cooperators in 2002, with a research project and other maintenance grazing being used.

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Cooperator Mark Cook moved cattle into HB-22(N) on May 6. Greg Ankenbauer moved cattle into HB-16 on May 24. Early grazing pressure is put on the fast growing smooth bromegrass in the spring.

Grazing for the research project involved two cooperators and four grazing units. Cattle were moved into the research units in HB-2, 4 and 5 on June 1 by Cooperator JR Aufforth. They were rotated every two weeks through three pastures in each of the three study units. Cooperator Asheim began grazing HB-35 on June 7, with two week rotations scheduled. Each study block had a ungrazed control area adjacent.

Cooperator Feldman moved cattle into the refuge in HB-46 on June 12. Three pastures were grazed at the south end of the refuge along with two private pastures in the rotation system. After all the rainfall and rapid regrowth of smooth brome grass, we kept cattle in a few days longer in an attempt to get the grazing intensity we wanted.

Rotation grazing continued in June and July with Cook, Feldman, JR Aufforth and Asheim. G. Ankenbauer moved cattle out ofHB-15 on July 10 and off the refuge after one grazing period. Only grazers in the grassland bird study have two rotations through this year due to the cold late spring and potential lack of regrowth, and grazing was set up conservative this year. Cooperator Durick moved cattle into HB-9(N) on July 15 for two weeks.

The standard grazing charge in 2002 was $10.73/AUM in North Dakota (Table 4).

TABLE 4. GRAZING USE ON DES LACS NWR IN 2002.

COOPERATOR UNITS ACRES AUM'S COST TYPE

R. Feldman HB-19/46 477 338 $2,213.00 150 Cow/calf

G. Ankenbauer HB-15, 16 427 203 $1,964.00 100 Cow/calf

M. Cook HB-22, 23, 719 324 $2,762.52 75 Cow/calf 24,25,26

D. Durick HB-9 70 42 $216.30 35 Cow/calf

JR Aufforth HB-2, 4, 5 692 371 $0.00 106 Cow/calf

LynnAsheim HB-35 963 445 $3,194.00 122 Cow/calf

TOTAL 3,348 1,723 $10,349.82

8. Haying

Five DNC units totaling 254 acres were hayed in 2002 to stimulate alfalfa and tame grasses and remove excessive litter from these nesting fields. Successful bids were accepted from

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$23.00 to $30.00/acre (Table 5). Nine bidders submitted bids. Haying was allowed to start after July 15, Most haying did not take place right after July 15 as most permittees were busy haying or farming which gave any late nesting ducks a little longer to hatch. Hay prices continue to rise every year. DNC field A-10 was bid but not paid nor hayed, and will be deferred to 2003. The bidder also lost his future hay privileges for breach of contract.

TABLE 5. FIELDS HAYED ON DES LACS NWR IN 2002.

FIELD ACRES $/ACRE TOTAL$ COOPERATOR

A-1(2) 44 $27.95 $1,229.80 J. Schoemer

A-7/2 50 $27.00 $1,350.00 Rolf Aufforth

A-6/3 43 $25.00 $1,075.00 Calvin Nelson

A-11 NG 86 $30.00 $2,580.00 J. Duerre

A-88/(1) 31 $23.00 $713.00 D. Folske

TOTALS 254 $6,947.80

9. Fire Management

The departure of Brian McManus from the North Dakota/South Dakota Zone left the zone without a Fire Management Officer (FMO). FMO Walker shared duties with Shane Del Grosso (Huron Wetland Management District) as acting Zone Fire Management Officer during the winter and spring season. Walker also served on Benes' Northern Rockies Type 2 Incident Management Team as a Division Supervisor.

The prescribed burn planning efforts in the Complex continued all year whenever the staff was not in training, on detail, preparing firebreaks or prescribed burning. With the changing burn plan formats and requirements and with the number of burns planned, the planning effort takes a lot of time.

The annual fire refresher was held on March 12 in Kenmare for the Complex and surrounding refuges. A good session was put on by Paul Chamberlin on LCES. Dispatcher Dahlin traveled throughout the state w/ Paul for the week, assisting with the LCES course as scribe and computer operator. An additional fire refresher was held on June 14 for six late arriving firefighters.

The first round of Pack testing occurred on April 23, with a majority of the staff participating.

An upgrade was purchased by the Regional Office Fire program for the Lostwood NWR Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) from Forest Technology Service and installed

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on August 8. The RAWS is now a "GOES" station with satellite connection for real time information. The Haugen WP A RAWS continued to work throughout the year with minor glitches and breakdowns caused by high winds, but repairs were quickly made.

On May 7 FMO Walker conducted a field visit to the Crosby and Lostwood FTS weather stations with Northern Rockies Coordination Center (NRCC) Meteorologist Bruce Thoricht to inspect adequacy, site selection, and develop baseline info for the NRCC meteorologist staff. Both sites were well received and will be used for developing a National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) SIG for the North Dakota Zone.

Walker then put on a one day seminar on May 8 for ND Zone fire staff addressing NFDRS and Weather Information Management System (WIMS). The session was a primer for jump starting the Zone Fire Districts efforts in collecting and capturing daily weather data and entering daily corrections into WIMS as a means of generating historical archives and next day NFDRS indices. Dispatcher Dahlin began WIMS data capture and corrections for the Complex's weather stations in May. This is a first for the Complex and the ND Zone.

FMO Walker hosted a North Dakota Fire Council Fire Weather working group meeting in Kenmare on October 8-9. Fire staff Walker, Moldenhauer, Carstens and Martin attended the ND/SD Zone FMO meeting in Mandan, ND October 15-17. Career seasonals Martin and Carstens were detailed during December to write prescribed burn plans for the Tewaukon, Kulm, Sand Lake and Waubay stations.

The Complex fire staff and collateral duty staff went on many details throughout the year, from helping other refuges with burn plan preparation and conducting burns to interagency wildfire suppression and severity details totaling about 700 working days or 2.7 FTE's.

In January, Career Seasonal Range Techs Martin and Carstens assisted Kirwin NWR with prescribed fire prep work and prescribed burning at Quivira NWR for two weeks. Melin and Carstens detailed to Flint Hills in late February and returned on March 7.

Range Tech Downs was detailed to Fish Springs NWR, UT to serve as RXB2 on a prescribed burn on March 25-28.

Summerfield and Carstens took the Des Lacs M52 engine on a severity fire detail to Marais de Cygnes NWR, Kansas on April 2, and returned on April 9. Melin and Wanner took the second Des Lacs light engine to Union Slough NWR, Iowa on April 7 to assist with prescribed burning and they returned April 1 7.

FMO Walker dispatched to the North Shore Complex in NE Minnesota with Benes Type 2 Incident Management Team (IMT) on May 31 and returned on June 12.

On June 1, Range Techs Summerfield (ENGB/ICT4) and Melin (ENGB-T) left for a severity detail to Miles City, MT BLM, returning on June 16. On June 24, an interagency Type II handcrew was assembled and led by Downs (CRWB) and also included Range Techs Carstens, S. Martin, Wanner, Stockwell, J. Martin, Ross, and Melin. They were joined by other ND refuge firefighters and also firefighters with the USFS and NPS. They spent two

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weeks in Colorado on two fires and were moved around and readied for initial attack. They returned on July 11.

FMO Walker was dispatched to the Kraft fire in ND as ICT3 on June 29, returning late on June 30. On June 29, an engine crew, Moldenhauer (ENGB), Biwer and Danley, was dispatched to the Line Creek fire, Miles City MT and they returned on July 2.

FMO Walker (DNS) detailed with Type 2 Team to South Fork II fire at Ft. Washakie, WY on July 2, returning on July 17. An engine and crew of Moldenhauer (ENGB), Carstens (ENGB-T) and Hansen were detailed to the Red Waffle fire near Bridger, MT on July 17 returning on July 26. The refuge sent an engine and crew to fill a severity detail in Southern ND and the Dakota Prairie Grasslands on July 17, with S. Martin (ENGB), J. Martin, and J. Ross. They returned on August 1 after being relieved by another crew of Moldenhauer (ENGB), Carstens (ENGB-T) and Melin (ENGB-T). Another engine and crew, Summerfield (ENGB), Biwer and Stockwell, were detailed to the Deer Point fire in Chelan, WA on July 25. Walker (DNS) and Severson (TFLD) were detailed to the Pepper fire near Rock Springs, WY on July 25 and returned on August 2. Dispatcher Dahlin also was detailed to the Porcupine fire in ND on July 1-10 to assist with expanded dispatch at Fort Yates, ND and worked the night shift. Dahlin then returned to Fort Yates on July 27 for another stint.

Walker was again detailed with Benes IMT to the Sheep Creek fire in Wisdom, MT from August 15-27. An engine crew of S. Martin (ENGB), J. Ross and J. Martin were detailed to Kansas on severity on August 27 for two weeks. Another engine crew of Moldenhauer, Carstens and Melin worked on a Dakota Prairie Grasslands pre-suppression detail from August 1-15.

We were still sending firefighters out on details in September. On September 4, two engine crews were detailed to the Kraft Springs fire in SE Montana. Carstens (ENGB), Ross and Dockter and Melin (ENGB), Summerfield and Placek returned on September 10. Dispatcher Dahlin was detailed to two different fire assignments as Time Recorder in September only to be turned around each time before making it to a fire.

After the wildfire situation finally slowed down, Carstens and S. Martin assisted Upper Souris NWR on a prescribed bum on October 10. Melin, Ross and J. Martin assisted T. Roosevelt NP with a prescribed bum on October 9-10.

Former seasonal Range Technician and now Missoula, MT Smokejumper Jennifer Anderson detailed to the refuge Complex from July 2-August 2 to learn to write prescribed bum plans while her injured knee continued rehabilitation. It was good to have Jennifer back helping us again. We want to continue to work with our interagency partners in rotating personnel both in and out for additional training opportunities, where our personnel get more wildfire experience and others come here for prescribed fire experience.

Equipment upgrades during 2002 including getting the 2001 new engine completed. Martin traveled to Eagle Butte, SD to have new M52 package installed on the Ford F-450 chassis on April 4. The Type 4 engine at Lostwood Refuge was converted into a 1000 gallon Model 52 engine and set up for wetlining capabilities. A 4600 John Deere tractor for mowing fire

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breaks and an 8' x 20' trailer for transporting the tractor and mower was purchased. Three MX-6 John Deere rotary mowers were purchased. A Chevy S-10 4X4 pick-up for Career Seasonal use at Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge was purchased.

A new Ford F-550 chassis for our replacement fire engine was stolen while at Prairie Truck in Minot, to have a flatbed installed on it. After much negotiation and time to potentially recover the chassis, the insurance company for Prairie Truck finally replaced the chassis which was received in 2003.

The revamping of our 2000 gallon wetliner proved futile due to finding significant engine damage and plans for fixing the engine were scrapped. At the end of the year, funding was received to purchase a new Type 4 engine with wetlining capability through GSA contract with S&S Inc and the engine was ordered with delivery planned for 2003.

Fire reviews were conducted on the HD Johnson WP A escaped RX bum with all crew members involved, FMO, and Refuge Managers on May 20 and 21. Notes were compiled and a complete written review was prepared by FMO Walker and Severson who was RXB2 Bum Boss and IC for the fire.

In October, fire staff worked on a Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) funded project in HB-23 building new fence and repairing/replacing fence to allow us to graze the unit and reduce hazardous fuels adjacent to the NW comer of the community of Kenmare. Additional work is still needed to get a water supply for the unit other than the small dugout at the top so the area can be grazed annually to reduce the hazardous fuel loading.

The annual Complex fire planning meeting was held with the managers and biologists on November 5 to evaluate the past field season's effectiveness and determine burning priorities for FY03 season.

FY03 FIREBASE equipment request was finalized and submitted to the Region in October. We were advised on November 26 of significant fuels budget reduction for FY03. Requested budget of $98K was cut by 65% to $34K. Seasonal firefighter salaries are included in this amount as well. Last years seasonal salaries totaled -$45K.

In December, Moldenhauer submitted FY02 emissions data to the ND Department of Health along with the FY03 request for open burning approval. FMO Walker attended a meeting with the National Weather Service to discuss needed changes to the Annual Operating Plan, products and services as a result of the Zones' Fire Weather Working Group meetings this past fall.

a. 2002 Prescribed bums

Prescribed burning got started at the end of April when DNC field A-12 (field 6) was RX burned on April 30. The field was broken out and will be re-seeded to DNC in the future. Prescribed burning finally got really started on May 13 for the spring burning period as the grasslands began to green-up and impacts could be made on smooth bromegrass in the 3-4 leaf stage and on western snowberry and other brush

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and trees as they began to bud and leaf out when HB-27(220 acres) was burned at Des Lacs. Green Ash (33 ac) at Lostwood NWR and Alamo WPA (300 ac) in Crosby WMD were burned on May 16. HB-18 NE (246 ac) at Des Lacs was burned on May 17. On May 18, HD Johnson WPA (300 ac) in Lostwood WMD was prescribed burned and also resulted in an escape causing a 360 acre wildfire on private land. On May 26,Teal Slough (636 ac) at Lostwood NWR was burned and on May 28, CP #1 (230 ac) Lostwood WMD and HB-7 (309 ac) at Des Lacs were prescribe burned. Finally HB-17(N) (3 7 ac ), the unit adjacent to headquarters was burned on June 1, and was the last bum of the spring season since it was followed by rain that night. Total of 2348 acres burned in 11 units during the spring season throughout the Complex.

Although our prime summer burning period generally starts in early August, no prescribed burning was done in August due to National wildfire suppression preparedness levels and activities. August is usually our best month for prescribed burning and has the most affects on non-native grasses and woody vegetation. In mid-August the preparedness level dropped to Level 4 and we began firebreak preparation in anticipation of getting some prescribed burning done but the preparedness level went back up to Level 5 and only a few units on each station were prepped. On the bright side, the wet August would have prevented a typical summer burning period anyway.

In September FMO Walker participated in weekly prescribed fire coordination conference calls to facilitate interagency resource sharing in an effort to accomplish targeted acres, given that burning was not allowed in August. The result helped us as four firefighters from Huron WMD, Tewaukon NWR, and Sand Lake NWR were detailed to the Complex for one week to assist with prescribed burning operations in mid-September.

We finally got in some fall prescribed burning when Lindell WP A in Crosby WMD was RX burned on September 14, Eckert WP A in Lostwood WMD was RX burned on September 16, and HB-11 on Des Lacs was burned on September 17. A prescribed bum was completed on the middle Windmill unit at Lostwood NWR on October 2. Two small open meadow areas were prescribe burned in HB-14 on Des Lacs on October 3 totaling 21 acres. When the smoke finally cleared we prescribe burned 11 units on Des Lacs NWR for 1315 acres in 2002.

Table 6 lists all of the prescribed bums in the Complex in 2002.

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TABLE 6. PRESCRIBED BURNS COMPLETED IN DES LACS NWR COMPLEX IN 2002.

I SITE II LOCATION I ACRES I DATE I OBJECTIVE I Dike2 Des LacsNWR 2 April26,2002 Resource Mgmt

A-12(S), Field 4 Des Lacs NWR 37 April 30, 2002 Resource Mgmt

HB-27 Des Lacs NWR 220 May 13, 2002 Resource Mgmt

HB-18 NE Des Lacs NWR 246 May 17, 2002 Haz Fuel Reduction

HB-7 Des LacsNWR 309 May 28, 2002 Haz Fuel Reduction

HB-17(N) HQ Des Lacs NWR 37 June 1, 2002 WUI

HB-11 DesLacsNWR 228 Sept. 17, 2002 WUI

HB-45 E DesLacsNWR 150 Sept 25, 2002 Haz Fuel Reduction

HB-14N Des LacsNWR 16 Oct. 3, 2002 Haz Fuel Reduction

HB-14 N-1 Des Lacs NWR 5 Oct. 3, 2002 Haz Fuel Reduction

S Auto Tour DesLacsNWR 14 Sept 13, 2002 Resource Mgmt

Green Ash Lostwood NWR 33 May 16, 2002 Resource Mgmt

Teal Slough Lostwood NWR 636 May 26, 2002 Resource Mgmt

Windmill (Middle) Lostwood NWR 477 Oct. 2, 2002 WUI

Alamo WPA CrosbyWMD 300 May 16, 2002 Resource Mgmt

Lindell WPA CrosbyWMD 190 Sept. 14, 2002 WUI

HD Johnson WP A Lostwood WMD 350 May 18, 2002 Haz Fuel Reduction

Coteau Prairie # 1 Lostwood WMD 230 May 28, 2002 Resource Mgmt

EckertWPA Lostwood WMD 140 Sept. 16, 2002 Haz Fuel Reduction

TOTAL 3620

b. 2002 Wildfires

There were no wildfires on the refuge in 2002. The refuge responded to a wildfire (Greene) at Upper Souris NWR on May 3 which burned 105 acres. Another wildfire was an escaped prescribed burn at HD Johnson WPA on May 18. The prescribed burn smoldered through the blackline at the fenceline adjacent to pastureland and escaped and burned 360 additional acres. Three landowners were involved and through negotiations with them the Lostwood WMD provided grazing on other WPA's to make up for their lost grazing use. One additional wildfire on Godejohn WP A (Crosby WMD) occurred in the fall and burned 7 acres.

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10. Pest Control

Lack of leafy spurge on grasslands on the refuge was very evident in late May. The hillsides did not turn as yellow as past years and we have good evidence of ongoing flea beetle successes this year.

We began checking for flea beetle emergence on June 17 and every few days after but it wasn't until June 27 that we began seeing collectable numbers of beetles. The cold spring affected the emergence of spurge and adult flea beetles. Dockter began some limited spraying of spurge along the tour route, and Canada thistle in the hiking trail on June 26.

We had a pretty good year for collecting and distributing flea beetles for the control of leafy spurge, even though it ran 1-2 weeks later than normal because of the cold dry spring. The best collecting site found was in HB-45 near Highway 52 in a unit where we first transferred beetles in 2001 from across the lake in HB-29. 750K were collected and transferred to HB-27 on July 1. For the next three weeks beetles were collected and moved to HB-35, HB-19, HB-17 on Des Lacs NWR and beetles were also distributed to Crosby WMD, Lostwood NWR and WMD, Medicine Lake WMD, and Upper Souris and J. Clark Salyer NWR's. Beetles were also provided to private landowners who wanted to establish beetles on their lands. We estimate that 1.25 M beetles were transferred on Des Lacs NWR and well over 3.5 million beetles collected during the month going to other refuges.

HB-45 is a great example of quick leafy spurge control using spring prescribed burning and a large release of beetles two months later. Control of 80-90% of the spurge occurred in one year over 100+ acres. We will continue to target spurge with heavy releases in recently prescribed burn areas.

Dockter also sprayed 2,4-d on srµall isolated patches of leafy spurge and along roadsides and one small patch of yellow toadflax during July.

Another concern is a small patch of spotted knapweed found in a cattle guard at the north end of HB-5. These weeds were hand-pulled and burned. This is the only known spotted knapweed in the area and we are on constant lookout for more.

Gypsy moth traps were again set out in May and picked up in September as a cooperative effort. Negative results were sent to U.S. Forest Service.

11. Water Rights

The Annual Water Management Report/Plan was completed and submitted to RO.

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G. WILDLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity

Diversity in wildlife habitat on Des Lacs ranges from freshwater marsh to mixed grass prairie and from tame grass-legume cover to wooded slopes and coulees. This variety of habitat attracts a diversity of resident wildlife as well as migratory birds. The Souris Loop bird list which includes Des Lacs Refuge includes 290 species of birds and is attached to the back cover.

Murphy conducted two annual FWS Breeding Bird Survey transects (Powers Lake and Wild Rose) for northwestern North Dakota in June.

The annual Christmas Bird Count was scheduled for December 20 but rescheduled to December 27 after we were hit with a major winter storm on December 18-19. A record number of bird species was tallied at this year's Des Lacs Christmas Bird Count. The count was held under sunny skies and light winds. Roughly six inches of snow covered the countryside, although open fields held little snow while deep drifts were found elsewhere. Eleven participants covered much of the area in the morning then enjoyed sharing tales over a chili lunch at the refuge. They noted a total of 36 species of birds on the count, which covers the Kenmare area. This smashes the previous record of 33 species observed in 1995 and 1999, and is well above the long-term average of 22 species.

After weeks of unusually mild, late fall weather, winter arrived the week before the count. Despite the wintry weather, a western meadowlark was seen in the Kenmare area. This year's Christmas visitors from the arctic included small numbers of Lapland longspurs, a few flocks of snow buntings, and one snowy owl - all found in open country. More gray partridge were seen this year than in the previous six years combined. A series of cold, snowy winters and wet springs in the mid- to late-1990s apparently has made it hard for partridge to survive and nest successfully in the area. Above-average numbers of sharp-tailed grouse observed also.

As usual on the count, an adult golden eagle was seen a few miles south of Kenmare. A lone crow showed up. Almost no redpolls or other small finches were seen this year. Doug Downs and Cory and Jennifer Rubin found a brown creeper in town. Songbirds at Nelson's birdfeeder west of Kenmare included goldfinches, a blue jay, and chickadees. A single rusty blackbird was seen. The Des Lacs count in Kenmare has been conducted nearly every year since 193 9. This year 11 participants covered 214 miles in cars and two miles on foot in search ofbirds within about seven miles of Kenmare. They recorded a total of 1302 birds. During the week before the count, several additional bird species were noted in the area that were not seen on the day of the count, such as bald eagle, short-eared owl, and American robin.

2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species

Three different sightings of groups of whooping cranes were made from April 18-25. Groups of 10, 6 and 2 whoopers were observed both south and east of Bowbells. Only one juvenile bird was among the 18.

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3. Waterfowl

No waterfowl were found for the Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey in early January.

A few Canada geese returned for two days during the warm weather on February 22, but quickly left when the weather turned cold again.

Canada geese were first observed on March 25 and by March 28 there were hundreds spread throughout the refuge wetlands standing on the ice. A huge and spectacular goose migration occurred on April 8-12 as snows, Canadas and white-fronted geese moved north through the area "en masse". Canada geese started a big nesting effort in early April. Because of the late spring all the ducks seemed to arrive at once in mid-April when the ice went out. By the end of the month lone drake mallard and pintails were observed.

A neck collared snow goose was observed on the refuge on April 30 by itself. Through an easy to use web site, it was found to be collared in 2001 at Banks Island in the western Canadian arctic.

First Canada geese were observed hatching on May 22. Waterfowl nesting continued through June with many broods showing up. Renesting Canada geese hatched out late broods in June. Duck broods really began showing up in July and the success rate of the later nesting and renesting ducks improved dramatically. They should have good invertebrates to feed on as a major hatch of mosquitos also occurred in July and made nest searching and the follow up vegetation work very trying.

Waterfowl populations on the refuge were low during September with few birds moving into the area until late in the month. By month's end we had about 1000 ducks, 20 tundra swans, 1000 Canada geese and 100 snow geese.

Waterfowl populations remained relatively low in the area until mid-October when more snow geese and mallards began showing up. The first snow geese (5000) arrived on October 3. We had over 80000 snow geese, 20000 mallards and 5000 Canada geese by October 20, building up to over 200000 snow geese by October 28. A fast moving winter storm on October 29-30 pushed all the birds out, and provided one of the most spectacular waterfowl migrations through the area in years when they left for warmer locations south. By the end of the month only 500 Canada geese and 2000 mallards remained in a couple of open water areas on the refuge.

Waterfowl remained on the refuge in early November with 15000 mallards, 5000 snow geese and 500 Canada geese counted on November 7. The ducks and snow geese left with the cold weather in the middle of the month (November 14-15), with Canada goose numbers increasing as more birds moved out of Canada on November 12 and liked the food available with no snow in the area. At the end of the month there were still about 700 Canada geese keeping water open in Units 1 and 4. The final remaining Canada geese (300) left the area on December 6 when the only open water in Unit 4 froze over.

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4. Marsh and Water Birds

The spring Sandhill crane migration occurred en masse in mid-April. Eared and western grebes began showing up at the end of April.

A nesting American bittern was found in late June while nest searching DNC field A-6. Another bittern was flushed while nest searching A-11 (HQ) DNC field but no nest was found.

The fall Sandhill crane migration began September 10-11 and continued through mid-October.

5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species

A pair of godwits was observed in HB-35 in June.

6. Raptors

We had early migrants come through when a bald and golden eagle were observed in late February in Unit 2. A rare occurrence of a turkey vulture near HQ was seen on June 6. Also on June 6 a short-eared owl was observed in HB-35. Short-eared owls have been a rare occurrence this year.

The first snowy owl was observed in the drift plain on October 30. The peak eagle population was estimated at 20 the last week of October and they quickly followed the snow geese south at the end of the month. More eagles moved in as geese moved out of Canada in November. Up to 18 bald eagles were observed in early November feeding on waterfowl and deer parts after deer season opened on November 7. Only a couple of eagles remained at the end of the month.

7. Other Migratory Birds

An early sighting of a pair of purple martins at HQ was made on April 25, but then they must have headed back south again due to the cold weather. That sighting was over two weeks before normal.

Mourning dove survey completed by Severson on May 27 and data entered electronically through the internet.

8. Game Mammals

We began seeing deer fawns the first week in June and many twins were observed. It was another banner year for white-tailed deer. We also began seeing more mule deer on both sides of the refuge that we have seen in several years so they are making a comeback after the population declined in the mid-90's due to the heavy snows and tough winters.

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10. Other Resident Wildlife

Wild turkeys continue to increase and appear to have good nesting success as we frequently see broods during the summer. Most birds winter in coulees on the refuge adjacent to farmyards where there is winter feeding of cattle.

16. Marking and Banding

The only birds banded in 2002 were Cooper's hawks as the study Biologist Murphy is collaborating with Dr. Rosenfield with continued. In 2002 only adults (1 male, 2 females) and nestlings (3 females, 2 males) were banded at two nests on the refuge, one at HQ and one just south of the Boat Dock. They also collected blood samples from all these birds for DNA analysis plus the other morphometric data that has been collected for the past few years ( and these data were collected at 19 other western ND Cooper's hawk nests that summer). The adult female at the headquarters nest was the same bird banded there in 2000. The adult male at a nest 1 mile south of the boat dock was the same adult male captured/banded at a nest 2 miles south of the boat dock in 2000.

Morphometric data from the Des Lacs Cooper's and other western ND Cooper's hawks is being used to describe the "novel" and rather distinct northern Great Plains population in several papers, both published and pending. The most recent is currently in press in Wilson Bulletin:

Rosenfield, R. N., J. Bielefeldt, L. J. Rosenfield, A. C. Stewart, R. K. Murphy, and M.A. Bozek. 2003. Comparative relationships among eye color, age, and sex in three North American populations of Cooper's hawks. Wilson Bull. 115:Jn Press.

1 7. Disease Prevention and Control

No botulism or other disease problems were found in 2002, with several days spent monitoring marshes.

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H. PUBLIC USE

1. General

The Complex Centennial Planning Committee met in January and devised a plan for 2002-03 centennial events. The plan was submitted for Des Lacs NWR, Crosby WMD, Lostwood WMD, and Lostwood NWR covering an events schedule for 2002 and for 2003.

The Complex Centennial Planning Committee met again on March 14 and additional projects were planned including planning for the International Migratory Bird Day Pre-Celebration on May 4 & 5 with many staff assisting and Honker visiting. Also data presentations on Fire, Wetland Management Districts, Refuges and the Centennial were started. Items have already started coming in for the 2003 time capsule and a plea went out to the local quilters for quilt blocks. The Complex Centennial Committee continued to meet during the year and spent a lot of time working out details for the August 2003 Open House. A bison was donated by TNC and was processed and in storage for the August BBQ. The hide was sent out to be tanned and the skull was cleaned and both will be used in the expanded visitor center of the new office.

Biologist Rubin wrote a Fish and Wildlife News article in April covering the ongoing grassland bird nesting study at Des Lacs.

International Migratory Bird Day Celebration was held at Dakota Square Mall, Minot on May 4. Honker the Bluegoose was in attendance entertaining the crowds and many people were drawn in to visit about refuges and migratory birds. Complex staff assisting were Danley, Downs, Dahlin (Honker!), Giese, and Carstens.

Tasker's Coulee was open for the season on May 13. It was utilized by numerous school groups at the end of May. Tasker's Coulee was closed down for the year on October 8. No major problems occurred and the area was used for many important events.

A news release was prepared on the spring grouse dancing and sent to local papers and was also placed on the Des Lacs Complex Web Page: http://deslacs.fws.gov/ A Special Event calendar was completed on special Centennial events for the year. Tim Kessler, Crosby WMD manager continues to manage and update the Complex web page. Many other news releases were prepared on a variety of topics during the year, with all of the releases running in the Kenmare News and many in the Minot Daily News and Burke County Tribune.

Several staff assisted with the Lostwood NWR open house event on June 22.

Gins and Dockter installed one more new sandblasted redwood 4'X 8' wooden entrance sign at Des Lacs (Northgate) and one at Shell Lake NWR in August. The new signs conform to the new sign standards and prominently feature the Bluegoose.

The Canada goose hiking trail was again opened up for vehicle traffic from September 11-22. The trail received good use and many people commented on their enjoyment of being able to see

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a different part of the refuge during this time. Two groups once again toured the trail on horseback.

The refuge participated in the annual Kenmare High School Homecoming Parade on October 4. Honker the Blue Goose rode in the airboat, and two fire engines displayed Centennial Banners.

Project Leader Giese spoke on the Ed Schultz Radio show on KFYR remote at Kenmare on October 23, for the Goosefest. Waterfowl populations, hunting and other issues were discussed.

The biggest event of the year occurred in October when Kenmare hosted the 121h Annual

"GOOSEFEST" the week of October 20-26, 2002. Refuge personnel, Severson, Dockter and Giese assisted with some of the events. Severson is on the Goosefest committee. The event continues to draw large numbers of hunters and others interested in snow geese to the Kenmare area and is a positive attraction for the refuge, with new visitors coming to visit the Des Lacs refuge area.

The Goosefest Committee with help from the Kenmare Association of Commerce again sponsored a "landowner appreciation banquet" in November after Goosefest which resulted in a good turnout. They provided an excellent free meal and door prizes to landowners for not posting their land and allowing hunting. This event is important in keeping the amount of posted land down and improving hunter-landowner relations.

2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students

Butterfly Expert Ron Royer brought a class of 15 from South Prairie School, Minot to the refuge on May 7.

Greenwing Day was held at the boat dock on August 10. Approximately 65 kids showed up for the annual event. Five stations were set up this year. The Corps of Engineers hosted a session on boat safety and even brought battery powered kid-sized boats for the greenwings to practice driving. Other sessions included taxidermy, waterfowl identification, turkey hunting, and a bone and scavenger hunt.

The Greenwing event is co-sponsored with the Kenmare Goosefest, with the "Goosefest Committee" providing up to $2,000 annually for DU greenwing memberships, food and prizes. Minot Chrysler brings the soda trailer for drinks. Volunteers also help with cooking, registration and all the other details that make the annual program a success.

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Figure 11. Project Leader Giese giving out door prizes to the anxious "greenwings" at the end of the day. JL 8 / 02

Eco-Ed camp was successful again this year on September 17-18 educating over 3 7 5 students with six environmental stations covering Turtles, Wetlands, Rangelands, Forestry, Water Quality, and Soils. Bob Danley (Lostwood NWR) organized and supervised the event with assistance from Zorn and SCD representatives. With all the interest in this rapidly expanding popular program from schools in surrounding towns, the event may need to be extended to three days next year.

5. Interpretive Tour Routes

The tour route was maintained by the refuge in 2002. The 14 mile long Scenic Backways tour route through the refuge is maintained under the Cooperative Management Agreement with the City of Kenmare, Kenmare Park Board, Ward County and the refuge with each entity maintaining the route on rotation. A dry winter and spring meant there was not too much damage on the roadway and it was easy to maintain. The Kenmare Park Board bought a new replacement culvert for the road just south of the Brickyard Hill Road. Gins and Dockter installed the culvert in September.

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6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations

Des Lacs refuge set up an International Migratory Bird Day display in the Dakota Square Mall in Minot on May 4-5. The primary goal was to promote interest in refuges, the upcoming Centennial, Migratory Bird Day and bird watching tours set for Lostwood and Upper Souris NWR's for May 12. We received good positive response from the public and gave away hundreds of posters and brochures. Honker the Bluegoose was a big hit.

Zorn and Danley made a presentation on owls to Burlington school on November 26.

7. Other Interpretive Programs

Danley and Adolf-Whipp met with the Kenmare Boy Scouts on January 16 for a 1 Yi hour presentation on birds and birding and mammal identification.

A haunted hay ride was held on the evening of October 22 for National Wildlife Week, and organized by Assistant Manager Zorn and Danley. The ride was held on the Boat Dock road with a hon fire and a talk on owls and other creatures of the night by Bio Tech Danley at the Boat Dock. The crowd was pleasantly interrupted by thousands of snow geese returning to the water at sundown. On the trip back in the dark, ghosts and other creatures with glowing multi-colored eyes came out of the woods to add some excitement to the ride. Jason and his chainsaw are still somewhere lurking in the woods. We may never see Honker the Blue Goose again. We already decided we need to use a larger trailer next year.

8. Hunting

Upland game bird hunting on Des Lacs closed on January 6 along with the rest of the State. Fox hunting and the falconry season remained opened until March 1. Few people took advantage of the opportunity because the fox population remains very low after being decimated the past nine years from mange.

Spring turkey hunting opened on the refuge in accordance with state laws on April 13. Many hunters utilized the refuge and the wooded coulees and draws to chase turkeys during the season. We have encouraged the NDGFD to continue to increase tags in the very large unit that includes the refuge as the turkey population continues to rapidly expand.

Archery deer hunting opened on August 30 and the season ran to January 5. Bow hunters harvested several deer on the refuge during the long season. Use by bowhunters appeared to be up in 2002 as compared to the last few years. The refuge opened to Youth Deer Hunting (rifle) from September 20-29. Up to 15 youth utilized the refuge for hunting and several deer were killed by archers and youth.

Early Canada goose season was open September 1-13. The refuge remained closed to waterfowl hunting. The special youth waterfowl season was held on September 14-15. Many local Canada

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geese were harvested during these special seasons in an attempt to keep the populations under control. We continue to have a few complaints about goose depredation every spring and early summer but relatively few compared to the southern part of the state.

Normal waterfowl season opened early on September 21 and there were surprisingly few hunters out. The season also changed with the change whereby non-residents could not hunt the first week of the season, and they are a big part of the waterfowling contingent in North Dakota. Also the early seasons have appeared to take the edge off of the hunters that were usually anxious to get out on opening day.

Rifle deer season opened on November 8 and closed on November 24. Retrieval roads were once again utilized. No problems were noted and many deer were harvested on the refuge. Severson assisted one hunter who got turned around in the fog on opening day on Lostwood NWR and had to be found after dark. Fortunately he had a cell phone to call for assistance.

Muzzleloader hunters are also allowed to hunt on the refuge and this year the season was November 29 through December 15. The State Game and Fish, in an attempt to increase the deer harvest also allowed hunters with second and third doe tags to use those tags during the muzzleloader and archery seasons. Several hunters took the opportunity to use their additional tags with muzzleloaders to hunt on the refuge and harvest a few more deer.

Late season pheasant, grouse, partridge and fox hunting season open date was changed to have all the refuges open their late seasons on the same date in the state. We settled on the Monday following the close of rifle deer season, and this year that day was November 25. Several groups of pheasant hunters were observed during the month.

A waterfowl retrieval zone was established on the refuge for the first time in 1998. Hunters are allowed unarmed retrieval of waterfowl 100 yards into the refuge, in an attempt to encourage more snow goose harvest. Ten information signs describing the waterfowl retrieval zones on refuge were placed at strategic locations trying to get the word out to snow goose hunters. We had few pass shooting hunters on the refuge in 2002 due to the low pop~lations of migrating geese.

10. Trapping

No trapping program was offered on the refuge in 2002. The muskrat population appears to be moderate with a good balance maintaining open water in emergent marshes. Beavers are found throughout the refuge, helping to cut down overabundant trees and only occasionally causing problems with plugging water control structures.

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11. Wildlife Observation

Sharp-tailed grouse were not observed in HB-10 in spring 2002 so the blind was moved north to the north end of HB-9 in April. Several groups used the blind and there were good numbers of displaying grouse on the lek through May.

14. Picnicking

Picnicking is an important use of the refuge to the local community. Tasker's Coulee Recreation Area is a unique wooded site for picnics, ball games, hikes, and group and family events. Tasker's Coulee is maintained by the City of Kenmare Parks and Recreation Board as part of a cooperative agreement, while the refuge does any major repairs. The CCC built picnic shelter has been maintained and is still in very good condition. The Boy Scouts declined to enter in a contract with the Park Board for maintenance as they have in the past, so the Park Board hired a local individual to mow the grass, keep the trash picked up and clean the restrooms. We remained satisfied with the arrangement in 2002. The area is locked up by the Kenmare PD every night at 10:00 pm and vandalism is essentially non-existent. We continue to promote the area for use as an Environmental Education area, with interpretive displays, hiking trails, and in the future a science center.

16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation

Bicycling is allowed on refuge tour route and hiking trails. Use in 2002 was estimated to be 450 trips on bikes. It helped that 300 riders with CANDISC (Cycling Across North Dakota in Sakakawea Country) passed through the refuge in early August. Little recreational use except for cross-country skiing occurred during the winter. A news release was issued that defines the areas open for winter recreation on the refuge. Most ,winter use of the ice surfaces occurred in Unit 2 as snowmobilers drive from Kem:nare to Highway 52 Lakeshore crossing to get to Bowbells. Activity on the hiking trails and county roads through the refuge is primarily during the spring with the return of warmer weather and birds, and in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.

The Canada goose hiking trail continues to be popular with local residents for hiking for exercise, though it is a good location for wildlife observation, but we think the main reason is for hikers to be able to walk in an area without traffic. Daily use occurs during all but the coldest part of winter or if heavy snow cover makes walking difficult. The refuge does not plow snow on the road unless it is needed to access Dam 2.

17. Law Enforcement

Two days were spent checking hunters during the spring snow goose season after calls were received about hunters shooting Canada geese. The hunters were checked out and had "blue" snow geese.

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Officer Severson caught two juveniles with dirt bikes riding in the south gravel pit and offroad on July 9 after they had eluded Equipment Operator Gins days earlier. The matter was hopefully resolved after meeting with the boys and their parents and a clear warning was given.

Giese attended RAP (Report All Poachers) program meeting in Bismarck on March 31 and attended LE auction the same night. Giese is on the Board of the RAP program for the state.

Semi-Annual LE firearms requalification held at Upper Souris NWR on August 28 and Officer Severson requalified as usual. Great job done by Firearms Instructor Rob Hoflen ofTewauken NWR.

Severson continued LE patrols for waterfowl hunters during October and November. Waterfowl hunters started showing up in good numbers the third week of October. Two violations were written for unplugged shotguns. Two warnings for unsigned duck stamps were also given. Two violations for "misrepresentation" were turned over to State Warden Burud for hunters with Minnesota residency buying resident hunting licenses in ND, and after several months of wrangling with lawyers they were found guilty.

Deer hunting season ran from November 8-24 this year. It was a typical season with no major problems noted.

An electrocuted bald eagle was found on November 25 . Incident report, photos and the eagle were all sent on the SA Grosz. A snowy owl was reported dead on November 28 after the news article on the dead bald eagle came out in the local paper, and was investigated by Severson. The owl was found to be shot several days earlier and the investigation did not tum up anything but susp1c10ns.

Figure 12 . Bald eagle found under a powerline, and burn marks found on wings . 11/25/02 DJS.

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Figure 13 . Officer Severson demonstrating the new LE snowmobile helmet used for stopping trespass snowmobilers on the refuge. CGZ 12 / 2002

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I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

1. New Construction

Gins built a new full bed rail headache rack for FMO Walker's pickup in January.

HiRad of Williston, ND completed radon mitigation in Quarters 4 residence at Des Lacs in April.

Martin Construction of Gladstone, ND returned in May to complete finish work on the six small coulee dams they began in October. None of the dams experienced enough run-off to overtop in the spring which helped make final grading and seeding work easier. The projects were not accepted at the first final inspection. The contractor neglected to haul gravel to the sloped roads leading into each coulee and the gravel that had been present was buried under new clay and was very slippery and treacherous when wet. The contractor hired Bohl Trucking, Bowbells to haul 260 CY of gravel to complete the project. Gins seeded the borrow areas with a native grass seed mix in June.

Figure 14. HB-6 coulee darn. Good pair and brood habitat created by the dams. View from S. 4/02 DJS.

Figure 15. HB-7 coulee dam composite photo, view from S. 4/02 DJS.

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Planning for the new office addition got started the week of January 8 when staff met with the contracted Architect and Engineering Team. Priorities were established and preliminary designs were drawn and redrawn during the week. George Newland, R6 Engineering, was the facilitator with Robert Preccia and Associates (Helena, MT) as the lead Engineering firm. The Architect firm is Anderson Mason Dale (Denver, CO) and the Mechanical/Electrical Engineering firm is Associated Construction Engineering, (Bozeman, MT). Fifty percent review of plans was scheduled for March 1. Geo-Technical work was completed on January 17 by Maxon Tech, Billings, MT., for the new office addition. Holes were drilled and dug with backhoe at foundation site for soils testing. We reviewed 50% drawings for the 4250 SF office addition on February 28. We received 95% drawings for office addition and spent many hours reviewing the plans ahead of the April 18 meeting with the engineers and planners that PL Giese attended in Denver. Final plans were completed and approved in June and bids for the project were sent out to over 70 potential bidders on July 3 closing on July 31. The final contract price was $817 .6K and doesn't include the Architecture/Engineering costs. The funding for the project was primarily MMS replacement of the old office building ($495K) with the remaining funds being raised from a variety of sources by Project Leader Giese, who worked tirelessly and like a bulldog for months (just ask any of the Regional and Washington office budget people!).

After eight months of planning and contracting, Mackley Construction, Minot received the bid for the office expansion project in early August. The preconstruction meeting was held on-site on August 27 with contractors, sub-contractors, Contracting Officer Sylliaason, Engineer Newland, on-site inspector Severson and Des Lacs staff. Work started on September 3 and dominated much of our activities for the rest of the year, though the contractor worked well with us to minimize the disruption.

The following floor plans show our intentions of increasing our office space with eight new offices, a file room and small conference room on the main floor, a large conference room with 9' ceiling in the basement with two more offices, a computer lab room and break/lunch room. In order to raise the previous low basement ceiling in the new addition, we ramped down 1' from the old basement and ramped up the new addition main floor 1' which increased the basement ceiling height 2' and it made a big difference in space in the new conference room in the basement.

The old office is to be remodeled to increase the visitor center area, change the reception area room, and add a work room (copier, printer, mail, supplies etc.) and still have three offices on the main floor. The basement w remodeled to enlarge and create a real exercise room for LE and fire staff and two showers were added. One original basement room was left as it was and will become the refuge library. We are also adding a vestibule on the front of the building to make it more appealing to visitors and so that it looks like an inviting office rather than the back side of an old house, which is what the building was originally before being moved in and remodeled off a WP A near Wing, ND. The vestibule also allowed us to reconfigure the bathrooms to have 24 hour access to one bathroom and the other bathroom to function for staff and visitors in the visitor area.

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By the end of October the basement walls were poured, with all the heat ducts and electrical conduit in place under the basement. The 10 ground source heat source vertical wells were drilled south of the HQ building and plumbed into the basement. The basement slab was ready to be placed but cold weather prevented the pour. The project was slowed down because of bad weather the last week of October, and the contractor had to install floor joists and sheeting, temporarily heat the basement and then place the concrete in the heated area for curing. The basement floor was finally poured in late November and the exterior walls and roof trusses installed at the end of December, after the roof was redesigned by Farroh Truss, Minot and our engineering office, because the original design just would not work. The redesign work and cold weather set the project about 6 weeks behind schedule at the end of the year.

Figure 18. New basement dug to east of existing office, with daylight access on east end. View E to W. 9/02 DJS.

Figure 19. Basement walls poured and sealed with drain lines about to be placed at foundation. 10/02 DJS.

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Figure 20 . Scissor roof trusses installed. View W to E in new addition~ 12/02 DJS.

Gins hauled 300CY of rock dust from Upper Souris NWR to Munch's Coulee hiking trail and parking lot using a rented belly dump trailer. Plans are to resurface the hiking trail and parking lot with polypavement in 2003 . Gins also hauled about 200CY of silt/black dirt from Unit 6 spoil pile to Headquarters for use in 2003 in landscaping the office addition. Late in August Dockter and Moldenhauer installed another entrance sign at Shell Lake NWR for the Lostwood WMD.

In October, Gins worked with Maruskie at Lostwood NWR on building a new road into the new residence scheduled to be built in 2003. They also had to upgrade the existing dirt trail leading to the house. Both were compacted with clay and graveled.

2. Rehabilitation

The tractor mounted auger was repaired. The boat trailer was completely rehabed in January with a lot of welding and bracing. They improved the frame and replaced worn out rollers, winch and lights.

The water well pressure switch was replaced in the well house in February. Turns out that it was a 2 amp switch and the well pump is 5 amp causing the circuit breaker to keep failing. We hadn't had any trouble for about 18 months of operation. The correct switch was installed by Graveson Electric, Kenmare.

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The new dump box that was installed on the 1979 International 4X4 dump truck was strengthened and 1/4" plate steel installed in the bed. We had previously picked up many sheets of 1/4" plate steel excess from the Minot AFB, and have found many uses for it over the years. We use this truck for hauling large rocks and cobble which is really hard on a standard dump box.

One new 4'X8' entrance signs was placed on the Des Lacs NWR in August, replacing the very old sign at the Northgate crossing at the north end of the refuge. One additional sign was ordered and will be put up in 2003 , and all major entrance signs will be new and ready for the centennial. The BLUEGOOSE flies strong on all the new sandblasted redwood signs as we continue to get the refuge ready for the centennial.

Gins completed rehab of Dike 2, filling and compacting holes, removing a few remaining shrubs and reshaping rip-rap. Gravel was hauled to top the entire dike. Gins also rehabed Dike 4 by adding and reshaping rip-rap and removing all small trees and shrubs, after it was prescribe burned in May. Gravel was also added to the top.

YCC's continued painting of shop addition, kiosk, replacing broken windows in storage building and many other jobs.

Overhead Door of Minot replaced four old fiberglass garage doors on vehicle storage building in May, replacing all hardware and installing metal doors.

Gins and Dockter worked in September and October on cleaning out and repairing the Unit 8 water control structure. A metal plate was bolted to the concrete and welded to the screwgate for support where the concrete was breaking away. A Bobcat excavator was borrowed from Upper Souris NWR to clean out mud and silt from the structure and ditches. The project was completed in November except for the concrete patching work at the screwgate. The work had to be postponed until warmer weather.

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Fi gure 21 . Unit 8 WCS from upstream after dewatering and in the process of cleaning and maintaining. 9 / 02 DJS.

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Dockter hauled crushed rock to the refuge trail in HB-36 to fill in a perennial wet and rutted road bed in November.

Gins and Dockter hauled large rocks for road barriers along the Scenic Lake Road where old fence had been removed.

4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement

A new pickup (Chev S-10) was received in January for the fire program.

In February we received two new "excess" FEMA travel trailers located in Houston, TX. Dockter, Maruskie, and Volunteer Jason Melin drove to Texas to pick up the trailers and haul them back from February 9-14. Total cost with fuel and per diem was $2100 for $26,000 in trailers that will be used for temporary housing that was urgently needed.

Dockter and Gins swapped the service truck equipment from the 1983 Chevy service truck into the excess 1990 Chevy 1-ton fire engine with the fibre body utility box. We hope to get one more year out of the old service truck for fencing.

A new Type 6 fire engine, Ford F450 with a 300 gallon M52 package ordered in FY2001 was delivered and put into service in May 2002 replacing the 1990 Chevy mentioned above. A 1000 gallon M52 package, also ordered in FYOl was delivered and installed on a new flat bed on Type 4 "Big Red" engine at Lostwood NWR.

A new John Deere HX-10 rotary mower was purchased with MMS funding replacing the old 10' Bushhog mower at Des Lacs.

A new pickup truck (MMS) was ordered to replace a 1988 Dodge with delivery expected late in the year.

We picked up an excess airboat from the Kansas ES office. Summerfield traveled to Lacreek NWR to pick it up on July 12. Summerfield also picked up excess library shelves for the new office addition from Pierre SD ES office on July 23. All the cabinets were painted during the winter.

The Cat 850M scraper was sold excess through GSA for $9500 and hauled to South Dakota where hopefully it isn't being used to drain wetlands.

Rented a tree spade for the Bobcat on May 30 and seven trees were moved to eventually provide shade and visual screen for the bunkhouse.

Excess property was sold through GSA in November including three old mowers, a small pickup, Kann airboat and fire engine.

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5. Communication Systems

Five mobile radios were repaired by Bell Communications in March. Two radios were installed in the new Ford M52 fire engine, for both low band (refuge) and high band (state fire) frequencies.

We received MMS funding for FY2003 to replace our radio system with high band digital radios with the project go ahead in November. Radio frequency sharing requests were sent out to all entities we share communications with. We were able to get quick response and by the end of the year all approvals had been received.

The formal radio replacement request was completed and sent to NCC on November 1 to begin the process for MMS replacement of our radio system.

6. Computer Systems

Pegasus two-way satellite internet connection dishes were installed at Lostwood and Des Lacs NWR's on February 7-8, funded through the RO IRM office. After installation the satellites were unplugged waiting for the internet service to be reinstated. The Fish and Wildlife Service finally got reconnected to the Internet through the new two-way satellite system on March 22 after the lawsuit requirements were met.

Whipp installed Track-it Software on all computers in the Complex and submitted the information to RO. The HP Laser IIID printer was repaired by replacing the fuser assembly by The Computer Store, Minot for $150.00.

Updated all computers to new Lotus Notes 5.07. Updated or installed Norton AV on all computers in the Complex after reconnecting to the Internet. New refuge email addresses were set up in Lotus Notes so the Managers could receive mail sent directly to refuge address.

Ordered SDSL modems to connect Lostwood office and shop through computer network in May and Reservation Telephone made the connections for us at no charge. A computer was installed in the fire staff office in the shop and a hub attached to connect a computer for Maruskie.

IT security training was completed by all employees who use computers in the Complex in July.

New computers were received in September for Giese (with a bigger coffee holder) and Rubin and a new replacement notebook computer was also received for the station, with replacements paid by EOY RO funds.

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...... _ c:--..--~--,------- .... --.·~ .. 4~.··--Fred G. Giese

Figure 22. Project Leader Giese's computer was replaced because the cup holder wasn't big enough. But IT security training was cornpleted.7/02. BD

7. Energy Conservation

Three diesel pickups were ordered for replacement full-size maintenance vehicles in the Complex in 2002 with MMS in an attempt to improve fuel mileage yet still maintaining the needed maintenance vehicles. Other vehicles ordered have mostly been compact Chevy S-10 pickups to improve fuel mileage averages.

8. Other

Sandberg Gravel, Lignite, ND started gravel crushing operations on May 21 at the North gravel pit (HB-9) under contract by Burke County through a Special Use Permit for 30,000 CY. This is the last gravel operation in this pit, with rehab of the area done following the work. They were only able to crush 12200 CY for the county as they exhausted the pit and we will not allow the pit to enlarge to the south. The refuge received $6073 royalty fee, with the payment made in crushed rock and gravel for our use. The crushed rock has been very valuable in our road maintenance work.

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Refuge Roads Coordinator Tom Locke visited the refuge November 19-20 and attended a meeting with local, county and state governments to discuss the Scenic Backway roads and the potential for funding through TEA-21 for improvements. The ownership of the road has been in question for years because it was a ND state highway at one time before the road was relocated away from the refuge, but the State Highway Department did not want to willingly give up the right-of way. The State Attorney Generals office clarified that the road was abandoned by the Highway Department and that ownership to the center of the roadway is by the adjoining landowners. It was determined that we must first clarify the ownership of the road. Ward County hired Ackerman Surveying, Minot to survey and establish boundaries on the road. An MOU was developed with Ward County, City of Kenmare and the refuge to deal with surveying work and we issued a SUP for access. All parties met with PL Giese on November 25 to look over the roadway and come to agreement for the overall direction of the project. We intend to apply for Federal Highway funds to rehab and improve the roadway by paving the road.

Biol Tech Kershner worked for three weeks during the month replacing boundary, closed area, waterfowl and deer retrieval signs on the refuge. She covered (much of it walking) the entire refuge boundary and we now have an accurate count of signs on the refuge ( 63 7). This long and. narrow refuge has a lot of boundary plus the internal signs on the auto tour route and where roads pass through the refuge.

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J. OTHERITEMS

1. Cooperative Programs

The NOAA weather station was read daily again this year, and snow surveys were conducted as requested for the National Weather Service flood forecast predicting. We also participated in nationwide biological surveys: mourning dove count, Breeding Bird Survey routes, gypsy moth trapping, etc.

3. Items of Interest

Equipment Operator Gins underwent wrist surgery in Grand Forks, ND on February 11 to graft bone into his left wrist. He was able to return to work with a wrist brace and instructions to be careful with it for the next 6 months on April 1. He had fair recovery by the end of the year.

Severson and Giese attended many Goosefest committee meetings during the year. They also regularly attended meetings of Kenmare Association of Commerce and Kenmare Park Board. The refuge continues to help coordinate the Annual Greenwing Day as part of Goosefest.

Maintenance Worker Dockter continued to serve on the Kenmare Park Board and the Vet's Gaming organization. Dockter and Giese are also involved with the local American Legion Post.

Severson became a member of the Kenmare Community Hospital Advisory Board in May.

4. Credits

Des Lacs Refuge Manager Dan Severson wrote all sections of the report, and Rubin contributed to Research and Investigations section. Zorn and Rubin provided editorial improvements. Janet Leet assembled the report.

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