FLINT HILLS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Hartford, Kansas
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 2004
U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM REVIEW AND APPROVALS
FLINT HILLS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Hartford, Kansas
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 2004
Refuge Manager' Date
Refuge Supervisor Date
^Regional Chief, Refuges and Wildlife Date TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
A. HIGHLIGHTS 1
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 1
C. LAND ACQUISITION
1. Fee Title : Nothing to Report 2. Easements Nothing to Report .3. . Other Nothing to Report
D. PLANNING
1. Master Plan Nothing to Report 2. Management Plans 2 3. Public Participation '. Nothing to Report 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates Nothing to Report 5. Research -and Investigations " 3
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel 3 2. Youth Programs 3 3. Other Manpower Programs Nothing to Report 4. Volunteer Programs Nothing to Report 5. Funding 6 6. Safety 6 • 7. Technical Assistance Nothing To Report 8. Other Items Nothing to Report
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General Nothing to Report 2. Wetlands ; 7 3. Forests 9 4. Cropland 12 5. Grasslands 13 6. Other Habitats 13 7. Grazing Nothing to Report 8. Haying Nothing to Report 9. Fire Management 14 10. Pest Control 16 11. Water Rights 16 12. Wilderness and Special Areas Nothing to Report 13. WPA Easement Monitoring Nothing to Report
G WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife Diversity . . Nothing to Report 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 18 3. Waterfowl ' ' 19 4. Marsh and Water Birds 20 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species 20 6. Raptors '. 20 7. Other Migratory Birds 21 8. Game Mammals 21 9. Marine Mammals Nothing to Report 10. Other Resident Wildlife 21 11. Fisheries Resources 22 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking Nothing to Report 13. Surplus Animal Disposal Nothing to Report 14. Scientific Collections Nothing to Report 15. Animal Control Nothing to Report 16. Marking and Banding Nothing to Report 17. Disease Prevention and Control Nothing to Report
H PUBLIC USE
1. . General 22 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students 23 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers Nothing to Report 4. Interpretive Foot Trails 24 5. Interpretive Tour Routes Nothing to Report 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations 24 7. Other Interpretive Programs 24 8. Hunting 25 9. Fishing 26 10. Trapping •. Nothing To Report 11. Wildlife Observation .27 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation 27 13. Camping 27 14. Picnicking 27 15. Off-Road Vehicling Nothingto Report 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation 27 17. Law Enforcement 27 18. Cooperating Associations Nothing To Report 19. Concessions Nothing To Report
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
1. New Construction 29 2. Rehabilitation 30 3. Major Maintenance Nothing To Report 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 31 5. Communications Systems Nothing To Report 6. Computer Systems 32 7. Energy Conservation Nothing to Report 8. Other 32
J. OTHER ITEMS
1. Cooperative Programs 32 2. Other Economic Uses Nothing To Report 3. Items of Interest 33 4. Credits 34
K. FEED BACK Nothing to Report
L. INFORMATION PACKET—(inside back cover) INTRODUCTION
The Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge lies in the broad, flat Neosho River Valley, a native tallgrass prairie region of natural scenic beauty. The Refuge is named for the gently rolling Flint Hills just to the west. These fossil studded limestone hills were laid down when seas washed across the region aeons ago.
The Refuge, established in 1966, consists of 18,463 acres located at the upstream end of the John Redmond Reservoir flood control project. The land is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) and is managed under a cooperative agreement. Habitats consist of 5,846 acres of wetlands; 1,400 acres of open water; 600 acres on the Neosho River and associated creeks; 2,660 acres of cropland; 2,107 acres of grassland; 5,600 acres of woodlands and brushlands; and 250 administrative, recreation and roadway acres.
The Refuge is managed primarily to benefit migrating and wintering waterfowl in the central Byway. Thousands of ducks and geese flock to the area during the spring and fall migrations and many often choose to spend the winters here. A variety of management practices are utilized to meet the needs of wildlife. Feeding and resting areas for migratory birds are provided through aggressive moist soil and cropland management programs. In addition, mowing and prescribed burning are used to provide food and cover for waterfowl and resident species. Along with large numbers of migrating birds, the Refuge provides habitat for white-tailed deer, turkey, bobwhite quail, greater prairie chicken and an assortment of other mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.
Flint Hills NWR is readily accessible by turnpike and interstate highways, lying just eight miles south of 1-35 in eastern Kansas. Large cities such as Wichita, Kansas City, and Topeka are within 100 miles of the Refuge. Nearly 1.5 million people live within a 100-mile radius.
In addition to the lands managed by Flint Hills NWR, the Corps of Engineers has licensed the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to manage 1,472 acres adjacent to the Refuge. This • land is known as the Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area and is managed primarily for bobwhite quail, mourning dove, greater prairie chicken, cottontail rabbit, squirrel, and white- tailed deer.
The 3.05 billion dollar Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant, located eight miles east of the Refuge, was put into commercial operation on September 3, 1985. This plant which sends most of its electricity to Kansas Gas and Electric and Kansas City Power & Light, has a cooling reservoir of. 5,500 acres, with open water year-round. Wolf Creek has contracted with the Kansas Water Office for the majority of the storage capacity of John Redmond Reservoir. To transfer this water from John Redmond to Wolf Creek, two 36" pumps and pipelines are located below the base of the John Redmond Dam. Wolf Creek Lake is open to fishing but closed to hunting and is used extensively by waterfowl. A. HIGHLIGHTS
Refuge Office/Visitor Center addition completed in October. Section I.I
Kansas Governor turkey hunts Refuge. Section H.8
Logjam issues raise up over the summer. Section J.3
Refuge receives Habitat Award from National Wild Turkey Federation. Section F.3
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
This year we received 39.3 inches of precipitation, which is several inches above the yearly average of 36.01 inches. January started off fairly mild, but a cold snap in late January and early February gave us our coldest temperature (-3°) for the year. Early February also brought us 9" of snow. Mild weather returned in mid-February and kept the temperatures warm through March. Snow melt, runoff and 3" of rain produced high water and localized flooding throughout the Refuge in early to mid March. The reservoir rose to the year's high of 1053.66. Rains continued through the spring and in June we experienced another small flood event with the reservoir rising to 1049.59 on June 22. The summer was quite cool for Kansas with only a few days reaching 100 °. The fall was mild with continued rains. The table on the next page shows the temperature data for the entire year.
Weather and pool elevation information is obtained from the official U.S. weather station operated by the Army Corps of Engineers at the John Redmond Reservoir, eight miles southeast of Refuge headquarters. The rainfall amounts reported are measured at the Refuge Office.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) records daily pool elevation and has records from 1964 to the present. This pool elevation data is helpful in analyzing both the extent and the frequency of flooding. All planning decisions must be made within the context of past records on the extent of flooding, the duration of flooding, the time of year flooding occurs, and the frequency of floods for all portions of the Refuge.
1 Monthly Precipitation, Temperatures and Pool Elevations CY 2004 Month Precip. Inches Temp °F Pool Elevations Total Norm Snow Max Min Max Min Jan 2.01 0.90 1 62 -1 1041.33 1039.41 Feb .1.57 1.04 9 65 -3 1040.97 1039.81 March 4.83 2.30 0 73 28 1053.66 1038.77 April 2.87 3.02 0 82 29 1041.75 1039.06 May 3.22 4.31 0 85 33 1039.89 1039.00
June 5.17 5.71 0 93 30 (1) (1) July 7.76 4.31 0 101 52 (1) (1) Aug 2.69 3.93 • o 95 47 (1) (1) Sep 1.52 4.39 0 89 49 (1) (1) Oct 3.58 3.20 0 83 33 (1) (1) Nov 3.52 1.77 5 78 23 1041.30 1040.88 Dec .56 1,13 0 69 9 (1) (1)
Totals Extremes Extremes 39.3 36.01 15 101 -3 1053.66 1039.00
(1) Pool elevations unavailable from US ARMY Corps of Engineers
D. PLANNING
2. Management Plans After several reviews and re-reviews, the Refuge Integrated Pest Management Plan was approved in 2004. •
WB Menard wrote a contingency plan for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). CWD has not been detected in Kansas, however it spread to Grand Island, NE in 2004. WB Menard wrote the Annual Habitat Work Plan for Flint Hills NWR.
5. Research and Investigations
Two Biology students from Emporia State University began their M.S. research on refuge grasslands and forests. Both students intend to address habitat fragmentation issues, one in relation to small mammals, the other concerning amphibians and reptiles.
Both field seasons went well, with good captures of snakes and excellent capture rates on rodents. Bryan Maher caught two massasauga rattlesnakes and two copperheads. However, the vast majority included prairie kingsnakes, blue racers, garter snakes, and black rat snakes. Barry Smart sampled rodents year-round and found good capture rates even during winter. Both students will continue research in 2005, and then begin writing theses.
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel
Flint Hills Staff, Back Row: Gerald Laws, Fenn Wimberly, Dustin Jacob, Tyler Hinkle, Ron Thuma, and TJ Cooper. Front Row: Jason Pankratz, Jerre Gamble, Tim Menard, Evelyn Burton, and Lyle Hancock. 1. Jerre L. Gamble, Project Leader, GS-0485-14, PFT 2. Alice M. Hartley, Supervisory Refuge Operations Specialist, GS-0485-12, PFT 3. Tim Menard, Wildlife Biologist, GS-0486-GS-11, PFT ' 4. Fenn Wimberly, District Fire Management Officer, GS-0401-09, PFT • 5. Evelyn M. Burton, Administrative Officer, GS-0303-09, PFT 6. Lyle L. Hancock, Biological Science Technician, GS-0404-08, PFT 7. Gerald K. Laws, Engineering Equipment Operator, WG-5716-10, PFT 8. Ron E. Thuma, Maintenance Mechanic, WG-4749-09, PFT 9. Timothy J. Cooper, Engineering Equipment Operator, WG-5716-08, PFT 10. Jason C. Pankratz, Range Technician (firefighter), GS-0455-06, PPT 11. James Minnerath, Wildlife Biologist (Private lands), GS-0401 -11, PFT \. Lisa M. Kennedy, Zone Officer, GS-0025-11, PFT
13. Tim Fondriest, Range Technician, GS-0455-05 14. Tyler Hinkle, Biological Science Technician, GS-0404-3 15. Dustin Jacob, Biological Science Technician, GS-0404-3 hi April, Perm Wimberly joined the staff and filled this position of District Fire Management Officer which had been vacant since January 2002. Fenn comes to us from Lake Meredith National Recreation Area in Texas.
We hired back Tim Fondriest for his second year as a Range Technician (firefighter). Tim has done an excellent job and we enjoy having him work with us. New to the staff this year were Tyler Hinkle from Oklahoma and Dustin Jacob from Emporia. Both were great additions to the. staff.
SROS Hartley and Bio. Tech Hancock completed several surveys and provided information for the Service's attempt at outsourcing the duties of Bio. Techs.
SROS Hartley accepted the Refuge Manager position at Big Stone NWR in Minnesota in late October. Her last day at Flint Hills NWR was January 7,2005.
The Refuge also provides office space for Private Lands.biologist Jim Minnerath. Although not technically a member of the Refuge staff, Jim provides biological and technical expertise when needed. In mid January, Lisa Kennedy moved to Flint Hills from Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Kentucky to fill one of three new Zone Officer position in the Region. Lisa is responsible for coordinating refuge law enforcement activities in Kansas, eastern Nebraska, and eastern Colorado. Like Jim, Lisa is not a member of the Refuge staff, however, she has contributed greatly to the law enforcement programs at Flint Hills and Marais des Cygnes NWR's.
2. Youth Programs
Flint Hills NWR has hosted a nonresidential Youth Conservation Corps program every summer since 1976. This year we scaled back a little and only hired 3 enrollees so Marais des Cygnes NWR could have 2 enrollees. Ron Thuma, Maintenance Mechanic, was in charge of the daily operations of the program with seasonal Bio. Tech Dustin Jacob's assistance. YCC enrollees were Brianna Boyce, Kyle Manwaring and Tarin Wigton.
Our YCC crew works a 30-hour week from Tuesday through Friday. This provides staff preparation time and time to keep up with other responsibilities.
Heat and humidity always make for a difficult summer, but the list of accomplishments is always impressive. The crew received CPR and First Aid training in late June. The crew placed new gravel on portions of the three nature trails and also did general trail maintenance. They also built bluebird and wren houses that were given away at the annual Hartford Harvest Day in September. They also completed general maintenance and painting at the headquarters. This year we didn't have the huge need for the YCC crew as in past years. They spent the last week working at the COE property at John Redmond Reservoir. They also spent several days doing environmental education activities and assisted in the malformed frog survey. At the end of their 8-week program, Refuge staff hosted a pizza party for the crew.
2004 YCC crew, left to right, Tarin Wigton, Brianna Boyce, Dustin Jacob, Ron Thuma, Kyle Manwaring. 5. Funding
In addition to the Operations, MMS, YCC, RONS, and fire funding, this station has an additional funding source. A cooperative agreement with the COE allows surplus crops to be sold with the monies reverting back to this station. The funds are processed through the "Bills for Collection" procedure and are placed in Sub-Activity 8260, Proceeds from Sales. For many years 8260 funds had been used to supplement base funding as salaries alone have usually been higher than regular Operations & Management funding. This situation was remedied in 1991 when the Refuge received base funding adequate to carry out Refuge functions. This left 8260 dollars available for it's intended use, the development and enhancement of Refuge natural resources.
In addition to our Refuge funding, we receive $15,000 in thel 121 subactivity for support of the Private Lands biologist stationed at the Refuge.
Five Year Station Funding Level (Amount $K)
FY 8556 1261 1262 8260 FIRE 1120 ERFO Total Budget 2004 589.70 198.10 77.26 192.55 15.0 0.0 1072.61 2003 559.00 167.70 157.54 70.89 15.0 7.63 977.76 2002 526.35 344.76 26.61 104.22 367.6 97.38 1466.92 2001 448.39 188.78 303.6 211.8 289.3 40.96 1,482.83 2000 487.65 97.75 96.51 73.1 280.0 - 1,035.0
6. Safet
Quarterly safety meetings are held during regular staff meetings. In addition, safety issues, tips, and new ideas are discussed at the beginning of each new project.
Fire extinguishers are checked monthly, and professionally inspected each April. Nearly forty extinguishers are required to properly cover our buildings and equipment.
On February 3, the Wolf Creek Nuclear Plant conducted emergency training for the refuge staff. This training is conducted to refresh staff on emergency procedures in the event of an accident at the Plant, which is located approximately 8 miles east of the Refuge's southern boundary.
The Spill Prevention and Control Plan was finalized in 2003 and the staff went over specific aspects of the plan and reporting procedures in April.
Staff members receive CPR/First Aid training refresher courses each year. First Aid kits in buildings and equipment are checked quarterly and items with expiration dates are replaced.
Annual audiograms are given to those employees that meet the Service safety policy requirements. Several versions of ear plugs are available for all to use. Bilsom Viking hearing protection muffs, assigned to every employee, have replaceable foam ear cushions which are changed yearly.
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
2. Wetlands (Moist Soil Units)
Refuge wetlands include numerous type I and IE natural wetlands along with 29 manageable man made marsh/moist soil units and John Redmond Reservoir. Wetland management on Flint Hills consists of timing the filling and drawdown of our moist soil units to encourage plant communities and invertebrates most beneficial to migratory birds. Moist soil units, in some cases, are filled by natural runoff, however, several of our marshes are designed to facilitate pumping should the weather not cooperate with our plans.
Moist soil units received good shorebird use in the spring. As with 2003, marshes filled up with mid-April rains. Beschka Marsh was burned during January. Spring and summer rains filled the marsh, providing good habitat for spring shorebirds and autumn waterfowl.
Lower Hammerton and Pintail moist soil units also received good shorebird use. Strawn Flats did not provide much habitat in the spring and summer, so Biologist Menard conducted no surveys there. During spring, shorebirds use moist soil units with short (6-12 inch) vegetation. The vegetation offers excellent cover from spring winds, yet makes surveys challenging. Due to the difficulty of seeing shorebirds among the vegetation, surveys underestimate the number of shorebirds using the Refuge wetlands.
A late drawdown, followed by cool wet June weather, promoted abundant growth of Eliocharis within several moist soil units (Hartford Units, Upper Hammerton, Intermediate). The dense vegetation and root mass precludes the growth of desirable moist soil vegetation. The marshes disked in 2003 for Eliocharis problems were drawn down early in Spring 2004. They provided excellent spring shorebird habitat. The multiple diskings dramatically reduced the density of Eliocharis. With consistent spring and summer rains, moist soil vegetation responded explosively, with most units producing more than 2,000 pounds of seed per acre. The annual smartweed produced its greatest crop of anytime in the past five years. Eliocharis can be suppressed with multiple disking in mid-summer that exposes the roots to the dry August heat. Due to consistent rains, few moist soil units were disked in 2004. However, EO Cooper repaired the levee at Troublesome marsh. In August, as the moist soil vegetation matured, Equipment Operator Cooper attempted to selectively mow the thick Bidens to create some openings (Hartford Marshes and Burgess Marshes). Even the heavy mower and tractor could not handle the dense vegetation. So, TJ Cooper disengaged the PTO, kept the wings of the mower down, and drove around the marsh, crushing down the moist soil vegetation. When it's too thick to mow, now that's a good year of moist soil production! Without crushing down some vegetation, waterfowl would have found the moist soil units impenetrable.
Equipment Operator Cooper and Bio Tech. Hinkle at Hartford Moist Soil Unit. (Bidens, Polygonum, Iva)
The Refuge places greater emphasis on treating only the areas that require attention. We don't disk an entire unit because 1/3 has invading cotton woods or cockleburs. Bio Techs and Equipment Operators should have the knowledge and the freedom to make good decisions from the seat of the tractor, while they're in the field. Selective mowing and disking addresses the areas that require treatment, and allows the desirable vegetation to continue growing.
Consistent rains during the growing season produced excellent moist soil vegetation. Moist soil units never suffered from drying, even during July and August. We installed stoplogs in late August, hoping to catch some runoff. Pumping began in October and continued through early November. Because of its shallow basin, and its tendency to evaporate, Rummel was the last unit pumped. Evapotranspiration rates were low enough in November that the unit held water throughout the winter.
We burned the small ephemeral wetlands near Rummel marsh in November. These wetlands occur in the following locations: east of Maxwell Marsh, western 1/3 of Rummel marsh, north of Katy Marsh to the north of the trees, north of Half Mile Marsh, south of Katy Marsh, north of Yellowlegs Marsh. These seasonal wetlands provide more micro habitats near the marshes, making them more productive and attractive to spring shorebirds and teal. They vary in depth from 4-12 inches, and fill with water in late winter and spring. In addition to waterbird habitat, the ephemeral wetlands provide excellent breeding sites for amphibians, particularly leopard and chorus frogs.
In 2004, the Yellowlegs Moist Soil Unit held water for the first time. Ducks used the marsh heavily, particularly the areas east of the north-south tree row. The unit will require some disking in 2005.
PL Gamble reached an agreement with the Corps of Engineers and the Kansas Water Office for a two foot summer drawdown (to 1037 feet) on the John Redmond Reservoir, followed by a two foot fall/winter pool rise. Such action exposes hundreds of acres for shorebird habitat and moist soil vegetation (one foot of drawdown equates to approximately 1,000 acres of exposed mudflats) . The drawdown creates our best shorebird habitat. For the fourth successive year, we received enough inflow, 200,000 acre feet by June 30, to trigger the summer drawdown. Unfortunately, the lake level remained high through most of the summer, thus little moist soil vegetation germinated. However, in late summer after the mudflats dried and germinated, buff-breasted sandpipers used the area. We will try to renew the agreement again next year. The water management plan will have to be renegotiated when the John Redmond conservation pool is raised to 1041 feet within the next few years.
3. Forests
There are 4,200 acres of forests on the Refuge. The dominant tree species include hackberry, bur oak, green ash, American elm, slippery elm, cottonwood, willow, pecan, red oak, mulberry, walnut, and sycamore. These areas range from mature stands of hardwoods to retired croplands being invaded by woody species. Over the years, three hundred acres of retired cropland have been planted to bur oaks, pecan, red oak, etc. Bur oaks historically dominated the riparian corridor along the Neosho River and its tributaries. • The Refuge is making an effort to restore bur oaks to sites retired from agricultural production. During the fall months, WB Menard and RT Fondriest gathered 2,800 bur oak acorns from the Refuge and adjacent private lands. These we mailed to Forrest Keeling Nursery. After two growing seasons, we'll purchase the five-foot tallRoot Production Method (RPM) trees, for planting on the Refuge, thereby completing restorations with our own genetics/eco-types.
Bur oaks are under represented in the existing riparian forests. Fire-intolerant species dominate those sites. With the intent of opening the canopy and reducing competition, we've written several burn plans for riparian hardwood burns. In April and November 2004, Refuge staff burned the riparian hardwoods along Eagle Creek. These efforts will continue, with the intent of opening those canopies to promote natural regeneration of bur oaks. The cool season Virginia wild rye sometimes precludes fire spread, so the timing of burns is critical in both Spring and Fall.
In 2003, the refuge received a $2,500 grant from the National Wild Turkey Federation for hardwood restoration along the Neosho River. This was matched with $2,500 from the Challenge Cost Share Program. In November, we planted 100 acres of retired cropland to bur oaks. We used RPM trees from Forrest -Keeling Nursery, Elsberry, MO. In three gallon pots with a well developed root system, these trees should establish and grow quickly. The lighter-seeded species should inter-seed on their own.
Each year Refuge staff issues wood cutting permits to local citizens who are interested in cutting firewood. In 2004, permits were issued for the Fitch Hill prairie, where trees had been sheared by a contractor. Wood cutting is restricted to those areas where trees need to be removed from roadsides or in areas with a lot of downed trees.
The National Wild Turkey Federation honored Flint Hills NWR with the 2004 Agency Partnership Award. One award was given for a 4 state region (Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska). NWTF cited the Refuge's help with wildlife habitat restoration projects, research, landowner field tours and hosting the Governor for a filmed turkey hunt.
10 RT Pankratz, RT Fondriest, WB Menard, PL Gamble planting bur oaks with NWTF funds.
WB Menard accepting the 2004 Agency Partnership Award from Brandon Houck (Regional Biologist, Nat. Wild Turkey Federation)
11 4. Croplands
Farming operations at Flint Hills NWR were conducted by 11 farmers under cooperative agreements this year. A cooperative agreement between the Corps of Engineers and the Service allows the government share of crops in excess of wildlife needs to be sold. These monies are to be used at the station within five years of receipt. The refuge share of corn and milo crops are left standing in the field while the wheat is harvested and sold. The Refuge share of soybeans was substituted by a food plot mix that was planted by the cooperative farmers to be left unharvested. This mix consisted of sunflowers, millets, and three kinds of sorghums. Legume crops such as clover and alfalfa are encouraged in crop rotations to improve soil health. Cooperators are rewarded with the total share of the legume crop, following soil improvement.
2004 Cooperative Farming Agreements
Standing Acres Govt Share Crop Planted harvested unharvested Corn 719 0 145 Legumes 25 0 0 Soybeans 860 0 Food plot mix 117 Wheat 825 ' 165 0 Milo 113 0 . 51 TOTAL ACRES 2660 165 313
*No post-wheat soybeans were planted. Therefore, these numbers reflect only full-season soybeans.
In previous years, field borders (66-feet wide) were established along croplands to reduce soil erosion as well as chemical and fertilizer run-off. Seeded to Canada wild rye and switchgrass, they responded vigorously during the first growing seasons.. Some areas were flooded with spring rains and will require reseeding in the future.
Following the 2003 growing season, 689 acres of cropland were removed from production. Plans for the acreage include moist soil units, tallgrass restoration, and riparian hardwood (bur oak) restoration. In November 2003, NRCS engineers surveyed some of the fields for moist soil development. The remaining fields were surveyed in March and May 2004.
12 5. Grasslands
There are approximately 2,100 acres of grasslands on the Flint Hills NWR. These areas were once tallgrass prairie dominated by big bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass and prairie cordgrass. However, major flooding since 1993 has caused significant invasion of weeds, such as Johnsongrass, which have proven difficult to control. Since Johnsongrass is a State and County listed noxious weed, many hours of staff time are spent mowing to prevent seed maturity. This activity is recognized as more of an appeasement measure than one of control. Wholesale chemical application within a fioodplain has not been a viable option.
Sericea lespedeza continues as a problem for the Refuge. It is now a State listed noxious weed and we are controlling it several ways. Most of our control efforts involve spraying with Remedy. We tested Remedy and Garlon 3 A for sericea control. Garlon' 3 A, although safer to use near water, proved only 50% effective. Sericea spraying expanded this year with the treatment of the more remote native prairie sites.
Retired farm fields above 1060' of elevation are generally targeted for native grass restoration efforts. Several restoration sites were destroyed due to flood events since 1993. Only a few areas located on higher elevated sites will now be considered for grassland and forb restoration. In 2004, refuge staff restored native grasses and forbs to 290 acres of land taken out of agricultural production. Most of these acres occurred immediately north and west of the Refuge office, on land not subject to flooding. A wet year provided for good grass establishment. We expect another healthy response in 2005.'
We received funding (Equipment Rental Grant) to shear trees that have invaded and encroached upon our native prairies. A skid steer with a hydraulic shearer proved an effective tool. The prairies along Blackbird Lane (south of Eagle Creek) were treated, hi addition, a contractor sheared small prairies to the southeast and south of Fitch Hill. The prairies sheared in 2003 were burned in April 2004. Additional burns will be necessary.
WB Menard harvested seed from Eryngium leavenworthii from native prairies and planted the seed at four dry prairies at Marais des Cygnes NWR.
6. Other Habitats
Between 1996 and 2000, one hundred acres of Refuge cropland were retired from farming and reestablished as riparian buffer zones along the Neosho River, tributaries and the larger drainages throughout the Refuge. These zones are a minimurn of 200 feet wide along both sides of the Neosho River and 150 feet along both sides of tributaries and major drainages. This will not only improve the wildlife habitat but will help stabilize the river channel and improve water quality for downstream users.
Although there was initial opposition to the riparian buffers from our cooperative farmers due to loss of farm ground, most are starting to understand the importance of this conservation practice.
13 Work continues on the Refuge GIS. The system is used to document burning history, sericea spraying, habitat potential, etc. New layers are continually created. A useful addition last year was a mosaiced image of 2000 color infrared flight, 1966 land cover, and 1856 land cover. In 2004, WB Menard began using the Refuge Lands GIS program as a better means of mapping habitat types and recording management activities.
9. Fire Management
Eastern Kansas and Nebraska Fire Management District Calendar Year 04 Summary:
Prescribed fire is utilized on the Eastern KS & NE fire district for: a) restoration of native grass species; b) reduction/control of normative species; c) control of woody invasions into grasslands and moist soil management units; d) assisting the farming program by removing wheat stubble; e) maintaining/rejuvenating nesting cover for waterfowl and other native birds; and f) preservation and/or stimulation of endangered species habitat.
The Eastern KS Fire Management District has three cooperative agreements for wildfire suppression with local fire protection districts Lyon County Fire, Coffey County and Linn County. The Refuge has initial attack authority within two miles of refuge boundary. This year we lost 100 acres to 12 wildfires on the Refuge. Also, occurring on the refuges were mechanical hazardous fuel reduction projects. A contractor with a skid-steer loader and tree saw was hired to remove the timber fuel from the native prairies. A total of 221 acres were treated by the contractor. This will help with future burning and restoration of the prairie.
We had a fairly good year for burning. Refuge staff completed 29 prescribed burns for a total of 3,100 acres. Many of the burns are now being allowed to burn in the timber fuels. This is a change from the past procedure of holding the fire at the timber edge. Allowing the timber to burn decreases the effort of holding and is a great benefit to the resource. It does, however, require more patrols of the units on following days as the timber fuels can smolder longer than grass.
As burn plans are expiring, they are being combined as they are rewritten to reduce the amount of paper work and increase efficiency. This, coupled with the new complexity analysis, has caused the plans to rank as Moderate complexity, which requires a type n burn boss. The FMO and fire staff also prepared a new fire management plan and MOlLEs with state, county and city fire departments for eastern KS.
During the March, April and May, the fire crew and other refuge employees assisted other FWS refuges (Quivira, Boyer Chute, Marais des Cygnes, and Alamosa) with prescribed burning. FWS employees also assisted the National Park Service in KS (Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve, Fort Larnard NHS), TX (Lake Meredith NRA) and in OK (Chickasaw NRA) with prescribed fire. During the summer, our fire crew supported the KS & NE Interagency hand crew, and a detail for 30 days to South TX FWS for severity. The FMO detailed to the Coronado NF in AZ as an ICT3 for 30 days also. Due to scheduling and refuge obligations, the Biologist was unable to provide support for national fire assignments this year.
Fire District and Refuge Staff instructed basic fire fighter courses to the NRCS in KS during the fall. The NRCS entered into an agreement to assist FWS refuges in KS with prescribed fire operations, and some suppression efforts as available. This training will be conducted yearly with NRCS.
14. Fire and refuge staff worked with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) to create fire effects monitoring (FEMO) student intern positions for the FY05 on the fire district.
The Eastern Kansas and Nebraska Fire Management District consists of Flint Hills (KS-FLR), Marais des Cygnes (KS-MCR), National Wildlife Refuges in Kansas, and Boyer Chute (NE-BCR) NWR in Nebraska.
Fire Statistics: Wildland Fire Suppression Unit # Fires Acres KS-FLR 8 99.0 KS-MCR 4 0.9 NE-BCR 1 7.0 Totals 13 106.9
Prescribed Fire Treatments (WUI & HFR) Unit # Fires Acres KS-FLR" 17 1815.0 KS-MCR 12 1279.0 NE-BCR 6 472.0 Totals 35 3566.0
Mechanical Fuel Reduction Treatments Unit # Fires Acres . KS-FLR 2 110.0 KS-MCR 4 111.0 NE-BCR 0 0.0 Total 6 221.0
Interagency, FWS Fire Support / Details: Unit Resource Reason KS-QVR Type VI Engines + Staff Rx Fires and Suppression ' TX-RGR ENGB + Crew Suppression KS-KIR Type VI Engine + Crew Suppression CO-ALR Type VI Engine + Crew Rx Fires OK-CHP DIVS Rx Fires AZ-CNF ICT3 Suppression CO-PNF CRWB, FFT1, ICT4 Suppression Nationwide FWS Handcrew.
Training: Instructed: S-130, 190, 211, BLM / DOI Fire Refresher. Students attended: S-215, 217, NFS Grand Canyon Helicopter Academy,
15 Staffing: 1 - Fire Management Officer (filled position in April 04), 1 - Supervisory Range Technician (PFT), • 1 - Lead Range Technician (subject to furlough), 1 - Senior Fire Fighter (1039 hrs seasonal), 1 - Fire Fighter, Crew Member (1039 hrs seasonal).
10. Pest Control
The majority of the pest control on the refuge is limited to weeds hi crop fields and along roadsides. The most prevalent problems on the refuge are the State listed noxious weed Johnsongrass and the County noxious weed Sericea lespedeza. Areas infested with Johnsongrass were mowed this year to keep the plants from going to seed.
Spraying for Sericea lespedeza has become a bigger priority in prairie remnants throughout the Refuge. Small patches were spot sprayed with Remedy while larger fields were broadcast sprayed. In 2004, 100 acres were spot sprayed and 200 acres were broadcast sprayed. Prairies should be visited multiple times in a season for several years in a row. Remedy continues to effectively treat sericea.
WB Menard maintains a Commercial Pesticide Applicator's Certificate for Noxious Weed Treatment. Equipment Operator Laws maintains a Commercial Pesticide Applicators license for Agricultural Plants. There have been no insecticides used on the refuge in the past fifteen years.
The cooperative farmers are aware of the Refuge's attempt to reduce pesticide use in our farming program. Roundup UltraMax accounted for 90% of the herbicide used on the Refuge in 2004. The following herbicides were approved for use on the Refuge in 2004: Roundup WeatherMax; 2-4, D Anaine 4; Remedy; Garlon 3 A. The Refuge Integrated Pest Management Plan was approved in 2004.
11. Water Rights
Flint Hills NWR is located along the Neosho River and Eagle Creek in the flood pool of John Redmond Reservoir which was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a flood control project. When the reservoir is at normal conservation pool, very little refuge land is inundated. During extreme flooding, however, up to 95% of the area can be covered. Floods of this severity are relatively common (1973, 1985, 1.986, 1993, 1995 and 1998).
Two types of water rights are currently in effect at Flint Hills NWR. Nineteen permits are approved for the diversion of water from the natural flows of tributaries by low profile dikes. Eleven additional permits cover pumping of water from the Neosho River or Eagle Creek into constructed and natural wetlands. Approved water rights applications, their type and acre feet authorized, are listed below.
16 In 2000, we began, operating under a commingled water permit which required reporting only total acre feet of water pumped. This allows us to use the total amount of water rights anywhere on the Refuge., instead of being limited to individual marshes.
Certificates of Appropriation have been received from the Kansas Department of Water Resources for the following Areas: Palin, Coon Harnman, Indian Hill, Goose Bend, Rurnmel, Burgess, Beschka, Strawn Flats, Hartford, Hamrnerton, Bench and Maxwell marsh units.
In Fall 2003, and May 2004, NRCS engineers and WB Menard performed total station surveys at six potential moist soil units. After the design phase and calculation of total water storage, we submitted water permit requests for each of these units to the Kansas Water Office. A reply is expected between May and August 2005.
Water Rights Permits and Types - Flint Hills NWR
WATER UNIT NO. TYPE DIVERSION TYPE AC/FT Commingle 43589 Recreational Pump 1472 Hartford 39581 Recreational Pump 500 Troublesome East 39582 Recreational Pump 110 Pintail 39583 Recreational Natural Flow 110 Lower Bench 39579 Recreational Natural Flow 125 Boes 39580 Recreational Natural Flow 60 Bench 38287 Recreational Natural Flow 500 Hamrnerton 38286 Recreational Pump 90 Hammerton 38285 Recreational Natural Flow 180 Hartford 38283 Recreational Natural Flow 300 Beschka 38280 Recreational Pump 150 Beschka 38282 Recreational Natural Flow 150 Burgess 38279 Recreational Natural Flow 300 Burgess 38278 Recreational Pump 206 Rurnmel 38284 Recreational Pump 100 Rurnmel 38277 Recreational Natural Flow 100
17 WATER UNIT NO. TYPE DIVERSION TYPE AC/FT Strawn Flats 38281 Recreational Natural Flow 110 Palin Slough 38273 Recreational Pump 25 Palin Slough 38271 Recreational Natural Flow 25 Laird's Pond 17608 Recreational Natural Flow 70 Coon-Hamman 38274 Recreational Natural Flow 80 Coon-Hamman 17606 Recreational Pump 19 Money Penny Pond 17606 Recreational Natural Flow 6 Troublesome 17597 Recreational Natural Flow 30 Indian Hill 17601 Recreational Natural Flow 330 Indian Hill 38275 Recreational Pump 330 Goose Bend 38276 Recreational Natural Flow 200 Goose Bend 17609 Recreational Pump 200 Maxwell 39115 Recreational Natural Flow 270 Yellowlegs 45024 Recreational Natural Flow 188.15
G. WILDLIFE
2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species
Two federally listed birds are known to occur on the Refuge; the bald eagle and the least tern. Bald eagles generally arrive along with the waterfowl and spend the winter around the John Redmond Reservoir and surrounding areas. Eagle use is monitored as part of our weekly waterfowl'Surveys and the staff participates in the annual mid-winter eagle survey each January.
There was no eagle nesting activity observed this year. The eagle nest near Lebo Creek blew down during the winter of '02-'03. No attempts at reconstruction were noticed during 2004. Eagles continue to use refuge moist soil units and the Neosho River, with a maximum of 32 seen during January 2004.
In addition to the above mentioned species, the Neosho Madtom and the flat floater mussel are both listed as threatened and known to occur within the Neosho River drainage.
18 Although four pair of least tern nested on the John Redmond Reservoir in July 2003, the birds did not nest in 2004 because of high water in the Reservoir. The birds had nested on spoil islands at the southwestern side of the dam. 2003 was the first documented nesting attempt on the Reservoir/Refuge. The Refuge is considering the creation of a nesting island on old house foundations immediately east of the Strawn Flats parking lot.
3. Waterfowl
A primary objective of the Flint Hills NWR is to provide a quality feeding and resting area for migrating and wintering waterfowl. The main methods of achieving this goal are through moist soil management and agriculture.
Waterfowl counts are conducted biweekly throughout the use season. The surveys are coordinated with the State waterfowl surveys to reduce cost, increase coverage and maintain our working relationship with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. We also participate in the statewide midwinter duck and goose surveys.- Fall waterfowl migration peaked in mid-November. As with the previous year, snow goose migration began in November. In contrast to previous years, very few snow geese wintered on the Refuge in 2004. Duck migration also proved relatively slow.
Peak Waterfowl Populations
Year Canada Snow White- Ducks Geese Geese fronted Geese 2004 900 32,000 400 18,000 2003 500 9,430 200 7,138 2002 1,440 26,000 1,200 20,740 2001 1,112 33,900 250 15,128 2000 2,718 81,300 1,525 14,728
Canada geese utilized the nesting islands on Troublesome and Lower Hammerton marsh units. The islands were built when the marsh units were drawn down for dike/water control structure rehabilitation in 1996.
19 4. Marsh and Water Birds
Moist soil water level management was tailored to accommodate the growing populations of egrets and herons. Common and snowy egrets, great blue, little blue, and green herons responded to the low water and high concentrations of invertebrates. White pelicans, double-crested cormorants, and pied-billed grebes are also common and took advantage of the moist soil units.
Twelve great blue herons used the rookery along Lebo Creek, south of 19th lane. Seventeen herons nested in the rookery on the south side of the Neosho River to the northwest of Hartford. The third heron rookery occurs at the junction of Eagle Creek and Four Mile Creek.
5. Shorebirds. Gulls, Terns and Allies
The Refuge enjoys good numbers of yellowlegs, dowitchers, killdeer and assorted peeps. These birds can generally be found whenever habitat conditions are favorable. WB Menard conducted shorebird surveys from March-June and August-October. The Refuge receives greater shorebird use during the fall migration, with numbers reaching 2,000 pectoral sandpipers, least sandpipers, and lesser yellowlegs. The highlight of shorebird migration occurred on August 23rd, with 14 buff- breasted sandpipers at Strawn Flats moist soil unit. This was a smaller number than the 75 which were seen in 2003, on August 26th. However, we're happy to see consistent usage by buff-breasted sandpipers.
For the past five years, PL Gamble reached a water management agreement with the Kansas Water Office and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Tulsa District). The agreement outlined a management plan for the John Redmond Reservoir, providing for a two foot drawdown (1037 feet) during the summer, followed by a two foot pool rise (1041 feet) in the fall, hi addition to providing excellent shorebird habitat during the summer, the drawdown allows for moist soil response around the perimeter of the reservoir. The conservation pool level, currently at 1039 feet, will rise to 1041 feet sometime within the next two years. This action is necessary to recover lost water storage capability due to siltation. This planned pool rise will increase the frequency and duration of flooding on the Refuge. The Refuge will pursue another water management agreement for John Redmond Reservoir once the new conservation pool takes effect.
6. Raptors .
Red-tailed hawks, common nesters on the refuge, are present year-round. Kestrels, turkey vultures, barred and great horned owls are also known to nest on the refuge. Other species observed during Hie year include merlin, prairie falcon, Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks, Swainson's hawk and rough-legged hawk. Osprey are also sighted on the refuge several times a year. WB Menard saw an adult golden eagle flying over Burgess marsh in October. Goldens are much rarer on the Refuge than Bald Eagles.
One Krider's red-tailed hawk spent the winter on the Refuge, West Bench Moist Soil Unit.
20 7. Other Migratory Birds
Since the 1990's, the refuge YCC crew has constructed bluebird.nest boxes as a rainy day activity during the summer. Typically 100-150 bluebird nest boxes are made and given away to interested parties each year. The Refuge maintains a bluebird trail of 70 boxes, which are checked in early winter to clean out and to determine use. Typically, 95 percent of the boxes are used by bluebirds and tree swallows each year.
8. Game Mammals
Game mammals on the refuge include cottontail rabbit, fox squirrel and white-tailed deer. All of the above animals are plentiful and easily found in suitable habitat. The most popular and visible game mammal on the refuge is the white-tailed deer.
10. Other Resident Wildlife
Otters were released in the early 90's on the Cottonwood River upstream from the Neosho River and the Refuge. Reports of river otter sightings on the Refuge occur about twice a year. Annual road kills on the highway just north of Hartford confirm the general consensus that the population is continuing to grow.
Beaver, always present in the river, moved into several marsh areas with the high water during the year. They continue to cause some problems with our dikes and water control structures.
Populations of northern bobwhite quail and Eastern and Rio-Grande cross turkeys, are present on the Refuge, although pheasants and prairie chicken populations are extremely low. Other residents include coyote, raccoon, beaver, bobcat, and opossum. Several sightings and road kills in the area have confirmed the presence of armadillos in this part of Kansas. .
WB Menard observed regal fritillary butterflies on every prairie during summer 2004. Two or three butterflies were seen during each visit to a prairie. Was abundant rainfall responsible?
In March and April, with the help of Lloyd Fox (KS Dept. of Wildlife and Parks), Refuge staff used distance sampling techniques to estimate densities of white-tail deer.
21 11. Fisheries Resources
Responsibility for fisheries management in the Neosho River and John Redmond Reservoir belongs to Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Assistance is provided as needed for management of refuge landlocked fisheries.
Gamefish found in the area include channel catfish, white bass, crappie and flathead catfish.
White bass, which normally run in large numbers in the spring, made a half-hearted attempt this year. Fishing action was below the legendary runs of past years.
Fisheries Biologist Leonard Jirak (KS Dept. of Wildlife and Parks) stocked three thousand paddlefish from the Hartford boat ramp. WB Menard assisted. This marked the third stocking in five years.
WB Menard with paddlefish.
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General
Approximately 46,250 visitors came to Flint Hills NWR in 2004. The entire Refuge is open to permitted public use activities throughout most of the year. The portion north of the Neosho River, except for the Burgess Marsh and Dove Roost areas, is closed to all public access from November 1 to March 1 to provide sanctuary for migrating birds.
The Refuge's southern boundary extends from one shore of John Redmond Reservoir to the other, with the north half of this line closed to hunting and the south half open. Each year we place a buoy line on the lake to define these areas in the fall, and attempt to retrieve them in the spring.
The Refuge hosted it's annual Eagle Day on February 22 due to an ice storm on the originally planned day in January. Approximately 40 people attended. Hanley, Laws, Menard, and Gamble worked the event providing a presentation on eagles and the National Wildlife Refuge System, and gave a tour to view eagles, ducks, and geese.
Approximately 3000 visitors at Hartford's annual Harvest Day Festival in September viewed refuge displays and visited with Refuge staff in our large tent. Information regarding the Centennial Celebration and National Wildlife Refuge Week was provided. Approximately 100
22 bluebird and wren nesting boxes built by YCC enrollees were given to successful participants in a short wildlife quiz. The staff entered a float in the parade and won First Place in the division.
As in the past, refuge staff joined staff from Kirwin and Quivira NWR's in operating a booth at the Kansas State Fair at Hutchinson in early September.
The staff hosted an Open House and Grand Opening of the new Visitor Center addition on Friday, October 15. Approximately 100 people attended the event and joined us in celebrating the big day. "Honker" the blue goose greeted guests and posed for photos. Lorrie Beck from the Great Plains Nature Center brought a kestrel, barn owl, and hognosed snake for visitors to view. The Region 6 Centennial quilt was also on display and was a very popular draw while it was here. The Emporia Gazette wrote a nice article about the quilt. We also had arts and crafts for kids and bus tours. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve sent over a bus and driver to help us conduct the tours.
Wildlife photographer Karen Hollingsworth was here in early November to put up her exhibit "Reflections of Nature from the National Wildlife Refuge System - Celebrating a Century of Conservation" in the new Visitor Center. Karen also presented her multimedia presentation "Let's Go Wild" and gave a short talk on November 6. The Refuge will have the exhibit until March 2005.
Karen Hollingsworth Exhibit displayed in the addition to the Office Building
The Refuge Hunting/Fishing tear sheet was reprinted in September.
2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students
The Refuge staff is asked to conduct presentations to school groups and youth organizations year- round. This year was much slower for refuge field trips than in the past. Ms. Hoelting's resource class from Olpe Elementary came out to the Refuge several times for environmental education activities. However, no other classes came out during the year.
We had several visits from the Hartford Library summer reading group this year.
23 4. Interpretive Foot Trails
Dove Roost Nature Trail. This trail was originally developed in 1976 as a YCC project and continues to draw a steady flow of visitors despite its isolated location, approximately 8 miles east of the office. The 1.1 mile walking trail circles Dove Roost Pond, passing through native tallgrass prairie and heavily wooded habitats. An observation tower near the parking area provides a good view of migratory waterfowl resting on John Redmond Reservoir. Eagle Point, a rocky outcropping, provides a good observation area for eagle watchers in the winter. A boat ramp is also provided at the popular fishing pond.
Townsite Trail (formally known as Headquarters Trail) This trail was developed as a YCC project in 1981 and is located 1A mile northeast of the office. This area was once part of Hartford, but when the John Redmond Reservoir was developed, a protective levee cut this area off from the rest of the town. The trail receives considerable foot traffic from town via a turnstile on Mill Street and a walkway across the dike. Vehicular traffic arrives at either of two parking areas on Townsite Road (formerly Kansas 57 highway). A two- acre frog pond is a feature along the two-mile trail.
Burgess Marsh Trail This is the newest trail and was completed in 1997. The one-eighth mile trail leads to a 100-foot boardwalk jutting out into the marsh. It was a dirt/gravel trail until 2002, when we had it re-done using concrete. The entire trail and boardwalk are now accessible.
6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations
New interpretive panels and brochure holders were installed at the Burgess Marsh overlook this year.
A lot of time was spent on developing themes for the new exhibits to be housed in the Visitor Center addition. Hanley and Melvie Uhland, EVS, spent a week in February developing ideas and writing the Statement of Work for the project package. Advanced Resource Management, Inc. (ARM) of Lafayette, CO was awarded the exhibit contract in June. Uhland, Hanley, Gamble and Menard met with Rich Smith and Christine Leahy of ARM in October to go over the project. Exhibits should be completed by June 2006. Hanley also completed Federal and State collecting permits to allow to collect wildlife specimens to be used in the exhibits.
7. Other Interpretive Programs
Staff member also conducted school and service groups presentations off the refuge throughout the year. Hanley presented programs at St. Joseph's School in Olpe, Olpe Elementary, Neosho Rapids Elementary and Admire Elementary in 2004.
24 8. Hunting
Approximately 7,900 acres of the Refuge are open to public hunting year-round in conjunction with state seasons. An additional 2,100 acres are open for all hunting, except waterfowl, from March 1 through October 31. This area is closed to all public access during the remainder of the year. Permanent sanctuary status exists on 8,220 acres. In 1990, the Refuge became a non-toxic shot zone for all shotgun hunting except for turkey and deer. In the fall of 2001, we changed the turkey hunting requirement to allow for only non-toxic shot.
Waterfowl hunting is normally the highest hunting use on the Refuge. The 2003-2004 duck season closed on January 11. Goose season closed February 6. The 2004-2005 season began with the September 18-26 Teal season. The rains we received the end of August and in September put some water into the marshes. The season overall was. fair. The main waterfowl season was open Oct. 30 through the rest of the year. Like last year, there was a restricted season on pintails and canvasbacks. Their season ran Oct. 30-Dec. 7. We had a lot of pintails using the refuge marshes the first few weeks of the season. The Refuge has become a very popular hunting spot and therefore we experience overcrowding in many of our areas, particularly the Hartford marshes. We can get up to 20 vehicles parked in each of the two parking lots at this spot. The disturbance to the birds and to other hunters can limit hunter success. Hunters that branched out to other areas had better success, at times, and higher quality hunts.
The hunting units were open for the special Youth Duck Hunt on October 16-17, two weeks before the general waterfowl season opener.
Pintail and Hartford Marsh roads were closed to through traffic at the beginning of the waterfowl season in an effort to curtail traffic disturbance and improve waterfowl use in those areas.
Turkey hunting has become more popular on the Refuge due to an expanding population of wild turkeys. On May 11, a film crew with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) firmed Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius hunting turkeys on the Refuge. NWTF CEO Rob Keck, and KDWP Secretary Mike Hay den provided calling assistance for the Governor. She bagged a nice Tom in the afternoon (appr. 22 Ibs, 1 1/4" spurs, 10.5' beard). Manager Gamble provided a Refuge tour and interview, highlighting habitat project work, where NWTF has been involved as a partner. The NWTF plans to develop a firm showing the Governor's hunt and featuring the NWTF/Refuge partnership. The film will be aired on The Outdoor Channel sometime next spring.
25 Governor's Turkey Hunt, Back Row: National Wild Turkey Federation Kansas Regional Director Vance Ralstin, PFW Biologist Jim Minnerath, KDWP Secretary Mike Hayden, Flint Hills NWR Project Leader Jerre Gamble, Governor Kathleen Siebulus, Kansas Flint Hills Turkey, and National Wild Turkey Federation CEO Rob Keck.
Deer hunting is allowed according to State regulations except that centerfire rifles are prohibited. The required shotgun hunting keeps the number of hunters during the firearm season fairly low. A few years ago we noticed a decline in our deer population. Therefore we decided to limit the harvest by not allowing game tags to be filled on the Refuge and not being open during the extended white-tailed deer season in January. These new regulations took effect in 2001 and also seem to have lowered the number of hunters we see on the Refuge.
Archery deer hunting, however, is becoming more popular. We get quite a few out-of-state hunters coming to the Refuge, hoping to find a Kansas trophy deer.
The Refuge is also open to small game, upland bird, and crow hunting. These hunting activities constitute a very small portion of our consumptive users.
9. Fishing
Fishing usually accounts for the majority of the consumptive use visits, just slightly above hunters. Anglers tried their luck at catching white bass, catfish, crappie, and saugeye.
26 11. Wildlife Observation
The Refuge offers visitors good wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the year, however, the spring and fall offer the best viewing for migratory birds. Bird watchers from all over the United States visit us each year looking for such species as the greater prairie chicken, scissor-tailed flycatchers and many of the warblers.
12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation
Photography is becoming more popular each year and many visitors capture the Refuge and its wildlife on film.
13. Camping
Although the Refuge does not have any permanent camping facilities, primitive camping is allowed on the Refuge. Campers are expected to pack out everything they pack in. Due to the summer heat, the insects, and poison ivy, we do not have a lot of camping taking place most years.
14. Picnicking
Picnicking visits usually occur in conjunction with other Refuge activities, but visitors occasionally come just to picnic.
16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation
Wild food gathering is permitted on the Refuge. Mushrooming for morels and pecan gathering are activities that are very much a part of local custom and culture.
17. Law Enforcement
PL Gamble relinquished his law enforcement authority in January due to the new FWS Law : Enforcement Deployment Plan. That left SROS Hanley as the only Refuge staff member who currently has law enforcement authority. Zone Officer Kennedy, although not technically assigned here, has been a great asset to the Refuge and checked hunters throughout the hunting seasons. This was the first year that officers kept up a patrol log to track hours spent on law enforcement activities. Dual function officers are now required to perform LE duties at least 25% of their time.
27 ZLEO Lisa Kennedy performing her daily duties.
For the majority of the year, individuals and groups are contacted incidental to other duties. Patrols and coverage of the Refuge are increased during the hunting season due to increased use and potential for violations. Local residents assist in the LE effort by keeping an eye on the Refuge and reporting violations or suspicious activities to Refuge Officers. Additional coverage of the Refuge is accomplished with the aid of two State game wardens assigned to the counties within which the Refuge is located.
Officers Hanley and Kennedy participated in a LE detail at Boyer Chute NWR for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial re-enactment in late July-early August.
Various violations were encountered during the hunting season. NOV's were written for target shooting, hunting waterfowl with an unplugged shotgun, and possessing lead shot while quail hunting.
In May, Hanley was contacted by the Lyon County Sheriffs Office that a hunter had reported finding human remains on the Refuge, south of Eagle Creek. Hanley met the Coffey County Undersheriff and a Lyon County Deputy at the site. The KBI and a coroner were called and responded that night. The coroner determined that the bones were not human.
In December, Officer Kennedy was contacted by the Coffey County Sheriffs Office while patrolling the Refuge on another report that hunters had found human remains in the Fitch Hill area. Unfortunately, this report proved to be correct. Officers Kennedy and Hanley and Range
28 Tech. Pankratz assisted in an area search and recovery of evidence on December 12. The Coffey County Sheriffs Office and the KBI took the lead on the investigation. The deceased went missing in March or April, 2004, but the family called off the search saying that he had later been seen in the Kansas City area. He apparently had left a suicide note stating that he was going to kill himself on the Refuge.
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
1. New Construction
Construction on the Office/Visitor Center expansion began in October 2003 and was completed in November 2004.. The expansion added a new conference room, new exhibit area, a storage room, and an accessible rest room. The former conference room was re-modeled which added 4 new offices for staff. PL Gamble developed an MOU with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) utilizing COE engineering and contracting services. Kingston Environmental Services of Wichita was the general contractor. Ron Thuma served as the on-site inspector.
Outside view of the office building addition and renovated parking lot.
29 A new parking lot and gates were added at the entrance to Strawn Flats so we can close off the road when the water gets high.
2. Rehabilitation
The Office parking lot was torn up and rehabilitated this year. Refuge staff did all the dirt work and Burlington Construction got the project for $12,120 to lay a hot mix asphalt surface on the 30'xlOO1 parking lot and to pour concrete sidewalks and a kiosk base. Refuge staff then constructed a 40'x75' gravel parking lot adjacent to the asphalt one for extra space.
Due to complaints about the log jam affecting the Jacobs Creek boat ramp, we rehabilitated the fishing access point on Eagle Creek. The area was graded and gravel added to allow for easier boat access into Eagle Creek. PL Gamble arranged a cost share agreement whereby Coffey County and Kansas Wildlife & Parks paid for the gravel and the Refuge provided labor and equipment.
A road rock project was awarded to Mike Hanks to provide gravel throughout the refuge road system.
Federal Highway Administration survey crew was on the Refuge in February to survey the Pintail marsh road. This stretch is scheduled for rehabilitation work utlizing Refuge Roads funding in 2006.
Bridge inspections were completed in April. The inspection showed that Troublesome Creek bridge could have some structural problems. However, at this time we do not think what was found to be a major problem. The bridge will be monitored for any changes.
Dirt work was also done on the Troublesome Marsh dike to complete the water control structure and riprap project started in 2003.
Annual road maintenance included trimming of over hanging limbs, clearing and cleaning of road ditches and replacing several culverts. Road shoulders were then graded and shaped before crushed limestone was spread.
4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement
TJ Cooper was certified on the road grader this year. So now we have 2 operators for this piece of equipment.
MMS funding was received for the purchase of a Ford Ranger 4x2. This truck replaced the 1992 Ford Ranger.
30 2004 Ford Ranger added to the fleet this year.
The old Ranger, two Clark tractors and scraper were sold via GS A Auctions in October. The Ranger brought $ 1811.00 and the heavy equipment brought a total of $55,160.00.
Military Surplus- Clark Tractor and Clark Scraper following GSA sale.
31 Brent Waters from Quivira NWR conducted ATV training at Flint Hills in June. Bio. Techs Hinkle and Jacob received the training.
6. Computer Systems
Three new laptop computers were purchased for the maintence staff, fire staff, and the administrative officer.
8. Other
TJ Cooper attended the SAMMS training at NCTC in February. He and Hanley began implementing the system in December.
The Refuge received the annual Community Area Recycling Excellence Award from the City of Emporia for our recycling efforts. Ron Thuma represented the Refuge at the annual awards meeting. The Refuge has a fairly extensive recycling program. We recycle aluminum, scrap metals, waste oil, antifreeze, cardboard, magazines, catalogs, junk mail and other office generated paper. Employees are allowed to bring sorted recyclables from home to add to our collection since the volume of this material doesn't seem to result in additional trips or sorting.
% J. OTHER ITEMS
1. Cooperative Programs ,
Partner for Fish and Wildlife Program Private lands staff in Kansas includes three permanent biologists, one stationed at Flint Hills NWR, one stationed at Manhattan, Ecological Services office, and one at the Kirwin NWR in north central Kansas. Damien Miller, PFW Coordinator for Kansas, is stationed at the Manhattan ES Office. Activities and accomplishments are reported through the HABITS program.
Central Flyway Wingbee Flint Hills NWR has been the home for the Central Flyway Wingbee since 1992. The wing processing for the Central Flyway Wingbee program got started in September and was in full swing by October 2004. Lyle Hancock serves as the lead on processing all the envelopes and data that comes in. Several other staff members offered some assistance in the speciation process. This year proved to be a below average year withl 9,863 parts processed from the 2004-2005 hunting season. Approximately 40 people from 10 states participated in another successful Wingbee program held February 15-18.
32 3. Items of Interest
PL Gamble attended several public meetings regarding the logjam on the lower end of the Neosho River which is currently over one mile in length (most estimates are approximately 1.5 miles). The aforementioned logjam has rendered the Jacobs Creek boat ramp unusable, due to logs and silt having been deposited immediately in front of the ramp. A small, but vocal group of citizens from the community of Jacobs Creek have contacted there elected representatives in an attempt to remedy the situation. The local citizens are complaining that their property values are affected along with lost recreational opportunities. The COE, Tulsa District, is currently doing an appraisal of the Neosho River logjam at John Redmond Reservoir to determine what, if any, action should be taken. Preliminary cost estimates for removal of the logjam, or to create a new river channel, are in the several million dollar range.
The logjam has created a backwater affect on the lower end of the Refuge causing frequent closures to some access points such as the Strawn Flats boat ramp and the Pintail Road.
Ground view of Log jam at Jacob's Creek Boat Ramp
33 Aerial view of the logjam.
4. Credits
SROS Hanley, Biologist Menard and FMO Wimberly wrote the report ,PL Gamble and AO Burton edited and arranged it.
34 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
MARAIS DES CYGNES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE PLEASANTON, KANASAS
2004 ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
B. Freske, 06/02
efuge Manager Date 0 J- r Project Leader Date
Chief of Refuge Operations, Region 6 Date Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
A. HIGHLIGHTS 1
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 1
C. LAND ACQUISITION 1. Fee Title 2 2. Other NTR
D. PLANNING 1. Master Plan NTR 2. Management Plans., 3 3. Public Involvement NTR 4. Research and Investigation NTR 5. Other .'...: NTR
E. ADMINISTRATION 1. Personnel 3 2. Funding 4 3. Safety 4 4. Volunteers 4 5. Other ..: 5
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT 1. General 5 2. Wetlands 5 3. Forests 5 4. Cropland 6 5. Grasslands 6 6. Other Habitats NTR 7. Grazing 6 8. Haying 6 9. Fire Management 6 10. Pest Control 7 11. Water Rights 7
WILDLIFE 1. Wildlife Diversity NTR 2. Waterfowl 8 3. Raptors NTR 2 4. Other Migratory Birds 8 5. Other Resident Wildlife NTR 6. Fisheries. , ...NTR 7. Scientific Investigations 8
H. PUBLIC USE 1. General NTR 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students.... NTR 3. Interpretive Foot Trails NTR 4. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations NTR 5. Other Interpretive Programs NTR 6. Hunting 8 7. Fishing NTR 8. Wildlife Observation NTR 9. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation NTR 10. Other Non-Wildlife Related Recreation NTR 11. Law Enforcement 8
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 1. New Construction NTR 2. Rehabilitation 9 3. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 9 4. Computer Systems 9 5. Other NTR
J. OTHER ITEMS NTR NTRODUCTION
Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is a 7,500 acre area located 45 minutes south of Overland Park, Kansas, and is complexed with the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge which is located 100 miles to the west near Hartford, Kansas. The Refuge is named after the Marais des Cygnes River that runs through the middle of the Refuge and is the dominant natural feature of the region. The name, "Marais des Cygnes", comes from the French language and means "Marsh of Swans". This name is actually a translation of an Osage Indian name for the region, "Mixa-ckau-tse", which means "where white swans are plentiful". The name is said to have been in reference to Tundra and Trumpeter Swans, which were once common in the Midwest, and are believed to have used wetlands adjacent to the Marais des Cygnes River during spring and fall migration.
The Refuge was established in 1992 for the protection and restoration of bottomland hardwood forest. In combination with forest on the adjacent State Wildlife Area, one of the northwestern- most examples of bottomland hardwood forest in the United States as well as the largest and highest quality tract of bottomland hardwood forest in Kansas is now preserved. Much of the Refuge that lies above the floodplain is comprised of forest, grassland, and abandoned cropland. Tallgrass prairie, bottomland hardwood forest, and upland oak-hickory forest sites are found throughout the Refuge, though high quality sites are limited in size and number.
A. HIGHLIGHTS
Valerie Gerken enters duty as the Refuge's first PFT Administrative Support Assistant (E.1)
Ryan Frohling becomes the new Refuge Manager (E.1).
The Refuge acquires the 40 acre Rodrock inholding (C.1).
The old Truax Drill was replaced with a new model using MMS funds (1.3)
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
Temperatures at the Refuge range from highs around 104 degrees farenheit in July and August, to lows of-26 degrees farenhiet in late December and January. Average Fall and Spring frosts fall around the 15 of October and the 20th of April respectively.
The average yearly precipitation is approximately 40 inches. Most of this falls as rain during mid to late spring and again during the fall. However, it can rain heavily anytime of the year. Once the ground is saturated, even small rains can cause rivers and streams to flood. The Marais des Cygnes River flood plain is generally one to two miles wide throughout the area. Flood events are most common in the spring and early summer and again in the fall, and generally last anywhere from a few days to as long as three weeks. Table I 2004 Weather Summary Marais des Cygnes NWR
Precipitation Mean Mean 1971-2004 Month (Inches) Precipitation Temperature Normal Temp January 2.25 1.48 29.74 30.20 February 0.64 1.45 33.00 35.77 March 7.37 2.77 46.98 44.66 April 3.10 3.69 54.97 55.97 May 4.37 4.92 66.05 65.06 June 6.63 5.62 70.73 73.98 July 5.77 4.21 75.16 78.98 August 2.47 3.49 71.32 77.49 September 2.43 4.32 67.87 69.29 . October 5.76 3.41 58.26 58.27 November 6.01 2.40 47.13 44.99 December 1.53 1.61 34.85 34.36 Totals = 48.33 39.68 54.67 55.74
C. LAND ACQUISITION
1. Fee Title
The 40 acre Rodrock inholding was acquired in September from The Nature Conservancy. This tract is currently in agricultural production. Plans are to remove the tree-row from the eastern side of the property and seed the remainder back to native grasses and forbs.
Work also continued on an exchange with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). KDOT is planning to widen Highway 69 which touches the Refuge Boundary in the extreme NW corner. In order to accomplish this KDOT is asking for a land exchange in which the Refuge would divest of 3.5 acres of fescue/pecan grove in exchange for 25 acres of bottomland hardwood inholdings. KDOT has bought the 25 acre Morrisey tract and is holding it until we can complete the exchange, which should be in early 2005. Regional Surveyor, Howard Cline, surveyed a portion of the Refuge's south boundary. The survey will allow the Refuge to establish a permanent fenceline on this boundary to keep the adjacent landowners cows on his property.
D. PLANNING
2. Management Plans Menard wrote several Pesticide Use Proposals (PUPs) throughout the year. Notable additions that were approved include Pasturegard, Mirage, and Oust herbicides. Mirage is a Glysophate we plan on using to spray fescue grasslands to prepare for native grass and forb seedings as well as tree plantings. Oust is a pre-emergence herbicide we will use over seedling/sapling trees during the dormant season to reduce the weed competition. Pasturegard will be used by a contractor to spray Sirecea lespedeza.
The cropland plan was also begun that outlines the Refuge's need to re-seed native grasses and forbs onto areas of the refuge. This will result in a decreasing amount of cropland on the refuge. Ultimately the Refuge would like to see all cropland and fescue pasture re-seeded to native grasses and forbs. This will require a lot of planning and preparation involving tree removal, glysophate spraying, and cropland rotations to ensure we can maintain re-seeding levels. Work on the plan continues at the end of the year.
ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel
Staff: Ryan Frohling, Refuge Manager, PFT, GS-0485-12, EOD 7/11/04 William Peterson, Maintenance Mechanic, PFT, WG-4749-09, EOD 12/22/96 Valerie Gerken, Admin. Support Assistant, PFT, GS-0303-07, EOD 5/1/04 Deon Steinle, Supv. Range Technician, PFT, GS-0455-07, EOD12/29/02
Refuge Manager,, Bruce Freske, accepted trie-Refuge Managers position at Mattamuskeet NWR, North Carolina, in early April. A going away party was held for him with staff from the Flint hills complex in attendance. Bruce was the first on-site manager at Marais des Cygnes. His knowledge and experience will be missed but he accomplished many good projects in his 5-year tenure here.
Valerie Gerken accepted the Administrative Support Assistant position in mid-April. Valerie's EOD was May 1. This position is the result of a FY '04 RONS project. Valerie is the first full- time Administrative Assistant dedicated specifically to Marais des Cygnes. She is a valuable asset to the Refuge.
Ryan Frohling was hired as the new Refuge Manager in mid-July. His EOD was July 11. Ryan served as the Wetland Manager for the Benton Lake Wetland Management District in Montana prior to accepting the Refuge Manager position at Marais des Cygnes.
Kyle Ellis was hired as a STEP student to lead the YCC program and help out when needed. Kyle spent many days spraying weeds, mowing, working on the walking trails and pulling fences out of tree-rows.
Larry Erickson worked as a bio-tech from April 26 through July 24. Larry mostly worked on installation of the kitchen cabinets and other carpentry needs at the Steele House. Temporary Clerk Lila Spurgeon worked from January through April. Her position was replaced by the permanent Administrative Support Assistant position, filled by Valerie Gerken.
2. Funding
Office Fund Target (OFT) sub activity FY 2004 64630-1261 Operations $ 241,400 64630-1262 Maintenance $ 42,500 64630-9263 H F R $ 93,081 64630-9131 $ 10,250 64630-9132 $ 39,200 Total Allocated $ 426,431 Non-Alllocated Funds 64630-8610 $ 2,700 Total Budget-MdC NWR FY '04 429,131
3. Safety
3 CA-1's were filed for injuries to employees while working on the Refuge. One each for an eye and wrist injury and one for a feral cat bite. Each employee was counseled on proper safety techniques to use in the future. All employees involved are in good health and suffered no long lasting effects from the injuries.
4. Volunteers
A volunteer work day was held in October. Staff members Frohling, Menard, Steinle and Gerken worked with 24 volunteers to collect, by hand, native grass and forb seed from some of the Refuge's prairie sites. This seed was dispersed later in the fall in areas where disturbance had occurred.
A total of 150 hours of volunteer time was used during 2004. Volunteers assisted with many different types of projects, including fence removal, seed collection, and biological surveys.
5. Other
The Refuge had it's first YCC staff during the summer of 2004. Chris Kuchenbrod and Jessica McQueen were hired on to work for 7 weeks. They began work on June 15. McQueen worked for only 5 days before quitting due to a previous injury. James Hall was then hired on June 29 to replace McQueen. Both Kuchenbrod and Hall worked through August 6. The YCC spent most of the summer beginning a new trail that will take visitors through an area of upland forest dominated by Post-Oak and then out onto the prairie. Although much work remains to be done before the trail is opened, The YCC's got a good start in 2004. r. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General
We received the October 2002 color infrared photographs of the refuge in May. It shows many changes in the habitat on the refuge since our most recent photos (1996), They will be helpful in determining management priorities and showing people changes that are taking place on the refuge.
2. Wetlands
One new wetland was created in 2004. It sits directly below the existing Trading Post wetland and plugs many "W" ditches running through a crop field. When full the wetland will impound approximately 80 acres of water. No boards were put in the Water Control Structure in 2004 because of a lack of vegetation on the embankment.
Other wetlands were kept in three-quarter to full condition throughout the year because of the frequent rains. Many of the old river oxbows held water throughout the year.
Menard and Caleb Morse (KU Herbarium) collected and sampled sedges from various places on the refuge.
3. Forests
Biologist Menard began to pursue funding through carbon sequestration to restore approximately 700 acres of the refuge to bottomland and upland forest. Environmental Synergy, Incorporated made a site visit to the Refuge in early July to look at the potential project. While the site visit went well and we continue to hear positive feedback about getting funded, no further news was received in 2004.
Approximately 90 Acres of Tree rows and other areas where trees had taken over, were sheared in 2004. These areas consist of mainly Osage Orange and Honey Locust with a few interspersed.Hackberries and Red/Pin Oaks. After shearing to remove the trees, the areas will be prepped and either allowed to regenerate to native grasses and forbs, or be seeded when we receive enough funding.
Swamp White Oak were found on the Refuge in the Mine creek area. As far as we know it is the only place in KS where Swamp White's are naturally occurring. This area was mapped by Menard for future reference.
4. Croplands
1,077.1 acres of Cropland were to be farmed on the Refuge in 2004. 26 of these acres were not farmed in 2004 because of difficult conditions. Of these 1,077 acres, approximately 252.5 acres were planted to Winter wheat, 615.5 acres to soybeans (156.5 acres double cropped), and 339.5 acres to corn.
Cash Rent was the method used to collect payment for farming on the refuge. For 2004 the Refuge collected $32,062.96. Of this amount, $15,493.01 was deducted from the Rent in exchange for services provided by the permittee. The remainder was sent to the Refuge Treasury account in Dallas.
5. Grasslands
261 acres of cropland were seeded with native grasses and Forbs in 2004. All but 84 acres were seeded using the Vicon spreader. The other 84 Acres were planted using the Truax no-till drill.
7. Grazing
310 acres of Fescue was grazed on the Refuge in 2004.
8. Haying
Eleven acres of alfalfa were hayed on the Refuge in 2004.
9. Fire Management
A new seasonal firefighter, Shiloh Reed, was hired. He assisted with many fire and Refuge projects while on staff.
The Eastern Kansas/Nebraska Fire District, which Marais des Cygnes NWR lies in, hired a new FMO, Fenn Wimberly, who is stationed at Flint Hills NWR.
Refuge staff, with assistance from outside resources, completed 11 burns for 1239 acres. Prescribed burn operations were conducted to meet goals and objectives set by the Refuge fire staff, Refuge management, and the Refuge biologist. A couple of these included the reduction of hazardous fuels, invasive species control, and ecological management. Marais des Cygnes NWR received assistance from Flint Hills NWR, Fort Meade Fuels Crew (South Dakota BLM), Des Lacs NWR, National Key Deer Refuge, and AD hires from throughout Kansas. Several brush piles were burned in CY '04 by Refuge fire staff and personnel from Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. Three mechanical projects were completed in CY '04. Two of these were Hazard Fuel Reduction projects and one was a Wildland Uban Interface project. These three mechanical projects totaled 90 acres and were completed by private contractors John Wunderly and North Texas Fire Resources. Marais des Cygnes fire personnel assisted with prescribed fire operations at Flint Hills NWR, Quivira NWR, Kirwin NWR, and Boyer Chute NWR. The Refuge experienced 4 wildland fires for a total of 0.9 acre. All wildland fires on the Refuge were due to arson, private land trespass fires, or illegal campfires. Refuge fire personnel were dispatched to two off-Refuge wildland fire assignments in 2004. Seasonal RT Shiloh Reed was assigned to a heavy engine during severity on the South Texas Refuge Complex. And SRT Deon Steinle was assigned to a Type 2 IA capable, handcrew that traveled to Northen California for a severity assignment on the Modoc National Forest.
10.Pest Control
The Refuge received $13,000 from CCl for spraying Sericea lespedeza. A contract was awarded and herbicide purchased. The contractor began spraying late in 2004 but will complete the project in 2005.
11. Water Rights
All water reports were completed and sent to the RO for review and forwarding to the Kansas Water Department.
G. WILDLIFE
2. Waterfowl
Waterfowl census were completed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks prior to and through the hunting season.
4. Other Migratory Birds
Menard floated the Marais des Cygnes River with Bill Busby (KS Biological Survey) on June 1st. 20 species were found including 54 Northern Parula, 40 Prothonotary Warblers, 37 Acadian Flycatchers, and 37 Pewees.
Menard provided KS Biological Survey with information regarding Henslow's sparrow locations on the Refuge.
7. Scientific Investigations
Tim Maloney continued the mussel research project started in 2003. Due to extremely high flows throughout the summer, very few days could be spent in the River collecting information. Maloney's research will continue through the spring/summer of 2005.
Menard wrote and received a USGS SSP grant that will fund another graduate student to continue the mussel research after Maloney completes his thesis.
7 PUBLIC USE
6. Hunting
The refuge gets most of it's hunting pressure during the spring turkey and archery deer seasons. The refuge limits the numbers of hunters during these two seasons as well as the January extended season.
207 applicants were received and 50 hunters selected for the spring turkey season while 126 hunters applied for the 75 archery permits issued for the Refuge.
11. Law Enforcement
Peterson and Frohling worked throughout the fall hunting season. 4 violations were observed and Violation Notices were issued. All of the violations were for discharge of firearms on the Refuge. Two were for .22!s and two were for center-fire rifles. All paid the collateral amount ($150.00) except one. He went to court and got his fine reduced to $20.00 plus court costs.
EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
2. Rehabilitation
Three rehabilitation projects were completed in 2004. The Murray barn had a wider door opening installed to make entrance easier and increase useable building space.
The Steele house received a HVAC system in December and Steel siding on the house and garage (completed in February '05).
3. Equipment Utilization and Replacement
The Refuge received a new Truax no-till drill as replacement for the old drill.
4. Computer Systems
SAMMS money was used to purchase a satellite internet connection as well as new computers for Gerken and Peterson.
8 ,
RM Freske's Going away party. Flint Hills NWR, Marais des Cygnes NWR, and Marais des Cygnes WA staff.
Mussel shells along the Marais des Cygnes River