MEDICINE LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
LAMESTEER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
MEDICINE LAKE, MONTANA
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 1982
U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM MDL - 1982 1 Photo by; SPB 4-3-7-6-1-5-2
f Personnel 1. Eugene D. Stroops, Refuge Manager GS-12 PET Transferred in from Red Rock Lake NWR, 11/28/82 2. Steven P. Brock, Assistant Manager GS-9 PFT Transferred in from Devils Lake WMD, 05/16/82 3. Frances K. Larson, Refuge Assistant (Typing) GS-5 PFT A. Kermit E. Bolstad, Automotive Mechanic WG-10 PFT 5. John E. Snellman, Maintenance Worker WG-8 PFT 6. Carl S. Kampen, Maintenance Worker WG-7 PPT 7. Dennis C. Nelson, Motor Vehicle Operator WG-6 PPT
t 5 Jay R. Bellinger, Refuge Manager Transferred to Yukon Delta NWR, Bethel, Alaska 06/12/82
Steven W. Breeser, Assistant Refuge Manager, transferred to Tetlin NWR, Tok, Alaska on 03/06/82 •; YCC SUMMER HELP
MDL-1982 Photo by: SPB
Eileen Bakken Kim Kappheim
Terri Drake Leigh Nelson
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page
A. HIGHLIGHTS 1
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 2
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 Plan 2 3. Public Participation Nothing to report A. Compliance with Envronmental Mandates 2 5. Research and Investigations 2
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel A 2. Youth Programs A 3. Other Manpower Programs Nothing to report A. Volunteer Program Nothing to report 5. Funding 5 6. SAFETY 6 7. Technical Assistance Nothing to report 8. Other Items 6
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General 7 2. Wetlands 7 3. Forests Nothing to report A. Croplands 9 5. Grasslands 10 6. Other Habitats .Nothing , to report 7. Grazing 11 8. Haying Nothing to report 9. Fire Management Nothing to report 10. Pest Control 12 11. Water Rights 13 12. Wilderness and Special Areas 13 13. WPA Easement Monitoring Nothing to report G. WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife Diversity 1A 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 1A 3. Waterfowl 4. Marsh and Water Birds 17 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species 19 6. Raptors 20 7. Other Migratory Birds 21 8. Game Mammals 21 9. Marine Mammals Nothing to report 10. Other Resident Wildlife 25 11. Fisheries Resources 26 12. Wildlife Propogation and Stocking Nothing to report 13. Surplus Animal Disposal Nothing to report 14. Scientific Collections 28 15. Animal Control 28 16. Marking and Banding 28 17. Disease Prevention and Control 28
h. PUBLIC USE
1. General Nothing to report 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students Nothing to report 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers Nothing to report 4. Interpretive Foot Trails Nothing to report 5. Interpretive Tour Route 30 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations Nothing to report 7. Other Interpretive Programs Nothing to report 8. Hunting 30 9. Fishing 30 10. Trapping 31 11. Wildlife Observation 31 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation Nothing to report 13. Camping Nothing to report 14. Picnicking 31 15. Off-Road Vehicling Nothing,to report 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation Nothing to report 17. Law Enforcement 31 18. Cooperating Associations • ; Nothing to report 19. Concessions Nothing to report
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
1. New Construction 33 2. Rehabilitation 35 3. Major Maintenance 35 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 36 5. Communications Systems 36 6. Energy Conservation Nothing to report 7. Other Nothing to report J. OTHER ITEMS
1. Cooperative Programs Nothing to report 2. Items of Interes... 37 3. Credits 37
K. FEEDBACK
L. OTHER
1. Lamesteer National Wildlife Refuge Narrative 1 A. HIGHLIGHTS
The heavy winter snowpack of 1982 brought an end to the two year severe drought. (Section B)
An extensive hydrological survey was started in the vicinity of the refuge to monitor and determine the extent of the ancestral Missouri River aquifer. (Section D.5)
Refuge Manager Bellinger and Assistant Refuge Manager Breeser both transfer to Alaska. (Section E.l)
The Youth Conservation Corp was initiated on this refuge and became a very valuable asset to the refuge work program. (Section E.2)
The second year of experimental intensive spring grazing was used for grassland management. (Section E.5)
Filing for refuge water rights was completed under the Montana Water Rights Adjudication Law. (Section E.ll)
Severe hail storm results in 95% mortality on refuge gull production.(Section G.5)
Pheasant populations reach all-time high while sharptail grouse population crashes. (Section G.10)
A severe avian botulism outbreak resulted in over 5,000 dead waterfowl.(Section G.17)
High water levels in Medicine Lake and stalling by contractor results in delayed completion of Sayer Bay Dam. (Section 1.1)
Construction of new $250,000 BLHP service building was started in June. (Section 1.1)
Breeser Dam, force account project completed at Homestead. (Section 1.1) B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS f Green grass and full wetlands were a welcomed sight in 1982 after two years of devastating drought in northeastern Montana. Generally the year of 1982 could be called an excellent water year, which was so greatly needed to restore the parched wetlands and grasslands on the refuge.
Fifty-five inches of accumulated snow fell during the winter months, which held A.29 inches of actual precipitation. This, along with an ideal quick spring melt, resulted in a very good run-off to completely fill all wetlands on the refuge.
January started the year off with an extremely cold month with an average daily temperature of -7.36*F. The lowest temperature for the year occurred on January 10 with a -38*F. The warmest temperature was 96*F on August 1A.
April through July provided ideal moisture conditions to allow the grasslands, crops, and grass seedings to flourish. Rain seemed to fall evenly spaced every few days. We ended the year with 16.06 inches of precipitation which was 1.88 inches above normal.
D. PLANNING
2. Management Plan
Work continued toward the completion of the Grassland Management Plan. During 1981,the ground work of mapping and cover typing was completed. During 1982, time was spent correlating this information and preparing the final plan. Completion is planned for 1983.
The Annual Water Management Plan for 1981 was completed along with recommendations for water use in 1982.
A. Compliance with Environmental Mandates
An environmental assessment was completed and approved for a 1,000 cubic yard barrow pit located adjacent to the construction site of Sayer Bay Dam. Greg Rowlett, Regional Historian, conducted the cultural resource survey for the site. No evidence of cultural resources were found on the site.
5. Research and Investigations
Medicine Lake NR 82 - Hydrology of Northeastern Montana - Emphasis on Ground Water Development and Conservation.
An extensive hydrological study was started to survey the ancestral Missouri River channel aquifer which runs beneath the Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge. This aquifer is believed to be the old Missouri River bed which originally flowed from the vicinity of Poplar, Montana,toward the north into Canada, until it was forced by glacial activity to turn its course towards the south. The sand and gravel deposits of the old channel were buried by glacial till and alluvial deposits and formed an underground aquifer which continues to flow north and is presently believed to be charged by waters 3.
of the Missouri River and possibly Medicine Lake itself.
In the past several years, thirty to fifty large wells have been drilled in Sheridan and Roosevelt Counties, Montana,for center pivot irrigation systems. These wells are believed to tap the ground-water system associated with this aquifer. In addition, similar wells are on the increase in northwestern North Dakota and Canada, which are also believed to be associated with the buried channel aquifer.
This study will attempt to show the effects of large scale withdrawal of water from the aquifer and answer questions concerning source, quality, and yield of ground water.
The Medicine Lake Refuge and nine Waterfowl Production Areas sit above this aquifer and may very well be greatly influenced by this buried river channel.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contributed $12,000 in 1982 to assist with the cooperative study funded by Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, U.S. Geological Survey, Sheridan-Roosevelt Counties and private funds. This study is scheduled for 27 months ending in FY-84.
Phase I of the study began in March with a public meeting in Plentywood, Montana, presented by the U.S. Geological Survey and Montana Bureau of Mines And Geology, explaining the benefits of the study and what information will be provided. In June, Gary Levings, Hydrologist, U.S.G.S., began assembling baseline data, inventorying and sampling existing wells for quality and depth.
Medicine Lake NR 82 - Grasshopper Research
Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge is one of five different areas in Montana included in this study. Baseline data being collected include soil moisture, precipitation, and forage growth. These factors are being used to analyze fluctuation in year to year grasshopper populations. This year is probably the last of a five year study. The study site on the refuge is in cool season native grass.
TABLE I. Five Year Comparison of Available Moisture to Grass Production on Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Grass Production Available inches Year lbs/acre of moisture 1978 1530 14.77 1979 1235 9.45 1980 472 4.80 1981 1229 8.65 1982 1024 8.63
This study is being conducted by George B. Hewitt, Research Entomologist, Rangeland Insect Laboratory at Montana State University. Completion and publication of final results are expected in 1983. E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel
Jay R. Bellinger, Refuge Manager, transferred to Yukon Delta NW Refuge, Bethel, Alaska on 6-12-82.
Eugene D. Stroops, Refuge Manager, transferred in from Red Rock Lake NWR, Monida, MT. on 11/28/82. t
Steven W. Breeser, Assistant Manager, transferred to Tetlin NWR, Tok, Alaska, 3/6/82.
Steven P. Brock, Assistant Manager, transferred in from Devils Lake WMD, Devils Lake, N. Dak. 5/16/82.
John E. Snellman, Maintenance Worker, changed from Career-Seasonal to Full-Time Permanent, 3/21/82.
Refuge Staffing Pattern
Permanent Temporary Full-time Part time
FY-82 5 2 0 FY-81 A 3 0 FY-80 A 3 0 FY-79 5 3 2 FY-78 6 2 1
2. Youth Program
The Youth Conservation Corp (YCC) program was initiated this year at Medicine Lake NWR. The program began on June 1 and completed on July 22. Four local girls were selected from five applicants at Medicine Lake High School. They were paid minimum wage from station 1210 funds.
The YCC program turned out to be very valuable in completing many of the routine maintenance jobs around headquarters. Some of the work projects completed include: painting exterior of seven buildings, painting several interior rooms, painting flag pole, weather station, mail box, and observation tower steps. Cleaning, mowing, and painting the recreation area picnic shelters, headquarters grounds maintenance, washing and waxing vehicles, refinishing nine large refuge signs, baiting waterfowl banding sites and cleanup of 1,500 dead gulls and 100 dead pelicans (for the prevention of botulism) were some of the other projects accomplished. MDL-1982 Photo by: SPB YCC girls hard at work maintaining recreation area.
The enrollees received environmental education while in the process of accomplishing work projects. Several tours of the refuge and discussions were accomplished concerning habitat, species identification, and avian botulism.
5. Funding
Funding since FY-1978 has increased each year, as shown in Table II, but has generally not kept up with inflation. Salaries and fixed costs continue to remain excessively high. Out of a total budget of $231,000 in FY-82 only $40,500 in operational funds remained after salaries and fixed costs.
TABLE II. Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Northeastern Montana Wetlands Funding for 1978-82.
Activity FY-78 FY-79 FY-80 FY-81 FY-82 1210 160,800 193,000 172,000 203,000 200,000
1220 2,500 — — — 13,000 1240 15,000 15,000 12,000 10,000 10,000
1400 1,000 1,000 — — —
3100 4,000 — — — — 6810 4,000 2,500 6,000 7,000 8,000
Total 187,300 (85%)211,500(86%) 190,000(82%) 220,000(93%) 231,000(82%) BLHP 174,710 220,320 135,000 300,000 271,000 * Percent of total budget utilized for salary and other fixed costs. 6. SAFETY
The refuge completed another year accident free. The refuge has accumulated 5,768 man-days without a lost time accident. Staff SAFETY meetings were held intermittently throughout the year.
Several unsafe conditions, which were detected during 1981 SAFETY inspection were improved. These included: extension and bracing of chimneys on the residences, installed U.L. approved heat shields for wood burning stoves, installed vent pipe on unleaded gasoline storage tank, and installed flash back attachments on the acetylene torch.
8. Other Items
The Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 31,A57 acres of land and water. The refuge staff also administers the Northeast Montana Wetlands District which contains 9,006 acres of fee title land and 7,179 wdtland acres under easement. Lamesteer National Wildlife Refuge, an 800 acre easement refuge located 180 miles south, is also administered from this station.
Looking east at refuge headquarters complex. F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General
The severe drought years of 1980 and 1981 finally came to an end in 1982. The heavy winter snowpack provided the badly needed moisture to bring the soil moisture content back to normal and refilled all refuge wetlands to capacity. Refuge croplands provided an average crop with harvests of barley at about 35 bushels per acre and spring wheat about 25 bushels per acre. Residual cover provided slightly less than normal nesting cover in early spring due to the dry conditions of 1981. However, ideal early spring and summer precipitation provided excellent grassland growth for renesting and slate nesters.
2. Wetlands
Spring run-off began on March 1 and generally peaked out in late March and early April. The refuge recorded 70,125 acre feet of water inflow from tributary streams between March 1 and April 15. Readings after April 15 were not made, though several drainages did continue large quantities of flow for several more weeks. This was due to the limited staff available and needed collection of other biological data. The total water needs of the refuge in early spring was 42,309 acre feet. This large deficit was easily met and all refuge wetlands were filled to capacity. Excess water allowed a thorough flushing of all wetlands, including the main lake and Homestead Lake. This flushing is very important to allow accumulated salts, resulting from evaporation, to be washed out. The previous two years allowed no flushing due to drought conditions.
Lake Creek continued to flow into mid-June, while the Big Muddy Creek had good flows into early August.
This is the first year that the new BLHP constructed main water control structure on the Big Muddy Creek Diversion Canal was used since its completion in 1980. In early June, after the main lake was filled, the boards were placed in the structure. Heavily silt laden waters from summer thunder storms were then allowed to bypass the lake and flow down Muddy Creek. In the past this water was permitted to enter Medicine Lake and deposit its silt load in the west end of the lake.
The Medicine Lake outlet structure (#4 structure) was opened on June 4 to relieve some of the pressure on the spillway which was showing evidence of erosion. This structure was then closed on July 19 when the lake had receded to its management level.
Water conditions remained very good throughout the summer. Water levels at freeze-up were down less than a foot in most impoundments.
In early September the decision was made to release water from Medicine Lake to allow the level to recede about one and one-half feet to enable the contractor to start work on the Sayer Bay dam. This work was being held up due to high water levels. Though the levels were reduced by late September no construction was started this year. Water levels in Homestead Lake were drawn down in late September approximately two and one-half feet below the management level. This allowed the ice to freeze to the bottom, and nesting island construction is scheduled for the winter of 1983. With the ice frozen to the bottom, better support is provided for heavy equipment and the weight of the islands themselves. With the water under the ice, the weight of the island material causes even three feet of solid ice to bend which prevents trucks from dumping fill close to the existing islands.
By the end of the year, the total refuge water deficit reached 15,319 acre feet. This is not too bad compared to the 42,309 acre foot deficit in 1981 and 32,497 acre foot deficit in 1980, which were two extreme drought years.
Construction of the Breeser Pond Dam was finally completed in December. This dam, located on Sheep Creek in the Homestead Unit, will create a new 60 acre impoundment. Construction was started in late 1981 and partially completed in early 1982, but due to the extreme winter, had to be abandoned. Heavy spring flooding combined with summer wave action, destroyed most of the unrip-rapped dike. Final completion of the dike with spillway and rip-rapping should prevent future damages.
Water chemistry readings are taken annually to document changes in water quality. These readings are taken twice each year in all of the major impoundments, once following spring run-off and again in the fall after ice- up. Readings are also taken in all tributary streams during major run-off. Salinity in parts/1000 and conductivity in raicromhos/centimeter are taken using a YSI Model 33 S-C-T Meter. The large increase in water over 1981 in combination with the good flushing of most of the impoundments during spring run-off resulted in a reduction in all readings taken in 1982.
TABLE III. Comparison of Water Chemistry Readings from 1981 to 1982 - Fally Salinity Conductivity Parts/1000 Microraho/centimeter Impoundment Location 1981 1982 1981 1982 Medicine Lake 1A 2.0 1.0 2050 1200 Medicine Lake IB • 1.7 I'.O 1860 1200 Gaffney's Lake 2A 2.0 1.0 2210 1300 Gaffney's Lake 2B .2.0 1.25 2290 1350 #10 Lake 3 2.3 1.5 2520 1700 Deep Lake 4 2.9 2.0 2830 2125 #12 Lake 5 1.0 .75 1530 900 Katy's Lake 6 7.5 3.0 7050 3300 11 Lake 7 3.5 1.75 3620 2000 Homestead Lake 8A 3.0 1.25 3400 1600 Homestead Lake 8B 10.8 1.5 10000 1750
* Taken immediately after ice-up through about 3 inches of ice. A. Croplands
The cooperative farming program on the refuge includes six permittees that farm a total of 707 acres throughout the refuge. Of this total 364 acres were in summer fallow and 343 seeded to small grains.
TABLE IV. Refuge Crop Utilization Refuge Share Acres Permittee's Refuge Left Crop Planted Share Share Standing Harvested
Spring Wheat 257 233.5 86 72 14
Barley 86 0 23 23
Total 343 234.0 109 95 1A
Due to the relatively low amount of annual precipitation, the majority of the farm land in the vicinity of the refuge is in summer fallow rotation. Major crops are spring wheat and barley. Very little winter wheat is produced in this area.
' The standing grain left as the refuge share on these cooperative seeded fields had virtual total utilization by late fall. Resident Canada geese begin feeding on the crops as soon as it sprouts in the spring and continue feeding on it until fall when migrating ducks and geese join in to clean up the majority of the grain. Resident game birds and deer also benefit from the crop. Establishment of secure waterfowl nesting cover remains one of the major refuge objectives. Conversion of old seeded crested wheatgrass fields to dense nesting cover (DNC) is the primary method of reaching this goal. With the final seeding of about 400 acres of DNC in the spring of 1982, the refuge completed the six year program of converting 1,265 acres of low potential, 40+ year old, seeded crested wheatgrass fields to DNC. Several of the DNC seedings completed in 1980 and 1981 will have to be evaluated in 1983 to determine success of establishment. These two drought years appear to have been tough on germination. If, after the spring of 1983, these stands have not improved, a decision will have to be made whether or not to start all over with break up and reseeding The 400 acres seeded to DNC in the spring of 1982 appears to have had an excellent start provided by the optimum soil moisture and early summer rains. Intermediate wheatgrass, alfalfa, and clover were visible throughout all the stands. This refuge has modified the normal.DNC seeding methods comonly used on other areas of the refuge system. Due to the arid climate of the area, the tall wheatgrass, normally seeded in a DNC mixture, has been dropped. Tall wheat- grass was successfully established only in the lower, moister sites of the fields. The refuge DNC mixture now being seeded contains 8 pounds of inter mediate wheatgrass, 2 pounds of Ladak alfalfa, and 1 pound yellow blossum sweat clover. This mixture is then seeded with 10 pounds of barley to provide a nurse crop. Due to the normal soil moisture, this seed mixture is seeded about 2 inches deep in order to get the seed imbedded into moist soil. This is at least ll inches deeper than the suggested depth to plant grass seed. The very loose, sandy soils of this area enable the germinating seed to sprout through to the surface. After the DNC mixture sprouts, there still remains a very critical period when the young plants are subjected to the cutting action of blowing sand. An entire seeding can be ruined with one spring wind storm. Once the nurse crop of barley begins to grow the DNC crop is relatively secure. The refuge now has 2,878 acres of DNC located in 52 separate units. Several of these units are over 10 years old and still provide excellent nesting cover. The refuge still has 2,208 acres of seeded brome, blue grass, and crested wheat- grass that can be converted to DNC. Robel lines have been established to measure height-density of all our DNC fields. These readings taken in early spring prior to green-up reflect the amount of residual nesting cover available. The overall average of these lines were 1.67 decimeters in 1982, up 22%, compared to 1.29 decimeters in 1981. This can be compared to 2.13 in 1980. The 1982 readings varied from a high of 2.88 down to a low of .7A decimeters. The continued low robel readings in 1982 reflect the lack of plant growth during the dry summer of 1981. Ideal soil moisture conditions of spring and early summer provided excellent growing conditions for the established DNC stands. No better stands of DNC cover could be expected in this area than occurred by mid-summer. Waterfowl will find excellent nesting conditions in the spring of 1983. 5. Grasslands The refuge contains 1A,78A acres of grasslands. The majority of these grasslands are unbroken native grass with 6,079 acres being considered in good condition. Another 3,619 acres of native grass are badly invaded with exotic species amounting to approximately 50 percent of the total composition. The main exotic invader is crested wheatgrass. Seeded exotic grasslands make up 2,208 acres, most of which are crested wheatgrass and smooth brome. An additional 2,878 acres are seeded to DNC stands. The most critical problem facing the refuge is management of the native grass lands. This cool season exotic has been very successful in competing with the refuge native grasslands which are composed of mainly cool season species such as western wheatgrass, blue-grama, green needlegrass, needle-and-thread, and prairie June grass. The problem involved with trying to control crested wheatgrass in cool season mixed grass prairie is that both are cool season species. Crested wheatgrass will green-up about two weeks before the native grasses so there is such a short critical time involved for successful prescribed burning. Plans have been made the last two years to attempt an experimental prescribed burn but weather conditions have not cooperated. No burning was accomplished in 1982. This was the second year of an experimental intensive early spring grazing program. This will hopefully provide a management technique to help control invasion by crested wheatgrass. This technique involves heavy grazing of crested wheatgrass immediately after green-up. This hopefully weakens the plant and allows the later growing natives to out compete the crested wheat- grass. During this earlv gr^en-up neriod crested wheatgrass is more available tc domestic livestock than is native spieces. We grazed 106 cow/calf pairs and 15 horses for a five week period which used 141 AUM's at a cost of $8.30/AUM. TABLE V. Intensive Early Spring Grazing Units Units Acres Stocking Rates Dates 1. 80 15 horses 4/28-5/30 2. 78 30 cow/calf 4/27-5/31 3. 120 26 cow/calf 5/2 -6/9 4. 89 50 cow/calf 4/28-6/2 The general condition of the grasslands on the refuge were exceptional this year due to the ideal spring moisture conditions. The green lush grasslands were a welcome sight following two years of severe drought. 7. Grazing Season long grazing on the refuge has been continually reduced since the mid-19701s. In 1970 sixteen permittees put 642 cow/calf pairs on 16 grazing units utilizing 2,142 AUM's. Through attrition, this stocking rate has been reduced to the present level of 933 AUM's. During 1982, seven permittees utilized five grazing units and stocked 224 cow/calf pairs. The grazing fee for 1982 was $8.30/AUM. The grazing units totaled 5,800 acres. The grazing season ranged from May 9 through September 15. Upon completion of the refuge grassland management plan, periodic heavy grazing in either spring or summer is expected to be used to manage most of the grass lands. Both grazing and prescribed burning will be utilized as management techniques. Optimum moisture provided excellent native grass growth in the Sandhills Unit. 10. Pest Control Noxious weeds continue to be only a minor problem on the refuge. The two species of major concern are leafy spurge and Canadian thistle. Spraying activities center mainly on infestations along the boundary. Field bind weed is also sprayed for control along the interior refuge roads. Medicine Lake Refuge presently has small isolated patches of leafy spurge. However, the Big Muddy Creek drainage just to the north of the refuge has a widespread infestation. This drainage is the refugees main source of water and the potential for spreading of additional seed is high. Areas along the diversion canal leading into Medicine Lake and the Sheep Creek area of the Homestead Unit have been treated the last three years. A landowner bordering the Sandhills Unit of the refuge brought to our attention several patches of leafy spurge and these sites were also treated. Two small areas of spurge were also located on Big Island of Medicine Lake. Due to the water body and wilderness area restrictions, these sites were not sprayed. Because leafy spurge does pose a significant threat to native grasslands on the refuge, we consider it very important to attempt immediate control of these small isolated infestations. Treatment for control of leafy spurge consists of an application rate of 2,A-D Dimethalamine Salt at 2 lbs. acid equivalent per acre applied with 25 gallons of water per acre. The plants are sprayed in the early flowering stage in spring and again in the early fall. This treatment does not eliminate the leafy spurge patches but may keep them from spreading. It appears that plant numbers and vigor has been reduced. Canadian thistle control has been limited to those infestations along the refuge boundary. A total of 16 acres of Canadian thistle, 2 acres of bindweed, and 11 acres of leafy spurge were treated with 2,A-D in 1982. 11. Water Rights Under the Montana Water Rights Adjudication Law, all water rights filed prior to 1973 had to be refiled before April 15, 1982. The refuge water rights were researched and filed by the water resources section of engineering in the Regional Office. A filing of 30 different water rights totaling 146,715 acre feet of water was made prior to the deadline. The legal process now requires water courts to review all claims in Montana and issue preliminary decrees. Claimants will then have the opportunity for objections and appeals before the final water decrees are issued. This very lengthy process could drag on for many years before the refuge receives the final decrees. 12. Wilderness and Special Areas The refuge has two units included in the wilderness areas. , The majority of the area is comprised of Medicine Lake itself, including all the islands. The wilderness boundary is the shoreline of the lake at management water level. The sandhills unit includes 2,320 acres of rolling sandhills with native grass throughout and clumps of chokecherry, buffalo berry, and buck brush in the lower sites. The entire wilderness area has been designated a Class I area under the Clean Air Act. The refuge Wilderness Management Plan was submitted to the Regional Office in 1979 but still remains to be approved. Approval was granted from the Regional Office to lower Medicine Lake about one and one-half feet below the approved water management level in September. This was done to facilitate construction of the Sayer Bay Dam. The refuge also contains four research natural area. Three areas pertain to native plant communities and one is archeologically involved with Plains Indian Teepee rings. G. WILDLIFE 1. Wildlife Diversity The several different habitat types found on this northern prairie refuge provide for a diverse population of wildlife. Due to the extremes in weather conditions, numbers of species change drastically with the seasons. During the summer over 220 bird species may be present while in mid-winter we have no more than 15 species. This refuge lies between the transition zone of tall and short grass prairie and attracts species common to both prairie types. Bird species common to the boreal forest are occasional visitors along with several species common to the artic zone. Marshes, shelterbelts, cropland and large water bodies provide both migration and nesting habitat for a vast array of species. 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species Three endangered species use the refuge during migration. These include the whooping crane, northern bald eagle, and the American peregrine falcon. Sheridan County, in which most of the refuge is located, has been designated as critical habitat for the whooping crane. One whooping crane spent almost four weeks in the Katy's Lake area of the refuge between April 26 and May 19, 1982. No sightings were made during the fall migration. The northern bald eagle is a yearly visitor to the refuge during spring and fall. Winter killed fish in the spring and crippled waterfowl in the fall, provide an attractive food source to the migrating eagles. Peak observations occurred around #10 and #11 lakes on April 6, when 1A bald eagles were observed on the northeast side of the refuge. Peregrine falcons are occasionally observed in the refuge area, however, no recorded sightings were made in 1982. There are no species of birds common to the State of Montana that are listed as threatened which are protected by the Federal Endangered Species Act. 3. Waterfowl Spring migrating waterfowl arrived back in the area about the normal date. The first small flock of 30 Canada geese were observed on March 13. Thirty mallards were observed on March 20. Major migration was underway the first week of April. Goose production was again surveyed by aerial counts of nests and loafing ganders. Total goose nests dropped in 1982 to 213. This is the fourth consecutive year to drop since 1978 when total nests numbered 281. The last two seasons have been extremely dry leaving many nesting islands high and dry, however, 1982 was a good water year. Big Island, a traditionally high producer of goose nests, had a pair of coyotes that apparently remained on the island to den after ice out. This harassment and predation factor apparently accounts for the 6A% reduction of goose nestp on Big Island from 1981 and possibly for the total reduction in nesting for the refuge. This pair of coyotes were removed from the island in early May after they were discovered. TABLE VI. Six Year Summary of Canada Goose Nests by Area Area 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 Homestead 16 5 23 41 35 12 Main Lake Gull Island 12 4 8 13 23 9 McDonald's Isl. 2 4 2 9 12 0 Bruce's Isl. 8 2 7 6 2 Young's Isl. 28 32 14 16 50 29 Big Island 29 81 53 38 22 63 Remainder of lake 3 3 3 8 7 3 Gaffney's Lake 13 2 15 18 20 12 #11 Lake 43 34 45 58 34 39 #12 Lake 12 17 24 16 10 4 Katy's Lake 5 3 3 4 14 6 Remainder of refuge 14 9 11 8 8 6 Actual Count 185 196 208 235 244 185 15% Expansion 28 29 31 35 37 28 Total Goose 213 225 239 270 281 213 Nests Excellent water conditions were available for breeding pair habitat on the refuge and in all of northeastern Montana in the spring of 1982. During years with large amounts of water available, the breeding pairs have more available nesting habitat. Breeding pair numbers on the refuge this year showed this to hold true. Total breeding pairs were down 2,776 pairs (19%) in 1982 in comparison to the severe drought year of 1981. During dry years the birds have no choice but to concentrate on the large bodies of permanent water such as Medicine Lake. The refuge duck production followed the drop in breeding pair numbers and was also down from the previous year by 8,345 ducks (21%). Our duck production figures are based entirely on our pair count data which samples 20% of the refuge water areas. The brood/pair index information was dropped because of the high variability in obtaining accurate brood counts. Production is calculated by using the average prpductivity rate of 45% multiplied by the average young to flight stage per brood, which is taken from Hammond and Kortright. ]( TABLE VII. Waterfowl Production Summary Total Duck Duck Total Pairs Goose Year Pairs Production Nesting Geese Production 1982 11,546 31,634 213 852 1981 14,322 40,069 225 900 1980 13,949 31,239** 239 956 1979 11,911 33,125 270 1080 1978 11,307 31,531 281 1124 1977 11,953 32,987 213 852 1976 10,660 13,419 175 700 1975 8,730 32,557 240 960 1974 6,470 13,935 134 550 1973 * 20,464 236 944 1972 * 10,591 112 448 * Pair counts not taken. Reduced 26% because of drought TABLE VIII. Duck Production to Flight State by Species Species 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 B-W Teal 5356 8012 6368 8792 7368 5705 3619 9250 Mallard 2840 6138 5185 4702 3194 5166 2820 3875 Pintail 2307 2763 1924 4420 2717 2838 708 1900 Gadwall 4249 7983 4672 3603 4641 5772 1890 3980 Shoveler 5177 5376 2346 3359 4471 6852 1350 5105 Lesser Scaup 3996 3394 4575 2577 3872 1926 1092 2120 Redhead 3326 2119 1471 2142 1570 744 558 1140 Am Widgeon 1772 1951 1879 1457 1480 1656 330 1220 Ruddy 1724 491 752 812 1586 384 488 1640 G-W Teal 225 928 1273 724 262 1378 294 340 Canvasback 577 851 702 405 270 565 230 630 Bufflehead 55 51 20 61 100 40 85 C. Teal . 21 - 30 R. Neck Duck 12 51 27 45 This years spring and fall migration peak populations were greatly reduced from 1981. This again was due to the abundant water conditions found off of the refuge which allows for the dispersal of the birds. The peak of the fall migration occurred in late October with 65,124 birds using the refuge. Most of the waterfowl use during the fall migration was on the Homestead Unit. The ideal fall water conditions provided habitat for a peak population figure of 14,700 birds in late October. The majority of these birds being mallards (4,850), gadwall (2,550), and pintail (2,200). Goose peak populations were also reduced from the 1981 population of 3,390 birds. This years' population peaked at 1,176 Canada geese, 579 white-fronts, and 9 snow geese being counted. TABLE IX. Comparison of Peak Duck Populations and Total Duck Use-Days Spring Duck Fall Duck Total Duck Year Peak Peak Use-Days 1982 * 30,000 61,779 11,323,890 1981 108,600 296,360 24,274,950 1980 53,500 94,335 14,143,050 1979 30,686 86,246 11,857,950 1978 35,93A 64,355 8,532,810 1977 46,960 167,781 11,668,993 1976 38,813 36,012 7,446,270 1975 34,020 127,300 9,247,800 197A 156,024 184,350 18,301,200 1973 83,600 206,000 21,120,810 1972 109,000 235,200 15,896,940 * Estimate only - one census made 4-21-82 resulted in 14,589 Coot production was slightly higher with 1,821 birds produced compared to 1,600 in 1981. This increase was probably due to the good nesting habitat available at Homestead. Whistling swans are found on the refuge only during fall migration. These birds had been on a steady increase during the 1970's and peaked at 1,750 in 1979. In 1980, they dropped to 580 and in 1981 increased slightly to 735 birds. The 1982 peak was only 300 birds. This drop may have been due to dispersal into available habitat surrounding the refuge. 4. Marsh and Water Birds Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge has one of the largest white pelican rookeries left in the United States. The pelicans have traditionally nested on Big Island. The large island usually provides a secure nesting site free from mammalian predation. However, this year a pair of coyotes set up house keeping in early spring and went undetected on the-.island until early May. This harassment factor apparently caused about one-third of the nesting flock to move to Bridgeman Point. This is a long narrow point extending into Medicine Lake. The coyotes were removed from the island in early May and normal nesting success occurred. In mid-May a 50 yard electric fence was stretched across the narrowest portion of Bridgeman Point in order to discourage mammalian predation and harrassment of the nesting colony of pelicans. It appeared to be successful with about 600 birds being produced on the point. Total white pelican production was 2500 birds for 1982. This can be compared to 2630 in 1981 and 2450 in 1980. An example of how coyote harrassment can effect a colonial nesting rookery was recorded when only 60 birds were fledged in 1979, due to a pair of coyotes spending the entire summer on this island. MDL-1982 Photo by: SPB A portion of the Big Island white pelican rookery. MDL-1982 Photo by: SPB Results of a successful pelican nest - ugly is beautiful. Double-crested cormorants nested at three locations on Medicine Lake this year. They nested among the pelicans on Big Island, on the highway islands, and also returned to Bridgeman Point after several years of discontinued nesting at this location. The higher water levels reduced the size of Gull Island this year and no nesting took place. In 1981, approximately 100 nests were located on Gull Island. The loss of this nesting site apparently accounts for the large reduction in total production on the refuge. Great blue herons also nest on Big Island, primarily on the top of chokecherry thickets. They were also found nesting on the highway islands. Twenty active nests were located with an estimated production of 80 herons. Other marsh and water birds that nest on the refuge include horned grebes, eared grebes, pied-billed grebes, black-crowned night herons, American bittern, Virginia rails, and Sora rails. TABLE X. Marsh and Water Bird Production White Double-crested Great Blue Eared Western Pelicans Cormorants Herons Grebes Grebes 1982 2500 112 80 * * 1981 2630 920 190 450 250 1980 2A50 900 170 650 400 1979 660 210 50 900 400 1978 60 80 40 800 400 1977 830 1A0 50 500 500 1976 3050 325 50 1350 600 1975 1180 80 12 * 197A 2300 200 55 250 400 1973 2A00 200 55 450 1000 1972 1700 350 90 500 1100 * No data available The cattle egret has been an occasional visitor on the refuge in the past. This year one was observed at Tax Bay on the east end of Medicine Lake. This bird was observed by several avid birders on later occasions in July and August. Sandhill cranes are continuing to use the refuge during migration This year approximately 2,000 cranes used the refuge and adjacent private lands for about two weeks in late October. 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species Large colonies of ring-billed and California gulls nest on the three small highway islands on the west end of Medicine Lake. These islands collectively total about one acre in size. This year about 2,100 ring-billed gulls and 600 California gulls were hatched on the islands. On June 27, a very heavy rain of 1.5 inches accompanied by marbled size hail made a quarter mile swath right over the top of the highway islands. On June 29, we picked up 2,560 gulls, 20 great blue herons, and 6 Canada goose goslings, which were all killed or severely injured by this hail storm. The majority of the gulls were this years young and resulted in 95% mortality of this year's hatch. These birds were cleaned up for avian botulism prevention. * MDL-1982 Photo by: SPB Clean-up of 2560 gulls following two inches of marble sized hail on June 27- Other common nesters include the common tern, black tern, Wilson's phalarope, American avocet, common snipe, marbled godwit, willet, upland plover, and killdeer. ¥ All of these species are common nesters on the refuge but very little data has been collected. Franklin gulls do not nest on the refuge but begin concentrating here in large numbers during mid-August. About 18,000" Franklin gulls were present in late August and were observed feeding on the massive swarms of midges that were available. 6. Raptors Common nesting raptors include the marsh hawk, Swainson's hawk, great horned owl, western burrowing owl, and short-eared owl. The ferruginous hawk and red-tailed hawk are occasional nesters. This year, the short-eared owl, again had very good production as they did in 1981. It is a common sight to see many short-eared owls along the tour route and entrance road. For some unknown reason no nests were observed in 1980. MDL-1982 Photo by: SPB The short-eared owl was a common sight along the refuge road system. Snowy owls were quite common in late November and early December, and without an accumulation of snow on the ground, they were easily seen. Four snowy owls were observed on December A sitting on the ice on the east end of Medicine Lake. They seemed to feel more secure blending in with the ice than resting in bare fields. For the second year in a row, a rare sighting of a white phase gyrfalcon was made. Sightings were made several times in early November on the east end of Medicine Lake and on November 1A, flying over the headquarters area. It was still present on January 5, 1983. 7. Other Migratory Birds The mourning dove is a very common nester in the refuge shelterbelts and brush patches. Estimated production was 500 to 1982. Avid birders come from all over the United States to observe such species as the Baird's, LeConte's, and clay-colored sparrows, as well as the McCown's and chestnut-collared longspurs. They also search for the Spraguets pipit which is also occasionly found in the area. 8. Game Mammals The white-tailed deer is the most abundant big game animal on the refuge. The deer herd on the refuge has shown a rapid increase since the early 1960's* In I960, only 125 white-tail deer was surveyed in mid-winter. This has built up to 525 animals in 1972. The population of deer peaked in 1981 with 136A animals. The increase in total population appears to be directly related to the establishment of many acres of DNC on the refuge during the past 10 years. This rank growth of residual vegetation seems to provide supplemental food and cover which helps support the deer population during the winter period. The aerial survey conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks on February 26, 1982, under ideal snow cover conditions, revealed 992 deer-. This survey included the refuge and bordering private sandhills area. A possible explanation for this decrease in population is due to increased dispersal of animals onto private lands which were not censused in 1982. TABLE XI. Graph of Mid-winter White-tailed Deer Census During winters of moderate to heavy snow accumulation, approximately 75% of this areas deer herd concentrates on the winter range in the sandhills. The refuge sandhill unit is only part of this area but winters a large portion of the total deer herd. At times this exceeds 100 deer per square mile. Another important wintering area is the Lake Grade Flats which held over 200 deer during the winter. This sub-irrigated moist plant area has for some reason attracted large wintering concentrations for several years. Due to the concern over increased deer populations and their effect on this limited winter range, a browse utilization survey was initiated in the sandhills unit in 1977. That spring followed a severe winter and showed a 73% utilization of chokecherry. During the milder winter of 80-81, only 2A.9% of this key species was utilized. The winter of 81-82 was considered fairly severe and resulted in 56.8% utilization of the available browse. In a continued effort to increase the deer kill during the hunting season, the refuge has cooperated with the State of Montana in conducting special hunts. This special hunt made available an additional "B" tag. The deer harvested with this license must be antlerless. Thus a hunter can harvest two deer, one either sex on an "A" tag and an antlerless on a "B" tag. When this started in 1979, there were 100 "B" tags available for deer management in Unit 6A1. This has been gradually increased to A00 in 1982. A new program was started this year which allowed non-resident hunters to purchase 100 "A" tags .at $100.00 each. Prior to this year non-resident hunters had to purchase a combination license to hunt for a buck. The refuge again cooperated with the State of Montana on the special walk-in hunting of the sandhills. Our portion of the sandhills (2,320 acres) is wilderness area and requires walk in hunting only. The adjacent landowners in 1980 requested their lands in the sandhills (36 square miles) to be set up into a special hunting unit requiring walk in hunting only. The State has administered this special hunt unit and the area has been open to unlimited public hunting since 1980. The refuge has also cooperated with the State on two deer hunter check stations located on the refuge. These check stations were operated on opening day to obtain hunter and harvest data. The information showed 137 hunters in the vicinity of the refuge. Nineteen percent of the hunters were non-resident. This sample indicated an opening day kill of 39 deer with a hunter success of 28%. Thirty-eight percent of the deer harvested were does. Opening day success and resulting harvest data has not varied much since 1979, even with the large increase in "B" tags. A pre-season aerial deer census was conducted on October 25, by the State of Montana,to obtain sex ratios and production figures. This resulted in an actual count of A98 deer which was expanded using a 70% observability factor to 711 animals. There were 47 bucks per 100 does and a production of 123 fawns per 100 does. The pre-season deer density, using the expanded population of 711 animals, show 28.4 deer per square mile. The antelope population continues to struggle for survival. The very harsh winters of 77-78 and 78-79 almost eliminated the antelope herd in Sheridan County. A refuge population of 80 antelope in 1977 had decreased to less than 10 individuals by the first of the year. The severe winter of 81-82 was very detrimental to this remaining small herd with only a single antelope surviving on the refuge by this fall. This year we were treated to several rare sightings of moose in the vicinity, as well as on the refuge. On June 28, a cow moose was observed in the Sayer Bay area of the refuge. This moose continued it's wandering towards the north east and within one day crossed into North Dakota just north of Erickson WPA. In August, a lone bull moose was observed about 12 miles northwest of the refuge. In early September, a single cow moose spent several days near the town of Froid, Montana. Moose tracks, apparently from this cow, were found entering the Homestead Unit of the refuge. MDL-1982 Photo by: SWB Two refuge antelope beginning to face the harsh winter of 1982. MDL-1982 Photo by: DCN Prairie moose photographed in shelterbelt-grain field area east of the town of Froid, Montana. 10. Other Resident Wildlife Sharptail grouse are the only native upland game bird found on the refuge. The 1982 population of displaying dancing ground males dropped by 43% from 1981 based on 25 grounds surveyed. This tremendous reduction is probably due to a combination of factors - poor nesting conditions, poor berry production, reduced winter food supply and a fairly harsh winter. TABLE XII. Male Sharptail Dancing Ground Count Summary Ground Number 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1 29 16 14 20 . 20 14 2 14 17 18 30 45 40 3 16 13 15 26 27 12 4 71 44 48 22 20 18 5 28 19 17 8 14 NA* 6 35 32 28 33 23 11 7 52 28 33 28 19 8 8 31 15 27 38 29 15 9 20 22 14 21 13 7 10 48 26 22 24 19 12 11 14 5 3 10 6 NA* 12 48 26 37 27 26 14 13 7 5 NA* NA* NA* 14 6 NA* NA* NA* 15 9 19 15 5 16 21 28 7 17 11 8 7 18 6 21 18 19 5 NA* NA* 20 30 29 12 21 16 16 16 22 19 20 12 23 6 NA* NA* 24 16 21 11 25 11 6 Total 406 270 296 436 430 245 * Not Active Pheasant populations have continued to increase each year since 1978. This summers population was estimated at 5,250 birds. Pheasants continue to be found throughout the entire refuge, even in very marginal habitat. The refuge method of seeding DNC allows the first year nurse crop of barley to be left standing. This abundant winter food supply combined with five foot high sweet clover from the previous year seedings and ideal nesting habitat provided by the established DNC has allowed the pheasant population to mushroom. Pheasant crow counts were started in 1978 in order to collect population data to measure response to the extensive DNC seedings. Despite the severe winter of 1982, the crow counts increased 26% on one 20 mile route and 21% on another 10 mile route. The largest number of crows heard at one stop was 63 while the least was 10 crows heard. The counts are made for two minutes per stop and each stop is one mile apart. TABLE XIII. Pheasant Crow Counts (Crows/Stops) Route 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 Main Lake*' 9.4 3.5 17.7 20.4 25.7 Northeast** 4.2 11.3 25.1 30.5 * 20 mile route ** 10 mile route Hungarian partridge seemed to suffer from the severe 1982 winter. Only four separate coveys were observed on the refuge. No data is collected on reptiles and amphibians, although they are an important aspect of this refuge. The pelicans and cormorants feed heavily on the tiger salamander. This area has a good population of bull, smooth green, western hognose, and garter snakes. 11. Fishery Resource Low water levels in the main lake of Medicine Lake in mid-winter of 1982 combined with severe low temperatures and heavy snow pack, resulted in a fairly heavy winter kill of carp. The entire shoreline of the lake was littered with decaying carp in early spring. The northern pike appeared to have survived the winter. There were very few dead pike observed along the shoreline after ice out. Northern pike and walleye have been planted in the waters of the refuge in an attempt to control the carp populations. Since 1978, there have been 9A7,000 northern pike fingerlings and 135,000 walleye fingerlings released on the refuge. On June 8 of this year, the Garrison Fish Hatchery released an additional 85,000 northern pike into Medicine Lake just below the headquarters. Then on June 28 the Garrison Fish Hatchery truck developed a water temperature problem with a load of walleye fingerlings scheduled for Fort Peck Reservoir. As a result Medicine Lake recieved 90,000 additional walleyes. 2,(. MDL-1982 Photo by: SPB Part of a bonus stocking of 90,000 walleye fingerlings from the Garrison Fish Hatchery. Numerous reports from fishermen have indicated that northern pike are indeed eating some young carp. At present, it is difficult to assess the impact that pike are having on the carp population. The plentiful supply of lake suckers, fathead minnows, and small carp should suppress most pike predation on ducklings. Fishing success has been very discouraging all year. Ice fishing success in late winter of 1982 was poor. This continued into the summer and early winter of 82-83. This might indicate.that a larger winter kill of pike occurred than was evident. In 1983, gill net sampling should be conducted in order to judge what has happened to the population. Only one year ago, Medicine Lake was considered one of the best northern pike fisheries in the state of Montana. Limits of five pike per day, averaging up to eight pounds were common and fish weighing 15 pounds were not too uncommon. Medicine Lake has been ranked by Region 6, Division of Fisheries, as a Priority I area in 1983 to recieve fisheries technical assistance. Hopefully, we will recieve answers to many fisheries related questions on the refuge. 28. 14. Scientific Collections The refuge assisted the Denver Wildlife Research Center in their collection of adult red-winged blackbirds in early summer. This study involved mass spray marking huge concentrations of red-winged blackbirds on their wintering grounds at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge. Then by collecting adult birds on their breeding territories in northcentral and western states, it is possible to determine their seasonal movement. Flourescent paint, visible only under a ultra-violet light, was used as a marker. This study is in relation to black bird depredation in the Dakota's and Minnesota and is an effort to learn seasonal movements of the birds. The refuge staff collected 5 to 10 adult red-winged blackbirds per week from mid-May to July 1. A total of 32 were collected. No specific data has been returned to us. However, in preliminary analysis of 1,025 samples, they have found 27% marked and Montana has produced some of these. 15. Animal Control The last few years a limited control program has been used for predator management on the refuge. During normal spring water management activiites, killer traps are set in various locations around the refuge. An attempt is made to manage the raccoon population, a recent invader to this area, which could be potentially disasterous to our island nesting waterfowl and colonial bird rookeries. Raccoons are considered non-game in Montana and has no closed season. Skunks are also taken during this early spring period when they are roaming and dispersing into their summer habitat. Only two raccoons and about 15 skunks were removed in 1982 compared to 26 coons and 8 skunks in 1981. 16. Marking and Banding The pre-season mallard banding quota set by Region 6 for Montana was 2,000 adult and 2,000 young of the year. Medicine Lake Refuge was requested to cannon net as many as possible. However, due to the severe avian botulism outbreak that started in late July and ran through mid-September on the refuge, time was not available for mallard banding. In addition, the mallard concentration areas where trapping would take place was^unfortunately,the areas which had the worst botulism.. A total of 120 mallards were banded as time permitted. Age/sex breakdown include: AHY-M-80, AHY-F-15, HY-F-15, HY-F-15. A total of 46 Canada geese were banded in two cannon net shots. The banding site was in front of the headquarters. Age/sex breakdown included: AHY-F-12, AHY-M-9, HY-F-10, HY-M-13, LF-2. 17. Disease Prevention and Control Avian botulism prevention was started early in the summer. With recent reflooding of dry wetlands and the historic problem with botulism on this refuge, we realized we were sitting on a powder keg. The pelican nesting 29. areas were cleaned up twice for decaying carcassess, once in mid-June and again in early July. These maggot infested carcassess, which accumulate along the shore of the rookeries, are a potential botulism triggering mechanism. About 25 adults and 100 young pelicans were cleaned up. On June 29, following a severe hail storm, 2,560 dead and injured gulls and 20 great blue herons were picked up from the highway islands of Medicine Lake. On July 1, an additional 250 dead coots and ducks along with over 1,000 blackbirds .were picked up on the west side of the highway on Medicine Lake. Collection of these carcasses was also for prevention of avian botulism. A severe avian botulism outbreak began about July 23 following a week of hot, dry, windless weather. This outbreak continued into mid-September when the water temperature cooled down. A total of 5,050 waterfowl carcasses were picked up during this time. Homestead Lake was the hot spot and resulted in a loss of 3,780 birds. Katy's Lake had 660 birds and #10 lake had 610 birds picked up. The conditions were prime at Homestead Lake for an outbreak. This unit had been dry for the previous two years due to drought and the recent reflooding and heavy accumulation of dead bullrush was all it needed to set off the outbreak. In the past, Homestead Lake had been drawn down slightly to keep water out of the bullrushes. The decision was made not to draw down the lake this year for several reasons. In order for the drawdown to be effective, the water should be removed quickly to eliminate a slowly receding waterline. This fast release of water is presently not possible due to problems with downstream landowers. MDL-1982 Photo by: SPB The airboat is an invaluable tool for botulism cleanup. In an attempt to keep ahead of botulism problems, a second airboat was borrowed from Bowdoin Refuge. This enabled two crews to operate each day on separate lakes. Using this technique, the majority of the birds were cleaned up before they had time to become infested with maggots. n. PUBLIC USE 5. Interpretive Tour Route The refuge maintains a fourteen mile, self-guided auto tour route. The route has ten information stops that deal with varying subjects from past history to present management techniques. A total of 1,400 visits were recorded on the tour route. One conducted tour was given to a school group of 30 students. The refuge headquarters has a small museum which displays historical items relating to past Indian occupation and early settlement. Also displayed is a collection of mounted birds commonly found on the refuge. This museum is stop number one on the tour route. 8. Hunting Since this refuge is located in a sparsely populated area and is not adjacent to any major travel routes, most of the hunting pressure comes from local residents. One exception was the increased interest in pheasant hunting by non-resident hunters. Apparently the word is getting out about the high quality pheasant hunting on the refuge. We received quite a few groups of hunters from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and even Ohio. Most of these hunters have ample leisure time and spent at least several days on the refuge. Total hunting visits for the year was 1,335, which represents a 15% reduction from last year. Even though pheasant hunting pressure seemed to increase this year, the total upland bird hunting visits dropped 11% to 610 visits. This is apparently due to the tremendous drop in sharptail grouse populations and the resulting decrease in grouse hunters. Waterfowl hunting remained low again this year, possibly due to the continued endrin scare. 9. Fishing • . • Fishing continues to be the greatest public use activity on the refuge. In 1979, the first year of any significant fishing success, we had 297 visits. This had increased to 4,260 visits in 1981. However, due to the very poor fishing success throughout the year, the visits have dropped to 1,935 which is a 120% reduction. With access to fishing areas restricted to designated travel routes and the restrictions of outboard motor use on the wilderness area of Medicine Lake, there is very few wildlife/people conflicts. Most of the fishing is done on the shore very close to four access points on Medicine Lake and very limited boat and shore fishing on Gaffney Lake. Heavy winter ice fishing pressure has occurred in the past, but this too, results only in limited wildlife conflicts. 3i . 10. Trapping Interest in trapping on the refuge has continued to remain low. Only one trapping permit was issued in 1982 and this individual reported no animals trapped. The refuge trapping program allows trapping of muskrat primarily as a management tool to relieve damage to dikes. Mammalian predators are also removed as an aid in predation management. The permittee trapper is allowed to keep 100% of the pelts. 11. 1 Wildlife Observations The refuge receives numerous visits from bird watchers from throughout the nation. They primarily come to search for the ground nesting sparrows that inhabit the transition zone grasslands. Observation blinds are provided for public use to view the displaying ritual of sharptail grouse on their dancing grounds. Interest in using the photo blinds remain very low. 1A. Picnicking The refuge maintains a fishing access with limited public picnic facilities along Montana Highway #16 on the west end of Medicine Lake. This area provides facilities for slightly over 100 picnickers per year. 17. Law Enforcement * MDL-1982 . Photo by: SPB The "Piper" super cub involved with airborne hunting violation was loaded on a Donahue trailer and hauled about 13 miles to refuge headquarters. On December 10, two subjects were apprehended for violation of the Airborne Hunting Act. They had landed on the refuge to pick up a coyote they had shot. The two subjects were walking in the bottom of a coulee which permitted the refuge vehicle to approach them undetected.Both subjects were brought to the refuge headquarters and physically arrested and transported by the county sheriff to the jail in Wolf Point, Montana. The airplane, two shotguns, and two coyotes were seized. Both subjects have requested a jury trial and the final outcome of the case should be known in 1983. With low public use associated with the refuge, enforcement has not been a major problem. However, an active enforcement program is used as a preventative measure. Only four violation notices were issued. Three were for unauthorized entry into the closed area of the refuge to retrieve game. One involved using a deer retrieval road in violation of refuge regulations. I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 1. New Construction High spring and mid-summer water levels on Medicine Lake this year delayed completion of the BLHP funded Sayer Bay Dam. This project will create a new 170 acre marsh. The dam was initially started in late summer of 1981. Winter weather forced the contractor to stop late that fall. The level of Medicine Lake was dropped 1 1/A feet in September to facilitate completion of the dam. However, the contractor did not return to the site for completion. In mid-October a site inspection was made by a staff member from the engineering office in Denver. The contractor was unable to provide compaction test results for the completed portion of the dam. Compaction tests were run at this time and all of the tests failed. The completed, portion of the dam will have to be removed and properly compacted during replacement. This contractor has been very uncooperative in answering correspondence and sending in submittals. As of late December, engineering and contracting had not made a decision whether to retain this contractor. It apparently is a very complicated process to default on a contract. A new concrete ford crossing/spillway was completed on the county road just upstream from the Sayer Bay Dam. This was constructed by the same contractor that is involved in Sayer Bay Dam. No compaction test results, as specified in the contract, were taken under the concrete slab. Compaction tests were taken and failed surrounding the slab,so it has been assumed it does not meet compaction tests below the slab. Apparently the crossing will be accepted but a reduction in payment will be made Construction was started in June on our new prefabricated steel service building. This $250,000 BLHP funded project will provide the badly needed facilities for maintenance and storage of equipment. In the past equipment maintenance has been accomplished outside or in two small garage stalls in the old service building. When completed, the service building will provide a DO'xTO' heated shop and storage area, along with-a bO'xBO' cold storage area. Construction was nearing completion in late December and we expect to begin moving into the building in mid-February of 1983. The Breeser Dam was completed in early December. This 1,600 foot low level earthen dam was started in 1981 using station force account. However, due to severe winter weather in 81-32, the dam was not rip-rapped. High spring run-off washed the dam out in two locations and wave action further eroded the dam. The presently completed and rip-rapped dam will impound a new 60 acre marsh on Sheep Creek in the Homestead Unit. Another force account project, which has been ongoing for several years, is the construction of small nesting islands on Homestead Lake. In 1981, sixteen new islands were pushed up with a "Cat", from the dry lake bed. The majority MDL-1982 Photo by:SPB Our new service building nearing completion in late December. MDL-1982 Photo by: SPB The new impoundment in the Homestead Unit was completed and rip-rapped in 1982. of these were not adequately rip-rapped in the winter of 1981-82 due to heavy snow. High water and wind action eroded these severely. Early fall of 1982 was spent hauling rock piles from surrounding private farm land and stock piling dirt to be used in completing these islands. This project was started in late December and is expected to be completed in the winter of 1983. 2. Rehabilitation The old CCC vintage picnic shelter at the recreation area was demolished and burned. This older structure will be replaced with a new open sided type shelter in 1983. MDL-1982 • Photo by: SPB The old picnic shelter wa3 demolished and burned in December. 3. Major Maintenance Several miles of refuge roads were spot surfaced with gravel this fall. Following the heavy spring run-off, maintenance was required on two spillways. About 20 cubic yards of rip-rap was placed behind the structure spillway. Another 30 cubic yards was placed below the Beaver Pond spillway where a large washout was developing. Remodeling of the present office-service building was started in mid-December and will be completed in 1983. The two garage stalls are being remodeled into a conference/meeting room, one office room, and storage/copier room. 36. A. Equipment Utilization and Replacement The BLHP equipment acquisition program was completed with the delivery in early December of an International "DOOO" Paystar truck. This is a 10 cubic yard, 60,000 GVW, dump truck. This addition to our equipment fleet will greatly facilitate our maintenance and construction program. MDL-1982 Photo by: SPB New addition to our equipment fleet, a 300 horse power International "5000" Paystar. An older D-7 caterpillar was acquired through interagency excess property from Arapahoe National Wildlife Refuge. This D-7 came with installed roll over protection cage and will replace an older D-8 we presently have which does not have adequate roll-over protection. The refuge finally received a quality copier with the addition of a Sharp Model SF-7A1 copier which replaced the old 3M Model 107. Each refuge residence received a new water treatment system. The domestic well delivers water very high in dissolved iron and hardness. The new system seems to work moderately well but good quality drinking water is obtained from a hand pumped well 8 miles away. 5. Communications System The overhead telephone lines coming into the refuge headquarters were replaced by an underground telephone line. In the past, both refuge quarters and the office were all on one party line. With the installation of this new line we now have the option of private lines. J. OTHER ITEMS A. Items of Interest Frances K. Larson, Refuge Assistant, received here twenty-year pin and certificate on November 20. MDL-1982 Photo by: SPB Refuge Manager Gene Stroops congratulating Refuge Assistant,Frances Larson on 20 years of service at this refuge. Jay Bellinger and Kermit Bolstad conducted this year's Hunter SAFETY course which was held at refuge headquarters. This course consisted of five evening sessions and one Saturday field day. A total of 20 students were enrolled this year. The entire refuge staff should be complimented for the efficient operation of the refuge during a seven month absence of a refuge manager during 1982. Those deserving individual recognition are Assistant Manager Brock for over all supervision and management, Refuge Assistant Larson for her very capable handling of all administration and public information, and Auto Mechanic Bolstad for his planning and supervision of the maintenance and construction program. 3. Credits Assistant Manager Brock wrote this report, Manager Stroops edited, and Refuge Assistant Larson typed and arranged the report. LAMESTEER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WIBAUX, MONTANA The 800 acre easement refuge is located 20 miles southeast of Wibaux, Montana, and 160 miles away from the headquarters of Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The distance factor makes visits, much less biological record keeping, very difficult on this satilite. The easement status of the refuge concerns only the water and the hunting rights. The upland continues to have a history of overuse from cattle grazing and a new landowner has set up a sprinkler irrigation system. The water for this system is supposed to come out of the reservoir which is perfectly legal but he has to abide by our permit stipulations. The permit, which goes by graduated .water elevations (based on historical evaporation rates), allows him to irrigate when there is excess water. The biological potential on Lamesteer Refuge is quite low, it is however still valuable as wetland habitat in this semi-arid part of the state. The capacity of the reservoir has decreased by 60% over the years and accelerated land use practices in the area will only increase the siltation rate. If the area was purchased outright, habitat manipulation could be carried out to make the area a better producer of wildlife. The purchase price, however, would probably be prohibitive for the wildlife values that could be realized. No trips were made to the refuge during 1982. New water rights were filed for the reservoir and Lamesteer Creek. The refuge was opened to public hunting for the first time in 1981. Since there was no way for us to enforce the hunting closure, we felt that it would be better to have it open and let the landowner control the access. (Thats what happened anyway.) The fact that the area is now open to hunting will have little change on the wildlife populations.