U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service We Are Region 8 Winter 2009

Highlights:

Project Fosters Childrens’ Connections With Nature page 3

Film Explores Farallon Islands’ Human History and Conservation Future page 4

Biologists Discover Invasive Species While Surveying for an Endangered One page 5

California Condor Recovery Reaches Milestone page 9

Settlement to Restore Habitat Damaged by Sewage Spill in San Diego County’s Buena Vista Lagoon page 9

Urban Burrowing Owl Monitoring Project in the Las Vegas Valley Sharon Taylor and Judy Gibson of the Carlsbad page 11 Field Office administering emergency triage to birds from the Cosco Busan More inside Ren Lohoefener, Regional Director for Region 8 en Lohoefener has assumed field biologist, the agency's Texas leadership of the U.S. Fish State Administrator and Assistant Rand Wildlife Service's Region Regional Director of the agency's 8. Dr. Lohoefener comes to Sacra- Southwest Region. While in the mento, Calif., from Portland, Ore., Southwest, he worked with 11 where he was the Regional Director National Wildlife Refuges, four of the Service's Pacific Region. National Fish Hatcheries, two Fisheries Management offices and "I am looking forward to helping the Ecological Services program. the excellent Service people in this He became Regional Director of the region further our strong commit- Pacific Region in September 2006. ment to work with all partners to A native of Kansas, Lohoefener conserve natural resources," Lohoe- USFWS photo received his Bachelor of Science fener said. "We face many difficult and Master of Science degrees from conservation challenges in Nevada, Fort Hays State University in Kan- California, and the Klamath Basin sas and his Doctorate degree from and meeting these challenges will Mississippi State University. He is require innovation, adaptability and Ren Lohoefener also a veteran of the U.S. Army. strong partnerships." Lohoefener joined the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1989 after work- As Regional Director, Lohoefener ing for six years as an ecologist for News Flash! will oversee management of 46 the National Marine Fisheries Ser- The new name for Region 8 is National Wildlife Refuges, three vice. Before that, he was a Research Pacific Southwest Region. National Fish Hatcheries, Califor- Associate and Adjunct Professor at Thanks to everyone for coming nia-Nevada Fish Health Center and Mississippi State University. up with suggestions. We will now nine Ecological Services field offices begin phasing in the name on our in California, Nevada and the Kla- Since joining the Fish and Wildlife websites and publications math Basin in southern Oregon. Service, Lohoefener has been a Latino Students Introduced to Service Careers By Michael Woodbridge Hopper Mountain NWRC n November 17, 2008, Richard Posey, Wildlife OBiologist, Ivett Plascencia, Office Automation Clerk and Marc Weitzel, Project Leader for Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Ref- uge Complex (NWRC) attended the second annual Environmental Charter High School (ECHS) Environmental Awareness/Career Day. Sponsored by the National

Hispanic Environmental Council USFWS photo by Marc Weitzel (NHEC), the event reaches out to students about career options in the environmental/conservation fields.

ECHS is a non-profit public char- ter school located in Los Angeles County, focused on making stu- dents lifelong stewards of their Ivett Plascencia at FWS booth 2 Continued on page 7 Project Fosters Children’s’ Connections With Nature By Kate Eschelbach The Open Classroom students Ventura Fish and Wildlife took their field trips to a Nature Office Conservancy area along the Santa he Service has been Clara River. There students learned working to connect peo- about wildlife on the property and Tple to nature, especially the impacts that people have on a children, and the Ventura Fish local and watershed scale. The stu- and Wildlife Office (VFWO) is dents gathered data with their GPS participating in a new project units on the locations of insects, called SCALE – Spatial Con- amphibians and reptiles, and trash nections Around Our Local on the site. They brought the data

Environment. The project is a USFWS photo by: Diane Noda back to the classroom for evalua- partnerships between the Ser- tion and created maps with using vice and a team of geographers Google Earth. They also prepared at the Spatial@UCSB Center power point presentations for TNC, at the University of California UCSB, and the VFWO with their Santa Barbara. findings and recommendations.

SCALE is already under way Their results? The students all at two 6th grade classrooms: agreed that The Nature Conservan- the Ventura Open Classroom cy property was special and that it and the Kermit McKenzie Ventura Open Classroom teacher Jeff Zim- should remain protected – and that Junior High in Guadalupe. merman helps his 6th grade students with they would like to get outside more Even though the Junior High mapping trash locations. to explore their watershed in other is located only 30 minutes from their watershed. Activities include places like this one, too. the coast, most students say they map reading, aerial photography have never seen the ocean. interpretation, pattern recognition The students in Guadalupe have across landscapes and scales, carto- been busy exploring their water- The SCALE project will provide ex- graphic principles, way finding, and shed and collecting GPS data in the periences for students in their local Global Positioning System (GPS) neighborhood around their school. environment through instruction in data collection. This summer and fall, Josh Bader, spatial literacy – the understanding the lead for the project at UCSB, of geographic concepts used in map The curriculum was compiled from will be working with the teachers creation and map reading – such existing lesson plans developed by and VFWO to improve the curricu- as scale, resolution, and pattern National Geographic, ESRI, U.S. lum based on the results of class- recognition. The pilot curriculum is Geological Survey and by the Spa- room pre- and post-evaluations, based not only on spatial principles tial team. The UCSB team brings lessons learned, and California but also the connections these tools special expertise. They recently curriculum standards, as well as provide to understanding nature. launched the new Spatial Center building partnerships to grow the dedicated to projects both on the program. He will be investigating The campus and in the community that how best to expand to other schools.

class- USFWS photo by Kate Eschelbach promote spatial thinking and its room application. “The trip was wet and wild!. In activities other words, a good trip… one kid focus on VFWO and UCSB team members said ‘we don’t need to go to Disney- spatial think a field component is an es- land if we can play like that’. theory sential part of the curriculum. This and tech- will allow the students to visit the All agreed that it was ‘better than niques areas they see on the maps, under- science camp’...... because at ‘sci- with local stand connections between people, ence camp you knew what was go- species, TNC’s Rich Handley habitats and wildlife, and enable ing to happen..... and this was just habitats, shows Ventura students then to use spatial techniques for more free’,” said McKenzie Junior and land their location on an High science teacher Jeff Foote. aerial photograph. themselves. uses in 3 New Film Explores Farallon Islands’ Human History and Conservation Future he nonprofit Oceanic Society, in cooperation with the U.S. TFish and Wildlife Service, have developed “The Farallon Islands, Past Present and Future,” a 30-minute film that provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the Farallon Islands and the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, a remote wilderness refuge located 27 miles off San Francisco’s coast.

“Even San Franciscans are mostly unaware of this wilderness teeming with wildlife just off their coast,” said Birgit Winning, Executive Di- USFWS photo rector of the Oceanic Society which pioneered educational excursions to the Farallon Islands to raise awareness of this important and sensitive wildlife refuge and marine sanctuary. “The Farallones have a “This special film brings the history est feeding populations of endan- rich natural history and a fascinat- and nature of the Farallon National gered humpback and blue whales in ing human history dating back 400 Wildlife Refuge to the millions of the world. The Farallon Islands are years. Since the refuge is not open Bay Area residents and others the centerpiece of the Gulf of the to the public and not everyone is who want to know more about this Farallones National Marine Sanctu- prepared for eight hours at sea to jewel of the Pacific,” said Gerry ary - 1,255 square miles of federally cruise around the islands, this film McChesney, acting manager of the protected ocean just beyond San opens a window to the world of the Farallon NWR. Francisco’s . Farallones.” Managed by the Service, the Faral- Produced for the Oceanic Society The film, available as a DVD, takes lon National Wildlife Refuge, sup- by award-winning Earthviews a look at the islands’ natural and ports the largest seabird rookery Productions, the DVD sells for $15. human history, as well as threats to in the lower 48 states. The refuge is Proceeds benefit the research and the islands and the ongoing con- home to 12 nesting species and is- conservation work of the Oceanic servation, research and restoration land beaches are covered with Cali- Society and U.S. Fish and Wildlife efforts, among other topics. It also fornia sea lions, northern elephant Service cooperators. The DVD can highlights the work of PRBO Con- seals, harbor seals, fur seals and the be purchased at the Don Edwards servation Science and the Service. threatened Steller sea lion. National Wild- life Refuge and online at: www. The film documents a 2008 visit to The waters surrounding the islands oceanicsociety.org/merchandise. the islands by Linda Murray, who – known as the Gulf of the Faral- last set foot on Southeast Farallon lones – are part of the Califor- Island in 1953 when she was eight nia Current System, one of the years old and her father was sta- four most productive marine tioned there with the Coast Guard. ecosystems on the planet.

The DVD documents Murray’s Nutrient-rich gulf waters not USFWS photo return with her parents, Lucky only sustain huge populations and Dell Jackson, who share their of seabirds and pinnipeds, impressions and provide a personal they support some of the larg- sense of the place and its history. 4 Biologists Discover Invasive Species While Surveying for an Endangered One By Matt Baun Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office arlier this fall, a team of biologists from the Arcata Fish and Wildlife Office You can help

E USGS photo discovered thousands of invasive New Zealand Mudsnails (NZMS) Here’s what you can do to in Big Lagoon, a popular Humboldt prevent the spread of New County recreational destination Zealand mudsnails: that lies north of the coastal town of Trinidad in northern California. • Have extra waders and quagga and zebra mussels, which boots for use in infest- are often much more detrimental “Knowing that the New Zealand ed waters only. Store to ecosystems and underwater them separately. mudsnails are very small, we de- infrastructure. Still, mudsnails are cided to collect a sample and have a threat to native waters and they them positively identified,” said • After leaving the water compete with native invertebrates inspect waders, boots, Greg Goldsmith, one of the biolo- for food and habitat, which may gists who made the discovery. float tubes, boats and have serious consequences for fish trailers, and any gear populations, vegetation, and other used in the water. Goldsmith and colleagues Tony native biota. Scheiff and Katrina Wright cap- • Remove visible snails tured the snails in their seine nets The mudsnails are brown or black while they were surveying for the with a stiff brush and in color and can be as small as a follow with a rinsing. presence of the tidewater goby in grain of sand and reach lengths of the shallows of the lagoon. up to an 1/8 of an inch. • If possible, freeze or On September 18, the FWS re- completely dry out wet Mudsnails can tolerate a wide range gear before reuse. ceived preliminary confirmation of habitats, including brackish that the species is the NZMS. In water, and are found living in high total, tens of thousands of the tiny • Never transport live densities (often more than 400,000 fish or other aquatic snails were observed since they snails/sq meter) on many different were discovered on September 9. animals or plants from substrates such as rock, gravel, one body of water to sand, and mud). They reproduce another. Goldsmith noted that he had never asexually and in vast numbers. seen snails approaching the density that he and his crew encountered in For more information on There are no effective eradication New Zealand mudsnails in Big Lagoon, adding that all of the procedures once these species are snails were uniform in size. California, visit the Cali- established. fornia Department of Fish and Game Web site at: Mudsnails were first discovered in The NZMS is primarily spread into the U.S. in Idaho’s Snake River in www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/ new waters by people. Anglers, mudsnail. the 1980s, and have rapidly spread boaters, researchers and others throughout the west. They have who transport potentially con- More information can be been discovered in waters through- taminated gear and equipment can out California. The discovery in Big found at: www.esg.mon- easily move these species to new tana.edu/aim/mollusca/ Lagoon is believed to be the first locations. confirmed occurrence in the North nzms/. Coast region. Public education and preventive measures are the best means for The mudsnail should not be con- controlling the spread of these inva- fused with invasive mussels, such as sive species. 5 New Interpretive, Visitor Area at Marble Bluff Dam and Fish Passage Facility Story & photos by Jeannie Stafford Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office

new interpretive visitor area USFWS photo has just been completed at AMarble Bluff Dam and Fish Passage Facility.

The facility includes five new inter- Completed visitor picnic and interpretive area pretive panels featuring Lahontan cutthroat trout, cui-ui, American white pelicans and the history of the area. Visitors will learn about on-going research and monitoring activities that take place during spawning season, as well as how fish make their way up and over Marble Bluff Dam to spawn. In addition to a much-needed parking area, visitors can now make use of a new 2005, biologists were able to move USFWS photo picnic area while enjoying the view approximately 2,500 cui-ui every of Truckee River delta and local five minutes above the dam. The wildlife. fish lock is a fully automated system

but requires round the clock staff- Tufa - a calcium carbonate Marble Bluff Dam and Fish Pas- ing during spawning season. Biolo- deposit - is a centerpiece of the sage Facility are located near the gists sample a small portion the fish interpretive display. terminus of the Truckee River, ap- as they move though the lock. This proximately three miles upstream sampling helps biologists and fish- mately 28,400 Lahontan cutthroat of Pyramid Lake. It was con- ery managers determine the overall trout fry, which were stocked into structed in 1976 to provide grade health, size, and sex of the species upstream tributaries of the Truckee control for the lower Truckee River as they make their way up the river River. and to move the endangered cui-ui to spawn. and threatened Lahontan cutthroat The Marble Bluff Fish Passage trout upriver to spawn. The facility Lahontan cutthroat trout are Facility is operated and maintained consists of four major components: reared from eggs incubated in the by the Service in partnership with Marble Bluff Dam, fish lock, fish- fish handling building so they will the Bureau of Reclamation and the way and fish handling building. Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. The “imprint” on the Truckee River. facility is open to the public dur- Since trout generally return to The fish lock is a 40-foot deep cham- ing the spawning season (March spawn where they were reared, through early June) and when staff ber that fills with water and allows managers and biologists hope this is on-site throughout the remainder fish to migrate over the dam with- will help re-establish Lahontan of the year. out being lifted out of the water. In cutthroat trout in its historic habi- tat in the Truckee River. In 2007 (the first year of operation) the incubation system produced approxi- USFWS photo USFWS photo

Roy Hicks helps prepare the display for installation. The visitor area and sign before the improvements. 6 Nancy Hoffman Has Left the Building. . . Story & photo by Scott Flaherty the Service in 1998, Region 8 External Affairs working as a wild- ancy Hoffman, assistant life biologist at the refuge supervisor at Region National Elk Refuge N8, is swapping sandals for and was the refuge snowshoes, fresh fruit for fresh wildlife biologist at salmon as she departs Sacramento Midway Atoll NWR. for a new job as refuge manager at Her transitory role Izembek National Wildlife Refuge as assistant refuge USFWS photo in Alaska. supervisor in Region 8 is by design, part Nancy came to Region 8 in March of the Refuge Pro- 2007, after six years as the assistant gram’s commitment refuge complex manager at Oahu to develop future National Wildlife Refuge Complex leaders by exposing mid-level ref- in Hawaii. During her 20 months in Region uge employees to a broader scope 8, Nancy has been engaged with of program management responsi- “After years of tropical living I re- projects and issues affecting the bilities. The positions typically turn Region’s 48 refuges, and has even ally needed a change and was happy over every two to three years. to come to the mainland,” said visited about half of them. Nancy. “I’ve learned that regional Nancy said she appreciates support “It’s been cool to be here during the offices are not the scary, mysteri- she’s received from project leaders ous places, which people in the field transition from CNO to Region 8 and regional office staff, with special and I’ve enjoyed helping our pro- think they are. I’ve participated thanks to Dan Walsworth, refuge in management decisions at the gram start to shape its identity and supervisor, Marge Kolar, refuge set a course for where we’re going regional level, and will take that chief, and Ken McDermond, deputy experience with me to my new job.” in the future.” Nancy said. “But, regional director. “The nature of I’ve always wanted to work in one this job is toughest on them because of the last wild places, Alaska, and Nancy began her federal career in they have to train someone new 1990 as a wildlife biologist with the to be able to go there as a refuge every 2-3 years, but it demonstrates manager is icing on the cake.” U.S. Forest Service, first in Wash- their willingness to invest in people. ington D.C., then to Targhee Na- I’d encourage anyone in the refuge tional Forest in Idaho. She joined program to apply for this job.” Or, on the salmon, as she’ll learn. California Families Enjoy Return of Salmon and Outdoors By Tricia Parker delight when they see the adult young fish and the cycle continues. Coleman National Fish Hatchery salmon jumping in the ponds. At Witnessing salmon returning to miling parents and delighted Coleman National Fish Hatchery, spawn is one of the highlights of the children are celebrating the people of all ages and abilities can fall season here in Northern Cali- return of fall Chinook salmon access salmon viewing areas to fornia. In addition to the salmon S spawning naturally in the creeks at a no-cost local attraction here witness the phenomenal return of and river, many salmon return to in the northern Central Valley/ these magnificent fish. Coleman to be spawned. Following area. Hundreds the construction of Shasta Dam in The life cycle of Chinook salmon of families are visiting Coleman the 1940s, CNFH was constructed National Fish Hatchery to see includes two amazing migrations. to help provide a place to make up one of the wonders of nature – the Born in freshwater streams, young for the lost natural spawning habi- return of the salmon . salmon migrate to the ocean to live tat that was blocked by the dam. and grow for a few years. When The past few weekends, many fami- they have grown to an adult they To view salmon in their natural lies with young children watched make another incredible journey setting, consider visiting the his- salmon in the fish ladder and hold- and return to freshwater to spawn. toric Battle Creek bridge (Gover ing ponds at Coleman National Although these adults will end up Rd. and Jelly’s Ferry Rd.), or along Fish Hatchery. Young children and dying, their successful spawning the trails upstream of the Sundial parents alike tend to squeal with will lead to a new generation of Bridge in Redding. 7 Continued from page 2 Field Office Sponsors Science Talks community. NHEC is a national By Alexandra Pitts, Native California Amphibians,” non-profit organization based in Assistant Regional Director Amy Lind-Research Scientist, Washington, DC. The Council is the External Affairs U.S. Forest Service-Sierra Ne- only national Latino environmental ith two major univer- vada Research Station. organization in the country. sities (UC Davis and WSacramento State May 6: “Pika Association With The Complex staff set up an in- University), two major research Rock Glaciers in the Sierra formational booth in the school’s centers (U.S. Geological Survey- Nevada; Implications of Climate outdoor lunch area. Other groups BRD Western Ecological Re- Change,” Connie Millar-Research also set up booths, including Ange- search Center and U.S. Forest Scientist, U.S. Forest Service- les National Forest, Heal the Bay Service-Sierra Nevada Research Sierra Nevada Research Station. and Aquarium of the Pacific. Many Center), as well as a large com- excited students stopped by the munity of doctoral and post May 8: “Current Research on Hopper Mountain NWRC booth, doctoral research scientists Great Gray Owls in the Sierra asking questions about what the located in the area, Sacramento Nevada; Addressing Habitat Service does and how they can start provides a wealth of opportunities Requirements, Genetics, Disease, a career with the agency. to learn first hand about cur- Survey Work, etc,” John Keane- rent research. Every year Ken Research Scientist, US Forest After lunch, refuge staff were as- Sanchez, assistant field supervi- Service-Sierra Nevada Research signed to three different classes to sor of the Endangered Species Station. give presentations. Ivett Plascencia Program at the Sacramento Fish spoke to students about all the and Wildlife Office (SFWO), May 15: “Conservation of the career areas USFWS offers and contacts area scientists, academ- Snow Leopard in India,” Jerry shared her story as a student work- ics and researchers and solicits Roe-Consulting Biologist on er (STEP). She also explained the their participation in the SFWO’s contract to U.S. Fish and Wildlife two student programs USFWS of- Science Talks Program. The goal Service. fers (STEP and SCEP) and encour- of these presentations is to tap aged students to contact their local into this wealth of current state- August 21: “Habitat Dynamics of USFWS office to learn more about of-the-art science and expose our, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo on the STEP and SCEP opportunities. mostly office bound, biologists to Sacramento River,” Steve Greco- Richard Posey talked about his ca- this information. Associate Professor UC Davis. reer as a California condor wildlife biologist and encouraged students What could be the price for such September 25: “Nonnative Trout to take courses in GIS. “The ECHS a rich and varied program? Ken Impact on Alpine-Nesting Birds Environmental Awareness/Career assures me there is no budget for by Altering Aquatic Insect Sub- Day is an important event that this and for the price of a SFWO sidies,” Peter Epancion-Doctoral creates future environmental lead- hat these scientists are happy to Candidate at UC Davis. ers and has the potential to grow come share their research and USFWS workforce diversity,” said field experience with field office. October 15: “Status of Vernal Project Leader Marc Weitzel. Oh, and the milk and cookies are Pools in California – Changes free so it’s best to arrive early. since 1997,” Robert Holland wet- lands researcher and consultant. Below is the program for 2008: October 22: “Ecology of the Giant USFWS photo by Marc Weitzel March 20: “Fisher Research in Garter Snake- a Model of GGS Habitat Statistically Derived the Southern Sierra; Habitat Use From Data Collected Over a and Limiting Factors,” Kathryn Number of Seasons,” Glenn Wylie- Purcell-Research Scientist, U.S. Research Scientist, U.S. Geologi- Forest Service-Sierra Nevada cal Survey-Biological Resources Research Station. Division. December 4: “Native Amphibians April 9: “Altered Hydrologic Re- and Non-Native Trout,” Curtis gimes in the Sierra Nevada and Milliron, Senior Biologist, Califor- nia Dept. of Fish and Game. Richard Posey 8 California Condor Recovery Reaches Milestone; Wild Condor Population Now Exceeds Captive Population By Michael Woodbridge Hopper Mountain NWRC “This is an exciting time for the even wild California condor California condor recovery effort,” chicks have left their nests in said Marc Weitzel, project leader SCalifornia this year—mark- for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- ing a successful breeding season vice’s Hopper Mountain National for this rare bird. With these new Wildlife Refuge. “We’ve come a long chicks, and others in Arizona and way since the Recovery Program Baja, the wild population of Cali- began reintroducing captive-bred fornia condors now outnumbers condors to the wild, and while we those in captivity for the first time still have a ways to go, we are mak- since the birds started being rein- ing tremendous progress—with troduced in 1992. more condors in the wild than there have been in 50 years.” The addition of seven more endan- gered California condors brings A captive breeding program was

the population in California to 80+ started in 1983, and in 1987 all Cali- USFWS photo birds flying free in the wild. The fornia condors were brought in to total number of California condors captivity to start an urgent breed- existing in the world today is more ing program at the Los Angeles Zoo than 320. This is a remarkable and San Diego Wildlife Park. After turnaround, after the total popula- all the wild birds were captured in important milestone in the process. tion reached a low of only 22 wild 1987, the California Condor Recov- There are now 167 condors flying birds in 1982. ery Program worked to steadily free in the wild, and 160 currently grow the number of condors in cap- in captivity. tivity and in the wild. The recovery plan for California condors calls for The California condor was placed three distinct populations, each with on the federal Endangered Species at least 150 birds and 15 breeding USFWS photo List in 1968. Threats to the condor’s pairs. survival include lead poisoning from spent ammunition, collisions with As the Recovery Program works power lines, and accidental and towards this goal, it has reached an intentional shooting, among others. Settlement to Restore Habitat Damaged by Sewage Spill in San Diego County’s Buena Vista Lagoon By Stephanie Weagley & The two projects, proposed jointly cally, the Water Board considers Sharon Taylor, Carlsbad FWO by the Service’s Carlsbad’s Fish funding a SEP project at a level n September 10, 2008, the and Wildlife Office and California significantly less then 50 percent of San Diego Regional Water Department of Fish and Game the fine. OQuality Control Board fined provide $500,000 for Buena Vista the cities of Vista and Carlsbad Lagoon Ecological Reserve Res- For the past 18 months Sharon approximately $1.1 million for a toration Engineering Studies & Taylor and Judy Gibson from the 7.3 million gallon raw sewage spill Analyses, and $395,000 for Buena CFWO Environmental Contami- into Buena Visa Lagoon in April Vista Creek Ecological Reserve nants Division, and Scott Sobiech, 2007. Out of this fine, $895,000 will Habitat Restoration. Deputy Field Supervisor, along with be used to fund two Supplemental CDFG employees, have been work- Environmental Projects (SEP) to The Water Board’s unanimous vote ing with the cities, Water Board help restore Buena Vista Lagoon to fully fund both projects was a staff, California Coastal Conservan- and Creek. precedent-setting success. Typi- Richard Posey Continued on page 10 9 New Building Method Means Speedy Completion An Alternative to Sheet Pile and Cobble Coffer Dam Construction Story & photo by Mike Keeler ers – along with the Pacific Gas and downstream coffer dams needed for Assistant Hatchery Manager, Electric Company– are working the creek diversion, a method called Coleman National Fish Hatchery to restore 42 miles of Battle Creek PORTADAM was used to divert oleman National Fish for natural salmon and steelhead the creek into a temporary chan- Hatchery is located on production. nel. PORTADAM uses a system of CBattle Creek, six miles interlocked steel A-frames to sup- upstream from its confluence with Coleman NFH has recently re- port plastic tarps which form the the Sacramento River, in northern designed its hatchery fish collec- water barrier for the diversion. The California. Coleman Hatchery tion ladder. The new structure tarps extend upstream from the toe began production in 1942 as partial includes two new ladders to pro- of the A-frame supports for several mitigation for anadromous fish vide increased attraction flow and yards and are fixed in place with habitat lost due to construction of increased passage opportunity sandbags. Shasta Dam. With the construc- to naturally produced salmonids. tion of Shasta Dam, Battle Creek Forming and placing concrete dur- This effectively forms a nearly wa- is one of the few remaining Sacra- ing construction of the ladders ne- tertight seal, making it possible to mento River tributaries available cessitated a temporary diversion of maintain a dry work area with the to salmon and steelhead providing Battle Creek around the construc- use of a single small pump. year round habitat for natural as tion area. Instead of hauling and well as hatchery production. State, placing hundreds of tons of cobble The use of PORTADAM instead federal, and private stakehold- material to form the upstream and of cobble for the creek diversion reduced the time needed for place- ment of the coffer dam from weeks to days. Two days were required for the placement of the upstream and downstream structures, four days total. The contracting agency (the Bureau of Reclamation) recov- ered more than $200,000 in savings as a result. The elimination of the USFWS photo substantial noise and dust associ- ated with transporting and placing hundreds of tons of cobble material was an added bonus.

Continued from page 9 cy and other organizations pensation, and Liability Act or Oil to have the Water Board Pollution Act. Additionally, these consider reallocating some monies were awarded without the of the potential fine so the documented presence of hazard- monies could benefit the ous substances or petroleum lagoon resources injured products. as a result of the spill. The CFWO and CDFG have This settlement is unique worked diligently and coopera- in several aspects, but pri- tively to meet everyone’s concerns marily because it provides while caring for our natural trust monetary damages for resources. Furthermore, by having USFWS photo injuries to trust resources 82 percent of this fine stay at the under the Clean Water Act local level and go toward habitat rather than through the restoration, it opens the door for Comprehensive Environ- future settlements on sewage mental Response, Com- spills in southern California. 10 Urban Burrowing Owl Monitoring Project in the Las Vegas Valley By Christiana Manville to Gilcrease Orchard; and Nevada FWO adjacent to RC Farms. Owls n 2008, the Nevada Fish and mostly nested in animal © Photo by M.J.Kammerer: with permission Wildlife Office in Las Vegas burrows but some nested Ipartnered with the Red Rock in other structures, includ- Audubon Society to conduct an ing a hole under a sidewalk, urban burrowing owl monitoring and under an old box spring study. This project used volunteers mattress. to document and map burrows, sur- vey for new burrows, and monitor Many monitors observed nest burrows. Thirty-five volun- their owls mating and males teers monitored 34 nest burrows bring females food during throughout the breeding season in incubation. Young were first the Las Vegas Valley. seen between May 22 and June 20, and were esti- Monitoring consisted of watching mated to be between 11 and the owls for half an hour once a 23 days old when they were week around sunrise or sunset, and first seen. We learned that adult mice, snakes, grasshoppers and filling out a data sheet to record the owls become much more sensitive other insects, scorpions, lizards, and number of owls they observed, owl to people once young have emerged antelope ground squirrels. Threats age, and their behaviors. Volun- from the nest. Observation dis- to nests that volunteers observed teers included local government tances had to be increased, in some include children on motorized and employees, residents who have cases up to 400 feet away, to avoid non-motorized bikes, off-road- been watching owls for years in alarming the adults. vehicles, placement of large objects their neighborhoods, college stu- in borrow entrances, domestic dogs, dents, and members of Red Rock Approximately 79 percent of nests cats, and weeds at burrow entranc- Audubon Society. produced young that survived to es. the intensive monitoring period The project mapped 393 burrows. when the juveniles were 21 to 28 Volunteers have said they greatly Burrow locations were shared with days old and most easily observed enjoyed their experiences. Volun- landowners who were develop- (79 percent of 33 nests). These nests teer John Baileki described his ex- ing several sites where owls oc- are considered successful nests. perience this way, “Yes, it was an ef- curred. As a result, landowners Fewer nests produced young that fort to stake out and watch; and $4 avoided take of owls, and in two survived to the fledgling stage when gas didn’t help, but the reward was locations are mitigating for the the young are at least 44 days old worth it. I have a new and deeper loss of natural burrows by install- (68% of 31 nests). Unfortunately understanding of the burrowing owl ing artificial ones. The majority due to incomplete monitoring data and its fight for survival. I can only of the nests monitored occurred or improper monitoring methods no wish that others could take advan- in the north end of the Valley with all the data for each burrow could tage of a similar opportunity.” the largest numbers of nests at be analyzed. Knells Air Force Base along Range Volunteer Billy Chapman describes Wash; Floyd Lamb Park; adjacent Of the nests successful to the the first time he saw young owls intensive monitoring period, there at his nest burrow, “A few minutes after I had completed my official © Photo by M.J.Kammerer: with permission were on average 3.1 young per nest (n=23, ±1.4). The number of young 30 minutes of monitoring, I took ranged from 1 to 6. Of the nests one more look through my scope. successful to fledgling stage, there Suddenly, a young owl exited the were on average 2.7 young per burrow. Then, another one ap- nest (n=14, ± 1.2). The number of peared! Shortly after, a third baby young also ranged from 1 to 6. At owl came out of the burrow. I stood two nests predation of young and there silently grinning from ear to possibly adults were documented. ear, but I felt like jumping up and Remains of the owls were observed down, shouting, they’re here.” near the burrow entrances. The study results will be used to as- Owls were observed bringing the sist the Service with burrowing owl following food items to their nests: conservation in southern Nevada. 11 Partner-Developed Water Agreement Fish Passage Program By Bob Clarke Boosts Resource Benefits Region 8 Fisheries Program By Craig Isola & Greg Mensik, taff from the Region 8 Fish- Sacramento National Wildlife eries, Partners, and Eco- logical Services programs Refuge Complex S met to discuss ways to improve ooperation between the delivery of the Region’s Fish Pas- Sacramento National USFWS photo sage Program during a two-day CWildlife Refuge Complex meeting at Red Bluff Fish and (NWRC), Bureau of Land Man- Wildlife Office Dec. 3-4. agement (BLM) and conservation partners has resulted in a Long- Topics discussed the status of current and pending fish passage term Water Agreement that will Principle partners in getting the water provide beneficial instream flows projects in the region, prioritiza- flowing to Willow Creek (from left) Jim tion and funding of future proj- for salmon and steelhead, while Kirsch, water master; Brig. Gen. Jack helping flood 3,500 acres of private ects, staffing as well as project McMills (retired); and Craig Isola, design and engineering. This wetlands protected by U.S. Fish USFWS. year, Region 8 expects to fund and Wildlife Service Conservation approximately $890,000 worth Easements. These flows enter the Sacramento River and are diverted downstream of projects in California, Nevada at Glenn Colusa Irrigation Dis- and Klamath Basin of Oregon. In 1996, and again in 2001, the Trust for Public Lands purchased trict’s “fish friendly” pumping facil- ity. The irrigation district delivers The Service’s National Fish Pas- and conveyed to BLM, lands that sage Program works to restore included water rights on Battle the water to Sacramento NWRC, which conveys the water to Willow native aquatic species to self- Creek in Tehama County. BLM sustaining levels by reconnecting eventually determined that not all Creek Mutual Water Company. The water company is then responsible habitat fragmented by barriers. of the water was needed to manage Examples of fish passage projects for delivering the water to indi- these properties. include screening of agricultural vidual FWS conservation easement water diversions and removing Long-standing concern about wetlands within the Willow Creek- or bypassing small dams that salmon and steelhead habitat in Lurline Wildlife Management Area. impede fish passage to or from Battle Creek, and water supplies spawning areas. Projects are ac- for private wetlands in the Willow To facilitate the water delivery, complished through cooperative Creek–Lurline Wildlife Manage- Sacramento NWRC, with the help partner work including CDFG, ment Area (adjacent to Sacramen- of Dale Garrison of the Sacramento CalTrans, local watershed groups to NWR) gave rise to an innovative Fish and Wildlife Office and Willow and other non-governmental proposal. Sacramento NWRC, Creek Mutual Water Company, was organizations. BLM and the Trust for Public awarded a North American Wet- Lands proposed that 1,450 acre lands Conservation Act Grant. Within Region 8, Fish Passage feet of the water be used to provide Program project funds have in- instream benefits to salmon and In fall 2007, the funding was used to creased from $283,000 in 2007 to steelhead in Battle Creek, while construct new, and enhance exist- more than $890,000 in 2009. The also helping to flood 3,500 acres of ing, water conveyance facilities to meeting focused on improving deliver water from the irrigation cross-programattic coordination federally-protected wetlands lower district to WCMWC. in the Sacramento River water- between the Region’s Fisheries, shed. To facilitate this, Sacramento Partners, and Ecological Services Water delivery to protected wet- programs. NWRC and BLM worked with the lands began in September 2008, Department of the Interior Solici- and will continue to be available tor’s Office to develop a Long-term to benefit salmon, steelhead and a (25 year) Agreement. As a result, host of wetland-dependent wildlife, BLM agrees to forego diverting its including waterfowl, shorebirds, entire water right and allows 9cfs wading birds, and threatened giant USFWS photo to remain in Battle Creek. This garter snakes. In addition, this provides increased instream flows innovative project helps to set a beneficial to spring-run Chinook precedent and provide a model for and Central Valley steelhead. future conjunctive use of water for natural resources. Shasta River weir 12 in Florida and Colorado Congres- nent position with EPA Region 3 in Transitions sional offices and the House Natu- Philadelphia where she worked on ral Resources Committee. Michael wetland protection issues in Penn- Coleman National Fish holds a Bachelor of Science degree sylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. Hatchery: in Natural Resources from Colo- Eager to return to the Service, she Terry Freije was selected to fill rado State University and a Mas- accepted a position as the Assistant the vacant Fish Biologist posi- ter of Arts in Public Policy, with a Regional Contaminants Coordina- tion. Terry’s career began with concentration in Environmental and tor in Newton Corner, Massachu- the USFWS in 1990 through 1992, Resource Policy, from The George setts in 1992. Laurie moved with while in college, working at Garri- Washington University. As the the Regional Office to Hadley, son Dam NFH in Riverdale, North Information and Education Special- Massachusetts and was promoted Dakota. After receiving his degree ist, Michael will coordinate public into the Regional Habitat Restora- in Bachelor of Science in Fisher- affairs and outreach for the refuge tion Coordinator position oversee- ies and Wildlife Biology from the complex and the multinational Cali- ing PFW and Coastal Program University of North Dakota, he fornia Condor Recovery Program. activities for the 13-state Region. worked at Kettle Moraine State In 1996 Laurie took her first su- Fish Hatchery in Adell, WI raising Richard Posey retired on January 8. pervisory position as the Chief of trout and salmon for stocking into He spent the past six years working the Branch of Habitat Restoration Lake Michigan. Following his time on the California Condor Recovery in the Western Washington Field at the state hatchery in Wisconsin, Program. After serving in the Air Office in Lacey, Washington. After Terry returned to the USFWS Force, he got his start as an intern a one-year break in Service to get working at Hotchkiss National Fish with the Condor Program and, for married and move to Bishop, Cali- Hatchery in Hotchkiss, Colorado. the past three years, has led the fornia, Laurie and her husband Don While at Hotchkiss NFH, Terry Program in his role as Supervis- were able to meet dual career goals worked with the staff culturing ing Wildlife Biologist. Richard’s by moving to Reno, Nevada in 2000. more than a million rainbow trout contributions extend throughout Laurie returned to the Service as for distribution throughout Colo- the Hopper Mountain NWRC. the Assistant Field Supervisor for rado and New Mexico. After spend- In addition to strengthening the Ecological Services in the NFWO, ing three years in Colorado, Terry Condor Program through new a position she held for 7 years until decided to return to North Dakota partnerships, he helped establish an her move to the KFFWO in Sep- and work in the endangered species active volunteer force to accomplish tember 2007 to take the Deputy program at Garrison Dam NFH. condor and refuge habitat projects. Field Supervisor position. Terry has spent the past three plus While his formal retirement will be years rearing Pallid Sturgeon, and in January, Richard was honored by Ruby Lake NWR: was responsible for running the volunteers and refuge staff during a Dan Johnson, Engineering Equip- day to day work of that program. Hopper Mountain NWRC volunteer ment Operator at Ruby Lake NWR, As you can see Terry has a very appreciation day on December 13. retired on October 31, after 23 diverse back ground in raising and years of government service (4 with rearing a variety of fish species and the US Marine Corps and 19 with we at Coleman NFH feel he will be Klamath Falls FWO: Laurie Sada has been selected the FWS/National Wildlife Refuge another great addition to our staff. as the Project Leader at the Kla- System). During his career, he also Terry is an avid outdoorsman and math Falls Fish and Wildlife Office. worked at Ash Meadows and Izem- enjoys hunting and fishing in his Laurie had been the Deputy Proj- bek NWRs. Dan was an instructor spare time. ect Leader for over a year and is a for the equipment operator’s certi- graduate of the Service’s Advanced fication course, and helped prepare Hopper Mountain NWRC: Leadership Development Program. Service policy for tying down and In November, Michael Woodbridge Laurie started her 20-year fed- hauling heavy equipment. He will joined the Hopper Mountain Na- eral career as a biotechnician with be remembered here for fabricat- tional Wildlife Refuge Complex the National Park Service at the ing solar panels for use in pump- in Ventura, CA, as the Informa- Delaware Water Gap National ing stock water to force cattle to tion and Education Specialist. Recreation Area in Pennsylvania. use less sensitive habitat areas, as Previously, Michael was Director She then transferred to the Service well as for designing and building of Government Affairs for the as a term Federal Projects/PFW a spray rig with a tank, pump, hose National Wildlife Refuge Associa- biologist at the field office in State reels, and ATV-hauling attachment tion in Washington, DC. His past College, Pennsylvania. Her work for use in treating invasive weeds experience also includes positions in State College led to a perma- (among many other things). 13 Eric Johnson (no relation) arrived assistant in the security forces Steve Martarano has been hired as on November 9, 2008, to take Dan’s squadron at Minot AFB, ND. Prior the Senior Information and Out- place as EEO. Eric worked here to coming to the SFWO, she worked reach Specialist in External Affairs. from 2002 to 2004, and left to expe- in the sales department of The Ritz- Steve came over from the CA Dept. rience a different aspect of Service Carlton Hotel in Cleveland. She of Fish and Game, where he worked work at Coleman National Fish works as the OA for Recovery and for 11 years as the supervising in- Hatchery. He says he missed ‘coun- Conservation Planning. formation officer in Sacramento. He try living’, and we are more than worked a total of 18 years with the happy to welcome him back with his Josh Hull is now Chief, Recovery state, and prior to that was a staff “can-do” attitude. Branch. Josh most recently was writer at The Sacramento Union at UC Davis working on the ecol- newspaper for 10 years. ogy of hawks and owls. He is now Sacramento FWO: in the Recovery Branch working Jana Milliken was promoted from Stillwater NWRC: on contracts for recovery actions, Senior Staff Biologist to Chief of AFMO Tim Rash came on board recovery planning, and five-year the Sacramento Valley Branch of the Stillwater staff in 2008 from status reviews. the Endangered Species Division. BLM Las Vegas and has many She oversees staff and workload in years of fire experience. Techni- Kim Squires was recently promoted the Sacramento Valley from Sacra- cally he is assigned to the Desert to the senior biologist position in mento north to Redding. NWRC, but they graciously allowed the Forest-Foothills Branch. She is him to be stationed at Stillwater currently working on listed spe- Michelle Tovar has transitioned to NWRC to bolster the fire program cies issues for timber harvests and a Senior Biologist. She started with in northern Nevada. general development projects. Prior the Service as a SCEP student in to her new assignment Kim spent December 2003, and was hired on Stillwater’s new fulltime LEO ar- four years in the Coast Bay Delta permanently in December 2004. rived in September - Joe Ham came branch working on section 7 consul- Since starting at the Service in the from the fire program at the Texas tations primarily in the East Bay Sacramento Office, she has been Mid-Coast NWRC and has a back- Area. in the endangered species divi- ground in waterfowl biology along sion, working in Section 7, working with his fire experience. Joe will Angela Picco was hired as a Biolo- mostly in Solano county with vernal be attending FLETC starting in gist, Coast Bay Delta. Angela is a pool species mid-February. And if you thought new employee and comes to Sac- you were busy... Along with mov- ramento from Tempe, AZ, where Stephanie Rickabaugh was promot- ing and starting an new job, Joe and she had completed her PhD on ed to a Senior Biologist, Watershed his wife Andrea had their first baby amphibian diseases and commercial Planning. Stephanie first came to (it’s a boy!) on November 6, 2008. trade. She grew up in the Bay Area SFWO in 2004, from Kasilof, AK and received an undergrad degree where she worked at the Kenai Region 7 recently gained an out- at UC Davis. Her past research NWR. Her new position is still with standing employee when Stillwa- mainly focused on red-legged frogs Habitat Conservation, Flood and ter’s Park Ranger Janet Schmidt and tiger salamanders, specifically Waterway Planning Branch where accepted the Visitor Services Man- regarding diseases, the bait and she has worked until taking the new ager position at the Kenai NWR. food trades, conservation genetics, position in October. Stephanie’s new Janet started with Stillwater in and hybrid zone dynamics. She is duties will center around the San 1997 as our very first Park Ranger currently working on Section 7 con- Joaquin River Restoration Project. and was instrumental in building sultations in the Coast Bay Delta the refuge’s public use program lit- Branch of Endangered Species Eric Tattersall to Division Chief/ erally from the ground up. Among Division. Endangered Species her many accomplishments were developing the annual Springwings Cathy Cracchiolo transitioned from Chuck Friedrich from Division Bird Festival and working with a Office Automation Clerk, to Office Chief to Division Chief/Administra- wide variety of partners to build Assistant, Admin Branch. tion public use infrastructure such as bathrooms, parking areas, viewing Mike Hall has been hired as an Jennifer Tepley was recently hired. platform, auto tour route, and envi- Office Automation Clerk (reception- She is a U.S. Air Force veteran, ronmental education facilities. ist), in the Admin Branch. where she was an administrative 14 Stockton FWO: Regional Office: Center at Glacier National Park. The Stockton Fish and Wildlife Barry Christenson is our new National Park Service Research Office welcomesJohn Netto as a Refuge Operations Chief, oversee- Learning Centers work to increase Supervisory Fishery Biologist in ing our Visitor Services, Biology, the effectiveness and communica- the Delta Juvenile Fish Monitoring Facility Maintenance, Data Base tion of research and science results Program. John comes to Stockton Management and NEPA/Policy ac- in the national parks. from the Green Bay National Fish tivities here in the Regional Office. and Wildlife Conservation Office Barry transferred to Sacramento She previously worked for the For- in Green Bay, WI where he spent in mid-August from Midway Atoll est Service as a research biologist the last 6 years working towards National Wildlife Refuge where he in the Sierras and Rockies and also native species restoration and inter- served as manager for 3.5 years. served as an assistant professor jurisdictional fisheries management Previous to his stint in the Pacific, (avian ecology, management, and throughout the Great Lakes. As the he worked as a Refuge Supervisor conservation) in the Wildlife and 1836 Treaty water assessment unit in R3 (supervising refuges in WI, Fisheries Science Department at coordinator, John oversaw all office MI, OH, and IN). Texas A&M University. She earned activities related to assessment her PhD at Northern Arizona in the treaty waters and chaired Also in R3 he served as Project University, but her Masters and the multi-agency committee that Leader at the Litchfield Wetland Bachelor degrees are from U.C. generated harvest limits for tribal Management District and Union Davis, so returning to Sacramento commercial and state recreational Slough NWR (which also included has an element of homecoming for fisheries in the Michigan waters the Iowa WMD). As an assistant Sallie. We are excited about add- of Lakes Huron and Superior. His refuge manager, he worked at Mon- ing Sallie to our Region 8 Refuges team provided modeling expertise tezuma NWR (Region 5), Seedska- Team and are confident that her and management assistance to the dee NWR (Region 6), and Great strong science background will help states, tribes, and Canadian prov- Meadows NWR (Region 5). Barry us all work towards the Service goal inces of the region and participated adds to the long list of Region 8 of using the best available science in several cooperative research personnel who attended Humboldt in our daily resource management projects. Prior to joining the Ser- State University for wildlife. But he decisions. vice, John was a fisheries analyst at points out that he did get his Mas- Michigan State University where ters from the University of Maine. Bart Prose came to Region 8 from he applied statistical modeling the Sacramento FWO to join the and decision analysis to fisheries Sallie Hejl has been selected for WSFR program as a grants man- management and non-native spe- the position of Regional Refuge ager specialist in August. cies control decisions in the Great Biologist. Although this is a Re- Lakes. John received a B.Sc. degree gional Office position, she will be Jill Wright was promoted in July. from the University of Idaho, and a physically located at Stone Lakes M.Sc. degree from Michigan State NWR. Sallie previously served as University. the Director of the Crown of the Continent Research and Learning

We Are Region 8 is an online employee publication produced by the California and Nevada Region’s External Affairs Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, Calif., 95825. Articles and photos were primarily incorporated from FWS Journal submissions from May through September, 2008. Questions regarding the newsletter can be sent to Erica Szlosek at [email protected] or by phone at (916) 978-6464.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov and www.fws.gov/cno.

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