Migratory Bird Disease Contingency Plan

MIGRATORY BIRD DISEASE CONTINGENCY PLAN

Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge R. R. 2, Havana, Illinois MIGRATORY BIRD DISEASE CONTINGENCY PLAN APPROVAL

Submitted by:_--'-"=1~~~~~9~~~~~~Project Leader\

Concurrence

Approved by: lciMJW~Assistant Regional Director Wildlife Resources MIGRATORY BIRD DISEASE CONTINGENCY PLAN

Introduction The Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge purchase was authorized by Executive Order 7524 on December 23, 1936. Originally a backwater area of the Illinois River providing habitat for migrating waterfowl and other migratory birds, the area was organized as a drainage dis trict shortly after 1900. The area was diked and drained for agri cultural purposes. The protecting levees were broken in six places and the pumping station was destroyed in October, 1926. The district was unable to repair the damage and ceased operation. The area re verted to natural conditions and was purchased by the federal govern ment for a waterfowl refuge. The original levees were repaired and two control structures were constructed by 1939. Located in Mason County along the Illinois River, this Central Illinois refuge contains almost 4,500 acres of land and water. Lake Chautauqua at 435 m.s.l. floods 3,400 acres. An additional 745 acres of seasonally flooded timber and bottomland is located outside the perimeter levee. Waterfowl use days vary due to population status, water controls, and weather. Duck use days range from 3 million to 11 million use days. Normally, 75 percent of the use days occur during the fall. Mallards comprise 80- 85 percent of the population during the fall. Peak fall figures range from 60,000 to 321,000 mallards. Goose use days vary from 222,000 to 876,000 use days. Again, the major use (72%) occurs during the October-December period. Canada goose fall populations peak at 2,000 to 7,500 birds. Snow-blue goose fall peaks range from 2,400 to 13,300 birds. See Exhibits 1 and 2. Disease Surveillance

Surveillance will be accomplished by refuge staff during routine operations and during public use surveys. Surveillance will be increased when disease threatening conditions develop. Surveillance by vehicle will be limited to 8.6 miles of trails and township roads. The north dike and a section of the cross dike (1.7 and .4 mile respectively} require surveillance on foot. See Exhibit 3. Boat surveys are permitted only when water levels are above 434 m.s.l. The public has assisted in the past. Disease Response

I. Logistical Considerations A. Personnel Sources 1. Local -Refuge staff is limited due to only a two-man station. The Illinois Natural History Survey has a laboratory on the refuge. A permanent staff of six people are assigned to the lab of which, five work for the Wildlife Section. Personnel available from Illinois Department of Conservation are limited to the Mason County Conservation Police Officer. 2. Other - FWS personnel located in Central Illinois would 1nclude WRA at Springfield and Mark Twain NWR personnel at Quincy, Illinois; Wapello, Iowa; Annada, Missouri; and Brussels, Illinois. B. Equipment 1. Vehicles There are four motor vehicles at the refuge: a sedan delivery, a half-ton pickup, a 3/4 ton J-10 Jeep (four wheel-drive) and an old military Jeep M-170 (four-wheel drive). 2. Heavy Equipment A D-4 Caterpillar 1952 model dozer is located at Chautauqua NWR. Pumping equipment includes a Waukesha portable diesel engine and a 16-inch 22~ foot Crisafulli pump. A wheel farm tractor is available for transporting the Crisafulli pump and poweting the unit. 3. Boats Boats available are a 16-foot Jon boat with a 15 h.p. out board motor, a 12-foot fiberglass boat with either a 9~ or 3 h.p. outboard motor, plus a fiberglass canoe. 4. Radios Radio communications system includes a base station, three mobile units, plus one portable radio. 5. Decontamination Units Portable hand-held sprayers available for decontamination operation of personnel protection gear. A 200-gallon fire pump and a 110-gallon fire pump are available for decon tamination of equipment and work area. 6. Scaring Devices Two LP gas exploders and LP tanks are stored at the refuge plus a 12-gauge single action shotgun and shell crackers; A supply of long-range rockets (15 mm) and two handguns with adapter for rockets complete the list of scare device~ available for moving migratory birds from disease areas. C. Supply Sources 1. Disinfectants and Chemicals Technical Industrial Products Corporation 9000 N. Pioneer Road Peoria, IL 309/692-6543 Valley Chemical and Solvents Corporation 904 South 2nd Pekin, IL 309/676-2104 She rex Chemica 1 Cor.many Route 24 Mapleton, IL 309/697-6220 Lanza, Inc. Route 24 Map 1eton, IL 309/697-5400 Elanco Products Company Division of Eli Lilly 4600 War Memorial Drive Peoria, IL 309/692-3070 2. Plastic Bags A supply of plastic trash bags are stored at the refuge headquarters. Additional supplies are available from local hardware stores in Havana. 3. Fuel for Carcass Burning Diesel fuel is available at the storage area at Chautauqua. Additional quantities are available from Buck Oil Company at Manito. 4. Field Clothes Refuge personnel have raingear, uniform coveralls and rubber gloves. Rubber hip and wader type boots are available for staff. Extra rubber boots are on hand for use. A box of white coveralls made of disposable material is stored at headquarters. 5. Plastic Trash Barrels, Tubs, Scrub Brushes Available from local hardware stores in Havana or Pekin, Illinois. 6. Scaring Devices Wildlife Assistance Office located in Springfield, Illinois has a supply of cracker shells and long-range 15 mm/short range rockets. If additional materials are needed, a call to Pocatello, Idaho and UPS services will have materials at the station in a short period of time. 7. Dry Ice and/or Liquid Nitrogen Liquid nitrogen is available at Illini Welding Supplies, Inc., 2100 North 8th, Pekin - Telephone 309/346-3164. Dry ice is available from Pekin Liquor Store, 312 Elizabeth, Pekin - Telephone 309/346-9375. D. Lodging for Temporary Personnel Assigned to Disease Control Operations The Red Lion Motor Lodge (Best Western) 40 units U.S. 136 East Telephone 309/543-4407 Sycamore Motor Lodge 22 units 271 E. Dearborn Telephone 309/543-4454 Havana, IL E. Food 1. On-Site Capabilities None 2. Off-Site Capabilities Havana has two restaurants and several fast-food places. The D & D Restaurant and Korner Kitchen on Main Street are opened at 6:00a.m. Several of the restaurants and fast-food places are opened until 8:00 p.m. F. Identification of Working Areas 1. Clean Areas a. Command Post Chautauqua Refuge headquarters would serve as a command post with one telephone line to office with an extention phone. b. 11 Press 11 and Briefing Room The shop section of the headquarters building could be used as a briefing room for the press. c. Parking Adequate parking is available with a visitor's parking lot in front of the office plus a large courtyard in back of the office. d. Eating Areas Picnic tables located at the headquarters site can be moved inside for temporary eating facilities. e. Staff Congregation and Rest Areas Headquarters site of Chautauqua Refuge to be used for staff congregation and rest area. f. Equipment and Supply Receipt North garage to be used for equipment and supply receipt. 2. Transition Areas a. Decontamination of Personnel No showers at headquarters but hosing facilities (indoor and outdoor) available at headquarters sites. b. Decontamination of Equipment Shop is equipped with floor drains permitting decontamina tion of equipment and containment of water or chemicals. 3. Contaminated Areas a. Carcass Disposal Incinerator to be constructed and located by storage area. Incinerator to be made of cement blocks with iron grill to elevate carcass above fire. b. Laboratory Investigations Section of north garage, presently used as a wood shop, can be used as a field laboratory set up for investigations. c. Animal Holding

Five modified 11 0hio-type 11 duck traps size 3' x 3' x 6' can be used for holding of animals temporarily. II. Biological Considerations A. Species 1. See attached bird list for species occuring on refuge during the year - Exhibit 4. Two swans, three species of geese and twenty-four species of ducks use the refuge. An estimated seventy-five percent of the duck and goose use occurs during the period October- December. See Exhibit 1 concerning water fowl use days and peak fall waterfowl population by species. 2. Two endangered species have been reported on the refuge - the northern bald eagle and the American peregrine falcon. · The bald eagle winters on the refuge using the Melz Slough Area as a roose. The birds continue to use the refuge until as late as April. Sixty percent of the time the eagle pop ulation peaks during the first week of January. Sometimes the peak occurs during the first week of December to mid March. See Exhibit 5 for bald eagle use. B. Population Data 1.& Mallards comprise 80- 85 percent of the fall duck population. 2. Peaks range from 60,000 to 321,000. Canada goose populations during the fall vary from 2,000 to 7,000+. Snow-blue goose populations will peak from 2,400 to 13,300 during the fall migration. C. Animal Movement Patterns 1. Daily movement of waterfowl from Lake Chautauqua varies with farming operations in the vicinity of the refuge. During the month of November, the birds will cross the Illinois River to farmland in adjacent Fulton County (area between Norris Farms to Liverpool Area). Later in the season, the direction of movement is toward the southeast. 2. Seasonal movement would depend on the weather conditions and which migration period of the year. D. Weather Patterns 1. Freeze-up and Ice Out Periods Usually, freeze-up occurs in December except from the flow through the break in the cross dike and a series of spring holes along the east shore of Lake Chautauqua. The Illinois River on the west boundary and Quiver Creek located south and east of the refuge remain open during the winter. Ice out usually occurs by the second or third week of March. Spring thaw and increased flow of water in the Illinois River can change the date. 2. Major Periods of Precipitation and Drought Normally, June is the wettest month followed by May and Apri 1. These three months can account for a third of ·the annual rainfall. Recent years, the month with the most precipitation ranged from May (once), June (once), July (twice}, August (twice) and December (once). Total pre cipitation for each quarter also varied during the past seven years. Heaviest rainfall occurred once during January - March, twice during April - June, three times during July - September and once during October - November quarters. 3. Temperature Profiles Temperatures reached saO plus during the summer months. Month High Low Mean Max. Mean Min. January 72 -19 37 19 February 77 -20 40 21 March 85 -15 50 30 April 91 19 64 41 May 106 31 75 52 June 107 42 85 62 July 113 48 89 65 August 109 42 87 63 September 101 25 80 55 October 90 17 69 44 November 84 2 51 32 December 70 -14 39 22 E. Habitat and Population Manipulation Potential

1. Water Manipulation Capabilit~ Complete water management control is non existent at this time due to conditions of the dikes. Four {12' x 12') radial gates located on the north dike, can be opened dur ing high water to add water to the lake. The flow of the Illinois River is from the north. A water control structure (3' x 3' PC culvert) located on the east end of the south dike permits water to flow into or out of the 3,500-acre Lake Chautauqua. Normally, water flows into Lake Chautauqua when water is backed up at the Quiver Creek Dam. All water movement is by gravity. During low water conditions in Lake Chautauqua, a small flow of water can be moved through the Quiver Creek 3' x 3' PC culvert. Complete drawdown of the lake w.ould require a quarter mile of ditching from the west spillway site to the 430 m.s. 1. contour line plus closing radial gates and the structure on Quiver Creek. Waterfowl -, populations would disperse from the refuge to adjacent State areas and available backwaters of the Illinois River. F. Past History of Disease A waterfowl disease problem originating on the refuge has not been recorded to date. A disease problem did occur in 1978. The public notified the refuge on September 25, 1978 of seeing dead birds which resulted in collecting 780 dead birds along the east shore of the North Pool. Most of these birds were teal (643). Other species found were 60 shovelers, 15 wood ducks, 8 widgeon, 4 pintail, 2 mallards and l gadwall. The Spring Lake Conservation Area located five miles north of the refuge had a botulism problem at that time due to draw down conditions. Similar reports of botulism have occurred on the Rice Lake Conservation Area located across the Illinois River from the Spring Lake Conservation Area. This area was at flood stage when the botulism occurred. III. Communications A. State Agencies 1. Illinois Department of Conservation Division of Dish and Wildlife Resources Springfield, Illinois Mike Conlin Telephone 217/782-6384 District Wildlife Manager Buck Cunningham Box 298 Petersburg, Illinois Telephone 217/632-3841 Conservation Police Officer Mark A. Ottis Havana, Illinois Telephone 309/543-3890 2. Illinois Natural History Survey Steve Havera Havana, Illinois Telephone 309/543-3950 543-3105 3. State Cooperative Extension Service Mason County Extension Service Ike Leeper Havana, Illinois Telephone 309/543-3308 4. Mason County Health Department Mark Perkins Havana, Illinois Telephone 309/543-6072 5. State Water Survey Division Dr. Veerasamy Kothandaraman Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/671-3196 B. Federal Agencies 1. Environmental Protection Agency Dave Payne, QA Coordinator Chicago, Illinois Telephone 312/353-7712 2. U. S. Department of Agriculture Dan Pierce, District Conservationist Havana, Illinois Telephone 309/543-3511 3. Health and Human Services 528 South Street Springfield, Illinois Telephone 217/492-4141 C. Media 1. Television NBC - WEEK 2907 Springfield Road E. Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/699-3961 698-2525 CBS - WMBD 3131 N. University Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/688-3131 ABC - WRAU 500 N. Stewart Creve Coeur, Illinois Telephone 309/698~1950 1919 PBS - WTVP 1501 W. Bradley Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/676-4747 674-3108 2. Radio KZ-93 FM 3131 N. University Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/688-3131 WCBU FM 1501 W. Bradley Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/673-7100 WIRL Grosenbach Road E. Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/694-6262 WSWT Grosenbach Road E. Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/694-6268 WKQA 3641 Meadowbrook Road Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/685-5975 WPEO 121 NE Jefferson Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/674-1020 WWCT 414 Hamilton Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/674-2000 WXCL 3641 Meadowbrook Road Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/688-5975 WDUK 200 N. Plum Havana, Illinois Telephone 309/543-3331 3. Newspapers Associated Press 1 News Plaza Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/682-0141 Peoria Journal Star Jack Ehresman, Sports Editor 1 News Plaza Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/686-3000 Tazewell-Pekin Times 100 Detroit Pekin, Illinois Telephone 309/676-2511 State Journal-Register One Copley Plaza P. F. Coburn, Managing Editor Springfield, Illinois Telephone 217/788-1300 Illinois Times 610 South 7th Springfield, Illinois Telephone 217/753-2226 Mason County Democrat Havana, Illinois Telephone 309/543-3311 River Valley News 324 W. Main Street Ruth Lynn Havana, Illinois Telephone 309/543-3255 Supplemental Information

Hospitals 1. Pekin Memorial Hospital 1320 Court Street Pekin, Illinois Telephone 309/347-1151 2. St. Francis Hospital 530 N. E. Glen Oak Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/672-2004 3. Methodist Medical Center 221 N. E. Glen Oak Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/672-5500 4. St. John's Hospital 800 E. Carpenter Springfield, Illinois Telephone 217/525-5610 5. Memorial Medical Center 800 N. Rutledge Springfield, Illinois Telephone 217/788-3100 6. Mason District Hospital 520 E. Franklin Havana, Illinois Telephone 309/543-4431 Universities 1. Bradley University Dr. William Mathias 1501 W. Bradley Peoria, Illinois Telephone 309/676-7611 2. Western Illinois University Biology Department Macomb, I 11 i noi s Telephone 309/298-1546 3. University of Illinois Director, School of Life 393 Morrill Science Urbana, Illinois Telephone 217/333-3044 TABLE G-~ Water·fowl Use Days - Chautauqua NWR Ducks .

January-i-1arch April-June July-September October-December Total fl ".0 1974 134,588 44,345 265,078 5,780,465 G,224,476 1975 458,456 44,040 382,835 10,227,345 11,112,676 + 78.5% 1976 666,616 71,630 382,500 1,928,035 3,048,781 - 72.6~~ i 977 1,120,785 132,265 327,660 5,498,J05 7,129,015 +134.8% 1978 317,125 252,520 563,235 8,475~735 9,608,615 + 34.8% 1979 864,490 139,942 282,000 7,592,515 8,878,947 - 7.6% 1980 3,425,188 435,418 351 ,130 3,368,5'50 7,580,286 - 14. 6% 1981 1,198,815 299,330 157,260 4,541,475 6,196,880 - 18.2~~ 1982 705,941 111 ,675 143,820 3,765,785 4 ,727,221 - 24.0~~ Average* 1,385,281 261,895 336,257 5,895,316 7,878,749 Percent 17.6% 3.3% 4.3% 74.8% *Current five-year average Geese

01 January-March April-June Ju1~-September Octobzr-December Total f::1 " 1974 83,920 450 1,860 149,500 235,730 1975 182 .~.09 1,270 4,955 273,835 462,569 + 96. 2~i, 1976 123,945 4,825 3,760 89,185 221,715 - 52.1% 1977 91. 110 3,910 4,060 111,610 210,690 - 5. 0~~ 1978 41 ,780 4,i78 5,760 824,075 875,793 +315. n 1979 132,250 7,350 4,690 412,985 -~57 ,275 - 36. 4:; 1980 403,240 16,210 8,465 320,295 748,210 + 34.3% 1981 63,420 545 7,660 345.720 417,345 - 44. 2~~ 1982 342,361 3,190 9,035 261 ,565 616,651 + 4 7. 85~ . ,., Average.,.. 146,360 6,439 6,127 402.937 561.863 >< ...... :X: . c:o Percent 26.0% 1. 2~ 1.1% 71. r- ...... -1 *Current five-year average _,

t lABLE G-6 Peak Fall Waterfowl Popu1.ation by Species Chautauqua NWR 5-Year Average 1981 1982 1977-1981 --1977 1978 1979 1980 155,923 f'"~LLARD 149,850 321,000 170,000 59,825 78,940 67,820 BLACK DUCK 28,020 4,700 2,900 1 , 015 1,440 1 ,325 7,615 GADWALL 290 530 935 430 640 325 565 1 ,850 4,575 5,025 1,380 1,925 1 ,200 2,951 PINTAIL 2,685 GREEN-WINGED TEAL 1. j 00 2,860 3,000 4,725 1,740 1,675 BLUE-wiNGED TEAL 6,800 12,400 3,750 6,600 1,900 1 ,675 6,290 At-iER I CAN WIDGEON 4,300 15,750 15,500 8,200 4,800 4,050 9,710 SHOVELER 175 175 300 500 650 180 360 1 ,367 ~1000 DUCK 3 '1 00 950 925 975 885 745 REDHEAD 335 250 175 200 150 50 222 RING-NECKED DUCK 1 ,200 575 4,200 500 800 250 1 ,455 CANVASBACK 325 850 400 350 375 275 460 LESSER SCAUP 1 ,250 2,400 7,500 1 ,400 5,450 900 3,600 BUFFLEHEAD 85 475 300 150 125 125 227 RUDDY DUCK 225 300 200 100 150 240 195 COMMON MERGANSER 325 1,700 1 ,600 485 325 105 887 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER --- 100 125 --- 15 --- 48 HOODED MERGANSER 35 200 150 40 200 40 125 COMMON GOLDENEYE 850 4,600 3,800 500 1,125 485 2,175 CMADA GOOSE 1, 950 7,375 4,000 3,475 2,175 2,425 3,795 srww-BLUE 2,400 13,300 5,900 7,515 4,825 4,710 6,788 WHITE FRONTED GEESE --- 80 ------20 16

rrt >< :r:: ...... o:J -1 N EXHIBIT 3

ClEAA lAKE

-•- RUUQE BOUNDARY - llroiiPAOVED ROAD •·•••• DIRT ROAD - DAAIHAQf OJTCH -·-- NT"ERMmENT STREAM

INTERIOR DIKE

(JJ] WATERFOWL PROOVCTION E3 WATERFOWL MAINTENANCE ~ THREATENED SPECIES CJ OBSERVATIONIINTERPRETATION C7:J ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ~HUNTING

NOTES: COHTROLI.£0 flSH1HO MAY BE ALLOWED ON THI!: REfUGE.. ENTIRE REFUGE OPEN TO CONSUMPTIVE RECREATION. wti.Ol1F£/WILDLAND8 OGIERVATIQN BY BOAT CAN OCCUR ON SUITABLE WATERWAYS THROUGHOUT AEFUO!. MANAGEMENT FOR OTHEA MIGRATORY IIRDS OCCURS THROUGHOUT THE REFUGE WITHIN SITE BOUNDARIES SHOWN AT ElfV,

- ,,..;,\s I ~""s a.ra ~"'\c.s --. '\)\'\ccr -h UtP\'£. 2.\ ~n,\t..r

SCALE 1:12000 MASTER PLAN - ACTIVITIES ~=.1-==,..--===l ~~-=._...... :x'~=-~~'lfT CHAUTAUQUA N.W.R. :..=-=-o:·===--- MARK twAIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

I FIGURE 2331 EXHIBIT 5 TABLE G-1 Northern Bald Eagle Use Peak Population by Month (Adults/Immatures) Chautauqua NvJR 1982-83 1981-82 1980-81 1979-80 1978-79 September 1/l October 4/2 3/1 0/2 0/2 November 5/3 7/11 7/5. 8/4 13/8 December 3/3 10/16 11 /15 '17 /12 16/8 January 11/5 11/l 18/11 7/11 7/4 February 4/2 1 /2 9/6 3/13 1 /1 March ft>ll/ 12/6 9/7 21/14 1I 1 Apri 1 0/1 2/l 0/l

Quiver:- Creek 1982-83 1981-82 1980-81 1979-80 ---1978-79 October 1/0 l/l ~ovember 2/2 3/2 2/l 3/2 6/3 December 3/2 3/3 2/3 8/4 16/7 ' January 2/3 6/3 4/2 14/7 11/5 February 6/4 3/2 0/2 March ~1:, 3/4 9/5 April 1/0

.. ~---·· . ·-··-· ~ ------· ··--· .. -- ...... - ---·-··· ·-----·------··------Quiver Lake 1982-83 1981-e2 1980-81 1979-80 1978-79 November 1 /0 1/0 December 1/0 l/0 1 /0 January 3/2 2/1 February March l/o

TABLE G-2 Northern Ba 1d ..!M_~_lJ_se Days

1982 1981 1980 1979 --1978 January-March 1 ,52 5 385 1 ,695 475 385 April-June 5 26 5 October-December 665 959 1 ,065 1,260 1,400 TOTAL 2' 190. 1 ,349 2,786 1, 740 1 ,785

____ , ______.-

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