NARRATIVE REPORT

for

Calendar Year 1966

Devils Lake Wetland Management District

Devils Lake, North Dakota

Permanent Personnel

Don R. Perkuchin . . . Refuge Manager

• .. " y.V-'/ CONTENTS Pa^e I. General

A. Description of the Area 1 B. Status of the Acquisition Program 1 C. Weather Conditions 2 D. Habitat Conditions 4

II. Wildlife

A. Migratory Birds 5 B. Upland Game Birds g C. Other Birds 3 D. Big Game Animals g E. Fur Animals, Predators, Rodents and other Mammals g F. Rare, Endangered and Status Undermined Species g G. Fish 9 H. Reptiles and Amphibians 9 I. Disease 9

III. W.P.A. Development and Maintenance

A. Physical Development 9 B. Plantings 10 C. Cultivated Crops 12 D. Collection and Receipts 12 E. Control of Vegetation 12 F. Fires 12

IV. Resource Management

A. Grazing 13 B. Haying 13 C. Fur Harvest 14

V. Field Investigation or Applied Research

A. Wildlife Management Studies 14 B. Biological Tinkering 14

VI. Easement Administration 14

VII. Public Relations

A. Recreational Uses 15 B. Refuge Visitors 15 C. Refuge Participation ^5 D. Hunting ^5 E. Violations 15 F. Safety 17

VIII. Other Items . . . . 17 I. GENERAL

Description of the Area

Ten counties in northeastern North Dakota (see Figure 1) comprise the Devils Lake Wetland Management District. All of this manage­ ment area lies north of the "Coteau du Missouri" in what we Bureau personnel refer to as the "summerfallow barrens".

Nearly level deposits of glacial Lake Agassiz (now called the Red River Valley) are the predominant geological feature of the eastern one-fourth of this district. The remaining three-fourths is mainly the gently to moderately rolling Drift Prairie. Glacial Lake Cando, Devils Lake, and the eastern edge of glacial Lake Souris lie within the Drift Prairie portion. In the northwestern one-third of Rolette County lies the hilly, wooded and shallow lake studded Turtle Mountains. This scenic range of hills generally rises 300 - 400 feet above the adjacent Drift Prairie, with the highest elevations exceeding those at its southern base by 700 feet.

Status of the Acquisition Program

1. Fee Title Program

As of December 31, 1966, there were 10,655 acres of fee title land paid off (Table 1) as compared to 8,925 acres a year ago. Purchase of fee land was about the same this year as it has been in previous years.

The State Legislature passed a resolution opposing the extension of the Federal program for acquiring wetlands. Unless Congress approves the extension of the wetlands acquisition program, which is in considerable doubt at this time, the program will fall far short of the 53,100 acre fee goal here.

2. Easement Program

To date easements have been taken on 27,908 acres of wetlands (Table 1) as compared to 75,016 wetland acres on December 31, 1965.

The rate of easement purchase this year nearly doubled that of 1965. If the 1966 rate of acquisition continued in future years, the 162,430 wetland acre goal could be reached in 1969. Without the extension of our program after June 30, 1968, we would be about 32,000 acres (or 20 percent) shy of this district's limited easement goal. I

104° 102°

-49°

— 48t|

47'

46-

(S) STATE CAPITAL

® COUNTY SEAT SCALE IP O IP 20 30 40 SO MILES

ALL OTHER PLACES HAVING S.OOO OR MORE POPULATION O I 101c 103° 102° 100° 99° 98° 97° 1_ Fig. l NORTH DAKOTA 9210 2

Table 1

FEE TITLE AND EASEMENT ACQUISITION STATUS

Fee Title Easement No .Mgmt No. Wetland Total County Units Acres Easements Acres Acres

Benson 17 2,449 103 6,692 40,152 Cavalier 7 1,852 191 12,427 74,562 Grand Forks 1 885 3 195 1,170 Nelson 15 1,892 417 27,158 162,948 Pembina - - 1 25 150 Pierce 18 1,071 79 5,147 30,882 Ramsey 9 1,036 254 16,546 99,276 Rolette 7 296 98 6,372 38,232 Towner 6 590 262 17,053 102,318 Walsh 4 584 97 6.293 37,758

Total 84 10,655 1,505 97,908 587,448

C. Weather Conditions

Devils Lake vicinity residents will likely long remember 1966 as a year of weather extremes.

Long cold spells were the rule for January and February. At Devils Lake the mercury dipped to -15 or colder 18 days in January and 9 days in-February. The maximum temperature was below zero on 13 days in January and 4 days in February.

Then came the "blizzard of 'Sb". It began here at about nine o'clock p.m. on March 2 and continued unabated until about six o'clock a.m. on March 5. This storm is considered by the Weather Bureau to be an all-time record blizzard for North Dakota for sustained severity, low visibilities and amount of snowfall (reported at 30.5 inches at Devils Late). Fortunately, during this ferocious storm the temperatures remained above zero.

On August 5, a tornado did several hundred thousand dollars worth of damage in the vicinity of the Devils Lake municipal airport. An accompanying hail storm also caused serious crop losses on a few farms near here.

Average annual precipitation (Table 2) for the four stations was normal. A truer picture of the precipitation is evident when it is pointed out that precipitation was 1.75 inches below normal at Rugby, .51 and .64 inches above at Devils Lake and Langdon, respectively, and 1.81 inches above normal at Park River. Only a trace of snow fell at Rugby during the March blizzard. Sept­ ember was dry with rainfall averaging 1.22 inches below normal in the district.

Table 2

WEATHER DATA

Precipitation Devils Lake Langdon Park River Rugby Average

January .25 .44 .32 .38 .35 February .44 .56 .42 .13 .39 March 3.21 2.13 1.57 .18 1.77 April 1.47 1.64 3.53 1.77 2.10 CO (t May .67 .98 1.15 fD 1.22 1.01 June 2.96 2.35 4.38 3.54 3.31 July 3.47 4.52 3.42 1.42 3.21 August 2.86 2.38 1.28 2.91 2.36 September .71 .30 .81 .31 .53 October .73 1.58 1.02: 1.15 1.12 November .26 .53 .46 .49 .44 December .46 .43 .72 .48 .52

Total 17.49 17.84 19.08 13.98 17.10

Temperature Max. Min. Max. Min Max. Min Max. Min

January 19 -36 15 •45 18 -38 18 -35 February 42 -35 34 •44 41 -33 41' -28 March 63 -13 55 -18 55 -7 71 -1 April 67 18 64 9 66 17 68 14 May 92 22 90 11 88 17 90 23 June 93 37 90 32 94 38 94 38 July 95 51 92 45 93 52 96 50 August 91 45 88 42 92 47 92 42 September 93 25 91 25 92 33 94 33 October 81 18 80 16 82 17 78 17 November 42 -5 39 -•10 41 -4 42 -8 December 40 -21 37 •23 39 -16 40 -22 Habitat Conditions

1. Water

Drainage of the past has practically eliminated the wetlands once found in the eastern quarter of this district. Water con­ ditions were excellent in that half of the district lying roughly between the eastern boundary of Nelson County on the east and a line running from Minnewaukan to the northwest corner of Rolette County (see Figure 1) as a consequence of the 20 to 30 inches of high moisture content snow left by the March blizzard. In the southwestern one-fourth potholes, generally had fair water conditions at best. A high rate of evaporation during the hot dry weather in September left the potholes in the southwestern quarter in poor condition and those in the remaining portion in fair to good shape.

2. Food and Cover

Soil moisture conditions were good to excellent during the grow­ ing season in most of the district. A good mast crop was produced by bur oaks in the Turtle Mountains, and also in the Fort Totten Hills of southeastern Benson County.

Grassland for nesting cover was good to excellent on WPA's, particularly on the more established native grass seedings and remnants of native prairie. Except for the grassland nesting cover on the WPA's and a few scattered remnants in the hillier portions of the area, such cover is a scarce commodity in these parts. It is apparent that the dearth of secure nesting sites is a serious limiting factor in dabbler production on the drift prairie here.

Crop production for 1966 in North Dakota was one of the highest ever recorded.

Both emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation were abundant, but their seed production appeared to be only fair. By raid- summer vegetation choked most of the shallower marshes, particu­ larly in the drouthy southwestern portion. Roundstem bulrushes, cattail, white-top, sedges, alkali bulrush and phragmites are the predominant emergents found here. Sago and clasping-leaved pond- weeds, water milfoil and bladderwort are the principal submergents. 5

II. WILDLIFE

A. Migratory Birds

1. Waterfowl - (Anseriformes)

Spring migration started nearly three weeks earlier than in 1965. During the week of March 13 - 19 mallards, pintails and Canada geese were seen arriving by area acquisition office personnel. By mid-April waterfowl migration was in full swing. The general impression I had was that the movement was steady through here with no spectacular shiftings noticeable.

Five waterfowl breeding pair study blocks were selected this spring, each including a WPA, to sample all portions of north­ eastern North Dakota. A complete count on each of these 480 to 860 acre pothole blocks was made in early June.

Counts were made between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on days when the wind velocity did not exceed 24 miles per hour. Each wetland was checked and, when necessary, waded to locate waterfowl breeding pairs and determine the water depth. Whenever possible, flushed ducks and coots were watched until they landed in order to avoid duplication. Breeding pairs of ducks per square mile of habitat varied between 130 in the southeastern study block to 45 in the southwestern area, with an average of 70 for all five study units (Table 3). Number of wet marshes per square mile was between 73 in the central and southeast blocks and 8 in the southwest study area (Table 3). It is interesting to note that there were 5.6 pairs per wet marsh in the drouthy southwest survey block and only 1.2 and 2.6 in the well-watered southeastern and south central units respectively. Blue-winged teal and pintails were the major species recorded (Table 3). Widgeon, lesser scaup, and canvas- backs were the least abundant of the species observed. Table 3

BREEDING PAIR DATA FOR DEVILS LAKE WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

Species Pairs per Square Mile in the WPA Study Blocks Billings Michigan Avocet Lashman Lake City Becker (Pierce) (Rolette) (Cavalier) (Nelson) (Ramsey) Average

Mallard 4 4 8 12 6 7 Gadwall 8 7 - 9 2 5

Widgeon 1 - 2 - 1 1 Greenwing 2 5 2 2 5 3 Bluewing 11 20 28 49 16 25 Shoveller 3 12 8 13 3 8

Pintail 10 _l _7 26 12 11 39 Total Dabblers 49 55 111 45 60

Redhead 2 5 1 10 2 4 Canvasback 2 3 2-32 Lesser scaup - - 2 - - 1 Ruddy duck 2 1 4 9 - 3 Ring-necked duck __2 _JI ___! __2 0

Total Divers __6 ^ K) 19^ ^ 10

Total Ducks 45 58 65 130 50 70

Coots 47 13

% Wet 29% 42% 48% 68% 59% Wet marshes 8 13 29 50 43 per sq.mi. Total marshes 28 31 60 73 73 per sq.mi. No systematic brood counts were made on the management units. Records of random brood observations by the WHF Biologists of this Area Acquisition Office indicate that duck production here this year was the best it has been in the 1960's. This is thought to be due mainly to the best water conditions ocurring in the central one-half of the area since the late 1950's. It is amazing to see the number of ducks that are raised in this Drift Prairie, despite the intensive cultivation of the land, when the potholes are full of water. As one observer indicated, wet potholes, repeated renesting attempts and growing small grain must be the key ingredients to ducks successfully hatching young in these "summer fallow barrens".

Fall migration of ducks and geese was unspectacular. Waterfowl were dispersed much more this fall than in recent years, appar­ ently in response to the increased number of potholes holding water. Freeze-up came in the first few days of November.

2. Water and Marsh Birds - (Gaviiformest Padicipediformes, Pelicaniformes. Ciconiiformest and Gruiformes)

On may 11 a common egret, rarely seen in these parts, was observed in a roadside ditch by the Devils Lake sewage lagoon. Great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, American bitterns, sora rails, grebes (western, horned and eared), double-crested cormorants, and American coots are known to nest in this area. Seventeen active coot nests were found on the Becker WPA on June 7.

3. Shore birds, gulls and terns - (Charadriiformes)

On June 9 a Wilson's Phalarope nest containing four eggs and made of sedge was found in a damp meadow on the Billings Lake WPA. It was located when the tending adult was flushed from the site. During the spring migration black-bellied plover, golden plover, ruddy turnstone, marbled godwit, avocet, greater yellowleg, herring gull, and common and bkck tern observations were recorded. Killdeers, avocets, upland plovers and black terns are known nesters in this part of the state. No other records were kept on the species within this family.

4. Doves - (Columbiformes)

Legislation proposed by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department to put the mourning dove back on the game list was killed in the last two sessions of the State Legislature. It looks like the 1963 and 1964 dove seasons were the first and last for hunters in North Dakota. 8

B. Upland Game Birds (Galliformes)

Ring-necked pheasants, abundant enough to provide excellent hunting in the 1940's, are rarely observed in this vicinity now. Sharp-tailed grouse and grey partridge populations do not seem to be too common in this land of summer fallow, fall-plowed stubble, and overgrazed pastures. (It must be those cussed foxes, hawks and owls, ehI?)

C. Other Birds (Falconiformes, Stri^iformes, Passeriformes)

No particularly noteworthy observations of birds within these families were made.

D • Big Game Animals

White-tailed deer are the only big game known to live in this part of the state. Twelve deer were seen on the Roscoe WPA in extreme southwestern Nelson County on April 6. A white-tail doe with twin fawns was seen repeatedly on the Becker WPA of Ramsey County. Within a mile of the Becker unit, another doe with three fawns was seen late last summer.

E. Fur Animals. Predators. Rodents and Other Mammals

There were two management units with active beaver lodges on them. One is located in the southeast corner of the main marsh on the Rod WPA of Towner County. The other two are in the southwest portion of the Reishus fee tract of the Willow Lake Easement Refuge, Rolette County.

The muskrat population greatly increased this year in the central one-half of the district in response to the much improved wetland conditions there. Snowmobile trails between rat houses during November indicated trapping activity sharply increased. Mink sign was seen infrequently.

F. Rare. Endangered and Status Undetermined Species

During the early morning hours of April 23, six male and four female pinnated grouse were observed on a booming ground in the extreme northeast corner of section 30, T. 153 N., R. 52 W., Grand Forks County. In 1961, 22 pinnates were counted on a ground within one-half mile of this location. These grounds are within four miles of the Iverson WPA (about 765 acres of upland). On booming grounds within or immediately adjacent to the Iverson WPA seven prairie chickens were counted in 1961, five in 1964, two in 1965, and none (to my knowledge) in 1966. It looks like the only thing we can hope to do with our fee land is to provide undisturbed grassland nesting and brood habitat. Scattered small food and weed s

patches may be helpful on the Iverson WPA. In 1965 one pinnate was seen near the Stautz WPA (166 acres of upland) of Ramsey County and two were observed near the G. Solberg WPA (70 acres of upland) of Nelson County.

Western burrowing owls have been observed on a rare occasion in this area. WHP Biologist Phil Aus reported seeing one sitting in an overgrazed pasture in Minnewaukan Township of Ramsey County during early September. I suspect that a few pairs of these owls nest in this part of North Dakota, but not on our fee land.

Canada lynx may pass through the Reishus fee tract of the Willow Lake Easement Refuge of Rolette County on a rare occasion.

To my knowledge none of the other species listed in the "Red Book" are found hereabout.

G. Fish

Nothing to report.

H. Reptiles and Amphibians

Nothing to report.

I. Disease

Nothing to report.

III. W.P.A. DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

A. Physical Development

On the Roscoe WPA of Nelson County 1.25 miles of fencing was erected along the west, south and southeast portion of the boundary. Because of sheep and cattle trespass there, 26 inch woven wire topped with two strands of barbed wire were used. Total cost for this force account project on this hilly, brushy, marshy and rocky tract was $1,836, or about $1,500 per mile. Three hundred and ninety-five man hours were required to get the job done. (Rather costly and time consuming, eh1.?)

An earthen dike on the north end of the main marsh on the Billings Lake WPA, Cavalier County, was raised about tx^o and one-half feet to flood up to 24 acres of meadowland to the north. Considering everything, about 45 man hours and $400 of Bureau funds were spent on this force-account development work. Vegetated spillways with a combined design capacity of 125 cfs lie on both ends of this approximately 75 feet long dike. Presently a four feet diameter 10

culvert in the center of the embankment has no control structure. Perhaps next spring a temporary hay plug will be inserted into it. Next fall a flap gate or sliding metal gate will be installed on the upstream side of the culvert.

Fifty dollars and eight man hours were required to plug the ditch illegally draining into the northeast corner of the Howitz WPA of Cavalier County. This phase of the work was contracted in early June. Mr. Jerome Howitz, adjacent landowner who dug the ditch, then took it upon himself to dig a trench through the dike. It took another eight man hours under force account and an additional $50 to repair the plug. Hopefully, this will be the end of this nonsense.

About 16 miles of boundary posting were completed on the Howard, Dahl, M. A. Johnson, Michigan City, Thompson, Winter, Babcock, Miller, Lashman, 0. Johnson and Martin WPA's.

B. Plantings Including Soil and Moisture Activity

1. Aquatics and Marsh Plants

Nothing to report.

2. Trees and Shrubs

Nothing to report.

3. Grasslands

An estimated 2,950 pounds of native grass seed was planted on 203 acres of retired cropland at an estimated cost of $2,745. This seed was sown into the stubble late last fall at a rate of about 14.5 pounds per acre. The following mixture was used:

Switchgrass 3 pounds Slender wheatgrass 3 pounds Western wheatgrass 3 pounds Green needlegrass 1 pound Canada wild rye 1 pound Needle and thread 1 pound Sideoats grama 1 pound Indian grass 1 pound White sweet clover \ pound Table 4

1966 GRASSLAND SEEDING SUMMARY

Acres Management Unit Co. Seeded Seeding Mixture Method Date Seeded Remarks

Wurgler (B) 25 See list above Grain drill Late October

Billings Lake (C) 64 10 lbs./acre Grain drill Late May Follow-up operation sweet clover in oat nurse crop - excellent catch

Billings Lake (C) 64 See list above Broadcast & Late October Seeded into stubble harrowed and sweet clover seedlings

Kjos (C) 80 See list above Grain drill Late October

J. P. Lamb (N) 9 See list above Grain drill Late October

0. Johnson (T) 24 See list above Grain drill Late October Next fall about 400 acres of cropland will be reseeded into native grassland. Alfalfa may be planted next spring on up to 75 acres of this 400 acres in an attempt to provide more variety and edge effect for nesting ducks and upland game on seven of the management areas.

Cultivated Crops

Two hundred and three acres of fee land was farmed (see NR-8 for details). Oats averaged about 34 bushels per acre. The 33 acres of barley averaged about 29 bushels per acre.

Sharing arrangements were 95 percent to the cooperator and 5 per­ cent left standing for the Government share. Next year a more realistic 75 - 25 sharing arrangement will be used when the farmer only seeds the grass seed furnished by us. When the coop­ erator furnishes alfalfa seed and plants it for us then he will get up to 100 percent of the crop.

Collections and Receipts

1. Seed or Other Fropagules

Nothing to report.

2. Specimens

Nothing to report.

3. Building Disposal

After nearly three years of inaction, Mr. Sylvester French finally removed the old house from the Roscoe WFA in August. Clean-up and filling-in the basement was accomplished with the help of the Sullys Hill Preserve dozer and operator, Irvin Nelson.

Control of Vegetation

Chemical weed control was carried out on 269.6 acres. This included treating 104 acres of wild mustard in small grain with 2.4-D amine, 165 acres of sow and Canada Thistles in reseeded grassland with 2.4-D amine, and 0.6 acres of leafy spurge in native grasslands with Tordon 22K. Detailed information on these applications are included in NR-12.

Fires

Last fall a wildfire burned a 10 acre strip of grassland on the south side of the Bye WPA. According to the mother living in the residence south of the unit, one of her young children was burning trash when a strong southerly wind was blowing. A piece of burning paper blew from the trash barrel into the grass nearby. Before any control effort could be made, the wind spread the fire into the WPA where it burned itself out at the edge of a marsh. Apparently the wind was so strong that it prevented the lateral spread of this wildfire.

IV. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

A. Grazing

According to section 3431 of the Wildlife Refuges Manual, "The grazing of livestock on wildlife refuges must be considered in terms of its primary value as a management tool to assist in attaining wildlife objectives." To date, I am not aware of any information that shows grazing in the prairie pothole region to be such a management tool. Until such time as conclusive data is available to demonstrate the benefit of grazing to wildlife, I do not believe this land use practice should be permitted on our waterfowl production areas.

Table 5

GRAZING SUMMARY, 1966

Management Acres Grazing Revenue Unit Habitat AUM's Dates of Use Collected

Billings Lake 28 22.5 5/15 - 8/15 $38.70

Iverson 360 90 6/1 - 9/1 $154.80

No further grazing is planned for the Billings Lake WPA. Four acres per ADM for a three month period is the maximum rate which will be allowed on the Iverson WPA. Mr. Leslie Lieberg, a former landoxmer of the Lieberg tract, is the only individual who will be permitted to graze on this 360 acre portion of the management unit. In the event he goes out of the cattle business, this 360 acres will no longer be grazed. The remaining 405 acres of upland on this fee area will remain idle for the benefit of the remnant prairie chicken population in that vicinity.

B. Haying;

None permitted. 14

C. Fur Harvest

Free and unrestricted trapping in conformance with State laws is allowed on the fee areas. No information was obtained on the fur harvest. It was evident that general interest in trapping was much increased over last year in response to the muskrat's population explosion in the central one-half of the district this year.

V. FIELD INVESTIGATIONS OR APPLIED RESEARCH

A. Wildlife Management Studies

Nothing to report.

B. Biological "Tinkering"

Nothing to report.

VI. EASEMENT ADMINISTRATION

Aerial inspection at an altitude of about 750 feet above the ground is the principle means of detecting violations. A follow-up flight at a lower elevation is used to confirm suspected violations. Ground inspection, personal contact with the landowner and then a follow-up certified letter confirming the discussion with the landowner are the steps which follow the aerial checking, in that order.

Late last fall only about 500 (or about 33,000 acres of wetlands) easements were aerially checked before heavy snow cover made detection too difficult.

Of the 500 easements checked, about 70 burning and 42 drainage viola­ tions were suspected. All but a few of these infractions appeared to. be plow furrow ditching. According to the Bureau policy, this type of drainage will be permissible.

Two drainage and one burning violations were confirmed. Follow-up certified letters advising these landowners of their infractions and warning them not to allow it to happen again were sent. In the case of the drainage infraction on tract (SIX) of Cavalier County, two Type I marshes were drained with simple plow furrows, and a Type III slough was drained with a small farm ditching machine by a neighbor. The landowner, Edwin Kjos, was advised that all three ditches were 15

illegal and that they must be plugged as soon as possible next spring. On the Lawrence Powers (48X,1) easement in Ramsey County a ditch was dug illegally in the roadside ditch. The landowner put earthen plugs in the ditch as requested last spring.

It is obvious that if adequate enforcement of the wetland easements is to be had, inspection and subsequent confirmation of suspected violations must be accomplished between September 15 and November 1 in the future. This way snow will not curtail the enforcement nearly as much as it has in the past when I have waited until freeze-up to start. Though some illegal activity will occur after the inspection, the end result will be much better administration of the easement program.

VII. PUBLIC RELATIONS

A. Recreational Uses

No records were kept on recreational uses of the fee title land.

Planning for construction of wildlife demonstration areas will be started in 1967.

B. Refuge Visitors

A list of non-routine visitors is recorded in Table 6.

C. Refuge Participation

During the week of January 24, I attended the Regional Conference at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

D. Hunting

Though no records were kept, it appeared that hunting interest and pressure was light on the WPA's. Good duck hunting was to be had on at least a few of the units for those willing to don their waders and set out decoys.

E. Violations

On October 8, the opening day of the duck season, I apprehended three hunters with 16 ducks in their possession at Rock Lake of North Dakota. With the able assistance of U.S.G.M.A., Vic Blazevic, in prosecuting the case, Mr. Ross H. McEnroe of Drayton, North Dakota was fined $40.00 for having eight ducks in his bag when the daily limit was four. Table 6

VISITOR LIST - 1966

Date Name Org. or Title Address Purpose

4/13 John Winship Pilot Biologist Mpls., Minn. Easement Inspection 4/19 Ed Doeling R.O. Engineer Mpls., Minn. Courtesy Call 4/26 John Winship Pilot Biologist Mpls., Minn. Courtesy Call 4/28 Forrest Carpenter Reg. Refuge Supr. Mpls., Minn. Wetland Mgmt. 8/17-19 Carl Steffan R.O. Engineer Mpls., Minn. Run levels on WPAs and discuss water rights 8/25 John Bauman Ref. Mgr.-Sullys Hill Fort Totten, N.D. Courtesy Call 10/5 Robert Randall MRBS Bismarck, N.D. Develop,-Iverson WPA 10/5 Ray Williams MRBS Bismarck, N.D. Develop.-Iverson WPA 10/5 John Bauman Wildlife (Mgrat.) Biol.- Bismarck, N.D. Develop.-Iverson WPA Garrison Diversion 10/11 Vic Blazevic USGMA Devils Lake, N.D. Law enforcement 10/25 & 27 Ed Smith Ass't Reg. Ref. Supr. Mpls., Minn. Inspection 10/25 & 27 Lowell Harrison Adra. Officer - Ref. Mpls., Minn. Inspection 10/27 Dave Gilbert Ref. Mgr.-Sullys Hill Fort Totten, N.D. Inspection 10/28 John Bauman Wildlife (Mgmt.) Biol.- Bismarck, N.D. Courtesy Call Garrison Diversion 11/23 Harold Duebbert Biol.-NPWRC Jamestown, N.D. Courtesy Call 12/20-21 Merrill C. Hammond Wildlife (Mgrat.) Biol.- Upham, N.D. Wtldl. Inv. Planning Lower Souris 12/20 Dave Cline Ass't Ref. Mgr.-Agazziz Middle River, Minn. Wildl, Inv. Planning 12/20 George Card Wetland Mgr.-Fergus Falls Fergus Falls, Minn, Wildl. Inv. Planning 12/20 Lou Swenson Ass't Wet. Mgr.-Fergus Falls Fergus Falls, Minn, Wildl. Inv. Planning 17

Michael Burfening, Richard L. Dumm and John W. Weisser were apprehended on October 14 for hunting illegally within the Kellys Slough Easement Refuge, by the owners of the land, Julie Agotness and Leonard Kelly. Prosecution of the case was handled by Vic Blazevic, U.S.G.M.A., and Orvaille Simon, U.S. Deputy Game Warden. All three of these Grand Forks High School students were referred to the Grand Forks Juvenile Commissioner.

F. Safety

Monthly safety meetings of the Area Acquisition Office were attended. Topics discussed included fire prevention, safety belts, winter driving and equipment, and safety in the home.

VIII. OTHER ITEMS

A. Items of Interest

Mrs. Josephine Burckhard and Miss Darlene McConnell, the AAO secretaries, have continued to provide invaluable assistance to me in handling my typing and administrative work. Their cheer­ ful willingness in doing these things has made my job much more pleasant than it would be, if I had to slog through those chores alone. In addition, Mrs. Burckhard typed this report with the help of the new AAO secretary. Miss Mavis Schmidt.

The death bell has been sounded for Rush Lake in northwestern Cavalier County. Sometimes referred to as the best waterfowl marsh in North Dakota, and the proposed site of a major refuge, it appears certain that it will be drained to benefit a handful of farmers. The potential annual duck production on this 6,000 to 7,000 acre marsh is estimated to be 15,000 - 20,000 ducks. In 1960, 8,695 breeding ducks and 18, 417 breeding coots were observed there. Duck production in 1960 was estimated to be between 12,000 and 15,000, of which about 30 percent were redheads and canvasbacks. Coot production in that same year was estimated to be 36,000. The estimated molting ducks on Rush Lake in 1960 was 30,000. In addition, it is an important goose and duck migration area.

When all is said and done, we will likely lose more waterfowl production habitat in the Rush Lake drainage project than we will ever buy in fee title under our wetlands program in this district. It appears that if we had been more resolute and adept in our attempts to buy this marsh, this nation would not be faced with this irreparable loss of waterfowl production habitat today. SIGNATURE PAGE

Submitted by;

^ Crv\ Don R. Perkuchin

Date: March 30« 1967 Refuge Manager

Approved, Regional Office

Date: 3- 3/~ ^ 7 3-175>8 Form NFL-8 7ish and Wildlife Service Brs i of Wildlife Refuges (Rev. Jan. 1956) CULTIVATED CROPS - HAYING - GRAZING 1966

Refuge Devils Lake WPA County State North Dakota

Permittee's Government's Share or Return Green Manure, Cultivated Bhare Harvested Harvested Unharvested Total Cover and Water­ Crops Acreage fowl Browsing Crops Total Grown A.cres 3u./Tons Acres Bu./ Tons Acres Bu. /Tons Planted Type and Kind Acreage

(Oats) •'H- Billings Lake WPA 62 930 bu. 3 45 bu. 65

(Oats) Lambs Lake WPA 8 400 bu. 1 50 bu. 9

Wurgler WPA (Oats) 22 1540 bu. 3 210 bu. 25 ^

Kjos WPA (Oats) 42 1528 bu. 5 165 bu. 47 (Barley) 30 870 bu. 3 87 bu. 33

0. Johnson (Oats) 22 770 bu. 2 60 bu. 24

Fallow Ag. Land.

- ' 4

No. of Permittees: Agricultural Operations 5 Haying Operations Grazing Operations 2

Hay - Improved Tons Cash Grazing Number AUM'S Cash ACREAGE (Specify Kind) Harvested Acres Revenue Animals Revenue

1. Cattle 40 112.5 $192,50 388 None

2. Other

1. Total Refuge Acreage Under Cult:ivation 203 Hay - Wild 2. Acreage Cultivated as Service Operation None None DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING FORM NR—8' CULTIVATED CROPS - HAYING - GRAZING

Report Form NR-8 should be prepared on a calendar-year basis for all crops which were planted during: the calendar year and for haying and grazing operations carried on during the same period.

Separate reports shall be furnished for Refuge lands in each county.when a refuge is located in more than one county or State.

Cultivated Crops Grown - List all crops planted, grown and harvested on the refuge during the reporting period regardless of purpose. Crops in kind which have been planted by more than one permittee or this Service shall be combined for reporting purposes.

Permittee's Share - Only thenumber of acres utilized by the permittee for his own benefit should*be shown under the Acres column, and only the number of bushels of farm crops harvested by the permittee for himself should be shown under the Bushels Harvested column. Report all crops harvested in bushels or fractions thereof except such crops as silage, watermelons, cotton, tobacco, and hay, which should be reported in tons or fractions thereof. (5 i,, .... ro ....

Government's Share or Return - Harvested Show the acreage and number of bushels harvested for the Government of crops produced by permittees or refuge personnel. Unharvested Show the exact acreage and the estimated number of bushels of grain available for wildlife. If grazing is made available to waterfowl through the planting of grain, cover, green manure, grazing or hay crops, estimate the tonnage of green food produced or utilized and report under Bushels Unharvesed column.

Total Acreage Planted - Report all acreage planted, including crop failures.

Green Manure, Cover and l/VaterfowL Grazing Crops Specify the acreage kind and purpose of the crop. These-crops and the acreage may he duplicated under cultivated crops if planted during the year, or a dupli­ cation may occur under hay if the crop results from a perennial planting.

Hay - Improved - List separately the kinds of improved hay grown. Annual plantings should also be r.epop.ted under Cultivated Crops, and perennial hay should be listed in the same manner at time of planting ••••*" - - -•!•" /""v Total Refuge Acreage Under Cd.itiyat,ion Report total land area < . devoted to agricultural purposes.during the year. 3-1979 (NR-12) Refuge (9/63) Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife Devils Lake WPA ANNUAL REPORT OF PERSTICIDE APPLICATION Proposal Number Reporting Year

1, 2, 3 - 66 1966 INSTRUCTIONS: Wildlife Refuges Manual, sees. 3252d. 3394b and 3395. Location Total Total Amount Carrier Method Date(s) of List of Chemicals) of Area Acres of Application and of Application Target Pest(s) Used Treated Treated Chemical Applied Rate Rate Application (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)

7/1/66 Wild Mustard Kjos and 104 2, 4 - D amine 26 gal. 1 Ib./ac, Water Ground 0. Johnson WPA s (4g./A.) Boom-spray­ er

7/30/66 Sow thistle and Billings Lake and 165 2, 4 - D amine 83 gal. 2 Ib./ac. Water Aerial Canada thistle Howitz WPA s (Ig./A.) sprayer

6/22-29/66 Leafy Spurge Knote, Wurgler, 0.6 Tordon 22K 0.6 gal. 10 Ibs./ac. Water Back-pack Mattson, Martin, (160 g./ sprayer and Rod WPAs. ac. )

( •(? G-

10. Summary of results (continue on reverse side, if necessary) ^Wild mustard.spraying was done by farmer-cooperations at their,own expense. Observation of results on Sow and Canada thistles was observed in late August. Estimated kill was 75%. Spraying was done in late flowering stage i on reseeded grasslands to prevent spread of viable thistle seed onto adjacent private farmland. One spot check on leafy spurge patch sprayed on the Rod WPA in late September revealed a kill of about 95%. Percentage of kill on other areas will not be known until next spring.

(over)

35 500 Estimated cost of spraying operations for the period are as follows:

Cost of Chemical Equipment Equip, and labor cost Total Cost Acres Cost/Acre . Herbicide

(26 gal.) $71.50 Ground Pow- $41.60 $113.10 104 $1,09 2,4-D amine er sprayer

(83 gal.) ? Aerial sprayer ? $231.00 165 $1.40 2,4-D amine

(0.6 Gal.) $18.60 Back-pack $175.00 $193.60 0.6 $328.00 Tordon 22K sprayer

Herbicide spraying will be continued for leafy spurge. If Sow or Canada thistles need control on reseeded grassland to prevent spreading of the seed, it will be done by swathing or mowing in the future. NR13

HABITAT CONDITION - ANNUAL SUMMARY

Upland Habitat Waterfowl Land Management County Unit Acres Dates Checked Water Conditions Conditions Observed Use Plan

Benson Howard 36.97 * Fair V. Good ** NU No Knote 559.07 * Fair V. Good (13) NU PP Mattson 62.71 6/29 Fair Good 8d NU PP Neer 130.00 8/9 Fair Good 4d(5) NU PP Pleasant Lk. 103.20 * Fair Good ** NU PP Pluramer 208.93 8/9 Fair Fair 73d(7) NU PP Severinson 54.40 8/9 Fair None 25d(7) -- PP Wurgler 440.00 6/22 Fair V. Good ** NU PP

Cavalier Billings Lk. 839.06 7/29 Good V. Good (58) NU-G PP Howitz 205.76 * Fair Good ** NU PP Kjos 305.00 4/26 Full Fair 106d NU-A PP Pung 142.39 6/24 Good Good ** NU PP

Grand Forks Iverson 884.64 3/30 & 4/12 Full V. Good 345d NU-G PP

Nelson Boostrora 160.88 4/6 Fair V. Good ** NU PP Bothen 70.28 4/6 Good None 75d PP Dahl 80.00 7/12 Good V. Good (9) NU No Goldammer 40.00 10/30 Fair V. Good ** NU PP Hanson 80.00 4/6 Good V. Good ** NU PP Jacobson 50.00 7/6 Good V. Good 125d(3) NU PP M.A. Johnson 400.18 9/13 Good V. Good ** NU No J.P. Lamb 80.00 10/21 Fair Good ** NU-A No Mich. City 160.00 7/12 Good Poor 300d(29) A No Roscoe 160.00 * Good Good ** NU PP Sahl 153.32 6/21 Good Good ** NU PP G. Solberg 155.99 4/6 Full Fair ** NU PP Wehe 98.20 7/6 Good V. Good 35d NU PP NR13

HABITAT CONDITION - ANNUAL SUMMARY

Upland Habitat Waterfowl Land Managemt County Unit Acres Dates Checked Water Conditions Conditions Observed Use Plan

Pierce Avocet 120.00 6/10 Good Good 37d NU PP Crud en 80.00 9/12 Poor Poor ** A No S, Thompson 54.87 9/1 Fair Poor ** A-NU No Winter 80.00 9/1 Poor V. Good 6d NU No

Ramsey Babcock 15.54 7/29 Good Fair (5) NU No Becker 160.00 6/7 Full Good 32d NU PP Bye 196.50 7/6 Fair Good 100d(3) NU PP Doyon 40.00 7/29 Fair Good 22d(26) NU PP Kenner 107.80 6/28 Good Fair 82d(4) NU PP Leith 75.73 3/24 Full V. Good ** TG PP Miller 200.00 7/6 Fair Fair 30d A-NU PP Stautz 240.00 7/6 Good Poor 75d NU PP

Rolette Lashman 40.00 6/10 Fair Fair 17d TG No

Towner Brightbill 200.00 6/24 Fair Good ** NU PP C. Johnson 230.51 8/18 Fair V. Good ** NU PP 0. Johnson 37.95 10/24 Poor Poor ** A No Martin 27.31 6/24 Fair V. Good 2d NU No Rod 60.00 6/24 Good V. Good Id NU PP

Walsh Haug 181.00 3/18 Fair Poor ** A No

* Indicates a minimum of two inspections during the year ** No observations recorded HABITAT CONDITION - ANNUAL SUNWARY

1. County Show county in which the area is located. 2. Unit

Show management unit. A management unit may be made up of several tracts, but considered as one unit because the tracts are contiguous.

3. Acres

The total acres in the management unit.

U. Dates checked

Indicate dates checked when significant changes occur; not necessarily each visit..

5. Water conditions .

Use the following descriptive key words:

Full - Typf 1 and 3 pot1 les full rtlnrtr condi • 1 )r 0 d - Typ*- pothole: ury, * •"ull . Typ- ler: dr., -%•. s p.,tin ...-s low. If pr c 11 tl n.s p* th* p -e will go dry. Poor - Type 3 potholes dry or contain only a few inches of water- it * 'v a- IT attractIve v waterfowl. - n prese t i t >les. 1 and iry or neaily dry. \ x 6. Upland Habitat Conditions

V, Good - Native grasses and/or alfalfa dominate upland. Good - Native grasses and annual weeds dominate upland. Fair - Tame grass and annual weeds in major portion of upland. Poor - Annual weeds dominate upland--invasion of buckbrush evident.

7. Waterfowl Observed

Indicate total number of ducks observed on the unit on the day visited. During production periods make note of number of ducklings on the ar^a in brackets, in addition to other waterfowl observed; (20 mallards pintails and bluewlngs, and a brood of ^ gadwall would be reported 20d(^).

8. Land Use

Indicate if upland in (range) non-use, agricultural production.

9. Management Plan

Has a maragement plan been prepared for the area? Use the following code when reporting; PP (the final land use plan has been prepared and forwarded to the regional office) - N. C. (Not complete, but plan is in the process of being prepared. No - (at present not working on formalized plan.)

Best possible image. View of completed dike on the north end of the Billings Lake WPA Cavalier County, looking to the west. (11/3/66)

DLWMO - 66-25-20

Close-up of upstream (north) side of raised dike on Billings Lake WPA. (11/3/66)

DLWMO - 66-25-16

Looking south along roadside ditch in which an illegal ditch was dug in the spring to drain two Type III marshes under easement. This drainage was in violation of the Powers, Lawrence (48X,1), Ramsey County easement agreement. (5/19/66)

DLWMO - 66-23-1

Close-up of illegal drainage ditch on Powers, L. (48X,1) tract of Ramsey County. Mr. Powers claimed he did not consider this activity in violation of the agreement, and that his neighbor hand dug the ditch -- looks like a back hoe did the job, to me. The ditch was plugged at the outlet of the two Type III marshes by Mr. Powers. (5/19/66)

DLWMO - 66-23-5 a A simple plow furrow ditch which makes this Type I marsh incapable of holding water. This drainage is permissible according to Bureau policy. The Edwin Kjos (81X,1) easement tract of Cavalier County. (11/1/66)

DLWMO - 66-25-13

A hen mallard was flushed from a nest in this suspended hay along the Sheyenne River as Vic Hall and I floated by in our canoe. (5/20/66)

DLWMO - 66-23-10

Vic Hall's right hand is resting directly over the mallard's nest. (5/20/66)

DLWMO - 66-23-12

Close-up of mallard nest in hay suspended in branches over the Sheyenne River in Eddy County. She sure was doing her part to perpet­ uate the species'. (5/20/66)

DLWMO - 66-23-14 i This beaver was caught napping on the banks of the Sheyenne River in the early spring. (3/17/66)

DLWMO - 6-20-18

1

ARDOCH LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Walsh'County, North Dakota

I. GENERAL

A. Weather Conditions

Precipitation at Grafton was estimated to be 19,00 inches or .33 inches below normal.

B. Habitat Conditions

1. Water

Heavy run-off from snow melt caused flooding at Lake Ardoch between mid-March to mid-April. At its crest water flox^ed over the dam north of the control structure. In addition to the usual washing away of soil at the ends of the structure's wingwalls, numerous holes were washed out on the downstream side of the north end of the dam.

2. Food and Cover

Alkali bulrush, hardstem bulrush and cattail were the dominant eraergents. •

Small grain stubble in nearby fields.provided feeding grounds for migrating ducks and geese.

II. WILDLIFE—

A • Higratory Birds

No breeding pair or brood counts were made. On April 12 approxi­ mately 300 common Canada geese, 50 mallards, 50 pintails and 10 canvasbacks were seen on the refuge.

No depredation complaints were received.

B. Upland Game Birds

A rooster pheasant was heard crowing here on April 12. Pheasants are rarely seen in this vicinity. III. REFUGE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

A. Physical Development

1. Both gates were repainted in the spring by Mr. M. 0. (Swen) Swenson of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Cost for this contracted project was $103.73 ($28.73 for galvanized metal primer and $75.00 for labor and equipment). Every spring the gates should be inspected and any necessary repairs should be done by the first of May.

2. Washouts in the dam north of the structure were repaired in early June. This work was contracted for $497.75, and required 40 man hours of labor.

3. Twenty cubic yards of coarse gravel was spread over the spill­ way for $32.00 by Armond Narloch, a contractor at Minto.

Reposting of the entire boundary should be done next year.

Prepared by;

Report Completed;

March 30. 1967 Don R. Perkuchin

Regional Office Approval KELLYS SLOUGH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Grand Forks County, North Dakota

I. GENERAL

Weather Conditions

At Arvilla the estimated 22.50 inches of precipitation for 1966 exceeded the normal by 1.21 inches. Soil moisture at freeze-up was fair.

Habitat Conditions

1. Water

Water flowed over the structure between spring thaw and freeze- up. The estimated average depth for the main marsh was one and one-half feet. In the west marshes the average depth was an estimated six inches.

2. Food and Cover

Phragmites and alkali bulrush are the predominant emergent aquatic vegetation. Pondweed (Potamogeton filiformis) was the predominant submergent aquatic vegetation.

II. WILDLIFE

Migratory Birds

No breeding pair or brood counts were made. On April 12, two whistling swans, 10 pintails, 6 mallards, 2 canvasbacks, 35 lesser scaup and 20 ring-necked ducks were seen on the main marsh.

Fish

According to Alvin Kreil, District Fisheries Manager of the North Dakota State Game and Fish Department, net trapping results indicate an abundance of mosquito fish (Fundulus Sp.) exists in the main marsh. This fish is a guppy which lives largely on mosquito larvae and other top water insects. HI. REFUGE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

A. Physical Development

None was done this year. Re-posting of the entire boundary should be done next year.

Prepared by:

Report Completed:

March 301 1967 Don R. Perkuchin

Regional Office Approval V This is the dam impounding Kellys Slough in the early spring. Ice and water action over the years has reduced the original concrete structure to rubble. (3/30/66)

DLWMO - 6-21-2 - - .**•- y- J