U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service July/August 2012 | Vol 9, No 4 RefugeUpdate National Wildlife Refuge System www.fws.gov/refuges

INSIDE: Twenty-five years ago, 21 trumpeter swans were released at Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota. Now, with more than 6,000 trumpeter swans in the state, the species’ recovery is a First Research, conservation landmark. Story on page 8. (Kathleen Curphy) Now Some Vision Products A Harrowing Tale aving completed much of Worthy of “Shark Week” their foundational work and H research, the Conserving the Future implementation teams By Amanda Fortin this summer are beginning to put he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy routinely some of their products out for public team up at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Twenty months ago, input. Those products, the teams’ T however, the agencies joined forces at the remote Pacific refuge in a way that work plans and more are available at was anything but routine. Together, they administered urgent first aid to TNC diver AmericasWildlife.org. Kydd Pollock after he suffered a vicious shark bite nearly 1,000 miles from the nearest Working with Spectrum doctor or hospital. Communications, a marketing/ The amateur triage was so dramatic that the Discovery Channel is scheduled to air a public relations consultant, the reenactment of it in August during its wildly popular annual Shark Week. Communications implementation team soon will post its draft strategic Nov. 11, 2010, began normally for Pollock. He and four other divers, including refuge communications plan. The final plan manager Amanda Meyer, were collecting data about the Napoleon wrasse on the reef is due in April 2013. To comment terrace, about 2½ miles from Palmyra Atoll’s research station. Soon, though, the divers on the draft, people can join the noticed a pregnant gray reef shark caught in one of their nets. social network at AmericasWildlife. “The shark was tangled and beginning to roll around in the net to try and escape it,” org and go to the Communications Pollock recalls. He and his colleagues freed the shark, and considered their work with team group to take part in a virtual the animal done. conversation—much like the back- continued on pg 27 continued on pg 10

FOCUS: Partnerships That Work, pages 10-19 From the Director Choosing the Best Path for Conservation RefugeUpdate

hear a similar refrain as I visit strategic habitat conservation (SHC) as Ken Salazar Address editorial regional and field offices: “I’ve the Service’s management framework Secretary inquiries to: I never been busier.” for making decisions about where and Department of the Refuge Update how to deliver conservation efficiently Interior USFWS-NWRS No matter how dedicated our people with our partners to ensure sustainable 4401 North Fairfax Dr., Dan Ashe are – and they are intensely passionate wildlife populations in the face of 21st- Room 634C and professional Director Arlington, VA century challenges. U.S. Fish and Wildlife 22203-1610 – they are very Service overextended. And As we all know, however, the sheer Phone: 703-358-1858 Fax: 703-358-2517 Jim Kurth they are struggling number of species for which the Service E-mail: Chief against enormous and states are responsible makes [email protected] National Wildlife conservation designing and conserving landscape- Refuge System This newsletter is challenges – climate scale habitats impractical on a species- published on recycled Martha Nudel change, invasive by-species basis. paper using soy-based Editor in Chief Dan Ashe species and a ink. Even with an unlimited budget, we’d run growing human Bill O’Brian population that is ourselves ragged. And budgets will be Managing Editor C fueling competition between wildlife and increasingly limited. I know that working people for water, land, food and space harder isn’t the answer. We are already to live. working as hard as we can. Harder than we should. Our pace is unsustainable. We simply can’t address these enormous conservation challenges with the tools What we need to do is work smarter, and and the thinking of the past. put our efforts and resources where they Inside will do the most good. Recognizing this, the U.S. Fish and Conservation Friends for Life Wildlife Service in 2006 endorsed continued on pg 26 An interview with Refuge System Chief Jim Kurth and Service Midwest Region deputy regional director Charlie Wooley, who have known each Chief’s Corner other for 48 years. Pages 4-5 Making Our Presence on This Good Planet Sustainable Climate Change Worries Refuge visitors, in a recently released his spring, I had the honor of We were walking along the edge of the survey, express concern about the speaking at the commencement of river, slipping in and out of the willows impact of climate change on fish, my alma mater, the University of and onto gravel bars as the river T wildlife and plants. Page 6 Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Here is some laughed at our stumbling. Large piles of what I told the graduates: of droppings chocked full of bright red berries reminded us we shared this land FOCUS: Partnerships That Work I want to start with with grizzly bears. Shed moose antlers Partners—be they states, non- a story about a trip occasionally marked our way. A bird governmental organizations, Friends, to one of my favorite flew low along the horizon to the south. volunteers, Indian tribes or others— places—the Firth Someone quickly identified it as a contribute immeasurably to the River Valley in the hawk owl. Refuge System and its conservation Arctic National mission. Pages 10-19 Wildlife Refuge. I had read a report of a biological reconnaissance of the Firth that had Jim Kurth Compared to the taken place some 15 years earlier. The Bitter Lake Refuge Is 75 razor-edged peaks report noted that a hawk owl was found Bitter Lake Refuge in southeastern in the heart of the Brooks Range, the nesting in nearly the exact location we New Mexico has been conserving Firth River Valley is handsome at best. were exploring. I thought that my hawk extraordinary biological diversity for Her hills roll more gently; a brushy owl could be the grandson or great- three-quarters of century. Page 23 ruggedness belies the peaceful nature of the place. continued on pg 26

2 • Refuge Update This hillside vista at National Elk Refuge in Wyoming is a favorite spot of outreach and Bison on the prairie help make visitor services specialist Lori Iverson. (Lori Iverson/USFWS) Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska a special place, writes refuge manager Alan Whited. (USFWS) Two Vintage Western Refuges Turn 100

ort Niobrara National Wildlife eagles fly lazily above and below you. something in common: It’s my favored Refuge in north-central Nebraska It’s a place where on horseback in the spot on the refuge, too—a place where I F and National Elk Refuge in spring you can stop and see the waves of find myself wanting to return. The the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem of a tan ocean rolling across the sandhills, hillside is interspersed with sagebrush Wyoming both are celebrating their while being overwhelmed by the sweet and aspen trees and accessed by a rough 100th anniversaries this year. Fort smell of wild plum blooming, turkeys two-track road used primarily by Niobrara was designated as a refuge gobbling, prairie grouse dancing and seasonal irrigators in the summer and by executive order on Jan. 11, 1912, as newly born bison calves bouncing around hunters in the fall. From that vantage a “preserve and breeding ground for their mothers, all on the same day. The point, one can look down onto grasslands native birds.” Its purpose was expanded Fort is also a place where you can see dotted with sagebrush, the swells of the later that year to include bison and elk. northern, eastern, southern and western Gros Ventre River and, occasionally, a National Elk Refuge was established by plant and animal species occupying herd of bison. Cars on the busy highway an act of Congress on Aug. 10, 1912, “to the same space. Its most special are hidden from sight. Far from provide winter habitat and preserve the attribute—as is the case with all refuges, development, the only sounds are leaves Jackson elk herd.” in my opinion—is the people who work quaking in the breeze and the songs of here. The staff at Fort Niobrara has birds. The 25,000-acre refuge is a Below are essays—by Alan Whited, approximately 335 years of cumulative stronghold in the Jackson Hole Valley, refuge manager at Fort Niobrara, and conservation experience, primarily with an area awash in tourism and demands Lori Iverson, outreach and visitor the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All for development. Without protected services specialist at National Elk of our employees have bought into our places like the refuge, the valley’s rich Refuge—about what makes these two purpose, take tremendous pride in what diversity of wildlife and supporting classic Western refuges extraordinary. we do, and definitely will leave a part of habitat would face additional challenges Fort Niobrara Refuge themselves at the Fort forever. with possible long-term impacts—a The sandhills of northern Nebraska – Alan Whited trend that began a century ago. The Service’s mission here has never been are one of the best-kept secrets in the National Elk Refuge country. Fort Niobrara Refuge is a more important than it is today. We had Last August, I responded with a fire some thunder and a few flashes of special place where you can hear the crew to a report of a smoldering tree on sounds of the Niobrara River (a National lightning just yesterday afternoon. the northwest side of the refuge. Perhaps I’ll go for a reconnaissance Wild and Scenic River) flowing through Ironically, it was a repeat of the previous the canyons, buffalo bellowing, elk outing this morning. I know a good spot. August, when lightning stuck in the – Lori Iverson bugling and prairie dogs barking as same location. The lightning and I have

Refuge Update • 3 Q&A Interview: Two Conservationists Who’ve Been Friends Since 1964

efuge System Chief Jim Kurth and U.S. Fish and Wildlife RService Midwest Region deputy regional director Charlie Wooley have known each other for 48 years. They met as third-graders in Columbus, OH; played high school football together; first visited Alaska together in 1975; graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point together in 1978. They have never served at a field station together, but when Wooley was a biologist at the Panama City, FL, fisheries office in 1979, he alerted Kurth to his first Service job—a Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge position. This spring, Wooley received a Department of the Interior Distinguished Service Midwest Region deputy regional director Charlie Wooley, left, and Refuge System Chief Jim Kurth Service Award and Kurth received a met in third grade in Ohio. They have been Service colleagues for 33 years, although never at the same field station. (Todd Harless/USFWS) UW-Stevens Point outstanding alumnus award. Here are excerpts from a recent Refuge Update interview with them. movement are always looking to provide have to work at landscape levels and something to somebody else. I’ve always figure out how to have core protected Q. How did your path into conservation viewed the work that the Service does as areas that are buffered with easements evolve when you were a young man? an opportunity to do that. or other working landscapes so we can have the scale and connectivity in habitat Kurth: Charlie and I spent a lot of time Kurth: Any of us who are graduates of in the out-of-doors. We used to skip out of to ensure sustainable populations of fish UW-Stevens Point have a strong and wildlife. high school and go fishing. That love of founding in the land ethic that Aldo being out-of-doors was part of it. The Leopold talked about. You can’t live in Wooley: I’m going to turn it back a little environmental movement was also just that part of the world and go to that bit and say there are some things that starting, and we were probably among institution without it becoming a bedrock haven’t changed. There have been some the first generation of Service people who of your conservation philosophy. Our people that Jim and I looked up to early had both a love of the outdoors—of philosophies have evolved. The role of in our careers who were conservation hunting and fishing—combined with a people in conservation is very different heroes: [former Service Director] Lynn concern over the environment and than when I first started. We used to feel Greenwalt; [current Director] Dan ecological change. that the way to keep wildlife first on Ashe’s dad, Bill. There are people like Wooley: The other activity that we had refuges was keeping people out. We’ve them in the Service and the conservation access to was a land-grant university, the learned that when people can use and movement today, too—the same kind of Ohio State University ... There was enjoy wild places and wildlife, they’re incredible personalities and strengths of actually a university that had courses in going to become stronger supporters of character. That ethic is being passed on. the conservation movement. conservation and biology, wildlife and Q. In that time, what are the most fishery management. There was a field of Q. In the time you have known each important changes in the Service itself? study right in line with our personal other, what are the most important interests [even though neither graduated changes in the conservation field? Wooley: We’ve learned that there’s a from Ohio State]. certain responsibility that comes as you Kurth: Certainly, the role of technology get into upper level management Q. How would you summarize your is huge. I was on my fifth refuge before I situations. Probably the most important personal philosophy of conservation? had a computer on my desk. We’ve also is hiring and advancing good people. Wooley: It’s pretty simple for me. It’s seen, as there are more people and more We’ve really done a good job in the making a difference. I’ve always had a of the land is fragmented, that we have to Service starting about 15 years ago with strong sense of trying to make the world work at landscape scales. To set up a training programs at NCTC. Getting a better place for the next generation. I refuge and it be an island in a sea of good people into training programs, think that we in the conservation development isn’t going to be a recruiting them into the Service, keeping successful way of conservation. So, we them in the Service, and then letting

4 • Refuge Update Q&A Interview: Two Conservationists Who’ve Been Friends Since 1964

them develop into leaders. We take a lot all these environmental perturbations been some very difficult situations that pride in that. we’re trying to solve. Jim’s been in as a professional that he has handled remarkably well. There have Kurth: We’ve made significant progress Kurth: When we were in college, I don’t been political pressures that have taxed in being more diverse. We have a long think either of us would have ever his environmental philosophy, his moral ways to go yet. But it was pretty much a believed that the New England cottontail compass and the tremendous amount of white male organization when we started, now would be in worse shape than gray environmental ethics that he has welling and I’m really proud today when I look at wolves in Wisconsin are. Gray wolves up in him, but he hasn’t cracked. our Service Directorate, at the deputies were considered extirpated in Wisconsin group, at project leaders at meetings. We then, and now . . . Q. What conservation goal would you are coming to be more diverse. It was like most to attain in the rest of your important to recognize in our Conserving Wooley: . . . they’re de-listed, off the Service career? the Future vision that, if we want to have endangered species list. a conservation constituency, we have to Wooley: It’s been remarkable the last Kurth: We’ve recovered grizzly bears three years to be part of the Obama have more role models who come from all and wolves and bald eagles and pelicans segments of society. administration’s Great Lakes Restoration and alligators, and yet there’s a whole Initiative. Instead of an initiative, I’d like Q. What are the biggest challenges to host of other species now threatened with to see it become permanent, so that the conservation that have arisen? extinction. The challenges continue to American public and the Canadian public change and emerge. have an opportunity to see the Great Kurth: To me, there’s certainly this Q. Jim, what is the one word you would Lakes restored. It takes a long time. It two-fisted problem of accelerating takes dedicated funding. change to the climate systems and a use to best describe Charlie as a friend growing population that continues to and a conservationist? Kurth: What I’m most excited about fragment the landscape. Best. He’s my best friend, and he is doing in this phase of my career is certainly one of the best in the helping to build the next generation of Wooley: One of the more frustrating conservation leaders, to find the right things is: We make progress in one arena conservation business. He is a renowned biologist and an accomplished people and to encourage them, to help and, as we’re making progress there, them in any way I can to aspire to lead another issue pops up that we hadn’t conservationist. There just aren’t many better in the business. our Service and our conservation efforts. anticipated. I mean, we would never have It’s very much about the people to me at been talking about climate change 20 Q. Charlie, what is the one word you this stage. I really enjoy, more than years ago; then we were talking would use to similarly describe Jim? anything, seeing talent blossom. preserving endangered species, recovering species, protecting habitat. Tenacious. I would have used “best,” too, There’s a certain sense of frustration in if it hadn’t been taken already. There have

Charlie Wooley: “We’ve learned that there’s a certain responsibility that Jim Kurth: “We used to feel that the way to keep wildlife first on refuges comes as you get into upper level management situations. Probably the most was keeping people out. We’ve learned that when people can use and enjoy important is hiring and advancing good people.” (Charles Traxler/USFWS) wild places and wildlife, they’re going to become stronger supporters of the conservation movement.” (Deborah Rocque/USFWS)

Refuge Update • 5 Seventy-one percent of survey respondents said climate change poses a serious threat to wildlife and habitat. Here, beach erosion exposes loggerhead sea turtle eggs in a nest at Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina. (Billy Shaw) Climate Change Concerns Most Refuge Visitors

isitors to national wildlife refuges surveyed (46 percent) expressed interest Adaptation Strategy to guide are concerned about the impact in learning from refuges what they could government-wide wildlife adaptation V of climate change on America’s do to help address the effects of climate partnerships over the next 50 to fish, wildlife and plants—as well as the change on wildlife and habitat. 100 years. habitat that supports them, according to a survey released in late May by the U.S. Economic considerations factored into • Developing an innovative carbon Fish and Wildlife Service. visitors’ assessments. More than two- sequestration program in the Lower thirds (71 percent) agreed that “it is Mississippi Valley in partnership The survey also shows strong support important to consider the economic costs with The Conservation Fund, for efforts to help native species adapt and benefits to local communities when American Electric Power Company to changing climate conditions, such as addressing climate change effects on fish, and Entergy Inc., that is also those being implemented by the Service wildlife and habitats.” restoring native habitats to bolster and its partners. populations of wildlife and migratory “The results of this survey underscore birds. The project has added more Seventy-one percent of the more than the Service’s responsibility to ensure that than 40,000 acres of habitat to the 10,000 visitors to national wildlife refuges we use the best science to understand National Wildlife Refuge System and who took part in the survey—designed and anticipate the impacts of a changing reforested more than 80,000 acres, and conducted by the U.S. Geological climate in order to safeguard fish, wildlife sequestering 30 million metric tons Survey in 2010 and 2011—believe that and plants and the important benefits of carbon over the project’s 70- climate change poses a serious threat to and services they provide,” said Service year lifetime. wildlife and habitat. About 74 percent Director Dan Ashe. “We recognize the agree that addressing climate change serious threats that climate change and • Helping create a network of locally effects on wildlife and wildlife habitats other environmental stressors pose to driven, solution-oriented landscape will benefit future generations. wildlife, and we’re working with our conservation cooperatives that will partners to address these immense allow federal, state and local partners More than half of the refuge visitors challenges using the latest science- to develop shared science capacity to surveyed indicated a high level of driven approaches.” inform conservation actions that help interest and personal involvement in priority species and habitats withstand climate issues. More than two-thirds (69 The Service’s work with conservation the impacts of climate change. percent) agreed that addressing climate partners includes: change impacts could “improve our The survey is available at http://pubs. quality of life.” Nearly half of visitors • Leading development of a National usgs.gov/ds/685/DS685.pdf. Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate

6 • Refuge Update A Hands-On Approach to Habitat Restoration

By Bill O’Brian At Occoquan Bay Refuge, Earth Sangha has taken on the daunting restoration n a gorgeous spring Thursday in task because, says Bright, “on the northern Virginia, Lisa Bright East Coast, naturally occurring native Ois beaming as she stands in an meadow is almost nonexistent now.” Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge field displaying a Japanese knotweed root The five-year, $70,000 project is in its she has just yanked from the ground. second year. Last year, Earth Sangha and its trained volunteers surveyed the Bright loves ridding the landscape field to understand its vegetation and of Japanese knotweed, Japanese began removing invasives by hand. This honeysuckle and other invasive plants. year, they continue to remove invasives She loves spreading the word about manually with limited herbicide spraying ecological balance. She loves the help from the refuge. They also will plant Earth Sangha co-founder Lisa Bright does interrelationship of species. And she a small test plot. Next year, wider native cherishes botanical diversity. invasive species work at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia. “We want to do planting is planned—some with golden That is why Occoquan Bay Refuge has ecological work on the ground, not policy,” she rod and boneset seeds Earth Sangha will says of her nonprofit organization. (Bill O’Brian/ collect by hand at the refuge. entered into an agreement whereby USFWS) Bright and Earth Sangha—a largely The project’s goal is to remove invasives, volunteer nonprofit organization she control native-but-overly-dominant and her husband, Chris, co-founded— Eastern gamma grass and replant a are attempting to restore the mostly diverse meadow of native grasses and monotypic 12-acre refuge field to forbs that will be desirable habitat for native meadow. songbirds and breeding grassland birds. The refuge views the effort as an The current gamma grass-dominated experiment—a chance to see if Earth field is not attractive to such birds. Sangha’s manual labor-intensive, “We’re a different kind of contractor,” herbicide-light approach to invasive says Bright. “We don’t come out one time species control and habitat restoration to do the job. We constantly over time will work. The Refuge System invasive bring volunteers out to do the job.” species program, which is funding the venture, sees it as a pilot project to Bright also brings out students. On this learn more about engaging volunteers in gorgeous Thursday, a dozen or so fifth- restoring refuge lands. graders from private Browne Academy in nearby Alexandria are helping out. “Some of the techniques they come up with might be useful for other projects “At first, I worried about making sure here or elsewhere. If they are, I’ll Fifth-graders, from left, Llewellyn Dortch, the kids would be productive for Lisa,” consider this project a success,” says Madison Manning and Linnea Sullivan help says science teacher Mike Sasso, refuge manager Greg Weiler. remove invasive grasses at Occoquan Bay Refuge. “but then I realized that it was all (Bill O’Brian/USFWS) about exposure, exposing them to the “They have the willingness to tackle the restoration process.” job. Lisa and Chris know native plants The nonprofit runs a nursery containing and have extensive experience doing 40,000 plants of 220 species, all native Bright agrees. this kind of thing,” says refuge outdoor to Piedmont or coastal Virginia within “We try to maximize education for recreation planner Marty McClevey. a 50-mile radius of its Fairfax County “Lisa is very purist in what she wants kids, but it’s not that they help me that base. Earth Sangha means “Earth much,” she says. restored into the meadows here. I community,” and the organization’s ethic admire that.” is not to own land itself but rather to Rather, they see insects, butterflies, Earth Sangha has 260 members and a restore public lands. birds, varied vegetation, the openness of network of 800 local volunteers. “We the refuge. “And they say, ‘Could I get a “We want to do ecological work on the job here? It would be cool if I do this work in the spirit of Buddhist practice,” ground, not policy,” says Lisa Bright. its Web site says, “but our members and kind of work every day and for the rest “There’s lots of policy. We want to do of my life.’ ” volunteers come from a wide variety of something.” religious and secular backgrounds.”

Refuge Update • 7 Trumpeting 25 Years of Success at Tamarac Refuge

By Ben Ikenson ohn James Audubon preferred pens made from the quills of J trumpeter swans to depict the fine lines in the feet of bird species, including, in all likelihood, the trumpeter swan. The irony may not have been lost to the famed naturalist-painter, considering the bird was severely overhunted during his lifetime. With luminous white plumage and a wingspan that can reach eight feet, the world’s largest waterfowl made an easy target. Its flesh fed countless pioneer families. Its skins were manufactured into powder puffs. Its fine, rough feathers were fashioned into fountain pens. The reason the bird wasn’t overly threatened by the demands of a growing millinery trade in the early 1900s, as was A trumpeter swan nests at Minnesota’s Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, where the species’ recovery the whooping crane, is that “by then, began in 1987. There are now 6,000 trumpeter swans in the state. (Kelly Blackledge/USFWS) there just weren’t a lot of trumpeters left in the heart of their original range across percent. Fears that the species would now annually donate more than $1 Canada and the north-central U.S.,” says vanish, leaving only an Audubon million, a portion of which goes to Carrol Henderson, nongame wildlife illustration as proof of its majesty, have trumpeter swan recovery. program manager for the Minnesota subsided; with more than 6,000 Department of Natural Resources. “By trumpeter swans now in the state, the In turn, the trumpeter swan is proving 1885, they were completely extirpated recovery is a conservation landmark. its worth. For instance, the city of from Minnesota.” Monticello, northwest of Minneapolis, “The public has grasped onto this as purchased a vacant lot adjacent to an A full century later, in 1987, Henderson a true success story, like the bald eagle,” area on the Mississippi River used by played a prominent role in a moment says Tamarac Refuge wildlife biologist wintering trumpeters. Crowds now marking a dramatic turnaround for the Wayne Brininger. “Especially around gather on crisp winter mornings for the state-listed threatened species. He here, people are really attached to spectacle—and the symphony—of released 21 trumpeter swans—derived the bird.” upward of a thousand trumpeting swans from a small flock in Montana—at alighting on the water. Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in In fact, state taxpayers have helped northwestern Minnesota. finance the success story. While Tamarac “Even if you’re not all that interested in Refuge was purchased with funds from wildlife, you’re interested in seeing these Dissected by three rivers and federal Duck Stamp sales a few years guys,” says Henderson. encompassing more than 42,000 acres of after the Duck Stamp program was northern hardwood forest, coniferous established in the 1930s, the state’s What was once a major liability, the bird’s forest and tallgrass prairie, “the refuge coffers were never abundant enough to conspicuousness is now a valuable selling seemed to have all the right easily fund management for nongame point for its own conservation. At components—diversity of wetland types, species like trumpeter swans. Tamarac Refuge’s recent annual bird lots of surrounding public and tribal land, festival, Henderson, Brininger, and relatively few power lines,” he says. “Our “We were the poor stepchild,” says others offered presentations celebrating odds, we thought, were good here.” Henderson, who reports the statewide the recovery program’s 25th year. Of budget for nongame conservation from course, thanks to the program, festival Indeed. Over the past 25 years, a total of 1977 to 1980 was less than $30,000 per goers needn’t have gone far to see the 358 captive-raised trumpeter swans have year. Established in 1980, a nongame actual birds themselves. been released in Minnesota (98 directly wildlife checkoff program on state income at the refuge). Swan numbers are tax forms came to provide a dependable Ben Ikenson is a New Mexico-based increasing at an annual rate of 16 to 18 funding source, through which taxpayers freelance writer.

8 • Refuge Update Gardening for Butterflies

By Suzanne Valencia n the first butterfly walk I took many years ago, the leader said, O“If you build it, they will come.” As with mouse traps and baseball fields, this has proved to be true at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. In 2004 and 2005, students from Pelican Island Elementary School helped plant the butterfly garden at the refuge—and since then the butterflies have come. Over the years, the garden has attracted an array of them, including white peacock, zebra longwing, monarch, red admiral, checkered white, great southern white, various skippers, eastern black swallowtail, dainty sulphur, cloudless sulphur, phaon crescent, queen, Gulf fritillary, mangrove buckeye and painted lady. All of which is heartening to me because I guided those grade-school students almost a decade ago as they put the plants into the ground—each specimen A painted lady alights on a native plant in the butterfly garden that the author oversees as a volunteer at native to our area. Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. (Glen Bain) In that time, I have seen up close how fascinating butterflies are. most often worked alone. But since the birds in the pond next to it. We have an refuge began subscribing a few years assortment of wading birds: wood storks, They will come for the nectar to almost ago to Volgistics, an online volunteer roseate spoonbills, white ibis, great blue any plant that has blossoms, but if you management software service, I herons, tri-colored herons, little blue want them to breed, you also need host have been able to send out messages, herons, great American egrets, snowy plants. Each species of butterfly usually as needed, to about 900 potential egrets, brown pelicans and, in winter, has one particular plant on which it will volunteers. I schedule garden workdays white pelicans and ducks too numerous lay its eggs. That is the plant that the according to my free time. A core to mention. Some days it is hard to emerging caterpillars will eat and that group of volunteers—Larry and Faye concentrate on the weeding. imparts chemicals to the caterpillar for Anderson, Hedy Von Achen, Ken Gonyo protection against predators. and John Boltz—are as dedicated to the We have a wonderful time talking to garden as I am. visitors from all over the world who come How do butterflies find that particular to stroll on the paths through the garden. plant? How do they sense and find the We concentrate our efforts from fall to They are delighted to hear the story of nectar? They have ultraviolet vision that spring because Florida’s summers are Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge allows them to see it. Butterflies can just too hot and buggy to spend time in and the butterfly garden. And we are recognize flowers’ ultraviolet patterns the garden. Keeping the weeds under delighted to tell that story—because not visible to humans. control is a major problem; everything when it comes to the garden and its goes wild if we turn our backs for very butterflies, my volunteer gardeners and I And how do they find their way to long. And, of course, the wildflowers seed are like proud parents. Florida from colder climes? One thing is themselves wherever they want, so it is clear: Butterflies certainly are tougher difficult to maintain order in the garden. Suzanne Valencia is a volunteer at than they look. Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge In addition to seeing the variety of in Florida and a member of the refuge’s Sustaining a garden for them takes a butterflies, one of the delightful aspects Friends group, the Pelican Island fair amount of organization and a great of working in the garden is seeing the Preservation Society. amount of help. In the early years, I

Refuge Update • 9

Focus . . .Partnerships . Partnerships That Work Conserving the Future ast year, hundreds of U.S. Fish and they pertain to recommendations 11 and Wildlife Service employees and 12 of the vision. partners forged the Conserving L Recommendation 11: Develop and the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation vision for the National Wildlife nurture active and vibrant Friends Refuge System. This year, we collectively groups or community partnerships for are implementing that vision. every staffed refuge or refuge complex. In 2012, Refuge Update is presenting Recommendation 12: Develop a national a series of Focus sections devoted to strategy for recruiting, coordinating the implementation. The sections and supporting a more self-sustaining emphasize and parallel the realms volunteer corps, while creating new of various Conserving the Future opportunities for community involvement implementation teams. in implementing refuge priorities. This Focus section, titled Partnerships The Focus section includes articles about That Work, centers on the objectives of some—but by no means all—Refuge the Community Partnerships team as System partnerships that work well.

First Research, Now Some Vision Products — continued from page 1 and-forth that helped develop the opportunities with key conservation In other realms, the Interpretation Conserving the Future vision. partners. The team, which already has and Environmental Education superimposed a map of the Refuge implementation team has made creation The draft communications plan System on a map of U.S. population of an ambassadors program a priority, proposes that the National Wildlife centers, now is identifying elements of the Planning team is surveying refuge Refuge System expand its reach first excellence that make existing urban staff about how to improve and best by meeting Americans on their own refuges successful. The team hopes to implement comprehensive conservation turf—whether that’s a shopping mall, convene an urban refuge summit in plans (CCPs), and the Community sports arena, community center or local 2013, inviting about 100 refuge staff Partnerships implementation team is library—and then fostering a tsunami and partners. surveying nearly 100 refuge managers of support by creating buzz online and to identify best practices for attracting distinctive programs at wildlife refuges. About 80 percent of Americans live in and managing volunteers, Friends and Corporate and nonprofit partnerships urban areas, but relatively few of the partners. The Community Partnerships are key elements. nation’s 556 wildlife refuges are team plans to develop an online tool located there. Among the Communications team’s to help management, and it seeks to goals is doubling the number of people “The Refuge System now spans the improve the Web presence for volunteers, who encounter refuges—on the ground continent and reaches across oceans, Friends and partners. and virtually. Today, more than 45 providing safe homes for our nation’s To comment on proposed products and million people visit refuges annually, fish, wildlife and plants,” says the approaches, join the social network at and the Refuge System Web site draws Conserving the Future document. “But AmericasWildlife.org and watch the about 200,000 visitors a month. The despite our broad geographic reach, conservation conversation flow. In plan partially grew out of stakeholder we face challenges in connecting with addition to team work plans and interviews and online listening that all Americans. We struggle to remain Facebook/Twitter feeds, the Web site now identified the Refuge System’s reach and relevant to urban citizens who have features the Refuge System on barriers to attracting diverse audiences. competing priorities and few outside Pinterest—one of the newest popular experiences; we strain to find ways to social networks—too. The Urban Wildlife Refuge Initiative connect with young Americans who are implementation team held three days of technologically fluent but deficient in meetings in late June to discuss urban nature experiences …” initiatives and potential collaborative

10 • Refuge Update

Focus . . . Partnerships That Work A Dozen Partners Restore One Ancient Ecosystem

By Stacy Shelton he next generation of biological carbon sequestration work is T taking place at three national wildlife refuges near Albemarle Sound in North Carolina and Virginia with help from almost a dozen partners. The refuges—Alligator River, Great Dismal Swamp and Pocosin Lakes— are bound by an ancient ecosystem called pocosin, the Algonquin Indian word for “swamp on a hill.” The refuges comprise 375,000 acres, the largest ownership of pocosin wetlands in the eastern United States. Beneath forests of pond pines, white cedars and a dense shrub understory, When pocosin wetlands like this one at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge dry up, carbon the chocolate-colored soils are layered is released and fire hazard is increased. An ambitious multi-agency project to re-wet pocosins at Great Dismal Swamp, Pocosin Lakes and Alligator River Refuges is underway. (Stacy Shelton/USFWS) with thousands of years of slowly decaying organic material. The most precious ingredient in these pocosins, or services field office, compared the effort Without enough water, the peat dries peatlands, is the carbon-rich peat soil. to an old-fashioned barn-raising. “With up, releases carbon (a climate-changing limited budgets, we’re pulling together greenhouse gas) and becomes a fire Despite comprising only three percent lots of different resources, looking for hazard. While healthy pocosins need of Earth’s land area in places that help and ways to help our partners.” periodic fire, drainage makes them include Alaska, Canada and Russia, vulnerable to severe fires that burn “peatlands hold one-third of the world’s Under natural conditions, the peat underground, particularly during carbon,” Curtis Richardson of the soaks up rainfall and the carbon drought years. Last year, fires ignited Duke University Wetland Center said remains stable, locked away in the deep in Alligator River and the Great Dismal at a partner meeting this spring at soils that reach 12 feet or more below Swamp Refuges burned about 52,000 Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. the surface. acres combined. In addition to the Richardson is leading cutting-edge ecological and greenhouse gas impact, research at the refuge to quantify peat the fires are costly: Fire suppression at soil carbon storage. The goal of keeping that the three refuges has cost more than $50 million since 2008. Furthermore, the loss The goal of keeping that carbon locked carbon locked away has of soil and associated elevation makes away has rallied a long list of U.S. Fish rallied a long list of U.S. these low-lying coastal refuges more and Wildlife Service partners playing susceptible to sea-level rise. important science or funding roles. Fish and Wildlife Service They include The Nature Conservancy partners playing important The solution is to return the water to the (TNC), The Conservation Fund, the science or funding roles. peatlands and mimic natural seasonal states of North Carolina and Virginia, fluctuations by installing water control the National Oceanic and Atmospheric structures in some of the thousands of Administration, the U.S. Geological ditches. In addition to storing carbon, Survey, the Environmental Protection But starting in the 1700s, swaths of re-wetting the pocosins is good for Agency, and Duke, Christopher Newport Albemarle Sound were ditched and wildlife, water quality, nearby human and North Carolina State universities. drained for farms and pine plantations. communities and increased resiliency to George Washington was a famous early climate change. Sara Ward, an ecologist with the proponent of the practice to harvest Service’s Environmental Contaminants Atlantic white cedar and bald cypress Program in the Raleigh ecological from Great Dismal Swamp. continued on pg 18

Refuge Update • 11

Focus . . .Partnerships . Partnerships That Work NWRS O&M Enacted - In $,000 550,000

500,000

450,000

400,000

350,000

300,000

250,000

200,000

150,000

100,000

50,000 165,831

- 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

This chart shows the growth of the National Wildlife Refuge System operations and maintenance budget since 1981. The Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE), which advocates for Refuge System funding, was established in 1995. (USFWS)

CARE: All for One, and One for All The 22 Members By Bill O’Brian one single number for operations and Twenty-two nonprofits belong to maintenance funding.” the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge uestion: Do Defenders of Wildlife Enhancement (CARE): American and the National Rifle Association CARE’s member organizations realize Birding Association; American Qever agree on anything? that, regarding the Refuge System Fisheries Society; American budget, “we need to increase the size of Sportfishing Association; Association Answer: Yes. At each annual strategy the loaf and not fight over the leftovers, of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; meeting of the Cooperative Alliance for so that all interests are well served,” Congressional Sportsmen’s Refuge Enhancement (CARE) since 1995, says the NRA’s Susan Recce. “The Foundation; Defenders of Wildlife; Defenders and the NRA have agreed on hunting community has been tied at the Ducks Unlimited Inc.; Izaak the precise number of dollars Congress hip with the Refuge System since the Walton League of America; Marine should allocate to the next year’s National days of Teddy Roosevelt.” Wildlife Refuge System operations and Conservation Institute; National maintenance budget. “Defenders belongs to CARE because Audubon Society; National Rifle sound management of the National Association of America; National CARE is an umbrella group of Wildlife Refuge System is a top priority Wildlife Federation; National 22 politically diverse nonprofit for wildlife conservation in our nation. Wildlife Refuge Association; Safari organizations that support funding Without adequate funding, the Refuge Club International; The Corps for national wildlife refuges. It is 100 System cannot meet its mission,” says Network; The Nature Conservancy; percent budget-oriented. Defenders’ Mary Beth Beetham. “When The Wilderness Society; The “We don’t weigh in on policy priorities members of Congress see a coalition of Wildlife Society; Trout Unlimited; or specific programmatic priorities or groups that don’t often agree on other U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance; Wildlife anything of that nature,” says Evan issues, it sends a powerful message Forever; Wildlife Management Hirsche, president of the National on the importance of the common goal Institute. being advanced. This is especially true Wildlife Refuge Association, which chairs More information about CARE is at in this time of sharp polarization on so CARE. “The only reason the CARE http://www.fundrefuges.org. group works is that we’re advocating for many issues.” continued on pg 18

12 • Refuge Update

Focus . . . Partnerships That Work Land Partners: “We Couldn’t Do Our Job Without Them”

By Bill O’Brian When the Service recently decided to direct 70 percent of Migratory Bird ric Alvarez clearly knows his Conservation Fund land acquisition way around what he calls the money to the Prairie Pothole Region, EU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ducks Unlimited committed to matching “conservation estate.” up to $50 million for wetland and As he discusses land acquisition, he grassland conservation. “Those are non- exudes passion for the mission. He federal dollars,” Alvarez notes. tosses out surprising numbers, arcane Other examples: The Trust for real estate terms and the occasional Public Land buying a huge tract in trigonometry reference. But, mostly, New Hampshire’s Androscoggin he makes clear his appreciation of the River headwaters and selling it off contribution that non-governmental to federal and state conservation organization land partners have made to agencies, including the Service for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Umbagog Refuge. Pheasants Forever “I don’t think we could have obtaining land through Minnesota state accomplished what we’ve accomplished grants and donating it for Northern without NGO partners,” says Alvarez, Tallgrass Prairie Refuge. The Nature chief of the Refuge System Washington Conservancy buying a large tract for office Division of Realty since 2002 and a Glacial Ridge Refuge, MN, and slowly Service realty employee since 1991. “We selling it to the Service “at a huge couldn’t do our job without them.” bargain price.” The Conservative Fund stepping in similarly at Red River Alvarez is referring to NGOs like The Refuge, LA, and Neches River Refuge, Nature Conservancy, The Conservation Non-governmental organizations routinely help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquire TX. The list goes on. Fund, the Trust for Public Land, Ducks land. The Trust for Public Land bought a huge Unlimited, Pheasants Forever—and tract in New Hampshire’s Androscoggin River “There’s the tangible impact that the local land trusts. headwaters and is selling it off to federal and state NGOs have had, meaning acres that conservation agencies, including the Service for they’ve bought directly and donated Most of the Refuge System’s 150 Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge. (USFWS) or facilitated the purchase of,” says million acres came from the public Alvarez. “But then there’s the intangible domain (U.S. land never conveyed can buy it from them. NGOs can buy piece of it where they work with from federal ownership) or from other land and donate it to the Service. NGOs Congress and localities to get funding, federal agencies, including the Defense can facilitate land exchanges. By law, help us with planning and generate Department. Since its 1903 founding, the Service can’t sell refuge lands, says goodwill in the communities.” the Refuge System has purchased only Alvarez. However, NGOs frequently help And there’s the trigonometry piece, too. 7.4 million acres. Of those purchases, the Service trade low-resource-value 60 percent were via fee title acquisition, land for high-resource-value land. “Federal budgets for land acquisition are whereby the Service owns all or most “Non-Federal Dollars” relatively small, and they are very rights to the land; 40 percent were via variable,” Alvarez says. “Imagine a sine Alvarez ticks off recent examples of easements, primarily wetland, grassland wave—peaks and valleys, peaks and NGOs making a difference. and non-development easements. valleys—NGOs are kind of the leveling The NGOs help with those purchases in The Nature Conservancy, which had off of that sine wave. They tend to fill in myriad ways. been working for more than a decade some of those valleys and, at times, add to restore central Florida habitat, to the peaks.” When a landowner is unwilling or unable “provided a lot of the science and was to deal directly with the Service, NGOs the driving force behind” the Everglades can be pass-throughs. When the Service Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge doesn’t have funds and a landowner and Conservation Area’s establishment, wants to sell immediately, NGOs can buy says Alvarez, as was the National and hold the property until the Service Wildlife Refuge Association.

Refuge Update • 13

Focus . . .Partnerships . Partnerships That Work Montana and the Service Join Forces for Arctic Grayling

By Kendall Slee he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife & T Parks are teaming up at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge for the benefit of an endangered population of Arctic grayling.

This spring—as part of a labor-intensive, federal-state partnership that began with testing early last decade and will continue at least through 2014— biologists introduced about 69,000 fertilized Arctic grayling eggs into Elk Springs Creek at the refuge. Over three to four weeks, they monitored the growing gametes and checked for grayling hatched in previous years. The partnership’s goal is to reestablish a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists use an electroshock probe to collect Artic Grayling from a creek at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in viable spawning population in the creek. preparation for collection of live eggs. (James N. Perdue) Arctic grayling is a freshwater fish in the same family as salmon, trout and placed in remote site incubators, which who adds that strong partnerships whitefish. The Upper Missouri River provide surrogate nests along the creek. depend on trustful relationships and population in Montana was classified as a minimal jurisdictional debates between distinct population segment and added to The state is also relying on the Red Rock federal and state agencies. the candidate list under the Endangered Creek population to help it establish Species Act in 2010. Arctic grayling in a brood stock of Arctic grayling in a To lay the groundwork for this project, Montana are the last surviving endemic nearby lake on national forest land using the refuge restored Elk Creek as populations in the contiguous 48 states. a similar approach. riparian habitat by, in 2009, draining Reestablishing the Arctic grayling into a human-made pond that had been Service biologist Glenn Boltz is leading blocking the spawning path of Arctic historical spawning streams, including the Elk Springs Creek grayling Elk Springs Creek, is a goal in the grayling on the creek for decades. This reintroduction with advisory assistance caused some concern for the trumpeter refuge’s comprehensive conservation from Service and Montana FWP plan (CCP). swan, which nests on the refuge. While geneticists about how to establish a staff does not believe the pond’s demise A nearby Montana Fish, Wildlife & diverse, viable gene pool in the brood has hurt the swan, the refuge continues Parks (FWP) hatchery is providing stock and within Elk Springs Creek. to monitor the trumpeter population. key expertise toward that objective, Such close-knit partnerships make sense Such balancing acts involving species extracting eggs and sperm from a for federal and state wildlife agencies of concern are part of the challenge of healthy population of Arctic grayling in with missions to conserve the same managing a refuge, West says. Red Rock Creek on the refuge. resources, says John Kennedy, chair As for the Arctic grayling, their viability “They show up here with their electro- of the Association of Fish and Wildlife in Elk Springs Creek will be judged by fishing crew the night before the grayling Agencies’ State-Federal Relations the genetic diversity and numbers within are expected to spawn. They extract Committee and deputy director of the their populations. Generally, Boltz says, eggs from the females and mix them with Wyoming Game and Fish Department. biologists designate a population as sperm from the males. That’s a really “It is in the best interest of our viable if there are at least 500 fish and 50 technical thing that they do,” says refuge agencies, our publics and the fish and spawning individuals per year, which has manager Bill West. Success depends wildlife resources we are mandated to not yet happened in this case. on precise predictions of spawning and conserve, to develop and maintain strong careful execution. Fertilized eggs are Kendall Slee is a Colorado-based relationships and partnerships and freelance writer. transferred to Elk Springs Creek and achieve shared success,” says Kennedy,

14 • Refuge Update

Focus . . . Partnerships That Work Shaping Conservation Careers One Young Person at a Time

By Bill O’Brian that hopefully will lead to some kind ndrea Johnson is 22. Thanks of employment in to the Student Conservation a conservation- Association’s Tribal College A related field, Internship Program, she has her sights whether it’s with set on a dream job. us or others,” says “I want to go to FLETC for training and National Wildlife be a [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] law Refuge System enforcement officer and an archaeologist Washington office on the side – a dual function kind of visitor services thing,” she says, referring to the Federal chief Kevin Law Enforcement Training Center. “We Kilcullen, who really have only one Earth. Once it’s notes that “there gone, it’s gone. Enforcement is key.” are a lot of people with their fingers Johnson, a Costanoan Indian and rising in this pie that senior at California State University- help shape these Stanislaus, fed her yearning for a youth employment conservation career as an intern last programs.” summer at Seedskadee National Wildlife Andrea Johnson and refuge seasonal biological technician Bryce Ahlers Refuge in Wyoming. She is just one of Two highly visible conduct a perimeter check at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. Johnson, the 1,097 youth the Service hired in 2011 partners are The a Costanoan Indian, was a Student Conservation Association tribal intern at the southeastern Wyoming refuge in 2011. (Kolby Magee /USFWS) with the help of more than 70 third- Corps Network— party partnerships. Those partner youth which represents worked almost 340,000 hours last year more than 150 Massachusetts, says, “it definitely shaped on more than 300 Service units, most of local conservation corps across the my career path. Even if I don’t end up them refuges. country—and the Student Conservation pursuing [a conservation career], it’s Association (SCA). something that will be in the back of my The Service offers many in-house head that I carry with me.” programs for youth, such as SCEP Workforce Diversity (Student Career Experience Program), Two SCA entities—the tribal intern Rooks, an English major with journalism/ STEP (Student Temporary Employment program and the Career Discovery communications concentration, says Program) and YCC (Youth Conservation Internship Program (CDIP)—help she’ll never forget the passion of Corps). The partnerships discussed here address Conserving the Future everyone associated with Monomoy go beyond those internal programs. recommendation 22: “Within the next Refuge and how she was pressed into Almost half of the youth who work 10 years, make our workforce match the duty “outside her comfort zone” to help on Service-related projects are hired diversity in the civilian labor workforce. wildlife biologists with common tern and by third parties under cooperative Recruit and retain a workforce that piping plover fieldwork. agreements with field stations and reflects the ethnic, age, socioeconomic And Johnson, an anthropology major regional or national offices, according and cultural backgrounds, and language minoring in criminal justice and to a Service 2011 employment diversity of contemporary America.” environment studies, says she’ll always report, Youth in the Great Outdoors: The CDIP, founded in 2008 under treasure Seedskadee Refuge’s riparian, Experiences of a Lifetime. the leadership of Northeast Region wetland and upland shrub habitat The third-party partners usually handle assistant refuge supervisor Lamar “especially when the sun is coming up or recruiting, pay and other administrative Gore, introduces culturally and going down.” tasks so Service staff can concentrate ethnically diverse college freshman and “It’s nice and peaceful,” the 2011 tribal on providing youth with meaningful sophomores to conservation. intern says. “I don’t know really how to conservation opportunities. Alyssa Rooks, a rising junior at Atlanta’s explain it. I enjoyed the scenery just The partnerships offer young people Spelman College and a CDIP intern knowing that it was my backyard for the “practical skills, training and mentoring last summer at Monomoy Refuge in whole summer.”

Refuge Update • 15

Focus . . .Partnerships . Partnerships That Work Desert Refuges and Tribes Build Rapport—and More

By Alyson Mack and Wendy Smith station at Pahranagat Refuge and is scheduled to conduct a traditional pine hen Newe and Nuwuvi tribe nut harvest at Desert Refuge this fall. members visited Ash Meadows The group is also working with the National Wildlife Refuge W Service and the U.S. Forest Service several years ago, a bighorn ram crested on a consultation handbook and a a hilltop to watch them. Similarly, an collaborative resource management entire herd greeted them last fall. But plan for future projects, including when a ram showed up this spring, a interpretive exhibits, visitor facilities time when sheep normally are absent and restorations. Involvement from from the refuge, the group fell silent. initial project planning through to The ram came, the elders said, because completion is crucial for a sustained “he heard a familiar language.” partnership, Spoon says. “Collaboration The tribe members are part of the Newe/ on exhibits at one time can shift to Nuwuvi Working Group—a partnership working on educational programming or among the U.S. Fish and Wildlife resource management at another. The Service, the Newe (Western Shoshone) rapport built is vital for our partnerships and Nuwuvi (Southern Paiute) nations, to continue.” The Mountain Institute and Portland For some working group members, State University. Facilitated by Jeremy the experience is invigorating. “I am Spoon and Richard Arnold, the group The Newe/Nuwuvi Working Group regularly amazed how the group functions and collaborates on interpretive planning consults on projects at Desert National Wildlife talks genuinely about the importance Refuge Complex in Nevada. Here, members of the and resource management projects for us to be back on this land,” one tribal at Desert National Wildlife Refuge group visit the life-giving Crystal Spring at Ash Meadows Refuge. (Wendy Smith/USFWS) participant recently told Spoon. “This Complex in southern Nevada. Spoon is has been a renewal of the past. Seeing a research associate at the institute and how [the refuge] is being protected, I an assistant professor of anthropology explains to participants the intended use feel serenity.” at the university; Arnold is chair of the of the information and states their right Pahrump Paiute tribe. to withhold or retract information. For the Service, the process produces “We always make sure to have full results it couldn’t achieve alone. And it Tribal consultation occurs on various enables the Service to tell more complete refuges in various forms, but this review of our materials by both the federal agencies and the participating stories honoring the vitality of Newe and working group process provides federal Nuwuvi cultures. agencies with a decidedly cooperative Native American nations,” Spoon says. approach to tribal involvement. It “This transparency is a vital component For all involved, the partnership is a underscores building rapport that of our work.” learning process. Newe and Nuwuvi extends beyond mere policy compliance. Empowerment is also a key component. look to bighorn as teachers in life, showing the way to knowledge and “Most agencies typically conduct ‘check Spoon stresses the importance of federal agencies contacting tribes in a wisdom. Perhaps that bighorn ram last the box’ consultation, where they often spring was reminding the working group only consult with the tribes as much as government-to-government manner, rather than simply relying on the of an important lesson in partnerships: dictated by federal laws,” says Spoon. Never stop listening for the sound of a “Our process of both formal and informal individuals they know. “It is up to the familiar language. consultation and involvement helps build Native American nation to choose who real relationships and achieve mutually participates in a project,” he explains. Alyson Mack is a visitor services agreed upon outcomes.” “Empowering Native American specialist at Ash Meadows National representatives to collect information Wildlife Refuge. Wendy Smith is a Arnold and Spoon accomplish this from their own people is a good strategy visual information specialist at Desert through transparency and meaningful to build trust and rapport.” National Wildlife Refuge Complex. discussions. Before tribes share “I Feel Serenity” information on any project, there is an informed-consent meeting, which The working group is helping to guide interpretation for a new visitor contact

16 • Refuge Update

Focus . . . Partnerships That Work Friends, Aided by Foundation, Boost Refuges’ Reach

By Alison Howard hen Friends of Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges W was looking for a boost in its first few years, it turned to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. A $5,000 NFWF grant enabled the group to buy a computer and projector for presentations; develop a Web site; print a brochure, business cards and bookmarks to distribute at festivals, and acquire two kayaks for better bird counts.

When Friends of Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho needed help spreading the word about birding activities, it turned to the foundation. A $1,500 NFWF grant resulted in a professionally created Web site, now the Friends’ primary link with its members and widespread rural community. Gallinas Canyon is visible from an overlook on the southern edge of Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico. The refuge’s Friends group used a 2010 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation When Friends of Las Vegas National grant to educate elementary school students about the natural beauty of the area. (Jo Rita Jordan) Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico wanted to expand its environmental education But Edelen says NFWF contributes work that wouldn’t otherwise get done. program in elementary schools, it too more than money, participating in Their contribution to the Refuge System turned to the foundation. A $4,986 proposal-writing workshops that help is huge.” NFWF grant—more than matched by Friends “find other grant opportunities many local partners—enabled Friends and other partners.” Friends of Tampa Bay Refuges started in volunteers to make “pre-visits” to 12 2005 with 30 members, received its grant classrooms before bringing students to With the help of NFWF and the in 2008 when it had 76 members and now the refuge for field trips. Refuge System, says national Friends has 150. Board member Barbara Howard says the NFWF-funded communications tools and publicity materials raise the Friends’ profile. The kayaks provide NFWF program manager Teal Edelen says its Friends a more accurate count of the birds on grant program has been “extremely successful,” Pinellas Refuge’s nine islands, eight of making more than 350 grants worth $2.6 million to which are closed to the public. facilitate the start-up and growth of Friends groups. The monthly count used to be done by powerboat, skirting each closed island. The foundation, created by Congress coordinator Joanna Webb, Friends “Once, we were trolling the perimeter in 1984, is funded by Congressional groups have doubled in number in the of Tarpon Key when 25 pink roseate appropriations and its many partners, past 15 years to 200-plus. As a result, spoonbills flew right up out of a lagoon. which include private companies, the this year’s grants will emphasize We would’ve missed all those birds.” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and strengthening groups’ organization Now Friends members get a permit other federal agencies. NFWF program and management. They will address to paddle in. “It’s a neat thing to do,” manager Teal Edelen says its Friends “life cycle” issues such as turnover, Howard says, “and it gives us a better grant program has been “extremely recruitment and encouraging more idea what’s there.” successful,” making more than 350 members to be active. Friends, Webb Friends of Kootenai Refuge restarted grants worth $2.6 million to facilitate the says, “are more than volunteers. I like to three years ago, says board member start-up and growth of Friends groups. say they do the additional 20 percent of continued on pg 18

Refuge Update • 17

Focus . . .Partnerships . Partnerships That Work

Friends, Aided by Foundation, Boost Refuges’ Reach — continued from page 17

Allen Rose, a 30-year refuge volunteer. gratefully embrace The Web site created with NFWF a program that fits funds enables its 150 members and local schools’ curricula. residents “to see what we’re up to,” he “My kids have had says, “and gives us a place to post our their eyes opened bird lists” from field trips, which draw even more to the worldwide hits. “It makes us more beautiful nature of professional. It instills pride in our the Las Vegas area,” organization.” one teacher wrote on the Friends’ Friends of Las Vegas Refuge used its Facebook page. 2010 grant to bring 270 well-prepared “They are so excited fourth- and fifth-graders to the refuge to return!” with a professional environmental educator, and the program continues on Alison Howard is a a smaller scale. The volunteers’ frequent contributor Friends of Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho used a National classroom pre-visits “enhance the to Refuge Update. Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant to create a Web site. The site enables its 150 members and local residents “to see what we’re up to,” learning experience,” says board says volunteer Allen Rose. “It makes us more professional. It instills member Sonya Berg, and busy teachers pride in our organization.” (Stan Bousson)

A Dozen Partners Restore One Ancient Ecosystem — continued from page 11

TNC is attracting donors and recently annually. That’s equivalent to 11,000 cars’ Dismal Swamp Refuges], in addition to the matched a $250,000 investment by emissions. Restoration of 15,000 more work in place at Pocosin Lakes Refuge, is the Service to restore the hydrology acres is planned. monumental to advance good conservation at Alligator River and Great Dismal and minimize the effects of climate change Swamp Refuges. Pocosin Lakes Refuge Katherine D. Skinner, executive director as much as possible.” has already restored 20,000 acres of of TNC’s North Carolina chapter, said pocosin wetlands, which are retaining an “understanding and restoring the Stacy Shelton is a public affairs specialist estimated 130 million pounds of carbon hydrology on [Alligator River and Great in the Southeast Region office in Atlanta.

CARE: All for One, and One for All — continued from page 12

CARE was founded in the mid-1990s— Asked to cite CARE’s major groups have played in pushing for before the National Wildlife Refuge accomplishments, Hirsche and Refuge Refuge System natural disaster damages System Improvement Act of 1997, Association colleague Desiree Sorenson- (particularly since Hurricane Katrina in which identified the Big Six priority Groves point out that in fiscal 1994 the 2005) and for American Recovery and public uses. “Today we just take it Refuge System budget was roughly $166 Reinvestment Act funding for refuge for granted that the hook-and-bullet million; in 2012 it is $485.7 million. construction projects. crowd and the environmental crowd are aligned around conservation interests,” “So you can see after the CARE group And Sorenson-Groves highlights a says Hirsche, “but at that time, not forms, gets organized, starts collaborating spillover benefit. so much. And so you had a number of with Fish and Wildlife in documenting costs, suddenly we see a radical uptick in “Because of the questions that CARE these organizations that didn’t play has asked in trying to get at the right particularly well in the sandbox.” funding beginning in 1998,” says Hirsche, who also credits Friends’ advocacy for the answers, we have helped you, the Fish Now, as CARE members, they meet monetary increase. and Wildlife Service, have a better idea monthly and they get along—to refuges’ of your own needs,” she says. “That is immense benefit. Hirsche and Sorenson-Groves mention one of the biggest things that I think more specialized budgetary successes, we’ve done.” too—such as the roles CARE and Friends

18 • Refuge Update

Focus . . . Partnerships That Work Scouts vs. Invasives

By Tina Shaw The Scouts n the process of testing a pilot involved in this invasive species merit badge on a pilot project beautiful weekend this spring at I removed Litchfield Wetland Management District hundreds of in central Minnesota, more than 100 small red cedar Boy Scouts from across the Midwest trees on two also tested themselves and lent a hand privately owned to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prairie native prairie restoration efforts. sites where the The potential merit badge aims to Service has been immerse Scouts in understanding why working with non-native plants and animals are so the landowners damaging to native animals and their through the habitats. The badge challenges Scouts Partners for to think locally, regionally and globally Fish and Wildlife Litchfield Wetland Management District manager Scott Glup explains wetland about the natural world. And, in the case Program. and prairie restoration to Boy Scouts who tested a proposed invasive species merit badge at the district this spring. (Tina Shaw/USFWS) of Litchfield WMD, it gave Service land Landowners managers help on the ground, removing and the Service non-native eastern red cedar. have been conservation organization, and we believe The Scouts came prepared for the working together strategically to restore in putting the outing in Scouting.” prairie by removing invading trees, weekend, with a working knowledge of He says that the proposed merit badge is invasives and a fair amount of research returning fire to the existing grassland and implementing managed grazing important because, “while we have other under their belts. They were at Randall biology merit badges, we don’t have Waterfowl Production Area, one of the where appropriate. The community service learning aspect of this pilot anything that highlights the problem of most recently acquired WPAs at 35,875- invasive species as a centralized issue.” acre Litchfield WMD, to test the merit merit badge is part of Litchfield WMD’s badge for nationally significant relevance larger restoration plan, with the Scouts More than half of Minnesota’s and, as important, for the fun factor that cutting cedar in preparation for planned remaining tallgrass prairie, grasslands Boys Scouts of America expects of all prescribed burns later this year. and wetlands are on private land. To merit badges. “A Conservation Organization” preserve this remaining habitat and Getting youth outside and learning about to protect the trust species that use It appears to have passed on the fun it, the Service must work with private count. restoration work firsthand is a personal passion for district manager Scott Glup. landowners to manage their lands to One young Scout loved “lopping and benefit native species. “This is special for me because my family dropping” the eastern red cedar. “I like Final approval of the merit badge by a the hands-on part,” he said, “Getting out and I are actively involved in Scouting,” he said. “I’m very youth driven, and Boy Scouts of America panel will take six and learning outdoors is so much better months to two years, according to Chris than in a classroom.” introducing young conservationists to our newest waterfowl production area is Trosen, a wildlife biologist at St. Croix As for relevance, less than one percent a major goal of mine.” WMD in Wisconsin who is involved with of the original tallgrass prairie in the project. Scoutmaster Brian Reiners of the North Minnesota remains, and the Service’s Tina Shaw is a public affairs specialist Star Council of Boy Scouts of North Midwest Region is keenly focused on in the Midwest Region office in America worked hand in hand with Glup bringing prairie back. Much of the Bloomington, MN. More information and other Service personnel to make the remaining prairie and its plants and about invasive species is at http://www. weekend event a reality. animals are threatened by loss of fws.gov/invasives/faq.html. More about habitat, with a primary threat being the Scouts and the Service are perfect the proposed merit badge is at http:// invasion of aggressive, non-native trees. partners, Reiners says: “Scouting is a www.scoutmasterbucky.com.

Refuge Update • 19 Around the Refuge System

Florida of coastal live oak J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife and Engelmann Refuge unveiled an interactive oaks; install touchscreen display at its visitor/ nest boxes for education center this spring. The burrowing owls display, which has the feel and utility and bluebirds; and of a personal computer screen, is a hit, otherwise improve according to supervisory refuge ranger habitat, according Toni Westland. “Everybody’s using it,” to refuge manager she says, “but kids especially are always Jill Terp. That gravitating toward the technology.” The work, facilitated by capstone of the display is an interactive the Conservation U.S. map that a user can touch to learn Biology Institute, of the refuges in any of the 50 states. has benefited at The four North American migratory least 16 listed bird flyways overlay the map, which is species and more accompanied by an audio clip about the than 40 locally Two students use the touchscreen U.S. map at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Refuge System’s mission, history and sensitive species, Wildlife Refuge in Florida. The interactive map provides information about refuges nationwide. (Toni Westland/USFWS) scope. The touchscreen also includes Terp said. The new slideshows, descriptions and/or audio- grant will help the video clips about Jay Norwood “Ding” refuge “leverage that had been privately owned. The Darling; the Duck Stamp program; the our limited staff and funding—and that island—purchased for $434,100 with refuge Friends group; and waterfowl of our partner agencies—by having Great Lakes Restoration Initiative wood sculptor Jim Sprankle. Perhaps a dedicated coordinator who does funding—will be closed to the public, most popular, though, is a waterfowl volunteer/outreach work on our behalf,” except perhaps during hunting seasons. wood carvings display. When a user she said. “More important to me, we’re A proposed hunting plan is under review. touches a bird image on that display, developing the public’s appreciation of “This significant addition to the refuge “that bird comes to life in front of you,” the amazing biological diversity of San permanently protects the island for says Westland. While the bird’s call Diego that our landscape-level regional fish and wildlife populations, and helps plays on audio, a split screen shows conservation program [the Multiple protect our internationally renowned the carving, a photo of the bird, a Species Conservation Program] was ‘natural capital’ that enriches our quality “wow! fact” about the bird and flyway created 15 years ago to protect.” of life and is a gift to future generations,” information. Importantly, says Westland, said refuge manager John Hartig. The the entire display, which was funded Mountain-Prairie Regional refuge includes more than 5,700 acres the Friends group (the “Ding” Darling Refuge Chief along 48 miles of the lower Detroit River Matt Hogan, assistant regional director Wildlife Society), is bright, flashy and and western Lake Erie. for Migratory Birds and Wildlife and strategically located in a spot where the Sportfish Restoration for the Mountain- refuge’s 700,000 annual visitors can’t Oregon Prairie Region, has been named the miss it. The Service and several partners have region’s refuge chief. Over the past been presented with the Oregon 2012 California year, he also has served as the region’s Fishery Team of the Year Award for The volunteer program at San Diego America’s Great Outdoors coordinator, the Ni-les’tun Tidal Marsh Restoration National Wildlife Refuge got a nice boost working on a number of large landscape Project at Bandon Marsh National in May. The Earth Discovery Institute conservation initiatives. Previously, Wildlife Refuge. The 418-acre tidal received a $103,000 grant from a San Hogan was executive director of the marsh restoration project was completed Diego Association of Government’s Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies last summer under the direction of TransNet Environmental Mitigation (AFWA) in Washington, DC. Before Oregon Coast Refuge Complex project Program to assist the refuge and its that, he worked for the Service and the leader Roy Lowe. It is the largest partners with community and volunteer Department of the Interior in several tidal marsh restoration project ever events. Volunteers have helped the leadership roles in Washington. constructed in Oregon and is benefiting 9,000-plus-acre refuge plant native a host of estuarine-dependent fish, grasses and shrubs from seed in uplands Michigan particularly salmonids, which include Detroit River International Wildlife near its vernal pools; clean up trash; coastal cutthroat trout, juvenile Chinook Refuge this spring acquired Sugar install fencing; repair trails; plant acorns salmon and threatened coho salmon. Island, an uninhabited 30-acre island

20 • Refuge Update In addition to the Service, partners Carmen Minch, an recognized included the Federal Virginia outdoor recreation Highway Administration, the Coquille planner at San Indian Tribe, the Confederated Tribes Francisco Bay of Siletz Indians, Oregon Department National Wildlife of Fish and Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited Refuge Complex, and the Estuarine Technical Group has been chosen of the Institute for Applied Ecology. as a Beacon The Oregon chapter of the American Award winner by Fisheries Society presented the award. the American Recreation Show Me! Coalition. The New pocket guides for Upper Mississippi Beacon Award is River National Wildlife and Fish given annually to Refuge (Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, federal land Minnesota) and St. Croix Wetland management Management District (Wisconsin) give agency employees visitors a handy way to identify what who stand out in they are seeing. Friends of the Refuge the field of Headwaters helped produce a full- information and color glossy guide to common species technology. Minch at Upper Mississippi River Refuge. was recognized for Friends sold half of the first printing of incorporating 1,000 to other Friends groups along the technology into river as well as to such organizations interpretive and as the Minnesota Marine Art Museum recreational and the National Mississippi River programs, public Museum and Aquarium. The guide outreach and includes a scannable code leading to other visitor the refuge Facebook page. At St. Croix An osprey carrying nesting material soars over Occoquan Bay services at the National Wildlife Refuge this spring. The refuge is 20 miles WMD, a Friends auto tour birding refuge complex. guide describes wildlife, waterfowl south of Washington, DC, at the confluence of the Potomac and Occoquan Rivers. (Megan Peritore) She has increased production and wildlife management the complex’s use areas. The guide includes history, birds of Global of interest, difficulty of hikes, driving Area at the refuge. The area is a safe, Positioning directions, helpful advice and tidbits user-friendly and fun place where System (GPS) technology, social media, about conservation, Friends projects parents and children can be introduced quick response (QR) code projects, and management practices such as to the outdoors. To reinforce the touchscreen exhibits and partner Web prescribed burns and grazing. connection with nature, natural materials sites to reach new and diverse Perchetti, Minch Receive Awards are used throughout the area, which audiences. She also has inspired Two Refuge System employees—one includes arrowheads, puzzles, digging numerous high-tech events at the refuge from each coast—have been honored for screens, rain sticks, a nature art table, a complex. Her article about partnering their work in the field. discovery table, natural picnic tables, with iNaturalist.org on Don Edwards tree blocks, benches, a natural balance San Francisco Bay Refuge’s first Sandy Perchetti, volunteer and beam, a nest-building station and a BioBiltz appeared in the March/April community partnership coordinator at discovery tunnel. The Legend Award is 2012 issue of Refuge Update. Most New Jersey’s Edwin B. Forsythe presented annually by the American recently, Minch received a Friends National Wildlife Refuge, is the Service Recreation Coalition, in partnership with group grant to bring WiFi to the 2012 Legends Award recipient. The the Service, National Park Service, complex’s visitor facilities. Wireless will award recognizes Perchetti for Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of allow staff and visitors to use a range of achievements in bridging the gap Reclamation, Forest Service, U.S. Army programs that utilize apps and other between children and the outdoors. Last Corps of Engineers and the Federal online tools. year, Perchetti lead the creation of an Highway Administration. outdoor Children’s Nature Discovery

Refuge Update • 21 150-Year-Old Homestead Act History Lives on Refuges

By Susan Morse eyes, you can envision how he landmark law that fueled a those people lived Western land rush, helped define 150 years ago,” T the American spirit and says refuge inadvertently triggered the Dust Bowl outdoor turned 150 this year. And across the recreation West, settler cabins that owe their planner Bob existence to the 1862 Homestead Act Danley. “It’s stand testament to their owners’ luck pretty and perseverance … or hardship incredible.” The and failure. house is closed, Several of these historic homesteads are but visitors can on national wildlife refuges. approach it. At some sites visitors can find a Shambow complete, stabilized or preserved Homestead, Red structure. At others, they can find a Rock Lakes “sagging remnant of log walls,” says Refuge, MT. On National Wildlife Refuge System visitor land claimed by services specialist Shannon Heath. homesteaders Regardless, she says, the discoveries Levi and Mary Jane Shambow, The Last Chance Ranch at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in northern will “bring to mind the struggle of Nevada is so named because the owner of the 19th-century homestead regarded pioneer settlers who came to the West in Levi and son it as his last chance to raise livestock. (USFWS) search of freedom and new beginnings William built an unusual house of on land that demanded backbreaking restored about 10 years ago, is open to vertical log walls, now covered in asphalt toil for limited yield.” the public. siding. Levi operated a nearby stage Passed by Congress on May 20, 1862, stop en route to Yellowstone National Hartnett Homestead, Little Pend the Homestead Act promised 160 Park. The house is closed, but can be Oreille Refuge, WA. Visitors can enter Western acres to each settler who opened upon visitors’ request. the stabilized Charles Hartnett barn, agreed to cultivate them for five years. located close to the refuge headquarters. Last Chance Ranch, Sheldon Refuge, Eligibility was limited to citizens (or The refuge plans to install an NV. George B. Hapgood regarded this prospective citizens) 21 and older who interpretive panel and make the property 19th-century homestead, which he built had never fought the government (thus a driving-tour stop. It is also seeking near a high desert spring, as his last excluding Confederate soldiers). funds to complete restoration work. Women and minorities also could claim chance to raise livestock. To the original land—a first. wood plank walls he later added a stone Miller Ranch, National Elk Refuge, addition. The refuge rehabilitated WY. Each year from about Memorial Demand was so great the United States the ranch house exterior in 2000-01. Day to Labor Day, visitors can enter handed over 10 percent of its land—270 Visitors can enter the ranch; the interior three rooms of the 19th-century ranch of million acres—to private citizens. But is unfurnished. Grace and Robert Miller, restored with harsh conditions forced many settlers to period furnishings. A fourth room is a Anna Flook Homestead, Hart quit. Some failed or unclaimed land bookstore. When, in the early 20th Mountain Refuge, OR. Kansas parcels ultimately became refuges. century, growth of nearby Jackson housekeeper Anna Flook built a log disrupted elk migration and elk began Here are some historic homesteads in cabin, then a schoolhouse on this plot starving, Robert Miller helped bring the the Refuge System: with a creek in central Oregon’s high issue to public attention and push for desert. Land records refer to her as Whaley Homestead, Lee Metcalf winter feeding of the animals. Refuge, MT. The 1885 farmhouse of Mrs. Anna Flook but contain no mention retired Indian agent Peter Whaley and of a Mr. Flook. The refuge plans to Susan Morse is a writer-editor in the wife Hannah is made of logs covered in seek funds to stabilize and interpret Refuge System’s Branch of clapboard. Period farm implements are the structure. Communications. scattered nearby, as if their operators Whitcomb-Cole Cabin, Conboy Lake just took a break. “If you close your Refuge, WA. The homestead cabin,

22 • Refuge Update Conserving Extraordinary Diversity for 75 Years

By Floyd Truetken aquifer bubbles to the surface hat do the Golden Gate Bridge, along the refuge’s comedian Bill Cosby, the western edge, W Appalachian Trail and Bitter providing water Lake National Wildlife Refuge have in and habitat for common? All were “born” in 1937. several resident For 75 years, Bitter Lake Refuge in threatened and southeastern New Mexico has served endangered an important role not only as habitat for invertebrate, fish thousands of migratory birds but also for and plant species. an almost-unparalleled number of rare And a recent oxbow resident species, including the Koster’s re-connect on the spring snail, the Pecos Puzzle sunflower river is showing and more than 100 documented encouraging signs dragonfly and damselfly species. for use by the threatened Pecos This year’s annual Dragonfly Festival, bluntnose shiner. hosted by Friends of Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge Sept. 7-9, will The original office, celebrate the double-winged insects, the quarters and state of New Mexico’s centennial and the garages were built refuge’s 75th anniversary. by the Civilian Conservation Originally designated Carlsbad Bird Corps (CCC) in Refuge in 1935, Bitter Lake Refuge at the late 1930s. first glance appears as a desolate, barren The CCC, which landscape dotted by occasional sumps, was based from a sparse grasses and shrubs. Look closer permanent camp The variegated meadowhawk dragonfly is among more than 100 dragonfly and you will realize that the geologic on the refuge, and damselfly species that have been documented at Bitter Lake National features, bubbling springs and rare desert Wildlife Refuge. Its annual Dragonfly Festival, Sept. 7-9, will celebrate the also built many double-winged insects, the state of New Mexico’s centennial and the refuge’s wildlife make the refuge a true oasis. of the water 75th anniversary. (Bill Flynt) In fact, several designations—Globally control structures, Important Bird Area, National Natural delivery systems Landmark and Ramsar International Since 1937, 18 managers, numerous staff and impoundments, several of which are and many Friends and volunteers have Wetland of Importance—pay homage to intact and in use today. the tremendous value of this transitional witnessed the ebb and flow of the refuge area between the Chihuahuan Desert and Bitter Lake Refuge, like many rural processes. Currently, a severe drought Southern Great Plains. refuges was and continues to be a source that started in the spring of 2011 is for “social” events. Years ago, town folk stressing the refuge’s habitat and The 24,536-acre refuge’s namesake, attended the annual carp fry sponsored wildlife. But as James Montgomery, who Bitter Lake, is a large playa that early by the refuge. In fact, the refuge was a in 2003 won the national refuge volunteer explorers deemed “bitter” because major freshwater fishery as a result of award and still studies and monitors of its alkaline appearance. Little did past wetland management practices that sandhill cranes, small mammals and they realize that the lake and similar held deep water in the impoundments. terns, said recently: “Although this is the waters support a wonderful diversity of toughest drought that I have seen, these creatures, including a marine algae that Salt cedar control and eradication has natural hardships have shaped the normally is found only in lagoons along become a major focus in recent decades. character of the refuge for so long, and the Gulf of Mexico. An American Recovery and Reinvestment you just have to wait out the cycles.” Act project funded large-scale removal Situated along the floodplain of the in 2009, and the replanting of native Floyd Truetken is refuge manager at winding Pecos River, Bitter Lake Refuge cottonwood and willow trees shows Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge. is dotted by sinkholes—water-filled encouraging benefits. Salt cedar control More information about the refuge’s cavities caused by groundwater from continues today and a songbird-banding 75th anniversary is at http://www. the Roswell Artesian Aquifer dissolving project will measure bird responses to the friendsofbitterlake.com. the gypsum deposits above. That same changes in vegetation structure.

Refuge Update • 23 Texas Refuge Shares Its Wildland Fire Expertise

By Nancy Brown fter a devastating wildfire season last year in central Texas, A Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge has been helping prepare local fire departments for what could be another active season. Concern over the fire season prompted many city, county, state and federal agencies throughout the region to sign up for the refuge’s free basic wildland firefighting course. “We’ve been offering wildland firefighter training to local fire departments for more than a decade,” said Eric Krueger, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fire operations specialist and course coordinator. “With last year producing the single most destructive wildfire in Texas’ history, we had a lot more interest in the course this year.” Kevin Carter, assistant fire management officer at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, instructs a local urban firefighter about the use of a drip torch in fighting wildfires. (Nancy In central Texas alone, last year’s Brown/USFWS) Bastrop fire burned almost 32,400 acres, destroyed nearly 1,700 homes and As an urban firefighter, Robeson said, the endangered bird that builds its hanging businesses, and forced 5,000 residents wildland course gave him new ideas on nest in the refuge’s low-growing oaks. how to do his own job more effectively. to evacuate. The refuge was established in 1992 to Since 2001, Balcones Canyonlands Urban firefighters depend primarily on conserve the nesting habitat of the Refuge has partnered with local fire water from standard fire trucks, known as black-capped vireo and golden-cheeked departments to host the course. brush trucks. “But Fish and Wildlife uses warbler, another endangered bird that Participants historically have been local a lot of hand crews and machinery to fight nests exclusively in central Texas. firefighters and emergency services fire, like bulldozers and maintainers,” he During nesting season, these two birds personnel. Priority always has been said. “You aren’t always going to be able can be found within the refuge’s Ashe given to departments near the refuge. to get in with a brush truck, so now we juniper and oak woodlands. look at different strategies and tactics.” This year, because of the great interest, In addition, the refuge is about 45 the refuge offered the course twice, and Most of the course instructors were minutes northwest of fast-growing 56 participants from across the region Service wildland firefighters based at Austin, whose urban area is rapidly took part in classes and field-training Balcones Canyonlands Refuge who expanding into the wooded hillsides. To exercises in January and March. regularly fight wildfires in rugged Hill this end, refuge firefighters work closely “It was really neat to put it all in Country terrain. with communities to ensure homes have defensible space. Their efforts have perspective, not just sit through a “We were taught by instructors with real PowerPoint for 40 hours,” said one of the resulted in the nearby city of Lago Vista experience, and that was really unique,” becoming a Texas Firewise Community. participants, Tim Robeson, a lieutenant said Robeson. with North Lake Travis Fire-Rescue. “We work really closely with these local After the participants completed the The Hill Country landscape consists of fire departments and help each other out course’s classroom portion, they spent a shallow canyons situated among open a lot,” said Krueger. “We want to get as day at the refuge practicing their newly grasslands, Ashe juniper forests and many qualified wildland firefighters as learned skills, including a live fire dense growths of scrub trees called possible because it’s not only good for exercise. “You take class after class after shinnery. One management priority for our neighbors, it’s good for the refuge class and some guys never do get to go the Balcones Canyonlands Refuge fire and the wildlife that depends on it.” out after a training, so the field exercise crew is to conduct prescribed burns to was invaluable.” help maintain the oak shinnery for the Nancy Brown is a Service public benefit of the black-capped vireo, an outreach specialist for Texas/Oklahoma.

24 • Refuge Update Home Values Higher Near Wildlife Refuges

peer-reviewed national study, released late this spring, shows A that, in urban areas across three regions of the country, owning a home near a national wildlife refuge increases home value and helps support the surrounding community’s tax base. The report is the first national study to analyze wildlife refuges’ impact on land values. Researchers based their findings on 2000 U.S. Census data. According to the study, conducted for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by economic researchers at North Carolina State University, homes located within half a mile of a refuge and within eight miles of an urban center were found to have higher home values of roughly seven to nine percent in the Southeast; four to five percent in the Northeast; and three to six percent in the California/Nevada region. “National wildlife refuges are public treasures that protect imperiled wildlife and delight visitors,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “These findings remind us that refuges also John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, not far from the heart of Philadelphia, is one of 36 boost community health, sometimes wildlife refuges that were part of a study that showed owning a home near a refuge increases the home’s in unexpected ways. National wildlife value. (Derik Pinsonneault/USFWS) refuges enrich local communities— even in a lean economy—and regions. Most refuges in the mountain support jobs in communities across generate revenue.” and south-central portions of the country the country,” said Refuge System either failed to meet study criteria or Chief Jim Kurth. “When President Calculated in 2000 dollars, the 14 refuges were affected by factors that make Obama signed an executive order earlier in the Southeast examined in the study assessing their impact difficult, such as this year to promote travel and tourism added $122 million to local property their location in a river floodplain or near in the United States he was affirming values. The 11 refuges studied in the the border with Mexico. that investing in our refuges and Northeast added $95 million. The 11 promoting them to visitors—from here refuges studied in California/Nevada “Our wildlife refuges are strong and around the world—can contribute added $83 million. economic engines that generate and to both an improved National Wildlife The researchers surmised that refuges Refuge System and economic growth boost property values in the selected “These findings remind for local communities.” regions because refuges protect against us that refuges also The lead researcher on the new report, future development while preserving titled “Amenity Values of Proximity to scenic vistas and other “natural amenity boost community health, National Wildlife Refuges,” was Laura benefits associated with open spaces.” sometimes in unexpected O. Taylor with North Carolina State Researchers did not include data ways. National wildlife University. The full report is at: http:// www.fws.gov/refuges/about/pdfs/ from the Midwest, Southwest, Rocky refuges enrich local Mountains and Northwest, where NWRSAmenityReportApril2012with refuges tend to be located farther from communities—even in Covers8.pdf. urban centers than in the Northeast, a lean economy—and Southeast and California/Nevada generate revenue.”

Refuge Update • 25 From the Director — continued from page 2 That is where surrogate species the draft guidance and learning how to you to ask questions and make your selection comes in. apply the species selection process in the ideas known. next several months. “Surrogate species” is a commonly It will not be easy. We have a tough used scientific term for system-based I know that many of you are probably challenge at a time when our budget will conservation planning that uses a unsure what all of this means for you, remain flat at best, and in real dollars species as an indicator of landscape but we will make it work. Indeed, we will continue to decline. habitat and system conditions. Through must. A big part of its success rests on such a planning process, the Service will your shoulders. Some of these changes and the work with partners through a science- challenges can be overwhelming, and, as based process to identify a species or we all know, change is rarely easy. other conservation planning targets “Surrogate species” is a But these days I am reminded of what that can best represent the landscape commonly used scientific anthropologist Margaret Mead said: conditions and habitat needs of larger “Never doubt that a small group of groups of species. term for system-based thoughtful, committed, citizens can conservation planning SHC starts with robust biological change the world. Indeed, it is the only planning, and surrogate species that uses a species as an thing that ever has.” selection is a practical first step to indicator of landscape We, along with our partners and friends, answer the questions of planning for habitat and system are that small group of committed what and how many. conditions. citizens ready to make a difference for We have developed draft technical fish, wildlife and plants. Let’s roll up our guidance that helps answer some of sleeves and get to work changing the We are planning conversations between world. these questions. As an agency, we will you and Service leadership, regional be collectively refining and improving workshops and other opportunities for

Chief’s Corner — continued from page 2 granddaughter of that bird seen 15 you want to be; what you want to give, resources, is controversial and divisive. years earlier. not what you want to get. It is through There is nothing more conservative the nature of your service rather than than the conservative use of our natural Had hawk owl lived here when Columbus your choice of discipline that you will find resources, nothing more progressive discovered a new world? No doubt about happiness and fulfillment. than building a sustainable future for our it. Had hawk owl seen the scimitar cat nation and our planet. They are the same and the short-faced bear? Did hawk owl My career and life’s work have been thing. The new greatest generation must hear the thunder of the mastodon? I about conserving the nature of America, build bridges not walls. I hope you are didn’t know. her wild places and wildlife. The that new generation. foundation for that work was laid during Hawk owl had connected me to the my years here. I hope the university will, in the year landscape in a way that both recalls and 2046, ask one of you to ascend this stage predicts our evolutionary destiny. A I felt great joy and excitement exploring and address the graduating class. I hope sense of our primeval past had merged the wild places of Wisconsin. I remember you will report that you not only kept our with a consideration of what lies ahead seeing my first bald eagle at Big Sand world free, but that you made our for our species and our planet—and for Lake near Phelps, hearing the bugling presence on this good planet sustainable, hawk owl. call of sandhill cranes at Necedah, that you kept it livable for our species— watching prairie chickens on their I tell this story today because, in this, and for hawk owl. Tell them how you did booming grounds at Buena Vista. That it through your hard work and your another timeless moment, we also reflect sense of place kindles a desire to be on the past and look to the future. humble service, your innovation and thoughtful stewards of the land and thoughtful stewardship, through your While the paths you are choosing differ, water and the wild creatures that fearlessness. each and every one can be approached live therein. The entire speech is available at with an attitude of humble service. I find it astonishing that even my field, Consider what you want to do, not what http://www.fws.gov/refuges/Kurth_ the conservation of America’s natural Commencement_Speech.

26 • Refuge Update A Harrowing Tale Worthy of “Shark Week”— continued from page 1 “We saw her swimming away slowly,” injections as Pollock’s Pollock says, “but she was obviously lacerations were being disoriented, and started to swim back sutured. toward the net.” After each set of Pollock dove down to gather a remnant sutures, Meyer and of the net so the shark wouldn’t become Brown downloaded a tangled again. Then, he says, “I saw photograph of their movement out of the corner of my eye. So progress to a computer I looked over my shoulder, and all I saw and sent it to PIMMS was an open mouth full of teeth coming for further instruction. down on me.” “The whole situation The shark bit Pollock twice over the top seemed very calm of his head and facemask. “On the second on both ends,” says bite, it began to shake me violently and PIMMS operator Clint I remember thinking, ‘This is really Kennedy. “Everyone happening’,” he says. The shark then was collected and, backed off, spat out the intact mask, only although this was the to return and make a third glancing bite first time our company across Pollock’s nose and left eye before has instructed on finally swimming away. a shark bite, the Palmyra team seemed Still conscious, but “pretty out of it,” experienced and in Pollock made it to the surface and was control.” helped into the dive support vessel. Meyer, Pollock “All I could think of when I saw him was and Brown agree the need to get him the best care possible that, under the as quickly as possible,” says Meyer, who circumstances, things sped Pollock back to the research station. went smoothly— Ned Brown, TNC’s field station manager although Meyer at Palmyra Atoll, was on duty when the doesn’t consider herself dive team radioed in. “They didn’t say medically experienced. much, just that Kydd was bitten and Kydd Pollock, a veteran Nature Conservancy diver, observes a shark “I have wilderness first needed help,” says Brown, who recalls in the Pacific Ocean. Before Nov. 11, 2010, he had never been bitten by a aid and CPR training, shark. (The Nature Conservancy) quickly assembling medical supplies. but by no means am I a medical doctor,” she When Pollock reached the research says. “I had sewn up plenty of fish, but station with his wounds wrapped in a never a human!” towel, Meyer and Brown wasted no time. Pollock was back on the job two days after Brown called Pacific International the bite, the only one he has incurred in Maritime Medical Services (PIMMS), 21 years of diving. He has fully recovered an Oregon-based agency that provides from his injuries. All that remain are faint remote care to shipping vessels. Over scars and added respect for Meyer. the next 2½ hours, doctors on the phone walked Meyer and Brown through “She worked efficiently and bravely with each step of emergency care for the team to get me taken care of,” Pollock’s injury. Pollock says. “I couldn’t have asked for better care.” Meyer, who is also Pollock’s girlfriend, alternated between needle-wielding and Amanda Fortin is a Student Career Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge manager providing moral support. “It was so tough Experience Program (SCEP) intern in Amanda Meyer attended to Pollock’s shark-bite the Pacific Region office in Portland. injuries with remote instructions from doctors because I wanted to tend to his wounds thousands of miles away. “I had sewn up plenty of and hold his hand at the same time,” fish,” she says, “but never a human!” (The Nature says Meyer, who administered lidocaine Conservancy)

Refuge Update • 27 STANDARD PRESORT POSTAGE AND FEES PAID U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR RefugeUpdate PERMIT G-77 USFWS-NWRS 4401 North Fairfax Dr. Room 634C Arlington, VA 22203-1610 www.fws.gov/refuges

A Look Back . . . Fred Staunton

red Staunton was raised on Not long after, the Soil Conservation his family’s ranch in Roundup, Service stopped subsidizing wetland F MT, and he finished his 31-year drainage. In 1958, Congress created the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service career Small Wetlands Program by amending in Montana, as manager of Charles M. the 1934 Migratory Bird Hunting Russell National Wildlife Refuge. But and Conservation Stamp Act to allow he became passionate about waterfowl proceeds from the sale of Duck Stamps when he worked at Long Lake Refuge in to be used to protect waterfowl habitat. North Dakota and then Waubay Refuge in South Dakota in the 1940s. Through acquisition or easements, the program protects small wetlands called Staunton was concerned that federally Waterfowl Production Areas, primarily funded programs to drain prairie in the Prairie Pothole Region. The first potholes for farming were affecting the WPA was purchased in 1959 in Day migratory waterfowl population. His County, SD—the same county where annual counts showed fewer breeding Staunton began his surveys about 15 pairs each year. He was convinced that years earlier. ducks and geese needed small, isolated potholes of water for courtship and Staunton died in 1986 at age 79 on a breeding—not just big lakes. But the ranch he operated near Big Timber, MT. U.S. Soil Conservation Service continued The Prairie Pothole Region he worked so to help farmers drain the land. Fred Staunton in the mid-1940s, an era when he hard to protect now produces 50 percent was a pioneer in recognizing the value of Prairie of all breeding ducks in the United In 1949, Staunton found the added Pothole Region wetland habitat to waterfowl. States. A permanent exhibit at the ammunition he needed in an article National Conservation Training Center by Clay Schoenfeld in Field & Stream accorded refuge manager Fred Staunton in West Virginia titled, “Small Wetlands, magazine: “That USFWS man deserves in first identifying and documenting Big Mission,” honors Staunton’s vision special mention because it was really he the wetland habitat base so essential to for the Small Wetlands Program. who blew the whistle on the ditchers and United States waterfowl production in drainers … No small credit should be the Prairie Pothole Region.”

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