WAUBAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND WAUBAY WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

Waubav.

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 1996

U.S. Department of the Interior

Fish and Wildlife Service

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM Waubay National Wildlife Refuge

Waubay, South Dakota

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 1996

CVt-<-3 R^mge Manager

Regional Office Appooval TABLE OF CONTENTS 3. Waterfowl 10 Page 4. Marsh and Water Birds NTR INTRODUCTION 1 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns & Allied SpeciesNTR 6. Raptors NTR A HIGHLIGHTS 1 7. Other Migratory Birds 11 8. Game Mammals 12 B CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 1 9. Marine Mammals NTR 10. Other Resident Wildlife 13 C LAND ACQUISITION 11. Fisheries Resources 14 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking NTR 1. Fee Title Nothing to Report (NTR) 13. Surplus Animal Disposal NTR 2. Easements NTR 14. Scientific Collections NTR 3. Other NTR 15. Animal Control NTR 16. Marking and Banding 14 D PLANNING 17. Disease Prevention and Control NTR

1. Master Plan NTR H PUBLIC USL 2. Management Plan NTR 3. Public Participation NTR 1. General 14 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students 14 Resource Mandates NTR 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers 15 5. Research and Investigations NTR 4. Interpretive Foot Trails NTR 6. Other NTR 5. Interpretive Tour Routes ;NTR 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations NTR E ADMINISTRATION 7. Other Interpretive Programs NTR 8. Hunting 15 1. Personnel 2 9. Fishing NTR 2. Youth Programs NTR 10. Trapping NTR 3. Other Manpower Programs NTR 11. Wildlife Observation NTR 4. Volunteer Program NTR 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation NTR 5. Funding 3 13. Camping NTR 6. Safety 4 14. Picnicking NTR 7. Technical Assistance 4 15. Off-Road Vehicling NTR 8. Other NTR 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation. NTR 17. Law Enforcement 16 F HABITAT MANAGEMENT 18. Cooperative Associations NTR 19. Concessions NTR 1. General NTR 2. Wetlands 5 I EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 3. Forests 7 4. Croplands 7 1. New Construction NTR 5. Grasslands NTR 2. Rehabilitation NTR 6. Other Habitats NTR 3. Major Maintenance 17 7. Grazing NTR 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement. 17 8. Haying 7 5. Communications Systems NTR 9. Fire Management 8 6. Computer System 18 10. Pest Control 8 7. Energy Conservation NTR 11. Water Rights 8 8. Other NTR 12. Wilderness and Special Areas 10 13. WPA Easement Monitoring NTR J OTHEfi ITEMS

G WILDLIFE 1. Cooperative Programs NTR 2. Other Economic Uses NTR 1. Wildlife Diversity 10 3. Items of Interest 19 2. Endangered and/or threatened Species 10 4. Credits 20 1

INTRODUCTION

Waubay National Wildlife Refuge, located in northeastern South Dakota, was estabhshed in 1935 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The word "Waubay" is of Sioux Indian origin meaning "a nesting place for birds." Over 244 species of birds have been observed on the Refuge. All five species of grebes commonly found in the United States nest at Waubay.

Topography of the surrounding area is characterized by gently rolling hills w ith a higher density of wetland basins and large, shallow prairie lakes than found in adjacent physiographic regions within other parts of South Dakota. Refuge size is 4,740 acres including 2,146 acres of grasslands, 1,761 acres of wetlands, 665 acres of native forests, 168 acres of cropland, and 23 acres of administrative lands (roads, buildings, and parking lots).

A. HIGHUGHTS >

Waubay-Hillebrand's Lake rose 2.8 feet to an all-time high of 1797.5 msl. Section F.2.

High water generated more controversy including a federal court injunction involving Day Co. Section FIT

Forty passerine species were captured in mist nets. Section G.7.

Howl-o-ween was a howling success. Section H. 1.

The Refuge headquarters access road was raised 4-feet to combat high water levels. Section 1.3.

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Records of climatic conditions were maintained in cooperation with the National Weather Service to serve as documentation of annual climatic conditions for Waubay NWR and surrounding areas. Daily records maintained were maximum and minimum air temperatures, precipitation levels, and soil temperatures at 2, 4, 8, 40, and 72 inches. Soil temperature infonnation is useful to farmers try ing to optimize planting dates of various crops.

Annual precipitation was 22.52 inches, almost two inches higher than the 44-year average of 20.71 inches. Six of the last seven years have had above average precipitation. The 4 95-'96 winter was relatively snow free for this area with only 41.1" falling since October of 1995 and no more than a foot of snow on the ground at any time. With only 2" of melted precipitation for all of January through April, it appeared we were headed for a drier year than has been seen in the recent past. Only August turned out to be dry - precipitation for the last four months of the year was higher than average again (Fig. 1). Although some temporary wetlands began to dry up in August, they soon refilled after September and October rains. The first inch of snow of the '96-91 winter fell on 15 November, with another 10" within a week. By month's end there was a foot of snow on the ground and another foot by the end of December. Total snowfall amount for November-December was 29.7 inches. A two day blizzard in December forced the closing of the Interstate and other major roads and set the scene for one the snowiest, coldest, and windiest winters on record. WAUBAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

UNITED STATES OAY COUNTY. SOUTH DAKOTA UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OE THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE R 54 W R 53 W 9

Although there wasn't much snow cover, January and February were still ugly with low temperatures of below zero recorded for twenty days straight from the last two weeks of January through the first five days of February. This cold spell culminated on 2 February with a low of -33 0F and a daily high of -20 0F. Blizzard conditions occurred once each month including a rain turned to snowstorm on the 23-25 of March. Whoever said March goes out like a lamb never lived in northeast South Dakota. April was cool and dry with ice out occurring near the end of the month and May cool and very wet with rain occurring on 18 days. Temperatures hit 90 0F only once on 28 June continuing the unseasonable temperatures. Many small lakes and ponds froze up after a sudden freeze at the end of October but larger ones stayed open until 13 November. November and December provided little rehef and the year ended with another two week spell of below zero low temperatures. In fact November 1996 through January of 1997 are on record as the coldest three month period in over one hundred years of record keeping in South Dakota. PRECIPITATION

WaubayNWR

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

1996 |44YR.AVG.

E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel

1. Richard A. Gilbert. Refuge Manager, GS-12, PFT, transferred 2/4 to Cibola NWR, Arizona 2. Connie L. Mueller. Supervisory Refuge Operation Specialist, GS-11, PFT 3. Douglas A. Leschisin, Refuge Operation Specialist, GS-11, PFT Refuge Staff: L to R (Back) Okroi, Dargatz, Pluhar, Wickstrom, Dolney, Gruba. (Front) Mueller, Lousias, Leschisin, Umbright.

4. Jarrod B. Lee, ROS trainee, GS-5, EOD 7/8 5. Dennis D. Okroi, Administrative Support Assistant, GS-7, PFT 6. Lynn F. Pluhar, Maintenance Worker, WG-8, PFT, transferred 8/18/96 to Ennis NFH, Montana 7. Laura D. Umbright, Wildlife Biologist, GS-9 PFT 8. Richard Dolney, Maintenance Worker, WG-6, PPT, 4/3 - 12/13 9. Emil J. Gruba, Maintenance Worker, WG-6, PPT 4/3 - 12/10 10. Thomas L. Wickstrom, Biological Tech., GS-6, Term 11. Christine Lousias, Biological Tech., GS-5, Term 12. Michael W. Dargatz, Biological Aid, GS-4, Temporary 4/15 -6/7, Range Technician, GS-5 6/7 - 12/6 13. Jean M. Gortmaker, Range Technician, GS-4 Temporary 7/29 - 12/6

5. Funding

The Wetland Management District and Refuge are funded as a single unit and operations of both are covered by one Annual Work Plan. Table 1 shows a comparison of station funding for the last eight years. 4

Table 1. Sta tion fundiiig from 1988 thn nigh 1996, (Money in i thousands)

Fiscal O&M Construction MMS Fire Salaries Year

96 362.8 . 100 30.2 358*

95 360.9 - 40.8 2 386*

94 369 - 145 7 360

93 371 131 - 5 350

92 380 - 123 9 313

91 419 - - 27 236

90 327 24 - 15 235.7

89 315 - 5 - 229

88 340 - 5 - 214

•Private Land salaries of $55,296 are included in this figure.

Ecosystem funding consisted of $15,000 for 1996.

6. Safety

Periodic safety meetings were held to discuss timely safety issues.

7. Tecbiijcal Assistance

Waubay Refuge is a State of South Dakota registered weather station. Monthly precipitation records and weather summaries are maintained for the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) through the NWS (National Weather Service) out of Sioux Falls, SD. The data is transmitted using Remote Observations System Automation (ROSA), Monthly soil temperatures and moisture content are also collected and reported every fifteen minutes.

Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Nation biologists requested our assistance on some ideas for surveying and biological monitoring techniques. Umbright exchanged ideas on point counts, monitoring techniques for small mammals and non-game species. She gave them information on where to obtain equipment and other resources for then- studies.

Umbright attended the annual Central Flyway wing-bee in Kansas to age and identily species of thousands of waterfowl wings.

Umbright assisted Dave Gilbert (PL for the Madison, SD WMD and USFWS pilot) photograph South Dakota four square mile plots from the air.

Umbright and Wickstrom helped judge the Waubay School annual Science Fair.

Lousias presented a talk and tour to the Southwestern Minnesota Chapter of Sustainable Farming Association about grazing rotation systems. The group was able to see a rotation system in use and ask questions of the 5

rancher. This particular ranch was also able to present examples of wildlife only areas, the effect of a prescribed burn, and a reseeding of cropland back to native pasmre.

See section E. 7a for Private Lands Partners for Wildlife Technical Assistance narrative.

F. HAglTAT MANAGgM^NT

2. Wetlands

Waubay- Hillebrand's Lake rose 2.8 feet in 1996 (Table 2) to a peak of 1797.52 msl. Since November of 1990, Waubay Lake has risen 13.8-feet, and expanded to nearly 20,000 surface acres with incorporation of peripheral lakes and marshes. Waubay Lake has a natural outlet, actually on the The relentless rise of Waubay Lake continued to swallow uplands. south side of 11/96 DAL Rush Lake, at 1798.7 feet msl. However this stream channel is blocked by a railroad, road, and two vehicle crossings. With these impediments, water flows would not occur until 1803.6 msl. Waubay Lake only has to rise another 1.4-feet to equalize with w ater elevations in Rush Lake. At this elevation, Waubay, Spring. Hillebrand's, Minnewasta, Rush, Little Rush, and Blue Dog Lakes would combine to form a single huge lake, lliis scenario is likely in the spring of 1997, an unimaginable event this century. 6

Table 2. Water elevations, msl, Refuge Lakes, 1990-1996 .

Date Waubay Lake Hillebrand's Lake Spring Lake Comments

11/90 1783.05 1783.40 1785.78

5/93 @ 1787 1784.35 -

5/11/94 1790.60 1788.50 1790.00

7/9/94 1791.13 - -

11/17/94 1790.51 1787.93 - Lakes frozen

4/7/95 1791.55 1791.55 - Lakes joined

5/11/95 1792.86 1792.86 1790.44

7/20/95 1793.72 1793.72 1790.49

10/10/95 1794.08 1794.08 1790.58 Lakes frozen

6/4/96 1797.34 1797.34 1792.88

10/24/96 1796.84 1796.84 1792.46 Lakes frozen

??? 1799.30 1799.30 1799.30 High water mark

Since the spring of 1994, Spring Lake has risen 2 .5 feet to 1792.46 msl on 24 October. This lake has a rather small watershed, and is fed primarily from the springs on the northeast comer of the lake. Spring Lake is separated from Waubay- Hillebrand's Lake only by the wooded ridge in Center Woods cixrei the e

Spring Lake, but the 1995 work to raise the low portion of the road, west of Jailbait Slough, prevented this occupance.

3. Forests

About 665 acres of native hardwood timber, nearly surrounded by large glacial lakes, are thought to have developed while protected from prairie wildfires that periodically burned surrounding open prairie. Burr oak. basswood, green ash, American elm, hackberry and cottonwood are the major tree species. Other trees include box elder, choke cherry, buffalo berry and quaking aspen. Most, but not all, of the American elm have fallen prey to Dutch elm disease. Non-native Russian olive and eastern red cedar have invaded some grasslands and road sides ffom planted shelter belts.

4. Croplands

All Refuge farming activities were accomplished force-account. General cropland objectives were to provide year round food for white-tailed deer and/or winter fare for other resident wildlife. Crop rotations have been utilized to develop soil fertihty with few, if any, artificial fertilizers or pesticides. We've tried to include legumes, such as sweet clover or alfalfa, in rotations to build nitrogen levels and soil structure.

About half of Units HA-3 and HA-5 were seeded to alfalfa in 1994. The rest of these two units along with Units MA- 1, HA-?, MA-9 were planted to alfalfa in 1995. Units HA-5, HA-7, and I IA-9 are surrounded *

Table 3. Crop units, Waubay NWR, 19%.

Unit Acres Crop

HA-3A 38 •Alfalfa

HA-3B 9 Milk Vetch

HA-4A 18 Corn

HA-4B 18 Millet

HA-5 19 •Alfalfa

HA-7 7 •Alfalfa

HA-1 22. •Alfalfa

HA-2 18 •Alfalfa

HA-9 6 •Alfalfa

•Seeded in 1995 by forest and have had heavy use by deer. However, since Waubay Lake has risen so much, it is impossible to get farm equipment into these fields. It is hoped the alfalf a stands will maintain themselves until we have equipment access again. A good crop of corn was raised this year, and it is expected to be an alternate and supplemental food source to the alfalfa and heavily browsed woody vegetation. Canada milkvetch, a native forb, was planted in the hope of establishing a seed field.

8. Having

Unit HA-L a 27-acre alfalfa field, was hayed to keep this stand in vigorous condition, promote regrowth. and 8

discourage Canada thistle. Cutting was permitted after July 15 to minimize losses of ground nesting birds.

9. Fire Management

A 30-acre prescribed burn was accomplished in West Woods, in the open areas adjacent to the Hillebrand's building. Forest cover was too damp to burn. In November, a wildfire burned 115-acres adjacent to the springs leading into Spring Lake.

10. Pest Coptrol

Herbicides and mowmg were A small prescribed burn was attempted in West Woods. 5/96 LDU used to control noxious weeds. Approximately 10 acres were mowed to control Canada thistle. Chemicals approved and used in 1996 include 2,4-D Ester and Roundup. A total of 71.75 acres was treated with 34.5 pounds of active ingredients.

11. Water Rights

Rising water in Waubay Lake generated more controversy in 1996. Opponents of the Refuge decided that all the problems associated with high water in Waubay Lake could be solved by allowing water to flow into Spring Lake. Hillebrand's Lake had linked up with Waubay in 1995. The Service did not want Waubay Lake water to flow into Spring Lake for several reasons, namely: carp, poor water quality, inundation of tall-grass prairie and forest, etc... We also pointed out that even though there was a 4-foot difference in elevation between the two lakes, Waubay Lake (20,000 surface acres) would lower only about 3-inches by equalizing with Spring Lake (1000 surface acres). We also failed to see why the Refuge should take water ditched into Waubay from drained wetlands from all over the 200,000 acre watershed. However, these arguments fell on deaf ears. 9

In May, an emergency berm was constructed to prevent waves from breaking over our east entrance road (only functional road) from the Hillebrand's Lake (north) side. Only five inches of free-board would have remained, without this berm. Soon after, the Day County Commissioners passed a resolution requesting that Installation of a culvert in a Refuge dike generated court action. the Service install 8/96 DAL a culvert to equalize water between Spring and Waubay Lakes, despite tw o previous visits to infonn them of the situation. We tried to explain that a culvert was silly, since it would sit dry while water would pour over a 200-yard stretch of road to the west of headquarters. However, on 26 July, to reheve some political pressure, a culvert was installed in our new entrance road at the elevation of "old road grade", as agreed upon with the Day Co. Commissioners. 'Hie following Sunday morning, the Day Co. Highway Superintendent hired a private contractor, snuck in the Refuge, and lowered this culvert about 7-inches, after some prodding from a local landowner insisting the original culvert elevation was too high. After some investigation the Superintendent fussed up to moving it. At their next meeting, the Commissioners were told that the Service was going to raise this culvert back to its original elevation, fhe Commissioners reply was to pass a resolution that the County would blockade our road and subject our staff to arrest, if the Service moved the culvert.

Maury Wright, SD Refuge Supervisor, Tom Graf, Interior Regional Solicitor, and Leschisin attended a 13 Aug meeting with the Day Co. Commissioners, staffers from all three Congressional delegations, and landowner representatives regarding culvert placements in Refuge roads. A good discussion and a tour of roads, culverts, and water was accomplished, but no concrete decisions were made.

On Aug 22, the Day Co. Highway Superintendent informed us the County would be installing two new culverts in the Refuge Road. Despite attempts to delay this action and discuss the situation, the County put the two culverts in the next day. Water flowed into Jail-Bait Slough, which would soon have filled up and allowed water to flow into Spring Lake. The Service obtained a temporary restraining order in U.S. District Court by close of business, which blocked the culverts. A hearing on 27 August continued the TRO until a final hearing on October 21. This hearing date was delayed until 12 December, and again until January of 1997, and remains unresolved.

A legal question that remained unresolved included control of the east/west Refuge road. The County has a right-of- way easement dating back to 1928, but the Refuge built the road and has maintained it (snow removal. 10

mowing ditches, blading, etc ..) since 1935. The County believes this road easement allows them to place culverts where they please. Service opinion is that only the Service has the right to move water from one side of the Refuge to the other, even if the County ROW is still valid..

12. Wilderness and Special Areas

The woodland north of Hillebrand's Lake is designated by the Society of American Foresters as a Research Natural Area because of its unique bur oakMittle bluestem cover type. No special management took place this year.

G. WILDLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity

Waubay NWR includes 4,650 acres of wetlands and upland habitat that provide nesting areas for one hundred and ten species of birds. Another one hundred and thirty species have been observed occasionally or during migrations. The Refuge also provides a home for forty species of mammals and eleven species of reptiles and amphibians. We have recently become more aware of the insect species that are also part of this ecosystem. Surveys were conducted last year on the Refuge for the Dakota skipper butterfly (Hesperia dacotae) and the American burying beetle {Nicrophorus americanus). f Two sites in the northeast part of the Refuge were surveyed for the Dakota skipper butterfly, which was previously a candidate for listing. One male Dakota skipper was collected near Spring Lake overlook. No Dakota skippers were observed at the other site near the north boundary. Unfortunately, a wildfire occurred at the Spring Lake overlook site in November. Since it occurred so late, its difficult to predict what effect this fire will have on the Dakota skipper or the grassland. Fourteen additional butterfly species were observed during this survey increasing our knowledge of just one small part of the insect life that makes up this ecosystem.

See next section for information on the American burying beetle survey.

2. Endangered And/Oy Threateped Species

Both immature and adult bald eagles are seen more often during spring, fall and winter. Eagles are most often observed in flight, but some will take time to roost and hunt on the Refuge. A number were seen following the spring migration in March and April and also in October this year.

An American bury ing beetle survey was conducted in August on the southwest side of the Refuge. Fifteen baited pitfall traps were utilized within a stand of dense nesting cover for three consecutive nights. Four pocket gophers were also trapped and reburied to use as bait. No specimens of the endangered American burying beetle were found and only one other Nicrophorus species was collected. Future surveys may target forested areas or different soil types.

3. Waterfowl

As is usual the first groups of Canada geese were seen at the end of February, but the major wave of migrating geese and ducks did not occur until mid-March, when it seems everything shows up at once. Ice out didn't occur on Refuge lakes until late April, so most migrants pass us by on their headlong rush to more northern locations. Pair numbers and duck production were again quite good in this region due to the excellent wetland conditions. Early storms in Canada and good weather here gave us the chance to witness a fall migration that hasn't been seen in years. Thousands of snow geese were commonly seen around the Refuge until ice up around the middle of November. Half a dozen hardy mallards were counted on the Christmas Bird Count as well as a first ever red-breasted merganser. For more information on the CBC see section G.7.

Wateyfowl Nesting Surveys ^

Dahling Island, a 1-acre man-made island, was the only area on the Refuge searched for nests this year. Twenty- four duck nests were found, with an apparent nest success of 63% and a Mayfield success rate of 67%. Mayfield success has declined steadily since 1992 when it was at 100%. Nest densities have also declined from a high of 30 nests/acre in 1993. Most of the unsuccessful nests were due to abandonment either from dump nesting or investigator activity. Another nest was lost from shoreline erosion and high water levels. More than 60% of nests are found in the planted rosebushes which provide cover early in the season for the majority of mallards which nest here. See section G.3 in the WMD for additional nest survey data.

7. Other Migratory gjids

The Refuge bluebird trail consisted of 107 nest boxes placed along 7.5 miles of gravel roads and dirt trails. This trail was designed in 1983 as a volunteer cooperative project by Kenneth Husmann. Dennis Skadsen volunteered to maintain the trail and collect all biological data. Unfortunately, high water levels have reduced access on Refuge trails and roads and bluebird boxes were not checked this year. Many of the boxes are currently in or under water. An unexpected $2000.00 donation, from the North American Bluebird Society, Inc. through a bequest from the estate of Mrs. Husmann, will allow us to rebuild and reestablish many of these. bluebird houses.

A constant effort mist netting site was established in 1994 to gather baseline data on breeding landbird populations, productivity and survivorship. Data collected is also contributed to Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) - a cooperative program developed to collect long term data for targeted landbird species in N. America. Nine net sites utilizing nine mist nets were set up in a 10 ha study area centrally located on the Refuge. Ten nets have been used the previous two years - high water levels made it unsafe to open one net located on the shoreline of Spring Lake. Species, sex, age, and breeding condition data was recorded from captured birds. Point counts were used in conjunction with mist netting to gain additional information on species presence, populations and habitat relationships.

One hundred fifty-two birds of twenty-eight species were captured during 531 net hours. One hundred eleven were new bands, thirty-six were recaptures (24% of total captures) and five were not banded, three of which were ruby-throated hummingbirds. The following species comprised more than 50% of all captures: song sparrow, yellow warbler, gray catbird, and brown-headed cowbird. This is similar to previous years. A total of 455 birds comprised of forty species have been banded during this study.

Seventeen to twenty-five percent fewer birds were captured this year compared to 1994 or 1995. Ninety-two percent of birds banded were AHY and only two species were captured as HY birds this year. One of the most common species, yellow warbler, show almost no captures of young of the year (only one has been captured in three years). These data indicate low productivity or nesting success for this year, and for all years in yellow warblers at this site. Habitat changes may be the underlying cause for this year's decline while brown-headed cowbird populations may be affecting yellow warbler productivity.

Fifty-five species were observed on point counts this year and a total of sixty-five species have been observed over three years (Table 4). The most abundant species detected were red-winged blackbird, brown-headed cowbird, yellow warbler, marsh and house wrens and song sparrow. Eighty-one percent of the thirty-two species observed every year have also been captured in mist nets.

This site is generally too fractured to consider specific habitat use. Neither the grassland points nor the forest sites are contiguous enough to distinguish habitat preference. Disregarding waterfowl and wetland species, most 12

of the species observed here are habitat generahsts and edge loving species. This is seen in the fact that the only two 'TM:( H+bVED species seen strictly at forest points all three years are the ALL YEARS 2 YEARS FLYO/ERS great-crested flycatcher and MigddTnch Bacta^padchckactee Back-bled ajctoo An crew warbling vireo. All other Annobn QesLcrested flycalchsr Murriigwartler Back tern species have been detected in both habitat types at some time EatrrcrBoride hfeiry wooc^ecter Terresseewartler Foster's tern or another. BTDAT>iieacted(Xwtard V\Mingvinso Anooct Rr&billedgJI ajejsy Ftecfeyedvneo M/tieuarbler RngndctedcLck Eight people took part in the 28th annual Waubay Eta/vn thrasher Avbfttem Vtestemgebe An geerwrngpdtBaT Christmas Bird Count (CBC) JayKxiorBdspanxw An Me pelican ydlcwbilledackoo Canesback* on 31 December. Observed G&cfarwaxwrg Canada goose Rectead FrarkHrisgJI* were 845 individual birds of twenty-four species. The QmcngacMe Gadnall Buswrgedteel* twenty-eight year average is Cbnmnye^aA^hrDat Wxxddjck Rtyaotnadtincjet* twenty-two species and 805 [b/vriy wccdpertec SMrrpspEmW Ftekiectedgebe* individuals. A red-breasted merganser observed resulted in festem btuedrd Rjdd/cLck* the first ever record of this Rstamlrgird BJHeheacT species during the CBC. A Astern v^xxipewee Townsend's solitaire was also a rare find - seen only tw ice before in 1981 and 1986. Ihc Hi fie wren most abundant species seen Least flycatcher were the house sparrow followed by snow bunting. Mxningdve The only species that has been Rfie-fcreasted gnosbeak counted on every CBC Is the F^wingedliarWancI downy woodpecker, fhese are some hardy birds to put up SongsjTrxw with South Dakota winters. Treeswaicw V\hte-tareasted nuthatch 8 Game Mammals

Yelow-heaciedtiacMafd A mild winter with less Yelcw-shaftedflicter snowfall helped to keep deer Yelcwwatler herds dispersed on the Refuge and surrounding areas at the rhMe-aestedccmucrt beginning of the year. No Inland major complaints were Mrshwan encountered regarding deer herds or depredations. The Orchard aide ^Hlobsevedhiyyb start of the '96-'97 winter was Red-blledgebe notcaxftinnets a different story. Deep snows Sora and brutal winds forced large deer herds to congregate, mostly at farmer's hay stacks and silage piles. About 150 13 deer used the Refuge cornfield, keeping at least some of these deer out of trouble.

Spotlight counts to survey white-tailed deer populations were not conducted this year as high water levels have reduced access to many Refuge trails making anything but aerial counts difficult to conduct.

10. Other Resident Wildlife

Muskrat populations are declining in wetlands with reduced cattail stands and increasing in wetlands previously too dry for muskrats. Overall the number of muskrat houses observed on Refuge ponds have decreased from previous year highs. Beaver activity was evident on the south side of Spring Lake. Numerous trees, once high and dry, are now in the water making them perfect targets for the busy critters.

Numbers of red fox, raccoon, and striped skunk, the three major w aterfowl nest predators in this area, remain high.

Pheasant numbers on the Refuge have not yet bounced back, mostly due to another wet, cool spring and a brutal winter with deep snows and vicious winds. After an all time high of 452 birds counted in 1992 during the A torn turkey beat his "rival" to a bloody pulp several mornings. 5/96 Christmas Bird LDU Count (which includes the area immediately surrounding the Refuge) only 19 pheasants were observed this year.

One to five sharp-tailed grouse were observed on the Refuge this year. Maybe the lack of pheasants made it easier for these prairie birds to move in.

The Refuge has a stable population of about 20 feral turkeys. Fewer sightings were made due to a lack of access to much of the Refuge and the usual turkey haunts. A gruesome sight was encountered a few mornings this spring when staff came to work and found blood spattered all over some of the windows at the office. The mystery was cleared up when a strutting torn appeared who didn't care for the competition he imagined he saw in the window. One hen with five poults was seen around headquarters later in the summer. Apparently the torn was successful keeping away the competition. 14

11 Fisheries Resources

As flood water from Waubay Lake spilled into Hillebrand Lake, numerous fish came with it including undesirable carp. Northern pike, perch and walleye are also part of Refuge waters now. Previously, neither Hillebrand Lake nor Spring Lake has supported a fishery except for a few minnow species. An effort was made to protect Spring Lake from Waubay Lake waters but those efforts were undermined when an illegally placed culvert washed out.

16. Marking apd Bandipg

A constant effort mist netting site was set up to collect baseline data on Refuge landbird species. One hundred fifty-two passerines of twenty-eight species were captured in 1996. One hundred eleven were banded, thirty-six were recaptured. A total of 455 birds comprised of forty species were banded during this study. This is the last of a three year survey. See section G.7 for additional information.

H.PUBUC VSE

1. General

A news release was sent to local papers informing the public about completion of the entrance road project: Unfortunately it was appeared in the same issue as an article on the culvert controversy (regarding the very same road) in the local paper. If anything, it got people out on the new road looking for the infamous culvert.

Section 504 Accessability deficiencies were corrected in the headquarters. Several displays were altered and hot water pipes covered to make standards.

New trail signs were designed and assembled for headquarters hiking trail.

A new visitor center spotting scope, obtained with Watchable Wildlife funds, gave folks a clearer view of Spring Lake and its wildlife.

About one hundred people stopped by for a open house held as part of National Wildlife Refuge Week. Posters, bookmarks, magnets and coloring books were presented in addition to interpretive center displays, paintings, and touch-it table.

The first annual "Howl-o-ween" Night was held October 30 at the Refuge Headquarters. This was our effort to teach about the spooky critters of the night and provide some family fun and entertainment. Unfortunately, the weather prevented the use of the spook trail and forced everyone inside at once making us realize what little space we really have for these kinds of events. The Bramble Park Zoo had a live animal demonstration which included a screech owl and several snakes. Feedback was positive despite the space limitations, we all learned something, and hope to make next year's even better. Numerous posters, news releases, and public service announcements were developed and sent out or aired for our Howl-o-ween Night. Local businesses donated refreshments and prizes.

2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students

Since 1988. the Boy Scouts of America (Arrowhead District) have been using the Refuge for their Klondike Derby. This two day event teaches the boys winter survival skills and tests their cold weather endurance. A group of 100 area boy scouts attended this years derby. Umbright presented a program on waterfowl life history and "Den mother" Mueller provided security for the event. 15

A group of Watertown boy scouts, huddled in snow huts, slept overnight on the Refuge in -330F temperatures, and lived to tell about it.

Lee presented a program on passerine birds to 30 students attending the NRCS Conservation Camp held at the Refuge. After the children were done visiting with Lee, Umbright demonstrated handling, banding, and measurement of birds captured in mist nets.

Thirty South Dakota State University wildlife students toured the Refuge and spoke to Leschisin about Service programs.

3. Outdoor Cla^ooms - Teachers

A program about birds was presented by Umbright to 42 teachers at an Environmental Education workshop held in Chamberlain, SD. The purpose of the workshop was to orient teachers to new ways to apply natural studies in their classrooms.

Twelve South Dakota State Park interpreters visited to become better informed when State Park visitors ask about other recreational lands, namely the Refuge.

8. Hunting

White-tailed deer are the only species hunted on the Refuge. Two archery, two muzzle-loader and one rifle season were held this year.

Table 5. Waubay NWR Deer Hunts, 1996.

Type Dates No. Licenses Hunter Success % Total Harvest

Archery 9/28-10/20 44** 23% 10

Archery 10/21-11/14 28** 24% 7

Muzzleloader 11/15-11/19 39 26% 10

Mu//lc loader 11/20-11/24 38 42% 16

Firearms 11/25-12/8 38 45% (37%)* 17(14)

Archery 12/8-12/31 Unknown Unknown Unknown

TOTALS 187 74 * Any deer/anllerless tags, percentages given for each of two tags . **45 licenses available, rest not sold. 16

All licenses were issued by the State as part of special refuge drawings. One exception was the late-season archery season, where any bowhunter with an unfilled state or refuge permit could hunt the refuge. Very few hunters take advantage of this hunt because temperatures mostly are too cold. Overall hunt goals were to harvest as many deer as possible to minimize damage to vegetation, yet provide a safe, quahty hunt. We've experimented with hunter numbers in recent years and seemed to have reached a balance with safety and hunting quahty. All firearm tags sold, but only 72 out of possible 90 tags were sold for the archery hunts. Of the 72 tags sold, only 40 tags were sold in the first drawing, the rest were sold in later drawings or leftovers. High water, starting in 1993, has inundated considerable prime habitat and made the deer much more accessible to hunters. Stands of cattails and phragmites ringing Refuge lakes that used to provide nearly impenetrable refuges for bigger bucks and other deer no longer exist. The remaining open woods and prairies allowed heavy exploitation of the most desirable animals, namely bucks and especially big bucks. Bucks were heavily harvested in 1994 (Table 5) and the ever dwindling buck population has been a marked group since then. Only 17% of deer harvested in firearm hunts in 1996 were antlered bucks, in 1993 (prior to high water) 43% of harvested deer were antlered bucks. Refuge deer harvest was known to be 57 animals for the firearm hunts, the bowhunters harvest was estimated to be 17, for a total harvest of 74 deer. Total harvest was down from 1994 and 1993, when harvests were around 100 animals.

The State surveyed Refuge hunters to tally harvest numbers for muzzleloader and rifle hunts. A more extensive survey of archery hunters by this office revealed that the 72 hunters averaged about 3.8 days hunting on the Refuge. About 18% of hunters purchased a tag, but did not hunt at all. The breakdown of Buck/Antlerless Deer Ratio estimated 17 deer harvested Waubay NWR Muzzleloader & Rifle Deer Hunts included 8 antlered bucks, 6 100 adult does, and 3 buck fawns. Nearly half of Refuge archery hunters come from Watertown or 0) SiouxFalls, only about7%of Q ^ hunters were local hunters.

9. Fishing

A group of South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Assistant 1993 1994 1995 1996 Regional Supervisors met with Year staff to discuss ice-fishing on Refuge waters. Some Refuge lakes, with new ties to Waubay Antlerless Deer Antlered Bucks Lake, suddenly have fisheries and the State was getting public inquiries about fishing. Most Refuge lakes are technically State meandered lakes, with special boating and hunting prohibitions, but not fishing. The Refuge is not open to fishing and we're concerned about possible disturbance, especially snowmobiles, to a large wintering deer herd. The State is reluctant to close any public waters to fishing, but agreed to ask the Game & Fish Commission to prohibit motorized vehicles on Refuge lakes. Walk-in ice-fishing is expected to be very limited in scope.

A research proposal to inventory Refuge fisheries was coordinated with the SDSU Cooperative Research Unit.

17. Law Enforcement

In March Refuge deer hunting regulations were reviewed and clarified by the local Conservation Officer, SD GFP biologist and Refuge staff. Seasons and tags were the same as 1995. 17

The Refuge Law Enforcement plan was reworked and approval obtained to have three officers for this station. A Law Enforcement assessment was completed on Lee.

Officers Mueller and Leschisin worked periodic law enforcement patrols checking hunters during the Refuge archery, muzzleloader, and firearm deer hunts. Numerous contacts were made; no violations were observed by the officers.

In June Refuge staff toured Waubay Lake with the Conservation Officer to identify boundary problems.

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

3. Major Maintenance

The "last access" to the refuge nearly became inaccessible due to high water. The entrance road, from the headquarters driveway east to Spring Lake overlook, was raised 4-feet in July to 1801.7 msl, with rip-rapping and graveling of a 3000' section of road. Waves were literally breaking over this road from Hillebrand's Lake, washing gravel off the surface. Roads to the west of headquarters were flooded with 6-8' of water, so we were very close to evacuating the headquarters. Heavy equipment and farm machinery were stored on the south side of the Refuge or at the state Blue Dog Fish Hatchery. No plans were made for alternate office space, we would have had to work out of our homes or boat into headquarters. f

Five windows were replaced in the Headquarters building. The originally installed double- pane windows w ere not sealed properly and clouded up. More windows may have to be replaced this year.

Waves were breaking over the east entrance road prior to construction. 6/96 DAL

4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement

A 1996 Dodge 1 Ton, flatbed, dual-tires was added to the station fleet and designated as the fencing truck. 18

The new Kowa spotting scope and tripod receives great attention in the visitor's center overlooking Spring Lake.

New map and TV/V CR cabinets help make the office more organized and secure.

A new gun safe was purchased for storage of station weapons.

A new paper shredder helps The east entrance road was raised 4-feet. 7/96 DAL clean-up the office and makes recycling a little easier.

A cleaning contract with two local women brightened the office and visitor center.

6. Computer System

Two station computers were upgraded to 486's.

A GPS system, Trimble Pathfinder, was purchased and will work in conjunction with the Arc Info/View systems.

Mat and rip-rap were laid on road shoulders to slow wave erosion. 7/96 LP 19

J. QTHgR ITEMS

3. Items of Interest

In April staff members from Waubay NWR, Morris WMD. and Big Stone NWR met at and toured Big Stone NWR to discuss common problems, management, etc...

RD Morgenwick and ARD Terry Grosz made a station visit.

A Department of Defense team met with staff to evaluate Service operations. However, no feedback was received from this effort.

ARD Skip Ladd paid a visit to us during a tour of the state.

Mueller attended a briefing on GAP, a project that will identify vegetative habitats using Landsat photos and Nature Conservancy vegetation groupings.

Training courses accomplished and workshops attended by station personnel included:

Law Enforcement In- Service Recertification (with PPCT): Mueller, Lesehisin

Pistol Requalilication; Mueller. Lesehisin

Project Leader and Administrative Assistant Workshop: Lee, Okroi

Basic Aviation Safety: Mueller, Dargatz, Lousias, and Wickstrom

South Dakota Wildlife Society Meeting: Mueller, Umbright

Central Fly way waterfowl wing bee: Umbright

Multi-agency wetlands workshop: Umbright. Lousias and Wickstrom Northeast South Dakota water quality conference; Wickstrom

Grazing Management Workshop at Buffalo Lake: Wickstrom, Lousias, and Mueller

State Bio-control steering committee meeting: Mueller

One-day introduction to the Internet; Lousias, Wickstrom, Okroi, Umbright, and Leschisin

Zone biologist meeting; Umbright

Endangered Species workshop: Umbright and Wickstrom

GIS/GPS workshop: Okroi and Umbright

Shorebird workshop; Umbright

Informational meeting on the Thunderstorm Map, outlining duck habitat hot spots: Lee and Leschisin

Dam building refresher training; Lousias

Wetland Reserve Program workshop hosted by NRCS: Lousias and Wickstrom

Fire training courses S-200 & S-201 (Initial Attack Incident Commander): Leschisin

4- Credits

Lee - D. E.l-5, F, I Leschisin - E.6. H.8, compile, edit and review Lousias - C, E.7, H. 1 -7, H.9-16, H. 18-19 Mueller - H. 17, J, edit Umbright - B, G Wickstrom - E.7 a Credits for photos are designated individually . Waubay Wetland Management District

Waubay, South Dakota

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 1996

^ ft Refuge N anager Date Refuge Supervisor ir-

Regional Office App Date TABLE OF CONTENTS 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 15 Page 3. Waterfowl 16 INTROPUCTIQN 1 4. Marsh and Water Birds 19 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns & Allied Species 19 A HjGmJGHTS 1 6. Raptors 19 7. Other Migratory Birds 20 B CLIMATIC CONDITIONS NTR 8. Game Mammals 20 9. Marine Mammals NTR C I^NP ACQUISITION 10. Other Resident WUdlife 21 11. Fisheries Resources 21 1. Fee Title Nothing to Report (NTR) 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking NTR 2. Easements 1 13. Surplus Animal Disposal NTR 3. Other NTR 14. Scientific Collections NTR 15. Animal Control 21 D PLANNING 16. Marking and Banding NTR 17. Disease Prevention and Control 21 1. Master Plan NTR 2. Management Plan NTR H PUBUC USE 3. Public Participation NTR 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural 1. General 22 Resource Mandates 4 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students NTR 5 . Research and Investigations 4 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers NTR 6. Other NTR 4. Interpretive Foot Trails NTR 5. Interpretive Tour Routes fNTR E APMTOSTRATIQN 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations NTR 7. Other Interpretive Programs 22 1. Personnel (SeeNWR) 8. Hunting NTR 2. Youth Programs NTR 9. Fishing 22 3. Other Manpower Programs NTR 10. Trapping 22 4. Volunteer Program NTR 11. WUdlife Observation NTR 5. Funding (SeeNWR) 12. Other WUdlife Oriented Recreation NTR 6. Safety NTR 13. Camping NTR 7. Technical Assistance NTR 14. Picnicking NTR 7a. Partners for Wildlife 4 15. Off-Road Vehicling NTR 8 Other NTR 16. Other Non-WUdlife Oriented Recreation. NTR 17. Law Enforcement 22 F HABITAT MANAGEMENT 18. Cooperative Associations NTR 19. Concessions NTR 1. General NTR 2. Wetlands 11 I EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 3. Forests NTR 4. Croplands 11 1. New Construction 22 5 . Grasslands 11 2. Rehabihtation 22 6. Other Habitats NTR 3. Major Maintenance NTR 7. Grazing 12 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement. NTR 8. Haying 13 5. Communications Systems NTR 9. Fire Management NTR 6. Computer System NTR 10. Pest Control 14 7. Energy Conservation NTR 11. Water Rights 14 8. Other NTR 12. Wilderness and Special Areas NTR 13. WPA Easement Monitoring 15 J OTHER ITEMS 1. Cooperative Programs NTR G WILDLIFE 2. Other Economic Uses NTR 3. Items of Interest 23 1. Wildlife Diversity 15 4. Credits 23 EVTROPU CTION

Waubay Wetland Management District (WMD), administered from Waubay National Wildlife Refuge, manages Service owned Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA's) and several types of habitat protection easements on privately owned land in six northeastern South Dakota counties. Service interests include 352 federal WPA's of 39,437 acres, Easements for Waterfowl Management Rights protecting 98,082 wet acres, Easements for Waterfowl Habitat Protection of 73,293 grassland acres, and Conservation Easements protecting 9663 acres of habitat. Management of WPA's emphasizes maintenance of quality waterfowl nesting cover and open water areas for brood habitat. Wetland, grassland, and conservation easements are monitored annually to ensure that landowners follow terms outlined in each contract. Land use in the WMD is a mix of small grain farming and livestock operations. Livestock operations are predominately beef cow/calf herds, but there are some dairy cattle farms.

Three distinct physiographic regions dominate the WMD, each with unique habitat properties. The Coteau des Prairies, a series of north to south parallel terminal moraines rising 800 feet or more in elevation above adjacent lowlands, covers nearly 80 percent of the WMD. Numerous glacial lakes and smaller wetland basins dot the Coteau. To the east and west of the Coteau lays the Minnesota River and James River Lowlands, respectively. These lowland areas contain flat, fertile, agricultural land that is more intensively cropped than the hilly Coteau region.

IflGHLlCHTS '

Acquisition of waterfowl habitat reached 230,000 acres in the WMD. Section C.2.

Over $500,000 was granted by FEMA to create wetlands in the name of flood prevention. Section E.7a.

Sixty-seven wetlands were created by the PFW program. Section E. 7a.

High water continued to plague area infra-structure. Section F. 11.

Dakota skipper butterflies (a species of concern) were located on four WPAs. Section G. 1.

Waterfowl pairs declined slightly despite record numbers of wet ponds. Section G.3.

C. LAND ACQUISITION 2. Easements

Thirty four wetland easements covering 2,011 wet acres were purchased for $199,536 (Table 1 ).

The Service has been acquiring grassland easements in the WMD since 1990 to slow the loss of nesting cover converted to cropland. Prime targets for coverage were Conservation Reserve Program lands, waterbank, native prairie, and other land with a farming history. Grassland easements prohibit cropping and permit haying only after July 15, grazing use is not restricted in any fashion. The "Thunderstorm" map featuring WMD waterfowl breeding pair densities was used to evaluate grassland easement acquisition. In 1996, most habitat acquired was in the top 40% of WMD waterfowl habitat. Twenty-nine contracts were signed to protect 11,521 acres including 1,914 wet acres and 9,607 upland acres for the sum of $586,130. Table 1. Wetland Easement Acquisition Program. 1996.

| County # Accepted Wet Acres Cost

Clark 9 667 $57,590

Codington 0 0 $0

Day 9 581 $50,020

Grant 2 10 $1,361

Marshall 11 690 $82,065

Roberts 3 63 $8,500

TOTAL 34 2011 $199,536

Table 2. Grassland Easement Acquisition Program, 1996.

County Contracts Wet Acres Upland Acres Total Acres Cost

Clark 5 235 928 1,163 $83,350 ^

Codington 0 0 0 0 $0

Day 4 484 652 1,136 $46,590

Grant 3 114 1,151 1,265 $50,300

Marshall 13 921 4,554 5,475 $301,590

Roberts 4 160 2,322 2,482 $104,300

Totals 29 1,914 9,607 11,521 $586,130

Table 3. Cumulative acres of fee title, wetland, grassland, FmHA Conservation easements.

County WPA Wetland Grassland FmHA* Total

Clark 5,979 29,473 9,005 524 44,981

Codington 6,300 6,968 3,122 435 16,825

Day 5,876 24.487 13,585 1,358 45,306

Grant 5,378 5,411 6,726 3,599 21,114

Marshall 10,686 17.888 31,937 617 61,128

Roberts 5,026 15,864 20,915 3,622 45,427

TOTALS 39,245 100,091 85,290 10,155 234,781 *These numbers reflect all inventory properties that are both signed and pending signatures. 3

A coordination meeting with Sand Lake NWR and Aberdeen WAO over easement acquisition in the Hecla Sandhills determined that the Service will proceed full speed ahead. This unique area is threatened by conversion of native prairie to potato fields.

The Service also acquired easement interests on inventory lands from Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) foreclosures deemed important fish, wildlife, wetlands, or environmental resources. These interests are administered as part of the NWR system. The Service recommends appropriate protection for essentially all wetlands with existing values or restoration opportunities. Service recommendations are limited to either conservation easement proposals or requests for land transfer. No land transfers have taken place in the WMD. The basic idea was to protect or restore wetlands and their associated vegetation buffer zones with one of several types of land use restriction easements. Grazing, haying, and cropping were potential land uses that may be eliminated or restricted by easements. Conservation developments included wetland restoration and protection, vegetation protection and reestablishment, and fence establishment. Several generations, with growing pains, of conservation easements have evolved since program inception.

A new headache developed with Conservation easements. On April 4, 19% the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act (FAIR Act) became law, as part of implementation of the 1995 Farm Bill. Part of the FAIR Act notice FC-37 reads;

"Wetland Conservation Easements will not be placed on areas considered to be cropland..."

South Dakota FSA decided to use Webster's dictionary definition of farm which states; "1. Land cultivated for agricultural production. 2a Land devoted to the raising and breeding of domestic animals. 2b. An area of water devoted to the raising and breeding of a particular kind of aquatic animal..."

In essence, this broad interpretation relinquishes any justification (in the eyes of FSA) for easements being placed on not only cropland, but also pastures or hay lands. That doesn't leave much else The Service is still recommending easements, as we did prior to the new law. Now we submit proposals to the State FSA office, have them rejected, then the tract is sold without Conservation easements.

The Service has informed the FSA office that we will not be managers of these properties if sold without sufficient easement restrictions. To date, there are five properties that have been ear marked for dispute. Three in Grant county (3995 acres) and two in Roberts county (880 acres).

Table 4. Recommended FmHA Conservation Easements, Waubay WMD. 1996.

Easement Type (Acres) Wetland

County A1 A B1 B C E Number Acres

Clark 0.0 0.0 0.0 33.9 0.0 123.1 13 33.9

Codington 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0

Day 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0

Grant 2.5 0.0 0.0 374.0 8.6 3053.6 437 511.1

Marshall 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0

Roberts 66.5 0.0 128.8 515.9 268,1 2140.8 184 827.6

Totals 69.0 0.0 128.8 923.8 276.7 5317.5 634 1372.6 4

D. PLANNING

4, Compliance with Hnvironmental and Cultural Resource Mandates

Carson Murdy, a private consultant, toured several potential dam sites for possible impacts on archeological resources. Murdy found no significant resources and the projects proceeded without the need for more intensive archeo logical work.

On all private land projects that disturbed soil the following mandates were met: Section 7 Evaluation for Endangered and Threatened Species, Consultation with the State Historical Preservation Office, 404 permits, and State Water Rights Location Notices.

5. Research and Investigations

A profile of operations and responsibilities of a typical wetland management district (M. Estey, R. Johnson, K Higgens), South Dakota State University. Geographic information system coverages of Service wetland and grassland easement, FM11A easement, and Service fee-title area boundaries in eastern South Dakota will be digitized from 1:24,000 base maps. Boundary coverages will be joined with wetland basin coverages prepared from National Wetland Inventory digital map files. Characteristics of basins protected under easement or by fee-title acquisition will be compared to all eastern South Dakota wetland basins. WMD data files were reviewed to document typical management responsibilities of the staff. *

Assessing ecological structure, Junction, and dynamics of reference and restored northern prairie wetlands. (Paul M. Mayer). University of Minnesota. Objectives of the study were to establish useful ecological indicators for prairie wetlands and to determine if restoration mitigates for wetland losses. Ecological indicators included biomass production and respiration, chemical and nutrient levels, diatom species diversity, developmental stability, and decomposition indexes. These comparisons were intended to evaluate whether restored wetlands recover to a state ecologically similar to reference (never drained) wetlands.

The influence of egg size on juvenile survival in the American Coot. (Wendy Reed). Iowa State University. This project will attempt to determine how maternal energy investment influences offspring fitness. Egg size and energy content of both eggs, hatchlings and energy use during development will be determined. Adult coots will be trapped using a nest trap, then measured and banded prior to release. A portion of the coot eggs will be incubated and the chicks (except 30) will be marked and returned to a nest for brooding.

Surveys of wetland dependent birds. (Doug Johnson). National Biological Service. Surveys of birds will be conducted on various Waterfowl Production Areas in Marshall. Roberts, and Codington counties of South Dakota. The survey will help gain a better understanding of habitat requirements of wetland dependent birds; both game and non-game.

E. ADMINISTRATION

7a. Partners for Wildlife

Since 1988, the Partners for Wildlife Program (PFW) has restored and created wetlands on private lands. This year no monies were spent for ^bonus" ($10/acre or minimum of $50/wetland) or land use (rental rates). Instead wetlands were restored in conjunction with wet and grass easements or in conjunction with rotational grazing systems. Wildlife Extension Agreements (WEA) and Conservation Extension Agreements (CEA) covered a 10 year period. Local contractors hired for the construction of earthen (end to end) ditch plugs. 5

A total of 27 wetlands covering 62.9 wet acres were restored under WEA's in 1996. The total cost was $ 10,960 ($406 per wetland, $ 174 per wet acre). Two wetlands were restored via Force Account. Three wetland projects were not completed since the WEAs were not signed until after freeze up.

Wetland creation (Investment Enterprize Corp.) during embankment construction. 6/96 CL

Same site (Investment Enterprize Corp.) after construction completion and some summer rains. 7/96 CL. 6

Table 5. Partners for Wildlife wetland restorations, Waubay Wetland Management District, 1996.

County No. Contracts No. Wetlands Acres Cost ($)

Day 3 7 18.8 2,650

Clark 1 2 3.4 FA

Grant 1 1 1.0 1,450

Marshall 5 17 39.7 6,860

Totals 10 27 62.9 10,960

This year a new Wetlands Creation /Restoration Grant was awarded to PFW from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Monies from private landowners. Conservation Districts (usually State Commission Grants) Ducks Unlimited, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP), James River Watershed, and Citizens for Big Stone Lake were used to match FEMA monies to create wetlands by constructing embankments. All Conservation Districts in the WMD participated in the program. Total monies available for each District varied depending on nonfederal matching monies secured (shown below). In-kind services were also used for matching funds. In Marshall County, a $250 per acre - $1000 minimum land use credit also was used as matching funds. This FEMA project is to take place over a three year period. Table 6, below indicates the FEMA funding available to each County Conservation District.

Table 6. Federal Emergency Management Agency Grant monies available to each Conservation District for wetland creation/ restoration projects. This is actual cash to build ponds.

COUNTY FEMA DU DISTRICT L.OWNER OTHER TOTAL

Clark 10,000 1,455 0 3,818 0 15,273

Codington 13,000 1,600 500 5,144 333 20,577

Day 20,000 1,600 0 8,000 2,400 32,000

Grant 63,000 1,600 5,500 24,382 3,000 97,482

Marshall 282,000 2,000 22,000 36,111 26.000 368,111

TOTAL 388,000 8.255 28.000 77,455 31,733 533,433

PFW staff designed, engineered, surveyed and staked embankment ponds. In Marshall County a retired NRCS Technician was hired by the Conservation District using Technical Services money ($23K), paid by FEMA. The State Historical Society was contacted for "Hot Archeological Sites". Section 7 (Endangered/Threatened Species) Evaluations and Location Notices (Water Rights) were also processed by PFW personnel.

PFW also teamed up with the Little Minnesota River (Big Stone Lake) and Upper Sioux River (Lake Kampeska) Watershed Projects to build ponds in Roberts and Codington Counties. In Roberts County, the Service paid ten percent and supplied the pipe materials (trickle tube) for three embankment ponds (6.3 ac). 'Hie landowner paid 25 percent and NRCS 65 % of the construction costs. In Codington County, North 7

O'Brien pool area, after darn construction, and a little water. 6/96 TLW 8

American Wetlands Conservation Fund monies were used to build three wetlands (4.6 ac). NAWCA paid 65 percent, Lake Kampeska 10 percent and the landowner paid 25 percent of the construction costs.

Table 7. Partners for Wildlife wetland creations, Waubay WMD, 1996.

County No. Contracts No. Wetlands Acres Cost ($)

Clark 3 3 16.6 14,970

Codington 8 9 17,0 23,098

Day 2 2 4.7 9,044

Grant 14 15 36.9 43,480

Roberts 7 9 19.6 44,812

Marshall 24 29 149.5 97,195

Totals 58 67 244.3 232,599

PFW again teamed up with the Soil and Water Conservation Districts to complete conservation practices on private lands. We were somewhat flexible as some of the monies were not totally the Service's. ConserVation projects included wetland creation and rotational grazing systems. Flood and North American Wetlands Conservation Fund monies were obligated through the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts (SDACD). Matching funds ($10K+) were secured from two of the six County Soil and Water Conservation Districts (Codington, and Marshall). These monies were in the form of State Commission grants. All of the Districts matching monies were associated with watershed projects (Lake Kampeska, Crow Creek and Marshall Co. Hydrological Unit [Lakes]). In-kind services were also considered as matching dollars. Ducks Unlimited was also a major contributor. See graph below.

Table 8. Partners for Wildlife wetland restorations and creations, Waubay WMD, 1988-1996.

County Contracts Restored Restored Created Created Cost ($) Wetlands Acres Wetlands Acres

Day 106 330 1203.2 10 31.6 178,033

Clark 12 14 100.3 3 38.6 25,992

Codington 43 68 348.3 24 42.3 79,525

Grant 40 22 61.9 36 84.8 104,064

Roberts 79 149 433.4 46 138,2 191,876

Marshall 187 436 2132.5 70 315.2 348,156

Totals 467 1019 4,279.6 189 650.7 927,646 9

Partners for Wildlife

1996 Completed Projects

130 120-1

7"* "D 100 c (Q 90 ^ 80 0 70-1 JC 60 50- (0 L. 40- jo 30- 0 20 Q 10 0

Partner

H Codington C.D. ^ Pheasants Forever ] Friends of Big Stone ^ Mn Area III 13 L-Faf'ey [/] Roberts C.D. ^ LKampeska H SD6Fp II NAWCF | James River WDD D USDA ] FWS

j Marshall C D. M DU ] Landowners M SDACD • FEMA

To date, 1019 wetlands have been restored and 189 created, covering 4,930.3 acres at a cost of $927,646 or $188 per wet acre.

Conservation Districts compiled lists of interested parties. FWS did the bulk of the embankment design. To qualify for embankment funding, the final product must provide a fair amount of shallow water. One- hundred percent funding was provided for those cooperators willing to fence off the entire embankment and limit use to wildlife for a 10 year period.

Three WEA's, covering 211 acres, converted cropland to grassland. Big bluestem, indiangrass, switchgrass, green needlegrass, and slender and intermediate wheatgrass, alfalfa, and other tame species were estabhshed on these sites. Cost of these projects was $6368.40 of which DU paid for $1000, South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts paid $864.40, Pheasants Forever $500, Lake Kempeska Project $1000, Game, Fish and Parks $1000, and the Service $2004. Landowners were responsible for seed bed preparation, sowing, and weed control. 10

Assistance for rotational grazing systems has been offered to ranchers since 1991. Goals of the program are to improve overall range condition, as well as provide better upland nesting cover. Financial assistance for cross and exterior fence and water developments was provided by Ducks Unlimited Inc., North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts, Game, Fish and Parks, Lake Kempeska Project, Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District, Service and landowners. Ranchers are responsible for installing fences. This year, sixteen grazing systems were set up for ranchers. Cattle will rotate over 7,475.7 acres at a total cost of $95,936 or $12.83 per acre (Table 9).

Table 9. Partners for Wildlife rotational grazing systems, Waubay Wetland Management WMD, 1996.

County Contracts Acres Cost ($)

Clark* 1 420.0 10,423

Codington 1 310.0 5,357

Day 1 457.0 5,485

Grant** 2 1174.0 8,370

Roberts 1 125.0 6,000

Marshall* 10 4,989.7 60,301

Totals 16 7,475.7 95,936 * Cost also includes money for water developments. •• Agreement includes grass swap on 160 acres/year of O'Farrell WPA (Mini Joint Venture).

Table 10. Partners for Wildlife rotational grazing systems, Waubay Wetland Management District, 1991 1996.

County Contracts Acres Cost ($)

Clark 1 420.0 10,423

Codington 2 528.0 8,297

Day 1 3173.7 39,836

Grant 3 1574.0 14,913

Roberts 4 2605.0 20,560

Marshall 27 15,738.7 166,471

Totals 38 24,039,4 260,500

Thirty-eight rotational grazing systems have been implemented over 24,039.4 acres at a cost of $260,500 or $ 10.84 per upland acre since 1991.

The Service also functioned as a consulting agency to the NRCS on "minimal effect" determinations where activities of private landowners may impact wetlands. Most years determinations involved livestock dugout excavation in or near wetlands, but other activities that may impact wetlands were included in the process (Table 11). This year temporary drainage was a big issue, as high water inundated many state, county and township roads. In some instances high water threatened buildings and well sights. 11

Table 11. Minimal effects consultations, Waubay WMD, 19%.

Type of Action Approved Denied

Dugout construction 1 0

Repair natural flowage 1 0

Animal waste system 2 0

Lower wetland for road 0 2

Reheve flooding 7 0 road/buildings(temporary)

Pumping(temporary) 1 0

Wildlife dams 58 0 TOTALS 70 2 J

A letter were sent to Piggyback contract holders informing them of loss of payments if hay was cut prior to 15 July or more than half the field was cut. Several individuals gave up their payment for the chance to hay.

F. HABiTAJ MANAQiriHgNT

2. Wetlands

WMD wetland conditions were excellent, with 97% of 4-square mile survey ponds wet. Cattail populations took a big hit, with few stands withstanding high water levels. Cattail-choked wetlands of years past were now open water ponds with very little emergent vegetation. Overall, this development probably was good for dabbling ducks, but the canvasbacks and redheads had to scramble to find a place to nest.

4. Croplands

All farming on the WMD was accomplished through cooperative agreements with private farmers. General objectives for these croplands were to provide food for resident wildlife, mostly pheasants. In 1996, there were 32 acres on 3 WPA's farmed by cooperators. In all cases we traded hay in exchange for planting the crop. 12

Table 12. Cooperative Farming Permits, Waubay WMD. 1996.

WPA County Acres Crop Service Share %

Bruflat Codington 4 Millet 100%

Kriech Day 14 Grain Sorghum 100%

Abraham Lake Marshall 14 Millet 100%

TOTAL 3 units 32 ACRES

Cooperative farming has been de-emphasized in recent years for several reasons. The primary benefactors are resident wildlife, species low on our list of priorities. In many cases, finding good cooperators has been a problem, since the federal land receives the poorest care and is usually the last to be seeded. Trends in this region are toward bigger farms and farm equipment, few farmers want to mess with a small food plot. On ' units where we've been producing more Canada thistles and other weeds instead of crops, its an easy decision to discontinue cropping and seed these units to grass. Its a fact, food plots are popular with ; neighbors and sportsmen, but usually only if someone else takes on the responsibility.

7. Grazing

Cattle grazing has been the most common management technique used to improve and enhance upland nesting cover on WPA's in recent years. Grazing fees for 1996 were $9.20 per AUM, and permittees were compensated for activities necessary to accomplish the graze such as boundary fence maintenance and erection of electric fences. A total of 1935 acres on 18 WPA's were grazed this year (Table 13). 13

Table 13. Grazing permits, Waubay WMD, 1996.

WPA County Grazing Acres AU Net Dates /Ac Receipts

Stangland Day 5/15-6/08 100 1.0 $796

Schmidt Day 5/15-6/04 73 0.9 $533

Dolney Day 4/15-5/15 70 1.3 $3055

S.Taylor Day 5/01-5/18 50 1.0 $187

Zenk Day 6/10-7/02 31 0.8 $109

Hendrickson Day 5/01-5/18 23 1.3 $200

Geidd Clark 5/30-7/04 87 1.0 $435

Wells Clark 5/15-6/04 15 1.0 $94

Silver Lake Marshall 5/15-6/01 43 1.0 $168

Warner Lake Codington 6/01-6/26 45 0.8 $187

Hellevang Marshall 5/20-6/10 170 1.0 $991

Week Marshall 5/15-6/07 115 0.8 $894

LaMee Marshall 5/01-9/01 313 1.1 $1804

Van Hout Grant 5/15-6/06 55 1.0 $396

O'Farrell Grant 6/01-8/27 541 1.0 $2635

Berwald Roberts 6/10-7/10 75 1.0 $281

Eickman Roberts 5/10-6/06 54 1.0 $354

Stowe Roberts 5/08-6/11 75 0.8 $363

TOTALS 18 Units 1935 $13,482

8. Haying

WPA grasslands sometimes are managed by haying to reduce litter accumulation, stimulate new grass growth, or control weeds (i.e., Canada thistle, see section F.10). Generally, hay cutting is permitted after July 15 to reduce losses of ground nesting birds. All permittees were required to mow with a sickle bar mower and rake with either a side delivery or dump rake to remove as much litter as possible. About 101 acres was hayed on 4 WPA's with Special Use Permits (SUP) or as a share agreement on food plots written with Cooperative Farming Agreements (CFA).

Few hay requests are received except during drought years. Most producers are unwilling to harvest hay after July 15 or risk their equipment on grasslands covered with pocket gopher mounds. 14

Table 14. Hay permits. Waubay WMD, 1996.

WPA County Acres Permit Type

Herker Clark 14 SUP

Bruflat Codington 10 CFA

Kriech Day 43 CFA

Neal-Barton Clark 22 SUP

Cronen Grant 20 SUP

Abraham Lake Marshall 28 CFA

TOTALS 6 Units 137

10. Pest Coptrol

Leafy spurge biological control included release of 22,000 flea beetles (Aphthona lacertosa and A. czwalinae) on two sites on Olson WPA (Marshall Co.). One hundred and fifty galls containing gall midges, Spurgia esulae, were released on Abraham Lake WPA. Flea beetles attack spurge stems and roots and gall midges work on the growing tips. Spurge gall midges also form a gall that prevents seed formation.

We have high hopes that several of our flea beetle releases will increase to the point that we can spread the little spurge eaters around various spurge infested WPAs, private lands. State lands, etc... Promising control results with A. lacertosa and czwalinae near Valley City, North Dakota gives us faith that simihar impacts can be achieved in our area.

Chemicals used for weed control included 2,4-D Ester, Banvil, Tordon, and Roundup. WMD-wide, 420.5 acres were treated with 370.4 pounds of active chemical ingredients. Several traditional problem sites were either flooded or access was denied due to wet conditions.

About 75 acres of Canada thistle infested sites were mowed to keep this weed from going to seed.

In April Marshall and Brown County representatives met over the issue of water flowing from the Fort Lakes down toward the James River, via Crow Creek and Putney Slough. No consensus was reached at the meeting, but Marshall later installed a larger culvert on the Fort Road, much to the consternation of downstream folks.

Codington County decided to pursue a Right-of-Way permit to construct a new road across Springer Waterfowl Production Area. Areas to the south of Grass-Dry Lake are cut off from Florence. Codington County officials, SD Congressional representatives, local residents, business representatives and WMD staff met in Florence to discuss the proposed road right-of-way through Springer WPA. A good discussion of issues, legal requirements of agencies, and a rough format for mitigation were major topics. 15

13. WPA Easement Monitoring

Fall wetland easement flights were completed in the nick of time before snow covered the landscape. Only four ground checks for ditching are waiting for spring.

In March three landowners were contacted after we received word of some sort of private drainage easement contract being promoted to drain wetlands protected by a Service easement. These same landowners were involved in a 1994 easement violation in the same location (Roberts 33IX and 95X).

Clark County Airport made a request to impact 0.5 acre of easement wetland as part of a runway extension project. A field visit and lots of research on Service procedures resulted in the Clark County Commission signing an Easement Permit to mitigate for the loss. An equal acreage of wetland will be created on site.

In September Mueller worked on an easement violation on N. Buffalo Lake involving Game, f ish & Parks land. Apparently fill was placed in a wetland to build a new roadbed, without the Stale's or our knowledge. Restoration was delayed due to weather.

In October Mueller worked on a grassland easement violation where the violator turned himself in after reopening an old gravel pit. A small part of the pit was covered under the easement and will be restored. -

Copies of all grassland easement maps were sent to respective Consolidated Farm Service Agencies.

G. WILDLIFE

1 Wildlife Diversify

Seven Waterfowl Production Areas were surveyed for Dakota Skipper butterflies. Sites were chosen based on the presence of native grasses, particularly little bluestem {Andropogon scoparius) which is considered a favorite food plant of larval stages. Dakota skippers were found at four sites Meyer Lake and O'Farrell in Grant County and Jensen and No. Red Iron Lake in Marshall County. At each of these sites only one or two Dakota skippers were found. They were not observed at Berwald-Schuchard (Roberts Co.), No. LaMee and Hellevang (Marshall Co.) although these sites had similar vegetation components as the sites where D. Skippers were found. No little bluestem was seen in the area surveyed at O'Farrell WPA but a Dakota skipper was collected from this location. By conducting these surveys we can only hope to increase our knowledge base of these more minute components of prairie ecosystems.

2. Endangered And/Or Threatened Species

Bald eagles are seen intermittently in the WMD. They are most often observed in March, during spring migration, but have also been sighted in fall and winter months. About a dozen were observed in March and April in and around the Refuge and District, while only one was seen in October 16

The first sightings of Canada geese occurred on 19 February but migration didn't kick in until mid- March as is usual. Five pairs of Canada geese were seen f • 4 # staking out * • • •, muskrat houses on 14 March and thousands of snow geese and mallards were seen in Clark County Migrant snow geese are typically more numerous in spring. 4/% LDU the same day. A cinnamon teal was noticed in Day County and a pair observed during the first round of the Four-square mile survey. A pair was also sighted in 1994 in the District. A cool, wet spring probably caused many late nests and renesting attempts. The first Canada goose goslings weren't observed until 15 May, ten days later than last year. An extremely late goose nest was discovered 6 July with goslings appearing the ninth. Numerous Class I broods of blue-winged teal were seen the first week of August throughout the District

The first tundra swans were observed 18 October near Veblen in Roberts County. A phone call regarding fifty tundra swans frozen in the ice on 31 October in Day County' prompted statt to investigate. Fortunately the swans were only resting on the ice although from the road it did appear as if they were stuck and slowly giving in to late (as they nodded off one by one). Unusual weather patterns causing snow geese to leave C anada while we still had fair weather and open water helped bring about a fall migration consisting of hundreds of thousands of snow geese observed throughout the District the first week of November The geese provided quite a spectacle on the ground and in the air as they relieved the monotony of flying easements. They didn't stay long as ice up occurred on the larger lakes around mid-November.

Canada Geese

A complete count of northeastern South Dakota's giant Canada goose pairs were not made this year as overlapping wetlands and high water levels make it difficult for SD Game, Fish & Park personnel to compare with previous years data. The statewide breeding population of giant Canada geese as estimated by USFWS, has grown from 55,900 in 1995 to 73,500.

Canada goose restoration efforts have been so successful that depredation complaints and resulting crop damage has increased draraaticallv the last few years. Unfortunately, this was the year we decided to give up our propane cannons to SD Game, Fish & Parks as staffing levels made it difficult to deliver and maintain these guns for the use of what has turned out to be the same half dozen landowners in the District year after year. An early season goose hunt was proposed and approved by the Fly way Council to specifically reduce populations of local birds. The season lasted from 1 through 15 September and occurred only in the eastern 17 counties of the state where restoration has been most successful. Projected harvests indicate nearly 1300 birds were taken during this early season, despite mixed views on the effectiveness and need for this season from the press, landowners and others. The need for future seasons will be based on spring breeding pan- surveys.

Depredation complaints and associated costs also warranted the formation of a working group to develop a program and brochure to assist landowners dealing with crop damage caused by Canada geese. Techniques promoted include using vegetation barriers, scare devices, fencing, supplemental feeding and allowing more access to hunters in problem areas. Game, Fish & Parks will be providing technical and monetary assistance to encourage landowners to participate.

Waterfowl Breeding Pair Surveys

Data from the annual spring survey of breeding waterfowl is used to detect annual changes in waterfowl use. The sampling is part of a larger study conducted by the HAPET office in Bismarck, North Dakota. This year 197 wetland basins were surveyed on 22 four-square-mile plots. Sampling units and wetland acreage remains somewhat consistent within the WMD, each year. The first count was conducted between May 1 and May 15, and the second between May 20 and June 5. Ninety-seven percent of ponds surveyed were wet during both rounds. This continues the wet cycle which began in 1991.

FOUR-SQUARE MILE SURVEY RESULTS Waubay WM} 1987-1996

1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996

gTctalFhirs Average 18

Table 15. Waterfowl pairs observed. Four-square mile survey, Waubay WMD, 19%.

1ST ROUND % OF TOTAL 2NP ROUNP % OF TOTAL PABBLfmfi: Blue-winged teal 234 22.5% 223 36.4%

Mallard 154 14.8% 134 21.9%

Gadwall 92 8.9% 69 11.3%

Pintail 18 1.7% 8 1.3% Shoveler 25 2.4% 14 2.3%

Widgeon 4 0.4% 0 0.0%

Green-winged teal 6 0.6% 4 0.7%

Wood duck 5 0.5% 4 0.7%

Cinnamon teal 1 0.1% 0 0.0% DimS: Redhead 46 4.4% 51 8.3%

Ruddy 81 7,8% 23 3.8%

L. Scaup 255 24.6% 18 2.9%

Canvasback 34 3.3% 26 4.2%

Ringnecked duck 61 5.9% 26 4.2%

Buftlehead 5 0.5% 0 0.0%

Common goldeneye 1 0.1% 0 0.0% CrFFSF

Canada goose 16 1.5% 12 2.0%

The most common species in both rounds were blue-winged teal, mallard and gadwall (Table 15). These three species comprise 46-70% of the total pairs surveyed. Lesser scaup made up nearly one fourth of total pairs in the first round but fell to less than 3% during the second. Fewer pairs are observed during the second round in seven out of ten years.

Figure 1 summarizes data collected from 1987 to 1996, for species that breed in this area. The higher number of pairs counted from both rounds is used, except for lesser scaup. Since lesser scaup are not known to nest in this area in large numbers, only the second round count was used as it is more indicative of actual breeding pairs that may remain in this District. Twelve percent fewer pairs were observed in 1996 than 1995. Fewer blue-winged teal and mallard make up the largest part of this difference. Even though this is the fewest pairs counted since 1990, only five percent fewer pairs were observed compared to the 1987-1995 average. All dabbling duck pairs except mallards declined from the long term average. Alternatively, all divers, except redheads, increased from the long term mean.

Although water conditions were excellent in terms of the amount of water available, pair numbers were down from last year. An abundance of water throughout this region means this is no longer a limiting factor for waterfowl. Availability of food or nesting cover may then impart a greater influence on populations and distribution of pairs. As wetlands have grown in size and/or lost emergent cover, they become less attractive as pair habitat, nesting and/or feeding sites. With only 5% of the land base in the Prairie Pothole Region devoted to wildlife management, habitat changes like these can have major effects. CRP probably helped to 19 bring pair numbers up when wetland conditions improved but waterfowl production may suffer as CRP contracts are released and this cover is plowed under or grazed. Local decreases may be reflecting a shift in populations to more productive areas in the Dakotas.

W^terfowj Negfmg Surveys

Waterfowl nest searching activities were conducted at only one site in the District (Cottonwood). It is an eight acre peninsula with a predator fence cutoff on private property covered by a Wildlife Extension Agreement. A prescribed burn was conducted in 1994 to rejuvenate deteriorated nesting cover and encourage native grasses. Monitoring of the vegetation suggests little improvement has been made which is probably why only one nest was located this year. This nest was located during the first search mid-May, later found depredated and no new nests found the remainder of the season. One skunk was removed 30 April when the fence was set up, no other predators ware captured. Nest densities have varied from a high of .63 nests/acre (1992) to .13 nests/acre (19%). Mayfieid success rates have also varied from 100% in 1993 to 3% this year. If nest densities don't improve it will be suggested that the fence be removed or just not activated in the future, saving staff time and effort for more productive sites.

4. Marsh and Water gifds

A great egret nest was detected in a colony of double-nested cormorants at what used to be Hedke Pass in Day County just west of the Refuge. A number of great egrets were observed in the grass at Jensen WPA (Marshall Co.) on 30 September. This appeared unusual until one realized they were taking advantage of the leopard frog migration and fattening up. Many were finding the openings provided by trails offered the best opportunities for success.

The first pelicans were sighted 7 April - another sure sign of spring on the prairie. White pelicans, double- crested cormorants, and several species of grebes were commonly seen during the summer throughout the WMD. Nesting colonies of 50+ western grebes were observed at Dry Lake #2 in Clark County and at the Game Production Area on the southwest side of Bitter Lake in Day Co.

Five of six known South Dakota white pelican rookeries were located in the WMD. However, high water has inundated previous rookery islands on South Waubay, Bitter, Piyas and Grass Lakes. The Grass Lake birds shifted their colony to a nearby peninsula which has now turned into an island. Sixteen hundred adult and juvenile birds were present at this location. The Bitter Lake colony also shifted locations and included thousands of pelicans, cormorants and gulls using the site.

Two Virginia rails were noticed this year, one was found dead in Day County (apparently the victim of feral cats) and the other was heard in a cattail marsh in Clark County.

5. Shorebirds. Gulls. Terns and Allied Species

Various species of shorebirds, gulls, and terns were regularly seen along shorelines of larger lakes. The best time to observe large numbers of shorebirds in the WMD is during the spring and fall migrations. High water levels have reduced mud flats resulting in fewer shorebird sightings. About twenty peeps were seen resting on an ice floe on Hiilebrand Lake on 23 April with a golden plover and ruddy tumstones observed in Day County later in May.

6. Raptors

Common raptors found throughout the WMD include great horned owl, long and short eared owl, screech owl, American kestrel, northern harrier, red-tailed hawk and Swainson's hawk. Other less common species include bald eagle, golden eagle, goshawk, ferruginous hawk, broad-winged hawk, Cooper's hawk, sharp- shinned hawk, prairie falcon, barred and snowy owls. 20

7. Other Migratory Birds MOURNING DOVE SURVEY Waubay WMD, Marshall County Refuge personnel participate in two 200 mourning dove surveys. Call-count surveys are conducted annually by state and federal biologists to monitor populations with the resulting information on status and trends used to set annual hunting regulations. The 20 mile surveys, with stops at 1-mile intervals, are located in Day and Marshall counties. High water prevented access to 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 most of the Day Co. route 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 so only the Marshall Co. route was run in 1996. Figure 8. Mourning dove survey results for Marshall County, Waubay Fifty-eight percent fewer WMD. doves were observed in 1996 compared to the IS year average of 103 for this survey route (Fig. 2). Dove numbers took a nosedive in 1992 and have not yet recovered during this wetter than average period,

8. Gjime MarpmaLs

Heavy snows, cold temperatures and bitter winds made deer hunting difficult this fall reducing overall success in the area. Depredation complaints increased as herds gathered after the season, attacking hay and feed stores and irritating already stressed farmers. Numerous depredation hunts have been instituted by Game, Fish & Parks to reduce losses to landowners and starvation losses of deer. 21

10. Qtber Resldgpt WjldUic

Muskrat populations are still high though much cattail cover has disappeared from wetlands Populations of red fox, raccoon and striped skunk, the three major waterfowl nest predators in this area, remain high. Coyote populations appear stable Muskrat/waterfowl interrelationships are often closely interwined. 5/96 LDU in the region.

Although ring-necked pheasants appeared plentiful throughout the rest of the state, the northeast populations were still scattered and sparse after a couple of hard winters and wet springs. Hunting pressure was reduced as hunters took to other more productive areas of the state.

11. Fisheries Resources

The Akerson WPA (Day) wetland was used as a rearing pond for SD Game, Fish & Parks operations Approximately 5000 walleye and saugeye fry/acre were stocked for later removal in the fall and transfer to other lakes.

15. Animal Control

See Refuge Narrath e for goose depredation.

Blackbird depredation did not seem to be a problem this year. A majority of cattails have been wiped out by continued high water levels in wetlands. With less available nesting and roosting sites, large flocks of blackbirds never formed, resulting in fewer complaints.

17. Disease Prevention and Control

The annual botulism outbreak at Bitter Lake (Day Co.) drastically declined from last year's die-off. Only 454 carcasses were found compared to 3933 in 1995 (87% difference). No other outbreaks were noted - highly unusual for this area. 22

H. PU314C USE

1. General

Refuge bookmarks were sent to area libraries in honor of the Refuge System Birthday.

A set of bird slides were loaned to Charles Patterson of the Sioux Falls Audubon Society. He used the slides for reference in a NAS pamphlet entitled Project Feeder Watch.

Lousias disseminated information and handouts at the Service booth for the State Fair in Huron.

Over 39,000 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas are used for hunting, trapping, fishing, bird watching, wildlife observation, hiking, cross country skiing, photography, and other uses.

7. Qthyr Ifltopretjv? Programs

Mueller gave a talk about the Service and the Refuge to 15 boy scouts and their families.

Twenty-five Kiwanis were entertained about facts pertaining to the Service and Waubay NWR in particular by Mueller.

Mueller gave a presentation to 100 girls at girl scout camp, covering career choices in the Natural Resources field and a biota habitats need game.

9. Fishing

Fisheries on area WPAs used to be marginal at a few sites, prior to recent high water years. However, the expansion of many semi-permanent sloughs into lakes created new fisheries for northern pike and yellow perch, especially. The Fort Lakes in Marshall County, Antelope Lake in Day County, Grass Lake in Codington were a few examples of exciting new fisheries where none existed before.

10. Trapping

All WPA's are open to public trapping in conjunction with State regulations. Red fox, raccoon, mink and muskrats are the main target species.

17. Law Enforcement

Officers Mueller and Leschisin worked periodic law enforcement patrols checking hunters the first two weekends of waterfowl season and sporadically the rest of the season. Numerous contacts were made.

A non-toxic shot plan for the station was submitted to the RO.

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACfUTIES

1. New Construction

New fences were constructed by force account on the following WPA's; Gerber (Marshall #221) 0.25 mile, Schlekewy (Marshall #108) 0.25 mile, and Berger (Grant #73) 0.25 mile with new parking lot. 23

2. MtsMtiatjon

Two fencing projects were covered by MMS and bid to private contractors: Abraham Lake WPA (Marshall #255) 2 miles and Warner Lake WPA (Codington #110) 2.4 miles. Refuge personnel repaired .5 mile of fence on the Buss WPA (Marshall # 227).

j. oniER mm

3. Itepis of latest

In March a Department of Defense team talked with the staff to evaluate Service operations as part of the efficiency in government program.

RD Morgenwick and ARD Terry Grosz made a station visit in May. Later the same month ARD Skip Ladd paid a visit to us during a tour of the state.

Mueller attended a briefing on GAP, a project that will identify vegetative habitats using Landsat photos and Nature Conservancy vegetation groupings.

4. Credit

Lee-D, E.1-5,I Leschisin - E.6, F, compile, edit and review Lousias - C, E.7, H.l-16, H.18-19 Mueller - H.17, J. edit Umbright - G Wickstrom - E.7a Credits for photos are designated individually