Western Pond Turtle Population Study

Request for Proposals and Qualifications Western Pond Turtle, Population Study, Monitoring Plan, and Invasive Species Control Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Proposals Due: February 24, 12:00PM (noon) INVITATION The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is pleased to announce the opportunity for consultants to conduct a population assessment for Western Pond Turtle (WPT) at the Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Attachment 1). The purpose of this Request for Proposals and Qualifications is to solicit individuals or firms to work with the District to provide this study and subsequent monitoring plan for submittal to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in order to permit and perform population monitoring for long term management actions recommend for implementation at the Preserve. The District has budgeted approximately $30,000 for year 1 of the study and up to an additional $30,000 per year for years 2 and 3. About the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, located on the San Francisco Peninsula, owns and manages approximately 62,000 acres of land in 26 open space preserves ranging in size from 55 to more than 15,000 acres. The District's purpose is to acquire, permanently protect, and restore lands forming a regional open space greenbelt. The preserves are generally kept in a natural condition in order to protect their ecological integrity and habitat, and are developed with only those amenities needed for low-intensity recreation, such as signed trails for hiking, bicycling, and equestrian use, restrooms, gravel parking areas, and an occasional bench or picnic table. The preserves are open to the public year round and contain many diverse ecosystems including redwood, oak, and fir forests, chaparral-covered hillsides, riparian corridors, grasslands, and shore frontage along San Francisco Bay. LOCATION AND SITE DESCRIPTION Background Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Preserve), is a 1,432-acre property located approximately eight miles south of the town of Los Gatos (Attachment 1). The Preserve includes redwoods, hiking trails, historic buildings, and lush vegetation. Three ponds (Mud, Upper, and Lower Lakes) are located on the property, as well as perennial creeks, Briggs, Dyer, Webb, Collins and Aldercroft (Attachment 2). A Preserve Plan and associated Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was completed in January of 2017 detailing the future of the Preserve. The Preserve Plan and associated environmental documents can be found online at: http://www.openspace.org/sites/default/files/20170124.BCRPreservePlanFEIR.pdf. Site improvements detailed in the Preserve Plan are scheduled for implementation beginning in 2017 in order to prepare the site for public access as early as 2018. A Pond Assessment detailing hydrological and structural assessment of the onsite pond features was completed in February of 2017. The Pond Assessment also included an Aquatic Species Management Plan (Attachment 3) that recommends several measures to protect and enhance WPT habitat, and discusses the merits of controlling invasive aquatic wildlife species (primarily red-eared slider) found within the ponds. A WPT mitigation plan (under separate contract) is currently in development specific to the new parking lot and trails proposed adjacent to Upper Lake. A Preserve wide Invasive Plant Species Mapping and Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) has been developed. This plan includes mapping and recommendations for 17 invasive plant species, some of which occur within the vicinity of the ponds. Treatments under this plan are underway. Any fieldwork resulting from this RFPQ will need to be coordinated closely with District staff for safety and scheduling concerns due to ongoing concurrent work efforts at the Preserve. Project Objectives This RFPQ is to solicit implementation of the following two specific recommendations from the Aquatic Species Management Plan: 1) Create a monitoring and adaptive management plan for WPT at Upper and Lower lakes. 2) Control the red-slider population at Upper and Lower lakes (and Mud Lake if incidentally encountered). Control should be focused primarily on the aquatic environment but also if adults or nests are encountered in the uplands. The monitoring and adaptive management plan should identify census techniques, provide collection of baseline information on population size and upland use, monitor the impacts of Preserve use, and provide a list of potential adaptive management scenarios and responses. Annual monitoring shall be conducted at Upper and Lower Lake for a minimum of three years to acquire baseline data, determine if upland habitat use studies are needed and to propose and begin implementation of a cost-effective long-term monitoring protocol that includes red-eared slider control. Recommended methods to complete these tasks are detailed in the Aquatic Species Management plan. However, variations may be approved if approved by the District for warranted reasons (cost savings, different but equally effective methods/materials etc.) A specific requirement for year one is to monitor individual WPT females to define nesting habitat onsite as well as to target reproductive red-eared slider for invasive species control. Red-eared slider control shall be performed in a humane manner; preferably, that involves permitted relocation if possible (work with California Turtle & Tortoise Club (Silicon Valley Chapter) or similar agency or facility). However, if euthanasia of wildlife is required, the selected firm shall adhere to the American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for Euthanasia of Animals (latest edition). Please state methods for monitoring WPT, determining nesting, and invasive species disposition in your proposal. The selected contractor is responsible to have in hand or be able to secure any regulatory permits needed to conduct the study, develop the plan, and perform invasive species control. One question the study should strive to answer is if the breeding population of WPT at BCR is a source for a regional metapopulation of western pond turtle. Please state how your firm will address this question in your proposed scope of work. Long term monitoring and management of species (year 4 and beyond) will be the responsibility of District staff. The selected consultant shall train District staff in monitoring and annual reporting of the species and invasive species control. Any proposed study design and biological control will need to be done with a sensitivity to ongoing work efforts and future public presence. Project Term: Initially 1 year, beginning in 2017. The District, in its discretion, may extend the agreement for an additional term not to exceed up to 2 additional years after the consultant completes the initial monitoring and annual reporting. Schedule: Release Request for Proposals and Qualifications for the project- February 8, 2017 Site visit- February 16, 2017 Proposals due- Feb 24, 2017 Consultant interviews- March 2, 2017 Award of contract- March 22, 2017 First year fieldwork and monitoring- April to July 2017 Submit first year’s monitoring report- October 2017 Repeat fieldwork and annual reporting for subsequent years if awarded ANTICIPATED SCOPE OF SERVICES 1) Obtain all necessary permits to conduct the anticipated study at the worksite The selected consultant will need to demonstrate that they either currently hold all required permits for the site, or are currently in process of amended existing permits to include the worksite and requested activities. No work may begin until permits for the selected consultant are approved. 2) Literature Review and regional investigation Review existing information regarding the WPT use and management actions to enhance this species at BCR. Conduct assessment of WPT status within the overall Los Gatos Creek watershed to determine if the breeding population of WPT at BCR is a source for a regional metapopulation of western pond turtle. 3) Conduct first year study, invasive species control and training of District staff Gather population and distribution data for WPT. Assessment areas should include all wetland and associated upland sites identified as supporting the species of interest including mapped springs, impoundments, and watercourses in the area of interest. Design study to avoid impacts from ongoing IPM work, site development, and future public use. Prepare monitoring forms and provide monitoring status reports to the District at the end of each survey effort Provide population estimates as well as a sex ratio of the population. Locate nesting locations of WPT surrounding Upper Lake Work with District biologists when trapping, marking, and handling WPT to provide them with this experience so that they may eventually become permitted and perform ongoing monitoring of the species and future management at the site. Perform invasive species control targeting reproductive red-eared slider 4) (If awarded) Perform subsequent years study, invasive species control, and training of District staff Perform year 2 and 3 WPT monitoring and reporting to determine if the population is increasing or decreasing and provide estimated growth or contraction rates. Continue to train District staff Determine additional nesting locations adjacent to Upper and Lower Lakes or other incidental nesting areas if observed. Continue invasive species control 5) Provide annual draft report of findings Provide recommendations

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