OTTAWA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPLEX (Ottawa, Cedar Point, West Sister Island) Oak Harbor, Ohio

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 1984

U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM .ht

OTTAWA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPLEX

(OTTAWA, CEDAR POINT, WEST SISTER ISLAND NWR's)

Oak Harbor, Ohio

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Calendar Year 1984

Regional Office Approval Date INTRODUCTION

The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex is comprised of five units: the Ottawa, Darby and Navarre Divisions, Cedar Point, and West Sister Island.

The Ottawa Division was established in July, 1961 with land acquired under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act to preserve a portion of the remaining Lake Erie marshes. West Sister Island was established as a refuge in August, 1938 by Presidential Order. Cedar Point was donated to the Service and accepted by the Secretary of the Interior in December 1964. Darby was acquired in 1966 in exchange for Navarre, with the agreement that most of Navarre would remain under management for wildlife under conditions of a 25- and 50-year lease. Today, these five separate parcels of land are the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

The'cities of Toledo, Detroit, and Ann Arbor are within an hour's drive of Ottawa NWR. At between 2 to 3 hours driving distance are Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, and Dayton. The refuge is within the bounds of an 8 million person megalopolis. Currently, it is receiving about 70,000 visitors per year who primarily visit the refuge for bird watching and wildlife observation.

The total refuge acreage is 8,316 acres of which 5,350 acres are either open pools, marsh, and moist soil units. Water levels in 3,306 acres can be controlled by gravity drainage and filling, in 1,250 acres water is uncontrolled and in 794 acres of moist soil units water levels are controlled by pumping. The remaining acreage of 2,966 is a mixture of grassland, forest and cropland.

Wildlife use of the refuge is high and is approximately as follows: (Use days) ducks, 1 to 5 million; Canada geese 1 to 2 million; marsh and water birds, 1 million; shorebirds gulls and terns over 1 million. Production is: ducks and ,geese 500 to 2,000 each; marsh and water birds, 4,000 to 6,000; shorebirds, gulls and terns, up to 500; bald eagles, 2 to 5; and wetland mammals 6,000 to 10,000.

West Sister Island, located 9 miles out in Lake Erie, is a wilderness area and is the site of the largest colonial nesting bird colony in the Great Lakes Chain (over 2,100 nests of Great Blue Herons and Black Crowned Night-Herons). . INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page A. HIGHLIGHTS 1

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 2

C. LAND ACQUISITION

1. Fee Title "Nothing to report" 2. Easements "Nothing to report" 3. Other 3

D. PLANNING

Master Plan "Nothing to report" Management Plan 3 Public Participation 3 Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates 3 Research and Investigations 4 Other "Nothing to report"

E. ADMINISTRATION

Personnel 4 Youth Programs 5 Other Manpower Programs "Nothing to report" Volunteer Program 6 Funding 8 Safety 8 Technical Assistance 9 Other "Nothing to report"

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

1. General 2. Wetlands 3. Forests 4. Croplands 5. Grasslands 6. Other Habitats 7. Grazing 8. Haying HABITAT MANAGEMENT (Cont.) "Page 9. Fire Management 13 10. Pest Control 13 11. Water Rights "Nothing to report'1 14 12. Wilderness and Special Areas 14 13. WPA Easement Monitoring "Nothing to report"

G. WILDLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity "Nothing to report" 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species,.. 15 3. Waterfowl 15 4. Marsh and Water Birds 16 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species 16 6. Raptors 16 7. Other Migratory Birds 17 8. 'Game Mammals ,.v, 17 9. Marine Mammals 17 10. Other Resident Wildlife ."Nothing to report" 11. Fisheries Resources 17 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking "Nothing to report" 13. Surplus Animal Disposal "Nothing to report" 14. Scientific Collections 17 15. Animal ControL "Nothing to report" 16. Marking and Banding 17 17. Disease Prevention and Control 18

H. PUBLIC USE

1. General 18 2. Outdoor Classrooms -^Students 18 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers 18 4. Interpretive Foot Trails 19 5. Interpretive Tour Routes "Nothing to report" 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations 19 7. Other Interpretive Programs 20 8. Hunting 21 9. Fishing "Nothing to report" 10. Trapping 23 11. Wildlife Observation 24 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation ....."Nothing to report" 13. Camping "Nothing to report" 14. Picnicking "Nothing to report" 15. Off-Road Vehicling ; "Nothing to report" 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation "Nothing to report" H. PUBLIC USE (Cont.)

Page 17. Law Enforcement 24 18. Cooperating Associations "Nothing to report" 19. Concessions "Nothing to report"

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

1. New Construction 25 2. Rehabilitation 29 3. Major Maintenance 30 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 30 5. Communications Systems 31 6. Computer Systems 31 7. Energy Conservation 31 - 8. ,Other "Nothing to report"

J. OTHER ITEMS

1. Cooperative Programs 32 2. Other Economic Uses "Nothing to report" 3. Items of Interest .' 33 4. Credits 33

K. FEEDBACK 34

L. INFORMATION PACKET - - - (inside back cover) Left to right - Kono, Behnke, Day, Nehls, Tansy, Botsford, Cornelius

Refuge Staff

1. Michael G. Tansy - GS-12, PFT (EOD 2/19/84) Refuge Manager 2. Stanley Cornelius - GS-11, (EOD 6/11/84) Ass't. Refuge Manager 3. Linda Hagen - GS-11, PFT (Transferred 1/23/84) Ass't. Refuge Manager 4. Immanuel Johnson - GS-7, PFT (Transferred 8/18/84).Ass't. Refuge Manager Trainee 5. W. R. Botsford - GS-9, (EOD 9/6/81) Outdoor Recreation Planner 6. Virginia L. Behnke - GS-5, PFT (EOD 6/17/74) Administrative Technician 7. Alson Radsick - WG-8, PFT (EOD 10/15/60) Maintenance Worker 8. David L. Day - WG-7, PFT (EOD 4/11/83) Equipment Operator 9. Henry Kono - GS-4, (EOD 9/2/84, LDOD 10/26/84) Coop. Student

Temporary Personnel

1. Jeff Nehls - WG-5, (6/10/84 - 12/7/84) Tractor Operator 2. Kelvin Sal the - WG-5, (7/22/84 - 10/26/84) Tractor Operator 3. Rebecca Lachey - GS-4, (7/22/84 - 10/12/84) Biological Aid 4. Valarie Szymanski - GS-4, (6/10/84 - 8/10/84) YCC Social Service Aid YCC Personnel

Trent El wing (seated) Amy Hemminger (seated) Daniel Berger (standing) Jennifer Thompson (standing) Volunteers 1984 Hours Worked

Brad Baaske 142 Jeff North 96 Tim Oliver 19 Joe Kiss 65 Rich Kiss 311 Wendy Hitchner 300 Jim Wonacott 291 Ken Gray 102 Daryl Apple"' 97 Keith Swindle 30 Jenny Shalala 8 Diane Tansy 2 Ann Botsford 3 Laurie Blakeslee 13 Art Weber 84 ' Mark Shieldcastle 102 Joe Komorowski 72 Ed Pierce 72 Laurel VanCamp 72 Paula Jack 42 Ward Jenkins 44 Boy Scout Troop 131 150 Boy Scout Troop 268 162 Boy Scout Troop 195 138 Northern Kentucky State University 105 Boy Scout Post 47 144 Boy Scout Troop 316 54 Boy Scout Troop 305 162 Ohio Audubon Council 72 Clark County Audubon 114 Girl Scout Troop 195 144 Total Hours 3,209 1

A. HIGHLIGHTS ) -The $810,000 Pool 4 dike construction project that was suppose to be completed in 1983 passed the one-half complete mark at the end of 1984.1.1.

-A $156,000 bridge project over Crane Creek was completed on schedule. 1.1.

-Several ARMM's projects totaling $74,000 were completed. 1.1.

-A nearby off refuge botulism outbreak was cleaned up and controlled. G.17.

-The Ottawa Bald eagle nest produced two eaglets to fledging. G.2.

-The purple loosestrife menace continued its spread. F.10.

-Major changes occurred in the staff due to transfers. E.l.

) -SCA and YCC program both recorded zero accidents. E.G.

) 2

B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Table 1. Annual Precipitation and Temperatures, CY 1984

Precipitation Temperature Month CY-84 Normal Snowfal1 Max. Mim.

January .78 2.33 13.17 40 -19 February 1.84 1.88 " 7. 64 0 March 2r€7 2.26 9.3 49 3 April 3.63 2.77 84 30 May 5.98 3.04 85 35 June 1.34 3.79 96 51 July 3.13 2.59 95 44 August 2.49 3.33 91 50 September 2.3 2.13 89 41 October 1.18 2.39 74 36 November 1.52 2.04 69 17 December 2.54 1.95 5.35 63 7

Annual Totals 29.6 30.5 34.8

Extremes 96 -19

An Official National Weather Service station is located at the refuge and is maintained by the refuge staff. A new automatic temperature recorder was installed in 1984. Precipitation must still be recorded manually but it is a relief not to spend time each weekend day reading the high and low temperature.

A rather unusually severe storm struck the last two days of February with 5" of snowfall and 25 to 40 mph winds. The staff was given two snowdays and travel was impossible. During spring breakup a storm drove ice into the dikes at Cedar Point causing damage to the rock armor protection.

Storms drove large rock armor onto the dike tops at several locations at Cedar Point (AW) 3

Overall 1984 was a normal year for both temperatures and precipitation^with the exception of cool wet conditions persisting into May. Many corn fields in the area had to be replanted in June due to poor germination.

C. LAND ACQUISITION

1. Fee Title - "Nothing to report"

2. Easements - "Nothing to report"

3. Other - A decision was made not to pursue a land exchange proposed in 1983 by an adjacent landowner. The proposal was for an exchange of a refuge woodlot and crop field which is inside our approved acquisition boundary for a similiar crop field outside the boundary. The land had artificial ponds and borrow pits that the owner felt were attractive to nesting geese and would be useful to the refuge. However, the woodlot was determined to be more valuable to refuge ) objectives in maintaining diverse habitat for all forms of wildlife. This upland area with artificial and deep ponds is not unique or especially valuable to wildlife. With only a few acres of woodland on the refuge, it is considered more valuable than the upland that would be received in exchange.

D. PLANNING

1. Master Plan - "Nothing to report"

2. Management Plan

Parts I and II of the refuge management plan were completed. A draft fishery management plan was written, rejected, totaly rewritten and approved. Draft law enforcement and volunteer plans were also completed. All plans required for Part III are due for completion in 1985.

3. Public Participation

Input from the public, via newspaper articles, was requested concerning the fishery management plan. No public meeting were held during the year.

4. Compliance With Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates

Several Corps, of Engineers 404 permits and approvals from state and local agencies were obtained for dike maintenance and repair and bridge replacements. Cultural resource evaluations for the dike and bridge work were also requested and received. Section 7 consultationswere completed and filed as required.

) 4

5. Research and Investigations ,

Ottawa NR82 - "Movement and Habitat Usage of the Black-crowned Night Herons of the West Sister Island Rookery" (WMS 28) Mark Shieldcastle, Ohio DNR Experiment Station. Research objectives are; (1) to determine feeding and roosting locations along Lake Erie; (2) to determine if there is a colonial interaction with the rookery in Sandusky Bay; and (3) to determine migrational movements of both banded and auxiliary marked birds. In 1984, 104 black- crowned night herons, 11 snowy egrets, 8 great egrets, and 3 great blue herons were banded on July 3rd. One hundred black-crowned night herons were banded with yellow patagial tags with black printing V00 to V99 on the left wing. All tags were he4d in place with brass rivets. All patagial tagged birds also were given standard leg bands. Confirmation of little blue heron nesting was documented for the second year in a row. On-going.

Ottawa NR82 - "Phenology and Hybrid Resistance of Red-winged Blackbird Damage to Corn" USF&WS, Richard Dolbeer and Paul Woronecki, DWRC, Ohio Field Station, Sandusky, Ohio. The research is trying to determine if the use of certain ' corn hybrids may have utility in controlling red-winged black bird damage. 15 hybrid varieties of sweetcorn are being evaluated. Blackbird damage on proso millet and sunflowers is also being studied. On-going.

Ottawa NR82 - "Habitat Use and Migrational Movements of Non-Game Birds in the Lake Erie Marsh Region of NW Ohio" (WMS 19) Mark Shi eldcastle, Ohio DNR Experiment Station. The Navarre Marsh, a unit of the Ottawa Refuge, is a important corridor for migrating non-game birds along the Lake Erie shoreline. With very little remnant barrier beach habitat left along Lake Erie the Navarre Unit is an important migration stop over point.

In 1984 1,792 birds from 86 species were banded. The 1984 banding increased number of banded birds over 1983 by 735 and 9 new species. On-going.

Ottawa NR82 - "Woodcock Population and Habitat Manipulations" (WMS-16-1984) Mark Shieldcastle, Ohio DNR Experiment Station. Woodcock populations and habitat conditions remained stable in 1984. Due to adverse weather no banding was accomplished again in 1984. Habitat condition monitoring and banding will be attempted in 1985. On-going.

E. ADMINISTRATION

1. Personnel

Major changes in staff occurred in 1984. There were changes in the manager and primary assistant positions and a loss of the assistant manager trainee position. Two temporaries that were not planned for were hired in mid­ summer and a coop-student arrived in September.

Lee Herzberger, refuge manager departed on 12/22/83 for Muscatatuck NWR in Seymour, Indiana. 5

Linda Hagen, primary assistant departed on 1/21/84 for Cabeza Prieta NWR in Ajo, Arizona.

Michael Tansy reported for duty as refuge manager on 2/19/84 from Great Dismal 'Swamp NWR in Suffolk, Virginia.

Stanley Cornelius reported for duty as primary assistant on 6/11/84 from Winona District, Upper Mississippi River NWR, Winona Minnesota.

Immanuel Johnson, assistant manager trainee departed on 8/18/84 for Necedah NWR in Necedah, Wisconsin.

Virginia Behnke, administrative technician was converted from PPT to PFT.

Henry Kono, coop-student from Utah State completed his first work period from 9/2/84 to 12/14/84.

Jeff Nehls reported for duty as a temporary tractor operator on 6/10/84 ' with his appointment ending on 12/7/84.

Kelvin Slathe, temporary tractor operator, and Rebecca Lachey, biological aid arrived almost unexpected in late July. Kelvin reported on 7/22/84 with the appointment ending on 10/26/84. Rebecca reported on 7/22/84 with her appointment ending on 10/12/84.

The net result of all the changes was the refuge lost one PFT manager trainee.

Table 2. Five-Year Staffing Levels

Permanent Total Full-Time Part-Time Temporary FTE FY 84 6 0 4 7 FY83 6117 FY 82 4 1 2 7 FY 81 4 1 2 7 FY 80 6 1 2 9

2. Youth Programs

a. Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) The YCC program this year began on June 11 and ended August 3 with four enrol lees and one group leader. After initial supervision and instruction the group leader was able to tackle whatever was on the daily agenda with only spot checks and instructions in regard to safety.

Most YCC projects planned and completed were of a maintenance nature. Projects included: brushing, routine building maintenance and cleanup, painting, sign maintenance, landscaping, litter pickup, lawn care, and fire wood stacking. Two enrollees on several occassions were especially helpful in general office assistance. They served as receptionist, typist, helped with the phone and visitor contacts, office cleanup and radio relay. 6

Biological activities for the YCC included the annual goose round--up, duck nest searching and cover typing in the moist soil units. Environmental education was provided during; trips to West Sister Islandj a visit to a nuclear power plant; a tour of a private duck hunting marsh; and a tour of Old Womans Creek state park. Frequent on the job "EE" was given as the occassion arose each day. All enrol lees passed the basic Red Cross first aid course given at the refuge. There were no^ reported accidents of any nature involving the YCC during 1984. b. Student Conservation Association (SCA)

After the positTVe experience with the SCA program in 1983 the program was again held in 1984. Total cost for the four week work period was shared (SCA 25%, FWS 75%) with the Service's share costing $5,000. Chris Letts served for the second year as supervisor with a crew of six high school students. A refuge van was provided as was housing at the Butternut Lodge. The crew was a hard working enthusiastic group that accomplished whatever task was before them without any accidents. Safety was stressed throughout the'program. During their canoe/camping trip after the four week work period the team rescued a drowning fisherman who was very intoxicated and attempting to swim across the Maumee River.

Projects completed by the SCA included brush clearing, log splitting, trail rehab and wood chip spreading, painting of the Butternut Lodge and the porch at the Refuge Headquarters, grounds maintenance, trash pickup, boundary posting and construction and painting 3 benches and 3 picnic tables. The quality of work was excellent.

Environmental education was provided by the supervisor, refuge staff, guest speakers and on occassion it paralleled that of the YCC.

Even though the high school SCA program has been well received at Ottawa in 1983 and 1984 a decision was made late in 1984 not to continue with another high school program in 1985. The reason is strictly dollars and cents that are not there for 1985 and in no way reflects on the high quality and quantity of work received from the, SCA programs. The graduate (college age) SCA program holds some possibilities for FY 86 due to the lower costs involved.

3. Other Manpower Programs - "Nothing to report"

4. Volunteer Programs

Volunteer hours donated to the refuge increased by 17% with groups donating 1,245 hours and individuals 1,964. Group volunteering included seven scout troops, one university class,an Audubon local chapter and the Audubon state council. A local university requires of its outdoor recreation majors field work experience and several students chose Ottawa for their 300 hour field experience. Eleven students donated 1,459 hours or 74% of the individual hours donated. 7

Although there have been no accidents or serious problems with volunteers the point was approaching where accidents and problems were going to begin to appear. With a small staff there is a limit to the number of volunteers and hours donated that can be accepted without loosing control. A volunteer plan was written and submitted for approval that organizes the whole program and provides the staff with guidance on supervision, training, and controls. The volunteer program here has been very successful and will continue to be with written guidance and control.

Tasks completed this year by volunteers included: biological monitoring, duck nest searching and population inventory, banding, moist soil vegetation mapping, purple-loosestrife control, brush clearing, lawn and building maintenance, trail upkeep, administrative support and photography. Looking back on the year its hard to imagine getting along without volunteers.

Safety has always been stressed with volunteers since the program began and 1984 maintained the zero reportable accident record of the volunteer program.

- For. the first time a volunteer picnic was held in August. The pot luck picnic was well attended and provided the refuge staff with an additional opportunity to say thanks.

Art Weber, a refuge volunteer took many photos for the refuge, one of which won honorable mention in the Fish & Wildlife catagory (Service photo contest). Art's photo "Sandpipers at Sunset" was also selected for the cover of the new Service uniform catalog. (AW) A new volunteer of note during the year was Mr. Dan Wilkins. Mr. Wilkws is a physically disabled individual who opened our eyes to several inadequacies in access to the headquarters, toilet facilities and foot trails.. Improved access to the office has been identified in the IPW process as needed improvement. Due to lack of funds for access improvements to foot trails Mr. Wilkins suggested that improvements be completed on a volunteer materials donated basis. A % mile segment of the foot trail system near the public use parking lot was identified as the goal for access improvement. He was given guidance on what would be acceptable and approaches to pulling the necessary components together. As of years end he has received pledges of : 400 tons of gravel screening for the trail surface (from two gravel companies^; heavy equipment and operators from the Ohio National Guard; and volunteer time and dollars from local Audubon Chapters. It appears likely that the entire project will be completed with only advice and guidance provided from the refuge.

5. Fundi ng

It was a confusing year in regard to funding. Funds were shifted back and forth by the R0 due to personnel vacancies and home sales, there were several changes to the annual work plan, personnel not planned or budgeted for were hired and in general funding was a mess. ARMM's funding accomplished several long overdue projects and was a real bright spot in the budget for the year. The list of deferred maintenance projects grows longer each year with 0&M funding only covering minimum operations.

Funding Levels, FY80 to FY84

FY 1260 1520 1994 ARMM's TOTAL 1984 260,700 6,780 11,520 74,000 353,000

1210 1220 1240 1400 1994 6810 1983 240,300 11,000 31,765 - - - 283,065 1982 185,500 6,000 28,000 750 4,500 1,000 225,750 1981 206,000 6,000 37,000 700 2,600 2,000 254,800 1980 186,000 3,000 35,000 700 - 2,000 226,700

6. Safety

Safety Officer for the year was ORP Botsford. He was in charge of the safety program including planning topics for monthly safety meetings, monthly safety meeting reports, safety inspections of fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, first-aid kits, furnaces and chimneys, accident reporting, as well as the day to day monitoring for safety hazards.

Overall 1984 was a excellent year in regard to safety with no accidents recorded for the SCA, YCC and the volunteers. A ten day lost time accident 9 occurred in November when ORP Botsford slipped as he stepped into a depression in the wet grass of the lawn and ruptured the lateral ligaments of his left ankle. The damage was severe enough to require surgery. The accident was preventable with recommendations made for improvements in lawn care.

Safety meetings were held monthly covering a wide variety of topics. Topics covered included: hyperthermia, boat safety, first aid, nuclear emergencies, fire prevention, defensive driving and raoies. The refuge staff and YCC completed the standard first aid course.

Safety checks and items corrected during the year were as follows:

-Inspecting and cleaned all refuge chimnys and fireplaces -Purchased Marine radio for the Boston Whaler -First aid kits inspected and restocked -Replaced damaged or broken equipment -Inspected and recharged all fire extinguishers -Brushed and mowed near dangerous intersections -Serviced all furnaces -Smoke detectors inspected -Installed catwalks to WCS -Excessed old equipment

Films Shown in 1984 Included:

-A New Way to Lift -Your Body is Only Human -Drive Sober and Safe -Wood Stove Wisdom -Stop a Fire Before it Starts -Contact -The Magic Circle of Defensive Driving -6th Wheel -Rol1 of Drums -Room to Live -Cold can Kill -A Shade of Difference

7. Technical Assistance

Three members of the staff served on the Ottawa County Wetlands Task Force during the year. The group, formed in 1981, includes professional wetland managers of private and public marshes and was formed to encourage and assist landowners in converting wet areas of their land into wetlands managed with sound ecological principles. Another aspect of the group directs its efforts toward purple loosestrife control and public education on the problem.

ORP Botsford again served on the Outdoor Awareness Group Planning Committee. OAG sponsors four teachers workshops a year. The group is comprised of 10

educators, professionals and naturalists and offers both suggested sit^s and curriculum for new and experienced K-12 teachers.

Manager Tansy assisted the Davis Besse Nuclear Power Plant staff in planning a dike reconstruction along the Toussaint Creek on their property. Assistance provided included: photographic history of the area; specifications that should be included and expected results of regaining water control.

8. Other Items - "Nothing to report"

F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

1. General

Habitat at Ottawa NWR consists primarly of managed marshes and moist soil units with cropland and grassland units around the edges of the refuge. Several small woodlots are the only woodlands. Marshes are managed to provide ' yeap-around food, cover, and nesting habitat for waterfowl and other migratory water birds. Moist soil and cropland units are managed to produce food for migrating waterfowl and grassland units provide nesting cover for local resident and migratory species. Several former cropland areas were converted to switch- grass fields during the year.

2. Wetlands

The refuge wetlands consist of a series of open water pools, marshes, and the moist soil units. Approximately 3,200 acres are contained in marsh or pool areas and 900 acres in moist soil units which are managed to produce smartweed, millet, and other plants for waterfowl feeding. These areas are usually de- watered during the summer while the marsh areas are lowered only to the degree necessary to encourage emergent plant growth.

Several of the refuge marsh and moist soil units were operated at a much lower level than in previous years. Moist Soil Units 4 and 5, previously held high to control willow and cottonwood growth, were completely dewatered to allow mechanical brush control.1 Pool 2 areas were previously held high to encourage sport fish populations. These areas were lowered as much as possible by pumping. Complete dewatering was not possible due to leaking control structures. The Pool 2 areas remained unvegetated open water areas with high carp populations and little waterfowl use. The mini-marsh was almost completely dry during most of the summer and fall due to the breakdown of pumping facilities. Other marsh pools were generally lowered slightly during the summer and raised in the fall and the moist soil units were drawn down or dewatered as much as possible until September/October when they were reflooded.

Moist Soil Unit 3, 4, and 5 provided top quality moist soil foods for waterfowl. These units held a majority of the waterfowl in the area during most of the fall. Most of the brush growing in MS 4 and 5 was mowed during the summer while temporary repair of the north dike of MS 5 was accomplished. The new moist soil pump was used for dewatering and reflcoding of these units. Major holes in the dikes of MS 6 have not allowed water control in this unit, but low water levels in late summer did allow the mechanical mowing of most of the invading brush and small trees. 11

Pools at Cedar Point were held stable except for a slight raise in late fall. Attempts to raise levels in August were not possible due to low lake levels. Marsh vegetation at Cedar Point was excellent with good interspersion of cattail and other emergents, submergents, and open water.

Pools at Darby were held slightly high during the spring and early summer, but reduced during the late summer and fall. All pools except Pool 4 have good marsh vegetation conditions. Pool 4 is primarily open water with emergent vegetation on the edges.

Water levels at the Navarre unit are manipulated by Toledo Edison (Davis-Besse Power Plant) personnel under an agreement that provides detailed guidance on water levels from the refuge. Both pools were drawn down in late May with excellent responses noted on emergent and moist soil plants. The pools were flooded September 15.

3. Forests - "Nothing to report"

4. ^Croplands

Cropland management was accomplished entirely by cooperative farming agreements. A cost/benefit analysis was done to set the refuge/cooperators share of the crops and included cooperator seedbed preparation and seeding of cover crops and grassland areas. Cropland areas were again reduced from former years and approximately 93 acres were converted to a clover mix and 74 acres to switch- grass plantings.

In 1984, there were 298 acres under cultivation, excluding the areas seeded to the plowdown clover mixes. This continues the gradual reduction of croplands at Ottawa NWR. Table 3. Cropland Reduction Since Refuge Establishment Year Cultivated Acres 1966 1847 1967 1992 1968 1807 1969 1917 1970 1939 1971 1990 1972 1904 1973 29 1974 638 1975 904 1976 797 1977 845 1978 1078 1979 794 1980 659 1981 594 1982 410 1983 326 1984 298 12

A late spring coupled with late spring rains combined to push the planting season well into the summer. The summer was excellent with only light but adequate rains.

Table 4'. Crops Planted by Unit - 1984

Refuge Crops 6a 8 10 12 Total Corn 17 2 24 Sunflowers 7 7 Buckwheat 4 5. 27 Barley 9 Millet 7

Cooperator's Crops - Units i 1 6a_ 8 9 10 12 Total Soybeans 16 102 16 18 17 169 CorrT 30 25 55

Total Acres in Crops 18 137 21 6 65 51 298

Grassland Seeding 48 26 74

Plowdown 15 16 -12 50 93 Seeding

The amount of land producing soybeans is still considered high, but most cooperators want this crop as their share because of the higher income. In addition, several fields scheduled for corn production were changed to soybeans when wet weather delayed planting until well after the normal corn planting dates.

Yields of buckwheat and sunflowers were good, but the barley was a complete loss. Corn and beans were average, but it was obvious that, in many cases, the refuge shares of corn were low. Since the refuge share was always in special areas to provide goose hunting blind cover, we suspect that some cooperators did not provide the same seed and fertilizer rates they used on their crops. Lack of manpower and difficulty in monitoring the cropland seeding prevents us from insuring that cooperators provide the same tender loving care to the refuge portion. Future cropland plans will be aimed at utilizing a share system of leaving alternate rows as the refuge share. The reduction of soybean production in favor of corn will aid in this program.

5. Grasslands

Approximately 65 acres of former cropland was converted to switchgrass in 1984. The acres planted in units 9 and 12 had been maintained in a fallow condition for the past season. The field in unit 9 was aerially seeded by a commercial operator and the fields in unit 12 were seeded by refuge personnel. 13

Both areas were cultipacked after seeding. Heavy competion from wild rifillet (barnyard grass) and annual weeds occurred in all fields. Approximately one- half of the field in unit 9 was treated with atrazine by a commercial applicator, but furvds did not permit treatment of all planted fields. The seeding in unit 12 appeared to be a complete loss, while the aerial seeded field in unit 9 had good success. Establishment was much better on the herbicide treated area.

The switchgrass plantings made in 1983 have had moderate success. Because of the late and wet spring, water levels were high in these fields during the spring and considerable seedling Toss occurred.

Mowing of grasslands in unit 6 and pool 6 areas was done to control the growth of tree species and the Ohio DNR mowed the goose hunting blind areas.

6. Other Habitats

, The strips of woodcock habitat near headquarters were mowed in late fall to remove larger brush and set back succession.

7. Grazing - "Nothing to report"

8. Haying - "Nothing to report"

9. Fire Management

No burning was done on the refuge this year because of the lack of an annual burning plan and a Fire Management Plan. Several of the grassland areas could be improved and brush growth reduced by burning.

10. Pest Control

Control of purple loosestrife was accomplished by spraying with both Roundup and Rodeo. Dry areas were treated with Roundup and areas over water were treated with Rodeo. Approximately 1 acre at Ottawa and 2 acres at Darby were treated. At Cedar Point, approximately 20 acres were treated over a 500 acre area. Heaviest concentrations were in the Pheasant Farm pool and the west portion of Pool 1 at Cedar Point. An airboat was obtained from the Upper Miss NWR at LaCrosse for the application. The airboat appears to be the only practical way of spot treating the marsh areas. Helicopter spraying is feasible only if entire blocks need treating and is very expensive.

Treatments were delayed until the third week in August due to problems with the airboat and other work. The areas treated appeared to have received a good kill of purple loosestrife, but earlier applications would have been better as many plants had already matured and produced seed. These plants were difficult to detect and many were undoubtably missed.

Application was by a low pressure sprayer powered by a farm tractor or by a small 50 gallon sprayer mounted in the airboat and powered by a 2hp gasoline engine. A 1% solution as applied to the point of runoff or approximately 1-to Ih gallons of Rodeo per acre. A total of 6 gallons of Rodeo and 2 gallons of 14

Roundup were applied. The cost of the treatment totaled 36 staff days and $6,000.

Earlier and repeated applications are recommended for future spraying. The availab-il ity of an adequate airboat is also a key factor in the control of this plant. No other method of access seems to be practical.

Approximately 30-40 acres of dense cattail in MS 4 and 5 were also sprayed with Roundup using the tractor drawn sprayer equipped with boomless nozzles. The success of this treatment will not be known until next year.

11. Water Rights - "Nothing to report"

12. Wilderness and Special Areas

West Sister Island NWR, a wilderness area located in Lake Erie, nine miles from the Ottawa shoreline, received additional boundary posting and several routine patrols during the year. Research activities involved study of the , heron/egret nesting rookery and geological studies. A Bald eagle nest was constructed on the island with assistance from the SCA and 0DNR and Non Game Biologist Denis Case.

Due to the success of the artifical eagle nest at Cedar Point and previous nesting on the island a nest was built on West Sister Island in 1984. A cooperative effort involving the refuge gathering the sticks and 0DNR biologist Denis Case gathering the nerve to climb and build may encourage another nesting pair. (10) 15

13. WPA Easement Monitoring - "Nothing to report"

G. WILDLIFE

1. Wildlife Diversity - "Nothing to report"

2. Endangered and Threatened Species

The pair of eagles at Ottawa NWR again nested successfully and fledged two young. This nest represented 100% of the natural reproduction in Ohio. A total of six eagles were successfully fledged in the state, but these two were the only birds hatched and raised by natural parents. Both eaglets from the Ottawa nest were banded by Jack Holt. A eagle pair also nested, unsuccessfully, at the Cedar Point Refuge. Further discussion of this nest is found in the Cedar Point Summary.

Eagles continued to use both Ottawa and Cedar Point Refuges throughout the summer, fall, and early winter months.

Two eagle nest trees used by the eagle pair at Ottawa NWR were in danger of toppling due to the severe dike erosion. The Pool 4 dike contract was to include the rebuilding of this dike and protection of these trees. However, because of the slow progress of the contractor, it is doubtful if this section of the contract will be completed. Refuge personnel hauled and placed approximately 150-200 cubic yards of fill and 20 cubic yards of rip-rap to the portion of the dike where the nests were located. This should stop the erosion around the nest trees and preserve them for a few additional years.

3. Waterfowl

a. Ducks

Total duck use for the Ottawa complex was 2,628,042 use-days, which represents a 16.8% increase from the previous year. This increase is the result of the draw down of moist soil units 3, 4, and 5 which produced high quality foods for the fall migration. The units were developed in 1980, but delays in pumping facilities allowed heavy invasion of brush. In previous years, water levels were held high to kill this brush. This was only partially successful and this year the water was removed to allow mechanical control. This also permitted excellent moist soil plant production.

The spring peak occurred in April when a total of 12,400 ducks were present. Spring use was primarily divers using the flooded pools. Scaup and mergansers were the most abundant.

Fall populations were comprised of almost entirely puddle ducks. Populations increased during the fall with the peak population not being reached until December. The flooding of MS 5 was not done until mid-November because of rip-rap placement work. This delay plus the mild November and December weather apparently held ducks on the refuge somewhat later than usual. A notable increase in black ducks occurred during December, both in numbers and 16

Duck production was estimated at approximately 250 ducks, including 60 mallard, 45 Blue-winged Teal, 185 Wood Duck, and 25 Hooded Mergansers. This estimate is based upon casual brood observation. No formal surveys were made. b. Geese

Goose use totaled 1,467,909 use-days which is significantly less than the 2,149,491 days recorded in 1983. Approximately 93% of this use occurred at Ottawa NWR with most of the bala-nce occurring at Cedar Point NWR. Average populations rajiged from approximately 4,000 birds during January to less than 1,000 during early summer. Populations then increased throughout the fall months to an average December population of over 11,000 birds. Peak populations of over 14,000 birds occurred right at the beginning of the year and again at the end of the year. Thirty to forty snow geese were present during November and December. Reports of a Ross Goose came to the attention of the refuge staff, but were not confirmed. If this were true, it, would be the second reporting in the state of Ohio. Further details on waterfowl populations are presented in the population tables shown at the end of this report.

The total estimated production is 2,100 giant Canada geese in the Crane Creek State Wildlife/Ottawa Refuge areas with approximately 1,400 of these being raised on the Ottawa NWR Complex. This is an increase of 21% from 1982 and 150% from 1983. c. Swans

Whistling Swan use totaled approximately 30,000 use-days which represents a 170% increase from 1983. Populations increased to over 1,200 birds during November with birds still present at the end of the year.

4. Marsh and Water Birds

Great blue herons, black-crowned night herons, and great egrets were abundant on the refuge. Cedar Point and Ottawa refuges provide excellent feeding areas for the birds which nested on West Sister Island. (See W.S. Island Report.)

Some of the more common species of marsh and water birds observed at the Ottawa Complex were the snowy egret, cattle egret, pied-billed grebes, black- crowned night heron, sora rails, and common gallinule. 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species Ring-billed gulls, herring gulls, black-backed gulls, Forster's tern, common tern, and Caspian tern were abundant on the lake shorelines. Shore- birds were abundant on the mudflats created by receding Lake Erie water levels, and on the moist soil units during drainage. Some of the more common species noted were spotted sandpipers, upland sandpiper, solitary sandpiper, semi pal- mated and black-bellied plovers, killdeer, and greater and lesser yellowlegs. 6. Raptors On April 25th, approximately 10,000 hawks migrated across the refuge, with an additional 4-5,000 on the 26th and 27th. Around 90% of this migration consis­ ted of broad-winged hawks, with most of the rest being sharp-shinned hawks. Other species counted were kestrels, merlins, peregrines, red-shouldered, red- 17 tailed hawks, 3 golden eagles, 2 bald eagles and 46 osprey. Total raptor use for 1984 was estimated at 18,000 use-days. Common species are red-tailed hawk, broad-winged hawk, kestrel, marsh hawk, great horfied owl, screech owl. Cooper's and sharp-shinned hawks, and bald eagles.

7. Other Migrating Birds

Large numbers of warblers, sparrows, and other small migrants travel through the refuge along the Lake Erie shoreline, especially in the spring, with over 300 species using the refuge.

The Fish and Wildlife Service Research Field Unit at Sandusky, Ohio again conducted research on blackbird depredation on field corn, sweet corn, sun­ flowers, and millet in farm unit 2.

8. Game Mammals

Populations of red fox, fox squirrels, white-tail deer, and other mammals occurred on the refuge. Furbearers, primarily muskrats, were trapped.

9. 'Marine Mammals - "Nothing to report"

10. Other Resident Wildlife - "Nothing to report"

11. Fishery Resources

A review of all past aquatic surveys and sampling was completed during the writing of the fishery management plan. Meetings were held with Service fisheries biologist Charles Maas and Ohio DNR fisheries biologist Darrell Allison, concerning the fishery management potential of several refuge impound­ ments. Only two borrow areas are listed in the plan to be opened for seasonal use for sport fishing. All impoundments can be opened for tightly controlled commercial harvest of carp during carp spawning in May at water control structures. Sport fishing of the selected borrow areas should begin in June of 1985.

12. Wildlife Propogation and Stocking - "Nothing to report"

13. Surplus Animal Disposal - "Nothing to report"

14. Scientific Collections

A Canada goose was collected at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station for radiation monitoring. The analysis was done by an independent lab in Chicago for the Davis-Besse Plant. Ten gypsy moth traps were placed in the refuge woodlots to monitor populations for the forest service. The gypsy moth has not yet reached the refuge.

15. Animal Control - "Nothing to report"

16. Marking and Banding

The annual goose "round-up" was again conducted by the Ohio DNR, primarily using helicopters to drive the young and flightless geese into traps and pens. 18

Ottawa YCC and volunteers assisted in some of the drives. A total of .1,178 geese were banded by DNR personnel on the Ottawa/Crane Creek areas.

Black-crowned night herons were banded on West Sister Island by Mark Shieldcastle, who also banded warblers and other small migrants using mist nets.

17. Disease Prevention and Control

In September, a botulism outbreak occurred at the Bayshore Corps of Engineers dredge disposal site, located about three miles from the Cedar Point Refuge unit. Approximately 250 ducks, gulls, and shorebirds were picked up and burned. Type "C" botulism has historically been a problem in this area. Refuge personnel and volunteers worked through Labor Day weekend to remove the birds. Exploders were obtained from ADC in Columbus and operated over the following two weeks. The time devoted to this operation affected the work in spraying purple loosestrife on the refuge and resulted in less purple loosestrife control on the refuge than was intended.

H. PUBLIC USE

1. General

Refuge visits totaled 67,621 and reflect a reported overall decline in 1984. This decline however, was due to changes in the method of reporting with actual visitor use remaining about the same. The Ottawa County Soil and Water Conservation District co-sponsored the 15th annual "Conservation Day" on the refuge for 550 students. Environmental education for students and teachers continued to be a strong program at Ottawa. Several teacher workshops were held and were well attended. The Ottawa County Fair continued to provide exposure as did National Wildlife Week. No significant changes have occurred on the refuge public use trail system or overall program. Social and profes­ sional groups as well as clubs enjoy meeting on the refuge and that assists the refuge in reducing some off site programs. The Butternut Lodge site was used by 30 groups for overnight stays and 41 days by environmental education groups.

2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students

The Butternut Lodge environmental education site was used by 1,247 students for 5,021 hours. The days of student sitting and calling it EE have not been seen here in seven years. The students zeal, enthusiasm and excitement is seen the entire time they are present at the refuge. Correspondence weeks and months after their visit still exhibit the excitement the students felt. The student EE program is very popular at Ottawa.

3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers

Before utilizing the refuge as an outdoor classroom all teachers are required to complete a minimum of 4 hours of EE training provided through teacher work­ shops at the refuge or others sponsored by the Outdoor Awareness Group. The teachers who receive the training seem to be more effective and gain the maximum 19

from the little time available for EE. In 1984 331 teachers received-4,025 hours of EE training at Ottawa. At the workshops the teachers were introduced to material from "Project Learning Tree", "Whirligigs", and "We Can Help". These curriculums allow the teachers hands on learning from the students point of view. Cooperative teacher workshops are jointly held with the Outdoor Awareness Group. Teachers, school administrators, naturalists, camp directors and outdoor educators pool their collective resources and offer workshops for teachers who want to teach environmental education and use outdoor classrooms available to them but do not know how to start. The organization also pro­ motes the development of environmental education sites and materials. The Outdoor Awareness Group (OAG) used the Butternut Lodge site several times to accomplish teaclrer training and as the group develops they may takeover some of the teacher EE demands made of the refuge. Who better to teach teachers to teach EE than a well qualified EE teacher?

The word has gotten out that the refuge has an excellent site and some excellent EE material to go with it. Personal satisfaction is gained when the teachers who use the area talk about the teachable moments that occur on ' the'EE site. They also discuss the frequency that those teachable moments occur, how the unhurried pace is more condusive for covering the material, the site is always changing and always the same, and that the experience for both the teacher and the student is unforgetable.

Positive experiences tend to reinforce behavior and the teachers and students tend to address natural resources differently because of the experience. Teachers directly pass on to the students those positive experiences that they had.

4. Interpretive Foot Trails

There were no changes noted in the interpretive trail system in 1984. An onsite review of the trail was conducted by the regional office in December with recommendations to be made in regard to needed interpretive signs and developments.

The eight miles of trail § received 48,825 visits and 146,479 activity hours during the calendar year. During peak migration weekends and evenings the trail parking lot was overflowing with cars parked all along the entrance road. Two photo blinds along the trail were renovated by girl scout troop 195. At present there is basically no interpretive signs along the trail system with the public on their own to interpret what they see and experience. With the level of use the trail receives an opportunity for interpretation is being lost.

5. Interpretive Tour Routes - "Nothing to report"

6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations

The System 70 was on continuous display in 1984. Except for special exhibits 20 noted below the display was located at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Ptant exhibit hall. Approximately 300 students a month tour the Davis-Besse hall. We are currently working with the public relations department of the Davis-Besse Power Plant to fund, design and fabricate additional pannels for the system. Display themes included: EE/outdoor classrooms, the refuge system, and the Duck Stamp Story. In July the system was part of a staffed display at the Ottawa county fair. The fair had 43,000 paid attendance with 32,250 visiting the commercial tent where the display was located. In August the system was located in Columbus at the Ohio State fair as a non-staffed display for two weeks. In October the Franklin Park Shopping Mall requested the system as part of a nature and migration theme advertisement campaign. Approximately 6Cr,000 shoppers used the mall during the 7 days of the display and many were seen viewing the System 70.

The refuge and Service received considerable exposure at a site not normally utilized for getting the message across.

7. Other Interpretive Programs

In 1984, 550 5th graders from Ottawa County toured the refuge as part of the annual "Conservation Field Day". This years tour represented the 15th consecutive year the program has been held on the refuge and the 23rd consecutive year of the program. Each year every 5th grade student and their teachers from Ottawa County have the opportunity to visit the refuge and learn about natural resources. Man and His Environment; Water; The Basis for Life; 21

Managing Our Resources; Life in the Marsh, and Our Trees and How We Project Them were stops on the tour this year. Each of the five stops on the tour had one or more professionals making a presentation on their speciality. Subsequent visits by the students helped them to better relate to the resource and the* refuge. Most students which participated in the 5th grade tours made reference to the tour on other visits later in the year. Part of the success of the 5th grade tour is the involvement of other organizations and the general public. The local FFA donates time and volunteers, local implement dealers donate tractors and local farmers donate hay bales and hay wagons. The school board provides coffeeand donuts to the presenters and bus drivers, a school nurse and the Soil and Water Conservation Service District (SWCD), provided benches, labor, volunteers and were primarily responsible for the smooth runn­ ing of this program.

Lucas County Soil and Water Conservation Service District held its first "Conservation Day" this year with 50 students and 4 teachers participating. The S&WCD staff and members of the Lucas County Board of Education evaluated this years program and hope to make it an annual event. Unlike the Ottawa • Couoty tour the Lucas County tour was contained within the Butternut Lodge EE site only with the student walking to the different stops rather than riding to them on hay wagons. All participants expressed favorable responses.

The duck wing board was used as a primary teaching aid by three area high schools competing for top honors in the state sponsored FFA Waterfowl ID contest. Support for the contest and teaching waterfowl ID are both traditional activities at Ottawa. In the last 9 years the regional champions have studied at the Ottawa refuge. From 1976 through 1981 the Oak Harbor took all the regional top honors with Genoa H.S. placing second. Since 1981 top honors have gone to Genoa H.S. with Oak Harbor H.S. placing second. Both schools have done very well at the state level with Genoa taking top honors in waterfowl twice since 1982 and once in mammals.

The 1984 Ottawa County Fair had 43,000 paying visitors. The refuge used this opportunity to explain the status of the bald eagle in Ohio and refuge programs. There was some carryover from past National Wildlife(NWW) programs observed. Some of the students which viewed the NWR programs dragged their parents to our booth to expound their knowledge about the bald eagle. The county fair provided good exposure for the refuge and many refuge leaflets were handed out. Between the System 70, leaflets, the slide show, and the mounted bald eagle "EN0C", a conservative guess would put personal contact with the public at about 32,500 during the six days of the fair.

8. Hunting

Canada, snow, and white-fronted geese are hunted by permit only on the Ottawa Division. Hunting occurs four days a week from mid-October to late November. 1984 was the ninth consecutive year for the hunt. A cooperative agreement provides for the hunt to be administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and personnel from the Magee Marsh Wildlife Experiment Station run the program completely. 22

This years cooperative hunt was successful from the point of view of th« permit holders, ODNR and the refuge. The high standards of quality hunting, success per hunter and state diversity of the hunters combined to make it a banner year.

50%

40%

30% t/v Cd

20% oo 00 LU O C_) ro oo 10%

o LUcd Q_ YEAR 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 HUNTER SUCCESS RATIO WAS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH IN 1984 WITH 52%

Hunters were selected from 36 (41%) of Ohio's 88 counties and from seven states. 484 hunters, hunted on 22 days, bagging 250 geese for a success ratio of 52%. This year represented a 15% increase from 1983. Nine cripples were recorded and it is suspected that the number is actually greater. Nine cripples represent only 4% of the birds taken and that percent is much lower than the area average.

All wetlands along the western basin of Lake Erie have been a part of a steel shot only zone for waterfowl since 1978. The on-going of steel/lead study results are presented in the graph on the following page.

The most recent data from ODNR shows a dramatic drop in lead shot injestion rates in ducks taken in the local area. 11% 23 IIHI 10%

9%

8%

g 6% IS) g 5%

LU I Q. 4% •

•h i i1 lM M f^il fHii 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 YEAR 255 573 396 403 324 332 235 SIZE OF SAMPLE • LEAD SHOT STEEL SHOT INGESTION FOR MALLARD DUCKS TAKEN FROM THE ODNR MAGEE MARSH ADJACENT TO THE OTTAWA NWR. 9. Fishing - "Nothing to report"

10. Trapping

Trapping on the Ottawa NWR Complex is administered on a bid system. The complex is divided into thirteen trapping units of which one unit is kept closed to trapping due to public use and another unit is reserved for youth trapping. The remaining units are selected by a sealed bid. Bids for the 84-85 ranged from $150 to $4,400, with a total of $12,694. Two units at Cedar Point brought over $4,000 each, but most of the other units brought $150 to $500. Trapping seasons start in early November and run to March 15th.

The 83-84 season harvest on the various refuge units is as follows:

Ottawa NWR Cedar Point Darby Navarre Total

Muskrat 1,540 2,615 810 91 5,056 Mink 7 2,0 0 9 Raccoon 51 24 2 2 79

Approximately 4,500 muskrats, 60 raccoon, and 6 red fox have been reported taken during the 84-85 season as of the end of the year. 24

The youth trapping unit was operated again this year. Only five youth^ applied for the five available units. As of the end of the year, the youth had reported taking approximately 75 muskrats, 3 mink, and 15 raccoon, as compared with only 36 muskrats in the previous year.

11. Wildlife Observation

The singularly most significant non-consumptive recreation that occurs on the refuge complex is birding and those activities which are associated with it. Wildlife observation has the largest number of activity hours on the refuge. Birders came from all across the United States and Canada. The "Birding at Butternut" program at the lodge is the focal point for many weekend groups. Birding, hiking, nature photography, environmental education, and wildlife observation all add to the experiences at the lodge.

On the Blue Heron Trail system there are two wildlife photography blinds. These blinds are popular spots for observing wildlife or a specific study and while photographing otherwise illusive subjects. Approximately 80% of all the "Wildlife observations occurring at the Ottawa Complex occur on the Ottawa Division. The remaining 20% occurs on the Cedar Point Refuge. Of the many groups that visit the refuge a large percentage of them have the wildlife observation as their primary reason for visitation.

12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation - "Nothing to report"

13. Camping - "Nothing to report"

14. Picnicking - "Nothing to report"

15. Off-Road Vehicling - "Nothing to report"

16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation - "Nothing to report"

17. Law Enforcement

Law enforcement efforts centered on routine patrol of refuge boundaries to control general trespass by boundary line hunters with only occassional checking of refuge goose hunters for compliance with regulations. A few cases of use of lead shot, overbagging, exceeding shell limits, etc. were suspected, but no actual violations found.

A couple of evenings were spent in the Pool 4 dike construction area when construction workers were suspected of taking deer after work at night. One early morning was spent in an area where trappers were having problems with theft of fur from traps. No apprehensions were made in either case.

Several vehicle trespass field information reports were submitted to the SRA for prosecution. A decision was made by the SRA not to prosecute based on the violation of a "Area Beyond This Sign Closed" or a "No Vehicles Beyond" signs. In addition to signs, gates will be installed at all points where a vehicle could possibly enter. 25

18. Cooperative Associations - "Nothing to report"

19. Concessions - "Nothing to report"

I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

1. New Construction

Pool 4 Dike ^ The contract for the construction of the Pool 4 dike was issued in 1983, with a scheduled completion date of late 1983. Construction was started but little work done during 1983. The contract was extended through 1984 to allow the contractor an additional year to complete the work. A start work order was issued for July 23, 1984, due to the eagle nesting in the area, after which the contractor started dewatering the borrow pit and moving in equipment. As in 1985, he was plagued with equipment breakdowns, poor planning and work practices, and other problems, mostly of his own creation.

The dikes of the borrow pit were not high or secure enough and broke shortly after dewatering, requiring more pumping and time loss. Old and worn out equipment was continually breaking down and causing lost time, and there were often not enough men on the job to man all machines available. Little actual fill material was hauled before mid-September. Progress was good during October and most of November, but normal wet weather slowed progress in December. The contractors slowness to start during late July and August allowed him to miss the best drying and earth moving weather and run into the late fall weather.

He was further hampered by having only one backhoe for both banksloping and rip­ rap placement. He also shut down work at any sign of a small rain shower, which often passed with little or no rain.

At the years end, approximately 50-60% of the work was complete. The main dike base and the west dike base had been built and the lake side rip-rap place approximately 2/3 of the way up the dike. Additional work required will be the raising of all dikes to grade, placement of lakeside rip-rap to the required height, placement of most of the pool side rip-rap on the main dike, and raising and rip-rapping of the west dike. No work was done on the south dike.

Only relatively warm and good weather during late December has allowed this much work to be done. The contractor will be allowed to work through January, but there is no possibility that he can complete the project before 2/1. Work will be stopped on February 1st to prevent disturbance to the eagles nesting adjacent to the work area.

The fill for this dike has been taken from an adjacent borrow pit which was diked off in Pool 4, just inside the new dike. At the years end, this had created a 8-10 acre hole which was approximately 35-40 feet deep. It appears that we will have the deepest point in the entire Western Basin of Lake Erie. Quality wildlife values for the 8 acre borrow pit within Pool 4 are lost forever. At the end of the construction season this hole was about 40 feet deep.

Although most of the 60% complete dike was protected by rock armor against spring storms some sections are in danger of being lost to 1985 spring storms. Replacement of Crane Creek and Tank Ditch Bridges A contract for $156,000 was issued to Jim Irwin Construction Co. for the replacement of the Crane Creek Bridge and installation of a culvert in Tank Ditch to replace the existing Tank Ditch bridge. The contract was not issued until late August, after which the contractor moved in and quickly completed the culvert installation and bridge work. All work was done by early December except the installation of the guard railings on the bridge. Delay in the receipt of the guard mounting posts has postponed this final item until after the first of the year.

This bridge will provide access for heavy loads across Crane Creek and allow easy access to the other half of the refuge without having to traverse the busy State Route 2. The bridge is designed to support all heavy equipment and gravel trucks. The slopes along the south and east banks of the pump ditch (MSU-3, 4 and 5) were eroding severely after only three years of use. In several locations the erosion had caused 3^ vertical slopes right at the edge of the roadway. ARMM's funds provided for the rental of this modern excavator and rip-rap protection. For bank sloping this type machine can't be beat.

Rip-Rap of the M$-4 and 5 Banks The MS-4 and 5 unit dikes and pump ditch was constructed in 1980, but the contract did not provide for rip-rap on any of the banks. Water and wave erosion was damaging the dike edges. A contract was issued for $40,000 (ARRM's) for the purchase and delivery of No. 1 rip-rap and a tracked backhoe rented to reslope the banks prior to placement. The bank-sloping was done during August and rip-rap placement done during October. All work was done by force account. Rip-rapping included the south and east banks of MS-5, the east side of MS-4, and the south side of the MS-4 pump ditch. A total of 10,000 feet of bank was protected. 29

The above is a good example of what can happen to a 4 year old dike at Ottawa without rip-rap protection. Sloughing is accelerating with failure expected in just a few years.

2. Rehabi1i tati on

The 36 inch culvert in the main pump ditch under the MS-4-5 dike was lengthened by 20 feet by removing the flap gate, adding a length of culvert, replacing the flap gate, and adding additional fill material. The edges of the banks around the culvert were rip-rapped and resloped. All work was done by force account.

The north dike of MS-5 was severly eroded and not likely to last another year before failure. Material was added to approximately 2,000 feet by dozing material from the adjacent unit. This repair may last until the dike can be rebuilt and rip-rapped. Surveys and soil boring were done to complete preliminary work needed to do engineering designs and secure permits. This will allow quick initiation of contract work if the project is approved and funded.

During the winter months, six catwalks were constructed of primarily surplus materials and later installed on water control structures to allow safer operation of the control valves. 30

Two overhead shop doors were replaced with new steel insulated doors wtth automatic openers. These doors should provide for considerable energy savings over the old fiberglass doors as well as being easy to operate, require less meiintenance and give greater security.

3. Major Maintenance

The well-head of the headquarters domestic water well was replaced with a longer pitless unit adapter to lengthen the well casing and raise and seal the well top above the ground level as per state code.

Approximately thirteen miles of roadsides and dikes at Darby and Ottawa were mowed to remove brush growth via contract. A contract for the work was issued to Paul Sandwisch. The contractor did the work during July and August using a John Deere tractor and Woods side-mount rotary mower to cut most of the brush. Trees too large for the mower were hand cut with chain saws. Because of the low price of the bid, there was concern that the individual would not accomplish thcwork. However, the contractor, a local farmer, completed the job as scheduled. The next bid on this project was about triple his bid. We got lucky on this one with both a low price and a good job.

Muskrat holes and other breaks were repaired in dikes in MS-3,4,6,7, the head­ quarters pool and several other ditch banks where leaks were occuring.

Gravel was added to roads along MS-4 and MS-7 and to other small areas as needed. The road across the MS-4/5 dike was graveled.

Repair was needed on the old International LI-6 engine powering the pump in the corner of MS-5. This pump was then used to pump the water levels in the MS-5 ditch down to allow the bank sloping.

A brush guard was constructed under the AC tractor to protect the hydraulic and fuel lines while mowing brush. Brush mowing was done on approximately 100 acres in MS-5, 20 acres in MS-4, and 20 acres in MS-6. An additional 30 acres of the brush which was tao large to mow was removed by discing with a heavy duty disc pulled by a bulldozer. In addition, approximately 30 acres of grasslands were mowed to reduce brush growth. Several dikes and all roadsides were periodically mowed.

A concrete pad was poured for the LPG tank at Butternut Lodge and SCA workers repainted the entire lodge building. Approximately $1,300 worth of new drapes and shades were donated and installed by the Ohio Audubon Council which greatly enhanced the appearance of the lodge.

4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement

The refuge's Boston Whaler's hull was repaired and an aluminum keel installed. A marine radio and new outboard motor were installed, along with rebuilding of the steering console. 31

An International TD-15 bulldozer was obtained on loan from the Ohio Air National Guard from July thru October-. The unit was used for dike repair, rip­ rap placement, and discing of large br-ush in MS-5. A large tracked backhoe (Case 880) was rented during the month of August and was used for resloping of banks in MS-5. A John Deere 709 brush cutting mower was purchased in August to use in brush control efforts. A similar mower was borrowed from Trempealeau NWR in early summer. An airboat was borrowed from Upper Miss NWR at LaCrosse and used in the spraying of purple loosestrife at Cedar Point.

The refuge John Deere 450 dozer- and Case 550 tractor-backhoe was used to supplement the larger equipment. •

5. Communications Systems

The refuge low band radio equipment functioned adequately with only minor and routine repairs needed.

6. Computer- System

No refuge computer system is available, although Assistant Manager Cornelius did use his personal computer system to do several refuge reports such as the annual water management plan(word-processing), and the revision of the IPW's. The IPW's were entered into a database management system (Dbase II) to allow complex sorting and generation of selected reports. In addition, the tables on water-fowl populations, use days, cropland use, and energy shown in this r-epor-t were produced using a Supercalc spreadsheet.

7. Energy Conservation

The following table shows the energy use comparison over the past two year-s.

Table 5. 1984 Energy Use

1984-1983 Energy Use

1984 Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sept Oct-Dec Total % change

Elec (Bldgs) 11213 4522 6568 4856 27159 -6.94 Fuel Oil 940 530 276 1746 41.84 LP Gas 2065 690 550 3305 49.21

GasolJne 712 893 1465 731 3801 -8.43 Diesel 58 339 1495 544 2416 -33.46

Elec (Pump) 1470 11111 3147 16159 31887 -41.21 GasolJne(Pump) 257 850 500 43 1650 204.43 Diesel(Pump) 64 2551 200 389 2984 9.14

Ml Ieage 7240 10988 18389 9605 46222 -1.14

Millions of BTU's used In 1983 2674.41 -5.17 Millions of BTU's used for pumping In 1983 990.02 -8.00 Total costs S 23317.00 4.31 Cost for pumping $ 8884.00 15.29 32

Energy use for electrical pumping decreased primarily because several Qf the moist soil units were not flooded as deeply and MS-4 and MS-5 were dry'during the summer, which eliminated the need to add water periodically. The large increase in fuel used for pumping was due to efforts to reduce the Pool 2 water levels.

Significant increases in heating energy was required because of the severe weather in the January-March period. A reduction of diesel used in tractors and heavy equipment is the result of not having military units doing work on the refuge this year. While this provides a energy savings, it also represents work not done.

Analyzing the energy use in terms of total Bill's shows that we had a 5% decrease in pumping energy. However, total costs increased by 4% and pumping costs increased by 15%, reflecting higher prices, especially in electrical rates.

8. Other - Nothing to report"

J. OTHER ITEMS

1. Cooperative Programs

Two Memorandums of Understanding between the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the United States Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are active today. One is' for cooperation in the production of Canada geese in the State of Ohio and the second one is for cooperation in managed hunting program of Canada geese on the refuge.

A cooperative program exists between the Toledo Edison Company and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for management of the Toledo Edison owned Navarre Marsh as part of the Ottawa NWR. Refuge personnel provide a management plan for water manipulation of the unit and Toledo Edison personnel regulate the water levels.

A cooperative program also exists between the U.S. Department of Commerce Weather Bureau and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Weather Bureau provides all the weather recording instruments plus a shelter for the instruments and the refuge personnel record data daily.

A cooperative program exists with Bowling Green State University to conduct terrestrial ecology studies on the Navarre Division under contract with the Toledo Edison Company and to conduct necessary control area studies on the Ottawa Division for comparative purposes.

2. Other Economic Uses - "Nothing to report" 33

3. Items of Interest

Radsick, Day and Botsford attended basic fire training at Shiawassee NWR.

Service Director Jantzen address the League of Ohio Sportsmen in Sandusky r on February 4th.

Q-9, provided housing for many refuge employees for years was sold for $250.00 for off site disposal.

Revenue sharing checks were given to Ottawa and Lucas County treasurer's totaling $46,910-, A news release was sent to local papers.

Johnson and Botsfordcompleted a 0PM "Report Writing Course" in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Green Island (15 acres) in Lake Erie was visited and evaluated for a possible addition to Ottawa Complex.

A annual law enforcement picnic was held with special agents, state game protectors, judges, magistrates, the U.S. Attorney, court clerks and other in attendance. It was a worthwhile opportunity for the staff to gain support for refuge regulations and values.

Donations to the refuge in the form of improvements at Butternut Lodge and cash totaling near $2,000 were received from various Audubon organizations.

4. Credi ts

The 1984 narrative report was written jointly by the following individuals;

Botsford-B, D5, E2, 3, 4, 6, 7, H, J Cornelius-C, F, G, I Tansy-A, D2, 3, 4, El, 5, K

All sections were edited by Tansy and typed by Virginia Behnke. 34

K. FEEDBACK

A better way to do business- The question of whether to do a rehab or construction project force account or by contract is often answered in a manner that is not the most cost efficient and effective way to get the job done. At times it seems the regional office would like to see all rehab and construction projects done by formal contract. There does not seem to be a team approach in evaluating force account possibilities for smaller construction projects. The reason for the lack of support is perhaps some poorly done force account projects in the past. Instead of trying to resolve potential problems and providing engineering support and advice the result has been a RO resistance to force account projects. To get around this resistance refuge managers have often went ahead with projects (sometimes with poor results) without asking for assistance to avoid the possibility of being told to do it by contract. If there are not enough funds for the contract it then does not get done. Its a catch 22 with the taxpayers and the resource often the looser. With Davis- Bacen wage rates formal contracts generally require labor rates often twice the hourly rate of refuge personnel. Due to the legal requirements of con­ tracts, built-in overhead costs and the need for a profit good capable contractors are often high bidders. The low bidder often turns out to be the least competent contractor who bids too low for the job and then starts cutting corners to make a profit. Our costs in preventing the corner cutting can be very high. For rehab/construction projects below the 50 to $75,000 range there should be a team approach in evaluating which way to proceed. Both the refuge and the regional office should be working together to get the most of rehab/construction funds.

For a long time there has been a feeling of them vs. us in the accomplishment of projects in the most cost effective manner.

Improvement was noted in 1984 in the support provided the refuge on force account ARMM's projects but we have a long way to go.

The question of comparable worth- At least 10 years before the issue of comparable worth was brought before the public many refuge managers were advocates of more equitable pay for clerks and administrative assistants. Their responsibilities, duties and value to field stations have not changed and finally the issue is receiving some public notice. In 1984 a temporary WG-5-1 tractor operator at Ottawa earned $9.20 hour. Ottawa's administrative tech. has 25^years of experience and earns $1.20 an hour less than the WG-5. The idea of comparable worth is going to be expensive if implemented but after seeing the results of years of pay inequi­ ties here's one vote for fairness. CEDAR POINT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

NARRATIVE SUMMARY Calendar Year 1984 Cedar Point NWR is administered as a unit of the Ottawa Complex. The.-^ refuge contains approximately 2,500 acres and is entirely marsh except for the dike system. A dike system isolates the marsh from the adjacent Lake Erie and divides the refuge into three pools. All pools are predominately cattail, bull rush and other emergent vegetation. The pools are managed to provide stable water levels which are lowered during the summer months only to the extent necessary to encourage aquatic vegetation.

The refuge provides habitat for migrating waterfowl and other marsh and water birds, and marsh nesting habitat for a variety of birds. Herons and egrets make extensive use of the area for feeding.

The eagle pair at Cedar Point set up residence in a new artifical nest and one eaglet was observed in mid-May. This represents the first time an Ohio eagle pair have nested in an artificial structure. However, in late May, the eagles apparently abandoned the nest for unknown reasons and no trace of the eaglet was found. The pair remained in the nest area for the next several weeks and have been seen around the nest site throughout the fall and,winter.

A commercial fishing operation was in effect approximately %mile from the nest. The operation was under a special use permit and denial of the permit was considered, because of possible nest disturbance. However, most of the operation was in the lake itself and did not require a permit. Denial might have caused the operation to be moved directly in front of the nest. Dennis Case, non-game biologist for the Ohio DNR, was of the opinion that the abandonment was not due to the fishing operation.

Pools at Cedar Point were held stable except for a slight rise in late fall. Attempts to raise levels in August for loosestrife control were not possible due to low lake levels. Marsh vegetation at Cedar Point was excellent with good interspersion of cattail and other emergents, submergents, and open water.

Average and peak waterfowl population numbers and total use-days are shown in the table listed in the main portion of this report.

Control of purple loosestrife was attempted by spraying with Rodeo. Approx­ imately 10-20 acres were treated over a 500 acre area. Heaviest concentrations were in the Pheasant Farm pool and the west portion of Pool 1. An airboat was obtained from the Upper Mississippi NWR at LaCrosse for the application. The airboat appears to be the only practical way of spot treating the marsh. Helicopter spraying would be feasible only if large blocks needed treatment and would be expensive.

Treatments were delayed until late August due to needed airboat repairs and other work. The percent kill of loosestrife was high but early to mid-August applications would probably have been more effective. A major problem in their control is the wide range of flowering periods with some plants flowering in early August and others not until mid-September. They can only be reasonably located during flowering. Application was by a low pressure sprayer powered by a farm tractor of¥by a small 50 gallon sprayer mounted in the airboat and powered by a 2hp gasoline engine. The recommended 1% solution was used.

Earlier and repeated applications are recommended for future spraying. The availability of an adequate airboat is also a key factor in the control of this plant. No other method of access seems to be practical.

Other maintenance and management activities consisted of periodic mowing of dikes and roadsides and some minor road repair. A borrow pond along the southern boundary was identified as having possibilities for sport fishing in the draft fisln'ng plan. Meetings were held with the Toledo Water Treat­ ment Plant personnel concerning the disposal of dead fish in the area and other assocciated problems.

An airboat is the only practical way to fight the purple loosestrife battle in a marsh. This unit on loan from the Upper Miss. Refuge was put to the test. WEST SISTER ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

1 NARRATIVE SUMMARY

Calendar Year 1984 WEST SISTER ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

West Sister Island is an 82 acre island located in the western basin of Lake Erie. It is jointly owned by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Five acres, including the lighthouse, are owned by the Coast Guard but managed along with the other 77 acres by the Fish and Wildlife Service as a wilderness area. Tall hackberry trees with an under- story of abundant poison ivy 12 feet tall dominate most of the island. Great Solomons-Seal reaches 7-9 feet in height and a great variety of ferns, wild!flowers, and mushrooms abound-.

The island is composed of glacial till over a limestone shelf. Along the edge of the island large caves have been eroded by hydrological forces. There are no sand beaches but rather three rocky shoals for access to the island. The soil contains a great amount of humus, a layer which annually receives another topically applied layer of nitrogen supplied by the thousands of nesting birds.

• West' Sister Island is noted for having the largest heronry in the Great Lakes. Great blue herons and black-crowned night herons comprise 90% of the nesters. Herring and ring-billed gulls are the second largest group of nesters. Cattle egrets, snowy egrets, little blue herons, Canada geese and assorted ducks also nest there.

West Sister Island has been a very popular area for research, not only for the large heronry, but also for other forms of wildlife such as snakes, spiders, snails and flies. Information concerning research on West Sister Island is described in greater detail in Section D.5. The melanistic garter snake, a common occurrence on West Sister Island, is sometimes mistaken for a blue racer or black water snake.

A Wilderness Area such as West Sister Island NWR does not require intensive management, basically only periodic surveillance for trespassers and boundary posting. Several trips were made in 1984 to check on boundary signs, pick up litter, check on the heronry, and check for trespass violations. The element of surprise, increased visability, and unscheduled times combined to reduce trespass. The DNR Lake Erie Unit wardens visited the island at least twice weekly during the summer and daily during peak fishing periods. Their cooperation and assistance was appreciated and the increased presence reduced trespass considerably. The Coast Guard also checks on the island whenever they are in the area.

During the summer of 84 the Student Conservation Association staff and personnel spent two nights on the island as part of their learning experience. The U.S. Coast Guard took the crew to the island and picked them up three days later. Both students and the instructor found this to be an extremely valuable experience. The local Explorer Post of twelve campers and one leader stayed on WSI for survival training, merit badge requirements and to clean up the interior of the island on a three day camp out. Late in November a Kent State geology professor and a graduate student ^ returned to the island for further data collecting. Earlier in the yeaV the same two discovered optical quality florite on the island in a small vein which had become exposed by normal weathering elements. At that time all boundary signs located on the beach were removed prior to winter ice up. 1984 Waterfowl Use Days

Ottawa NWR Cedar Point NWR West Sister Island Total Com Species Total Use Days Total Use Days Total Use Days Use days

A. Coot 83810 37450 0 / 121260 W. Swans 8768 22538 0 31306 Mute Swans 0 310 0 310

Snow Geese 1524 0 0 1524 Canada Geese 1366810 - 99575 310 1466385

Mallard 1197169 175535 4870 1372704 B1 ack 347851 84230 150 432081 Gadwal1 63545 31540 0 95085 Pi ntail 34440 9468 0 43908 Green wing Teal 13020 14324 0 27344 BW/Cin Teal 18361 17651 0 36012 Am. widgeon 107425 35508 0 142933 Shovelor 11460 2942 0 14402 Wood Duck 24675 30194 0 54869 Redhead 3476 12096 0 15572 Ring-Neck Duck 2886 7084 0 9970 Canvasback 4900 4027 310 8927 Lessor Scaup 8843 160037 1582 168880 Bufflehead 2774 4249 150 7023 Ruddy 1621 1786 31 3407 Common Merganser 6283 17056 2748 23339 Red-Breast Merg. 10579 147590 2213 158169 Hooded Merg. 2263 5974 240 8237 Common Goldeye 450 4730 2565 5180

Tot. Duck Use Days 1862021 766021 14859 2628042

Tot. Goose Use Days 1368334 99575 310 1467909

Tot Waterfowl use days 3322933 925894 15169 4248827 Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex Ohio A Wildlife Oasis

In visiting Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex, you are in an area unique to Ohio. Unlike you, early settlers would not have set foot here for fear of their lives! It was part of a 300,000acre swamp extending from present-day Sandusky, Ohio to Detroit, Michigan.

Impenetrable swamps made the area foreboding to Indians who lived here. Bartering furs for the white man's tobacco and corn, they called themselves traders or, in their language, "ottawas."

But progress prevailed. The formidable "Black Swamp" was drained. The forests of panther and eagle became fields of farmer and blackbird. From 300,000 acres, the ' marshes were whittled to less than 15,000 acres. The Eagles of Ottawa Since 1961, the Federal government has saved more than 8,000 acres of these Bald eagle nests were once common along marshes. Today, Ottawa, Cedar Point and the Lake Erie shoreline. Today, only a West Sister Island are the only national dozen or so eagles are left in Ohio. Ottawa wildlife refuges in Ohio. is one of the few places where you can still see our national symbol flying free. The Ottawa NWR Complex, including Darby and Navarre marshes, is a wildlife oasis in Widespread use of pesticides and ; the midst of an urban desert. Located destruction of nesting habitat have within the Detroit-Toledo-Cleveland drastically lowered bald eagle numbers, in megalpolis, Ottawa is slightly more than an 1978, the bald eagle was placed on the The Timeless Refrain of hour's drive for more than 10 million Federal endangered species list. Today, "Goose Music" persons! Yet it provides one of the few eagles are abundant only in Alaska. They're places in Ohio where the visitor can still classified as "threatened" in Michigan, If you visit Ottawa NWR during spring or Geese follow invisible highways-in-the-sky see bald eagles or thousands of Canada Wisconsin, Minnesota, Oregon and fall, you'll witness an event as notable as called "flyways." From east to west, four geese and ducks including mallards, Washington. They are facing extinction the seasons that has facinated man since flyways cross the country, the Atlantic, blacks, bluewing teal, wood ducks, everywhere else. time began, namely, the migration of Mississippi, Central and Pacific. American wigeon and canvasbacks. Canada geese. Currently, 137 national wildlife refuges Ottawa is located on the Mississippi In the dramatic story of Ohio's history, the protect 44 endangered species like the bald Why do geese stop here? Well, you might flyway. Like any good rest area, it provides refuges of the Ottawa Complex preserve eagle. Ottawa is proud to be one of these compare Ottawa to a roadside rest area for the geese with abundant food and water some of the finest and wildest chapters. important sanctuaries. weary travelers. before they continue their journey.

/ During their fall respite at Ottawa, geese re-fuel on natural foods such as tender grasses and pondweeds plus crops including corn, sorghum and buckwheat.

Sometime in mid-March, the timeless refrain of what conservationist Aldo Leopold called "goose music" will fill the air. The returning geese will alight briefly at Ottawa to rest and feed before heading north to their Hudson's Bay nesting areas. There, the mysterious cycle of migration will begin once again.

Man Helping Wildlife Restoration of the lands of the Ottawa Complex is an on-going process. Like other national wildlife refuges in the Great Lakes Region, Ottawa is being developed according to a master plan. Its dikes and associated facilities are being repaired to Ohio's First National provide water control essential for marsh Wildlife Refuge management.

When completed, 20 pools will provide Like an errant child, 82-acre West Sister some 4,000 acres of permanent marsh for Island sits nine miles off the north shore of waterfowl and other wildlife. Temporary Ottawa NWR. Near West Sister, Oliver water will be provided by another 1,000 Hazard Perry sent the immortal message to acres of moist soil food production units. General William Henry Harrison after the These are drained in early summer to allow battle of Lake Erie, September 10, 1813: natural plant growth and flooded in fall. "We have met the enemy and they Seasonally flooded flats of Crane Creek are ours. Two ships, two brigs, and Lake Erie provide an additional 1,000 one schooner and one sloop." acres of wetland habitat. The light house was manned until 1937. In Cooperative farmers plant corn, sorghum 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt declared and buckwheat as part of the refuge's 77 acres of West Sister to be Ohio's first waterfowl food production program on the national wildlife refuge. upland. As a result of this wetland and upland habitat management, peak West Sister Island NWR is a rookery for waterfowl populations in excess of 25,000 black-crowned night herons, great blue geese and 65,000 ducks are expected. herons and great egrets. Closed to the Other upland habitat is managed to provide public, the island is a priceless living a mixture of food and cover for a variety of laboratory. West Sister was designated a wildlife including deer, pheasants and Wilderness Area in T975. rabbits. Limited trapping for muskrats is allowed annually on selected units of the Complex. Trappers are selected through a public drawing each fall.

Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge

Cedar Point is a historic 2,245 acre marsh located where Maumee Bay meets Lake Erie. Cedar Point was donated to the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1965 with an estimated value of $1 million. With less than five percent of the original Lake Erie marshes remaining. Cedar Point today is truly priceless.

Unlike Ottawa, which attracts mainly Canada geese. Cedar Point is most attractive to ducks. Drawn down in spring to permit vegetation to emerge, marshes are filled in early fall. Large pools underlain with plants beckon ducks from the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways, expecially mallards and black ducks.

Human encroachment poses a constant age through college level. In addition to the threat to Cedar Point and other refuges lodge, three rustic cabins are available for located near urban areas. To maintain overnight ufee by such groups. wildlife sanctuaries in the face of increased demands for public use is the task facing Leaflets, slide shows, films and speakers the 400 units of the National Wildlife Recreational Opportunities are available from refuge headquarters. Refuge System across America. The Blue Heron Trail system offers over Throughout the year, the refuge hosts a seven miles of interpretive trails through a variety of workshops for the public. variety of habitats. A resident flock of Navarre Marsh Canada geese provides opportunities for Like the fabled Colossus of Rhodes, the year-round observation and photography. In Hunting and Trapping 500-foot cooling tower of the Davis-Besse winter, the trails are used by cross-country A controlled goose hunt is held annually on Nuclear Power Station dominates the skiers. the Ottawa NWR during Ohio's goose skyline east of Ottawa NWR. hunting season. Only Canada, snow The Butternut Lodge is an environmental (including blue phase)and white-fronted Navarre marsh is jointly owned by Toledo education site available to groups. It is geese may be hunted. Hunters are chosen Edison and Cleveland Electric Illuminating used annually by students from elementary through a drawing held in late summer. companies. It was traded to them for Darby

/ Marsh in 1967 by the Fish and Wildlife Service. (FWS) Wildlife management rights on 591 acres of Navarre marsh are retained by the FWS.

The cooling tower for the nuclear reactor sits on a limestone outcropping above the marsh. The marsh is watched closely for signs of radiation and thermal pollution.

Over 90 species of birds nest at Navarre. Common mammals include muskrat. raccoon, fox and mink. Marsh mallow, water lily and American lotus dot the waterways.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR . U.S. FISH AND WIIDUFE SERVICE ' ^

As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural re­ sources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our How to Reach Ottawa land and water resources, protecting our fish and wild­ Refuge headquarters is located on Ohio life, preserving the environmental and cultural, values of our national parks and historical places, and pro­ State Route #2. midway between Toledo viding for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recrea­ and Port Clinten and north of the village of tion. The Department assesses our energy and mineral Oak Harbor. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to resources and works to assure that their development 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. For further is in the best interests of all our people. The Depart­ ment also has a major responsibility for American FOR FURTHER INFORMATION WRITE Indian reservation communities and for people who Refuge Manager, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex live in island territories under U.S. administration. 1400 West State Route 2 RF-31540-1 Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 Telephone: (419) 898-0014 BIRDS of OTTAWA

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPLEX Ohio Symbols used are as follows: S s F W S s F W American Wigeon* a c a r RESIDENT STATUS a u a o Dunlin Northern Shoveler* c u c r Short-billed Dowitcher c c c S — spring March-May Wood Duck* c c a r Long-billed Dowitcher u u u s — summer June-August Redhead* c u c o Stilt Sandpiper X u u a c c F — fall September-November Ring-necked Duck c X c r Semipalmated Sandpiper r r o W — winter December-February Canvasback a X c c Western Sandpiper Greater Scaup Buff-breasted Sandpiper X r r * — nests locally u u u Lesser Scaup* a u c u Marbled Godwit r r 0 Common Goldeneye c c c Hudsonian Godwit X r r c c X ABUNDANCE Bufflehead c c u Sanderting o Oldsquaw r 0 r Red Phalarope r X a — abundant a common species which White-winged Scoter 0 0 0 Wilson's Phalarope* 0 0 o BIRDS Surf Scoter is very numerous 0 0 o Red-necked Phalarope (Northern) o o 0 X c — common certain to be seen in Black Scoter o r suitable habitat Ruddy Duck* c u c u American Avocet r r r Hooded Merganser* c The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge u — uncommon present, but not u c u Parasitic Jaeger X r Common Merganser a a a certain to be seen r Glaucous Gull r X r r complex, located 15 miles east of Toledo, Red-breasted Merganser c c r Ohio, contains the remnants of a vast marsh o — occasional seen only a few times Iceland Gull r r during a season Turkey Vulture* c 0 u Great Black-backed Gull c u c c that once bordered western Lake Erie. Herring Gull* a a a c r — rare seen at intervals of Northern Goshawk r r r Today, the complex is an important resting Ring-billed Gull* a a a c 2 to 5 years Sharp-shinned Hawk c u r spot for migratory waterfowl and other birds Franklin's Gull a a a c x — accidental has been seen only Cooper's Hawk* c u r traveling the Mississippi and Atlantic Red-tailed Hawk* Laughing Gull r once or twice c c c c c o a a fly ways. Red-shouldered Hawk* c u u o Bonaparte's Gull Forster's Tern r 0 c Broad-winged Hawk c c Common Tern* c c c X Cedar Point, West Sister Island, and Ottawa S s F W Rough-legged Hawk u u c Caspian Tern u c c Golden Eagle r r r National Wildlife Refuges, including the Common Loon 0 r 0 r Black Tern* c c c latter's Darby and Navarre divisions, Bald Eagle* u u u u Red-necked Grebe r r Northern Harrier (Marsh Hawk) c u u c Rock Dove* u u u u comprised over 8,000 acres of marshes, Horned Grebe c u r Mourning Dove* c c c c meadows, and uplands that support a varied Osprey u r u Eared Grebe r r Yellow-billed Cuckoo* u u u wildlife community. Pied-billed Grebe* c c c r Peregrine Falcon 0 o r Black-billed Cuckoo* u 0 0 White Pelican r r r Merlin 0 o r Dramatic flights of migratory birds may be American Kestrel* c c c c Barn Owl* r r r r Double-crested Cormorant 0 0 0 r Eastern Screech Owl* c c c c seen at Ottawa, notably the spring migration Ring-necked Pheasant' c c c c Great Horned Owl* c c c c Great Blue Heron* c a c u of Whistling Swans and warblers, and the Snowy Owl 0 o 0 Green Heron* c c c Sandhill Crane r X autumn passage of Canada Geese. Ottawa Long-eared Owl* 0 0 o 0 Little Blue Heron r 0 0 King Rail* 0 0 0 r Short-eared Owl* u u u is also the home of one of the few nesting Cattle Egret* u u u Virginia Rail* 0 0 u r Northern Saw-whet Owl 0 X 0 r pairs of Bald Eagles in Ohio. Great Egret* c a c X Sora* c u c r Whip-poor-will u r The 267 birds listed here have been seen Snowy Egret r r r Common Moor hen* (Gallinule) c c c X Louisiana Heron r o r American Coot* a c a 0 Common Nighthawk* c a c on the Ottawa NWR complex. Another 45 Black-crowned Night Heron* c a c o Semipalmated Plover c X c Chimney Swift* c u a species have been seen in the vicinity of the Yellow-crowned Night Heron r r Piping Plover r r r complex. Watch for these! Least Bittern* u u u X Ruby-throated Hummingbird* u u u Killdeer* a a a r American Bittern u u u r Lesser Golden Plover c u u Belted Kingfisher* c c c 0 The birds are grouped according to their Glossy Ibis r r r Black-bellied Plover c u u Common Flicker* (yellow-shafted) c c c u r r r r taxonomic status, first by order (solid line) Mute Swan r r 0 r Ruddy Turnstone c u c Red-bellied Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker* c c c u and then family (dotted line). The family is a Tundra Swan (Whistling) a X c 0 American Woodcock* c u u Yellow-bellied Sapsucker c c r classification unit that places birds of similar Canada Goose* a a a a Common Snipe* c u c r Hairy Woodpecker* u u u u Brant Goose X r Whimbrel r r r body structures, feeding habits, and flight Downy Woodpecker* c c c c together. The order is a more inclusive Barnacle Goose x X X Upland Sandpiper* u u u Bar-headed Goose X X Eastern Kingbird' c c c category consisting of related families. Spotted Sandpiper* c c c Greater White-fronted Goose X r X Solitary Sandpiper c u c Great Crested Flycatcher* c c c Learning some of these common Snow Goose o c u Willet r X r Eastern Phoebe* c u u characteristics can help in identifying new Snow Goose (Blue form) o c u Greater Yellowlegs c u c Yellow-bellied Flycatcher c u birds. Mallard* a a a a Lesser Yellowlegs c c c Acadian Flycatcher* r r r American Black Duck* a c a a* Red Knot u 0 0 Willow Flycatcher* c c c The English or common names used are Gadwall* c u a r Ruff r r Alder Flycatcher r Least Flycatcher c c c in accordance with the American Northern Pintail* a u a 0 Pectoral Sandpiper c c c Green-winged Teal* c u a 0 White-rumped Sandpiper r r r Eastern Wood Pewee* c c c Ornithologists' Union "Checklist of North Blue-winged Teal* a c a * Baird's Sandpiper r r r X Olive-sided Flycatcher u o u American birds" revised in 1976. Eurasian Wigeon r r X Least Sandpiper c c c S s F W S s F W Horned Lark* c u c c Black-throated Green Warbler c c Cerulean Warbler u X 0 Tree Swallow* c a a x Blackburnian Warbler c c Bank Swallow* c c c Yellow-throated Warbler r Northern Rough-winged Swallow' c c c Chestnut-sided Warbler c 0 c Barn Swallow c a c Bay-breasted Warbler a c Cliff Swallow* u o u Blackpoll Warbler u c Purple Martin* c a c Pine Warbler 0 0 X Blue Jay* a u c u Kirtland's Warbler X American Crow* c o u 0 Prairie Warbler X r Palm Warbler c c Black-capped Chickadee u u u Ovenbird* c u c Tufted Titmouse* u u u u Northern Waterthrush c c White-breasted Nuthatch* o o o u Louisiana Waterthrush r X X Red-breasted Nuthatch u u 0 Kentucky Warbler r r r Connecticut Warbler r r Brown Creeper c c u Mourning Warbler u u House Wren c c c X Common Yellowthroat* c c c r Winter Wren u u u Yellow-breasted Chat* u u u Carolina Wren* r r r r Hooded Warbler r r r Marsh Wren* c a c r Wilson's Warbler c c Sedge Wren* r u r X Canada Warbler c c American Redstart* c r c Northern Mockingbird* r u r r Gray Catbird* c c c r House Sparrow* a a a a Brown Thrasher* c c c r Bobolink* u u u American Robin* a a a u Eastern Meadowlark* c u c r Wood Thrush* c u u Western Meadowlark* r r r Hermit Thrush c c r Yellow-headed Blackbird* r r X Swainson's Thrush c c Red-winged Blackbird* a a a u Gray-cheecked Thrush u u Orchard Oriole* 0 o r Veery u o o Northern Oriole* c u u Eastern Bluebird* 0 0 0 r Rusty Blackbird c . c u Brewer's Blackbird o 0 r Blue-gray Gnatcatcher c u c Common Grackle* a a a u Golden-crowned Kinglet c c u Brown-headed Cowbird* c c c u Ruby-crowned Kinglet a c r Scarlet Tanager* c u c Water Pipit u u •r Summer Tanager r X X Cedar Waxwing* c u c u Northern Cardinal* c c c c Northern Shrike r r r Rose-breasted Grosbeak* c r c Loggerhead Shrike* 0 0 0 r Indigo Bunting* c a c Dickcissel* o 0 0 European Starling* a a a a Evening Grosbeak o o o White-eyed Vireo* o o o Purple Finch u X u u Yellow-throated Vireo* u u u Common Redpoll 0 0 0 Solitary Vireo u u Pine Siskin* u u 0 Red-eyed Vireo c c c American Goldfinch* a c c c Philadelphia Vireo c c Rufous-sided Towhee* c c c u Warbling Vireo* c c c Savannah Sparrow* c c c X Grasshopper Sparrow* o o o Black-and-white Warbler* c o Henslow's Sparrow r X Prothonotary Warbler* u u Sharp-tailed Sparrow r r Worm-eating Warbler o Vesper Sparrow* u u u X Golden-winged Warbler o Dark-eyed Junco c c u Blue-winged Warbler u r American Tree Sparrow c c c Tennessee Warbler c Chipping Sparrow* u u u Oranged-crowned Warbler o Field Sparrow* u u u r Nashville Warbler c White-crowned Sparrow c X c u Northern Parula o White-throated Sparrow a X a u Yellow Warbler* c c Fox Sparrow c c r Magnolia Warbler a x Lincoln's Sparrow u u X Cape May Warbler c Swamp Sparrow* c r c o Black-throated Blue Warbler c Song Sparrow* c c c u Yellow-rumped Warbler a S s F W Lapland Longspur u u u Snow Bunting c c c

Accidental Bird Sightings Red-throated Loon Least Tern Red-necked Grebe Groove-billed Ani Gannet Barred Owl Wood Stork Red-shafted Flicker American Flamingo Western Kingbird Ross Goose Black-billed Magpie Ruddy Shelduck Boreal Chickadee Fulvous Whistling Duck Benwick's Wren Cinnamon Teal Townsend's Solitaire Harlequin Duck Bohemian Waxwing Muscovy Townsend's Warbler Barrow's Goldeneye Black-headed Grosbeak King Eider House Finch Swainson's Hawk Pine Grosbeak Gyrfalcon Hoary Redpoll Northern Bobwhite Red Crossbill Yellow Rail White-winged Crossbill Black Rail Oregon Junco Wilson's Plover Le Conte's Sparrow Purple Sandpiper Lark Sparrow Black-necked Stilt Bachman's Sparrow Pomarine Jaeger Clay-colored Sparrow Long-tailed Jaeger Black-chinned Sparrow Great Skua Harris' Sparrow Little Gull Smith's Longspur Black-legged Kittiwake

Additional information may be obtained by writing Refuge Manager, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, 14000 West State Route 2, Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449. Phone: (419) 898-0014 Notes

Date No. Species

Time Afield

Observers

Weather

Remarks

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

RF-31540-2 OCTOBER 1982 TVciMi^c 'poot OTTAWA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

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These wildlife trails are open from sunrise to sunset throughout the year for you to walk and observe wildlife Colored signs mark each trail route: Blue Heron Trail is blue, Swan Loop is white, Yeilowlegs Loop is yellow and Mallard Loop is green. For your safety, access is limited to these trails only. For additional information contact; Refuge Manager. Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. 14000 West State Route 2, Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449. Phone (419) 898-0014,

STATE ROUTE 2 •*— Toledo, 15 miles - Port Clinton, 18 miles —*• Ring-necked Pheasant

Song Sparrow

Brown Thrasher

American Woodcock

_ Butternut Lodge

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Ohio ». Birding at Butternut...

Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge's 5,000 acres bring is your food and cooking and eating utensils. are located just 15 miles east of Toledo, Ohio. For dining out, several good restaurants are nearby. Eight miles of foottrails and 300 species of birds combine to offer some of the finest birding On Saturday night, refuge personnel will present opportunities in the Buckeye State. From spring an interpretive program for your group. The topics warblers to summer shorebirds to autumn vary, so it might be about endangered species, waterfowl, Ottawa is a refuge for all seasons. wildlife management or a glimpse of some other national wildlife refuges. To really enjoy the Ottawa National Wildlife Lodge reservations also entitle your group to Refuge takes more than one day. But finding visit Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge. Cedar economical accomodations for large groups can - Point is a 2,445-acre marsh located 10 miles west be difficult. To this end, Ottawa's Butternut Lodge of Ottawa that is otherwise closed to the general and its three cabins have been made available to public. birding groups for weekend reservations at a nominal fee. Reservations may be made up to one year in advance. A non-refundable deposit is required to The lodge provides overnight accommodations confirm a reservation. for adult birding groups who live so far from the refuge that a one-day trip is impractical. It is not a Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife general camping area; no tents or recreational Service of the Department of the Interior, the vehicles are permitted; nor is it a social center or a Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex includes scout camp. Pets and alcoholic beverages are Ottawa, Cedar Point and West Sister Island prohibited. National Wildlife Refuges. These are the only units of the National Wildlife System in Ohio. Together, Butternut is fully carpeted and has a fireplace they comprise over 8,000 acres of marsh and and furnace. The kitchen has a refrigerator and uplands that support an unsurpassed array of stove suitable for large groups. All you need to wildlife. For further information contact: Refuge Manager Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge 14000 W. State Route #2 Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 (419) 898-0014 HUNTING MAP & REGULATIONS

OTTAWA National Wildlife Refuge/OH HUNTING MAP N OTTAWA • CONTROLLED GOOSE HUNT

REGULATIONS ON BACK SIDE OF MAP

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Ottawa N.W.R. I

REFUGE SIGNS — KNOW THEIR MEANING

NATIONAL PARKING BLINDS WILDLIFE REFUGE AREA & 4 AREA A OTTAWA CRANE ^REEK UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY BEYOND THIS SIGN PROHIBITED 5 T ENTRANCE SIGN ENTRANCE SIGN CLOSED Blinds 1-3 6 h

REfUGE BOUNDARY SANCTUARY AREA - HUNTER DIRECTION TO SIGN - ENTRY BY OFF LIMITS TO PARKING HUNTER BLIND PERMIT ONLY THE PUBLIC UNLESS AREA OTHERWISE SPECIFIED HUNTING REGULATIONS Ottawa Controlled Goose Hunt The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have cooperated in the establishment of a controlled goose hunt on the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. The hunt will be administered by personnel from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Crane Creek Wildlife Ex­ periment Station. Public hunting of Canada, snow (including blue color phase) and white-fronted geese on the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is permitted only on the areas designated by signs as open to hunting. Hunting is by permit only. Sport hunting is permitted in accordance with all applicable State and Federal regulations covering the hunting of geese subject to the following special conditions: SPECIAL CONDITIONS THE REFUGE IS OPEN TO GOOSE HUNTING ONLY. ALL OTHER SPECIES OF WATERFOWL AND WILDLIFE ARE PROTECTED AND MAY NOT BE KILLED. • Hunters may obtain permit applications by contacting the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Fountain Square, Columbus, Ohio 43224. • Hunters must report to the goose hunter check station at least one (1) hour before legal shooting time. • Your special area hunting permit must be presented at the check station along with your current hunting license and Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp (Duck Stamp). • Hunting hours — legal shooting time until 12 noon. • All hunters must be out of blinds by 1 PM. • All hunters must report to the check station and submit their geese for examination by 2 PM. • Bag limit per hunter — will be determined prior to hunt. • All shooting must take place at the assigned blind, or within 75 yards of the blind when pursuing a cripple. It is illegal to pursue beyond this 75-yard retrieve zone limitation. • The use of trained dogs to retrieve downed geese within the 75-yard retrieve zone is permitted. • No more than two (2) hunters per blind. • Each hunter may not possess more than ten (10) shells. The shells must be non-toxic (steel). Shot size shall be no larger than number one (1) shot. • Hunters will furnish their own non-toxic shells. • Each hunter is responsible for his/her own transportation to and from his/her assigned blind. Once hunters have left their blind, they will not be permitted to return. Boats will not be needed. • No person shall participate in this area's controlled hunt more than once during the open season. • Foot travel is restricted to the designated public use areas only. • Overnight camping and open fires are prohibited. All injuries or accidents occurring on the refuge must be reported immediately to the Refuge Headquarters, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, 14000 W. State Route 2, Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449. . Phone 419/898-0014. QUALITY HUNTING DEPENDS ON YOU PLEASE RESPECT ALL REGULATIONS Ottawa NWR - 1981; 34

K. FEEDBACK

A better way to do business- The question of whether to do a rehab or construction project force account or by contract is often answered in a manner that is not the most cost efficient and effective way to get the job done. At times it seems the regional office would like to see all rehab and construction projects done by formal contract. There does not seem to be a team approach in evaluating force account possibilities for smaller construction projects. The reason for the lack of support is perhaps some poorly done force account projects in the past. Instead of trying to resolve potential problems and providing engineering support and advice the result has been a RO resistance to force account projects. To get around this resistance refuge managers have often went ahead with projects (sometimes with poor results) without asking for assistance to avoid the possibility of being told to do it by contract. If there are not enough funds for the contract it then does not get done. Its a catch 22 with the taxpayers and the resource often the looser. With Davis- Bacon wage rates formal contracts generally require labor rates often twice the hourly rate of refuge personnel. Due to the legal requirements of con­ tracts, built-in overhead costs and the need for a profit good capable contractors are often high bidders. The low bidder often turns out to be the least competent contractor who bids too low for the job and then starts cutting corners to make a profit. Our costs in preventing the corner cutting can be very high. For rehab/construction projects below the 50 to $75,000 range there should be a team approach in evaluating which way to proceed. Both the refuge and the regional office should be working together to get the most of rehab/construction funds.

For a long time there has been a feeling of them vs. us in the accomplishment of projects in the most cost effective manner.

Improvement was noted in 1984 in the support provided the refuge on force account ARMM's projects but we have a long way to go.

The question of comparabTe worth- At least 10 years before the issue of comparable worth was brought before the public many refuge managers were advocates of more equitable pay for clerks and administrative assistants. Their responsibilities, duties and value to field stations have not changed and finally the issue is receiving some public notice. In 1984 a temporary WG-5-1 tractor operator at Ottawa earned $9.20 hour. Ottawa's administrative tech. has 25^years of experience and earns $1.20 an hour less than the WG-5. The idea of comparable worth is going to be expensive if implemented but after seeing the results of years of pay inequi­ ties here's one vote for fairness.