.
ARAPAHO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Walden, Colorado
also
BAMFORTH, HUTTON LAKE AND PATHFINDER NWR' administered from Walden, Colorado
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1979
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM Fish and.Wildlife Service U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ARAPAHO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Walden, Colorado
also
BAMFORTH, HUTTON LAKE AND PATHFINDER NWR' administered from Walden, Colorado
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1979
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 1. Eugene C. Patten, Refuge Manager, GS-11, PFT 2. William J. Wilson, Refuge Manager, GS-9, PPT 3. Gale F. Brewer, Biological Technician (W/L), GS-7, PFT 4. Barbara J. Smith, Administrative Clerk, GS~5, PFT 5. Gregory L. Hogue, Biological Aid (W/L), GS-3 (EOD 2/6/79 - Terminated 8/2/79 - not pictured) 6. Guy H. Stees, Biological Aid (W/L), GS~4 (EOD 4/23/79 - Terminated 6/19/79 - not pictured) 7. Rachel M. Davidson, Biological Aid (W/L), GS~4 (EOD 4/30/79 - Terminated 10/25/79 - not pictured) 8. Joan E. Lapham, Biological Aid (W/L), GS-4 (EOD 4/30/79 - Tettalnated 10/19/79 - not pictured) 9. Mark L. Llndvall, Biological Aid (W/L). GS-4 (EOD 8/13/79 - Transferred to Parlor River NWR 12/1/79 - not pictured)
Review and Approvals
:?-oo-^o ^f1 j £&l Submitted by Date Are©/Office Date
Refuge Regional Office Date TABLE OF CONTENTS
I• GENKHAL Page A. Introduction 1 B. Climatic and Habitat Conditions ...... 1 C. Land Acquisition 3 D. System Status 4
IX. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
A. Construction 5 5. Maintenance ...... 7 C. Equipment ...... 8 D. Wildfires 9
HI. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
A. Cropland 10 3, Grassland ....•• 10 C. Wetlands 11 D. Forestlands 11 E. Other Habitat . 11 F. Wilderness and Special Areas . « • • 11 G. Easements for Waterfowl Management 11
IV. WILDLIFE
A. Endangered and/or Threatened Species ... 11 B. Migratory Birds 12 C. Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others 15
V. INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION
A. Information and Interpretation 17 B. Recreation ...... 18 C. Enforcement 18
VI. OTHER ITEMS
A. Field Investigations 19 B. Cooperative Programs 20 C. Items of Interest 21 0, Safety ...... 22 E. Revenue Sharing 22
BAMFORTH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE REPBRT HUTTON LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE REPORT PATHFINDER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE REPORT Land purchased and under our management.
Shawver tract - to come under our management January 1, 1981.
State-owned land leased by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
BLM land formerly attached to tracts now purchased. Will come under our management when withdrawal Is completed.
Private land within the boundaries of the refuge which are to be acquired In the future. ARAPAHO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE UNITED STATES JACKSON COUNTY, COLORADO UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR io«* wrRSOW R79W '06* IT
RIFUOE BOUNDARY ESSS ACQUIRED TRACTS UASE LAND 0 TRACT NUMBER
R SOW R 79W COMPILED IN SURVEYS AND MAPS FROM SURVEYS BY BLM . USOS AND FWS MCAM SIXTH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN v OCCUHATIOS / If 73 g|»;qS^W- 6R COLO. 788 404 I. GENERAL
A, Introduction
Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge is located in an intermountain glacial basin in Jackson County, Colorado. Forming the headwaters of the North Platte River, the basin opens north into Wyoming and is rimmed on the west by the Park Range, on the south by the Rabbit Ears Mountains and on the east by the Medicine Bow Range. The floor of the basin is known locally as North Park and is interspersed by many slow meandering streams that come together in the north central part of the basin to form the North Platte River. Main tributary rivers are the Michigan, Illinois, Canadian and Grizzly.
Host of the bottom land along the various streams is irrigated meadow while the low rises between the streams are dry grassland and sage brush. The picture changes suddenly on the edges of the basin where the land pitches abruptly upward to the mountain tops. The slopes are heavily covered with aspen, spruce, pine and fir up to tlmberline at about 11,000 feet, then tundra and rock up to the mountain peaks.
Cattle, hay and sheep have dominated the North Park economic scene since the first settlers arrived. Mining and logging are also major industries along with an increasing tourism and recreational trade.
Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge is situated at an elevation of 8,200 feet immediately south of Walden, Colorado, a small town of approximately 1,000 population. The Illinois River transverses from south to north through the eastern half of the refuge and provides the water needed to irrigate the refuge meadows and maintain waterfowl brood ponds. The higher rises on the refuge are characterized by dry grassland, sagebrush and greasewood.
B. Climatic and Habitat Conditions
1. Climatic
Temperatures during the month of January were colder than normal with a total of 16 days in which the temperature dipped below zero. The new year started out with a minus 1A degrees. The following winter months of February and March were mild compared to the month of January with a low of -17 degrees on February 5 and the high of A7 degrees on February 13 and March 16, respectively. Snow accumulations for the three month period totaled 28.6 inches in Walden, well above normal. Snow surveys conducted by the SCS during the winter months indicated a well above normal snowpack and prospects for another excellent water year in North Park.
The month of April was unseasonably cool with a high of 6A degrees on April 3. Temperatures returned to normal during the month of 2. May, Precipitation during the two month period totaled 1.85 Inches with over half of it arriving in the form of snow.
Temperatures during the sunnner months of June and July were normal while the month of August was warmer than normal. A high temperature of 93 degrees was recorded on August 5 which was the highest temperature recorded in Walden in over 40 years. Precipitation during the period was near normal although it was sporadic. A total of 1.20 inches of rain was received in August and most of it was received during the 10 day period between August 10 and August 20.
Temperatures were generally warm during the month of September with a high of 84 degrees on September 6 and a low of 17 degrees on September 15. Precipitation was below normal with only .19 inches received during the month.
Temperatures remained mild throughout most of the month of October but cold weather returned in November with a minus 28 degrees recorded on November 28 and 29. Snowfall during the two month period totaled 15,1 inches with the first snowfall occurting on October 16.
The month of December was warmer than normal with a high of 48 degrees recorded on December 4. There were 22 days during the month when the high temperature for the day exceeded 32 degrees. Snowfall totaled only 4,5 Inches for the month. At year's end snow cover in North Park was extremely light and much more will be needed to insure good water conditions in 1980.
2. Habitat
a. Water
An above normal snowpack coupled with a cool April delayed the spring runoff on the refuge. Most of the refuge ponds did not break up and fill with runoff water until the last week of April. Irrigation activities did not begin until May 2 which was more than a month later than normal. The opening of the Hubbard #2 Ditch was followed by the opening of the other ditches as water and manpower became available so that the refuge's meadows could be irrigated.
The Illinois River flowed over its banks during moat of the month of Hay and continued to flow at high stages well into June. Estimated river flows at the Allard subheadquarters bridge varied between 300 and 500 cfs during this period. The abundant water enabled us to irrigate most of the refuge's meadows even though we wished the water would have been available much earlier.
In July, precipitation totaled only .37 of an inch and the flow in the Illinois River dropped considerably. All headgates were 3. closed on July 17 to keep as much water as possible in the river. By July 31 the flow in the Illinois River had diminished to 14 cfs. River flows remained low during the months of August and September varying between 100 and 5 cfs. In October, after most of the willows had become dormant for the winter, the flow in the river picked up considerably. t b. Food and Cover
Although winter snows were heavy again this winter, big game feed was readily available on the refuge. Wind swept hills, draws and ridges provided adequate browse and grass species.
There was more than an adequate supply of irrigation water this year but it was not available to irrigate the refuge meadows until well into the spring season due to the extremely late spring breakup. The meadows that finally did receive water produced excellent stands of grasses by mid-July but by then it was too late to serve as good nesting cover for most waterfowl.
Aquatic plants produced well in established ponds and got off to a good start in the new ponds that were constructed last fall. Aquatics play an important part in providing food to young ducklings and adults during the summer months.
Moderate to high invertebrate populations were present in all of the refuge ponds and are important food items for females prior to the initiation of egg laying activities. Invertebrates are also important items in the young ducklings diet.
Although July was dry, showers in August replenished the needed moisture on the refuge uplands with the vegetation responding accordingly,
C. Land Acquisition
1. Fee Title
No new negotiations were completed during the year regarding several private tracts still remaining within the refuge boundary. The 600 acre Wlllford tract and attached 400 acre State lease right came under our management responsibility beginning October 30, 1979. The refuge now totals 14,609.79 acres.
2. Easements
None 4.
3. Other
Two hundred and forty acres of State School land Is leased from the State Land Board at $3.00 per acre by the refuge. On October 30, 1979 the refuge began leasing the 400 acres of State school land acquired with the Wlllford tract purchase.
Nearly nine years after the Fish and Wildlife Service filed an application for the withdrawal of approximately 5,375 acres of National Resource land from the Bureau of Land Management for inclusion in Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge, it finally appears that some progress is going to be accomplished. On September 6, 1979 a notice of the proposed withdrawal was republished in the Federal Register which requested comments on the desirability of a public hearing. In December we were notified by the Bureau of Land Management that a public hearing would be held In Walden early in 1980. It looks like the ball is finally rolling.
D. System Status
1. Objectives
Acquisition of Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge has been in progress for nearly 12 years. The purchase of fee title lands is approximately 70 percent complete. Purchase of the remaining private tracts in the immediate future on a willing seller basis is questionable. Wlth~ drawal of public lands for inclusion in the refuge has progressed very slowly requiring many interagency meetings, studies and reports over the past 8 years. As mentioned earlier, it now appears that some progress will be forthcoming in the near future.
The main objective of Arapaho since inception has been waterfowl production. Waterfowl production on the refuge is supposed to partially offset the losses in waterfowl production occurring in the prairie pothole states due to wetland habitat losses. Other wildlife benefits of the refuge objective setting process include geese, other waterbirds, upland game birds, raptors, big game and furbearers.
Wildlife oriented recreation is also an approved refuge objective. Arapaho currently has a cold water fishing program along with a sage grouse and antelope hunting program while non-consumptive wild life oriented recreation activities Include wildlife observation and photography.
Arapaho has not inherited or implemented any activities that are contrary to approved refuge objectives. Financial and other constraints have however, limited the degree of progress made in reaching refuge objectives which in several Instances are in need of revision. The Bicentennial Land Heritage Program has been a 5. tremendous help to the entire refuge program enabling us to acquire much needed equipment, construct several buildings and begin several habitat improvement projects.
2. Funding
Since the very beginning of Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge In 1969, there have been continual changes In the matter of funding the refuge and Its three satellite refuges In Wyoming. Presently we are funded from four subsetIvltles (1210, 1220, 1240 and 6810) with nearly 100 percent being utilized on and for the benefit of Arapaho. Very little manpower and funds are expended on the three satellite refuges In Wyoming. Although O&H funds have Increased considerably over the past four years. Inflation continues to negate any Increased program accomplishments we had planned. The following table shows the funding and permanent manpower breakdown for Arapaho since FY 72: Cyclic BLHP Total Perm. FY 1210 1220 1240 6810 Maint. Rehab. Const. Funding
72 65,100 5.000 70,100 73 66,200 2,000 68,200 74 66,200 2,000 68,200 75 67.350 450 5,000 72,800 76 76,550 450 5,000 82,000 76TQ 18,000 100 1,150 25,000 44,250 77 89,500 3,500 34,300" 127,300 78 107,100 2,600 2,500 6,000 137,000 255,200 79 119,000 5,000 3,000 16,000 304.000 442,000 80 128,000 200 3,000 5,000 110,000 246,200
XI. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
A. Construction
1. Refuge
Work reported in this subsection, though It Is of construction nature, was accomplished with regular station funds.
There have been no funds specifically appropriated for construction purposes, with the exception of BLHP, since the establishment of Arapaho.
Refuge equipment and manpower was used to construct a small (3-5 surface acre) "brood" pond on the south Allard meadow. This area of 514 acres Is an irrigated meadow that previously had only one small pothole for permanent water. The addition of this pond should make the area more attractive to nesting waterfowl. 6 Five new ponds were created on the Brocker tract by using the newly acquired Case 1450 dozer to plug old river oxbows. No water control structures were placed in these plugs as the water will naturally overflow from one to the other, irrigating small patches of meadow as it does.
A new work bench and new tool and supply storage cabinets were constructed in the new shop-service building. A small office and crew room was also constructed in this building.
Slightly over one-half mile of new fence was constructed along the railroad right-of-way on the east side of the Brocker tract to control cattle in one of the experimental grazing pastures.
One mile of new fence was constructed on the Case tract to facilitate better grazing management and also to keep cattle off portions of the proposed auto tour route,
2. BLHP
a. FY 1978 Completions
Funded in FY 1978 the 30* x 100' prefabricated metal shop storage building which was started in October 1978 was completed and accepted in June 1979.
The new residence which was also funded and construction started in 1978 was finally completed and accepted in July 1979. All concrete sidewalks and entrance steps were rejected due to sloppy workmanship, torn out and replaced.
b. FY 1979 Projects
The only contract construction BLHP project for fiscal year 1979 was the construction of 2.4 miles of road on the Case tract which will be incorporated into a self-guldlng auto tour route.
Harvey Fletcher and Son of Yuma, Colorado was the successful bidder on the road construction at $157,4313?.68. The bid was let late in the year so actual construction will not begin until the spring of 1980. Interpretive materials for the route will be handled separately through the Regional Office,
The following construction was coordinated by the refuge staff and accomplished with BLHP force account funds allocated to this station.
A 12* x 15f metal storage building was purchased and erected by the refuge crew on a concrete foundation poured and finished by a local contractor. This building will be utilized for flammable
The South Allard brood pond (BLHP 1978) at its initial filling from spring run-off. Black- crowned night herons immediately initiated a rookery in the flooded willows.
5/79 Wilson
Heavy spring run-off caused Potter Creek to overflow the access road to the Hampton Tract.
5/79 Brewer ew 30' " 100' ^^-^rstandarfen ^gy-taeS the right of the new shop xn
I process of being torn down. Wilson 8/79 Patten and Wilson forming and leveling for 12 inch thick concrete slabs on which the 1000 gallon under ground fuel storage tanks will be anchored.
8/79
1
The finished slabs. & - w- •v- • ^h.
Three underground fuel storage tanks in place and anchored. These tanks and associated pumps will be utilized in conjunction with the new flammable materials storage building.
9/79 Wilson
I 55
J J • '••-SsS.
Wilson finishing base for new flagpole.
9/79 Patten Rainbow Construction Co. of Walden forming for a monolitic slab on which the metal flammable materials storage building will set. Underground fuel tanks are in place in the hole left center of the top photo. The corrals in the background have since been removed,
9/79 Patten
- .J" - 7. material storage. In addition to the building, three 1,000 gallon underground storage tanks and three new fuel pumps were installed. The tanks and pumps will dispense regular gasoline, unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel.
The Allard subheadquartejrs electrical system was completely remodeled. Mountain Parks Electric Company installed approximately 1,000 feet of new underground primary supply cable to two ground mount transformers. This work eliminated two poles, associated overhead lines and about 1,000 feet of substandard. Inefficient secondary line. One of the transformers will service the new shop, oil storage building and bam. The other will provide power to the quarters which are all now separately metered.
A local electrician completed the project by installing new under ground secondary power lines to quarters #1, #2, #4, #52 and the bam. He also installed a new circuit breaker box in quarters #1.
New underground telephone lines were Installed to all residences and the new shop,
A new lf PVC water line was installed from the new domestic well to a new pressure tank in quarters #1, a distance of 280 feet. The quarters #1 pressure system also serves quarters #2 and #4. The old well and pressure system, located in the basement of quarters #1 was left Intact and will be retained as a back-up system.
All exterior walls in quarters #1 were filled with foam Insulation by Aerflow Insulation Service of Laramie, Wyoming at a cost of $1,284.00. 1,334 square feet of wall area was filled with a 3 5/8 inch thickness of foam,
A new 35* aluminum flag pole was Installed at the Allard subhead- quarters.
B. Maintenance
Road maintenance is not a problem at Arapaho except during the winter and the winter of 1978-79 was the most severe since the refuge was established. Both dozers were required nearly every day to open the road from the Allard subheadquarters to Highway 125 (about one mile). Around 600 gallons of diesel fuel was expended on this activity because of severe daily winds and subsequent drifting of the snow.
In the continuing effort to upgrade the irrigation water spreading and distribution facilities, numerous water control structures were fabricated and installed in the system by the refuge crew. Bio-Aids Greg Hogue and Rachel Davidson became weary of manually hauling fencing materials across the * wet meadow so invented this sled to accomplish the task.
7/79 Wilson
Airflow Insulation Service of Laramie, Wyoming filled all outside wall cavities on Quarters #1 with foam insulation.
8/79 Wilson 8
All excess buildings and other structures on the Allard, Fox and Hampton tracts were surveyed and put up for bid. Bids were received on most of the items but some will have to be torched off or burled in the future.
Approximately one-half mile of. the lower end of the Hubbard #2 ditch was cleaned of silt and vegetation with station equipment and manpower.
The entire Hill and Crouter ditch was cleaned by Spaulding Construction.
High water this spring washed out around the end of the Home #1 diversion structure in the Illinois River. This washout was repaired and some additional sheet piling installed to prevent a repeat performance.
A new take-out structure was fabricated and installed through the dike of Home Pond to facilitate irrigation of the downstream meadow.
A partial washout on the access road to the Hampton tract across Potter Creek was filled, graveled and graded.
Several trash piles and remains of old buildings and corrals were disposed of by burning during the winter months.
The Arapaho YCC crew completed the following projects during their six-week camp: 1. Approximately two miles of existing fence on the Brocker tract was completely rehabilitated to provide four adjacent pastures used in the waterfowl nesting/grazing study. 2. Tall wheatgrass and Lutana clcer mllkvltch was seeded on the dikes of the two Allard brood ponds constructed in 1978. All work was done by hand. 3. The exterior concrete block and wood trim surfaces of the YCC building were scraped and painted. 4. Forty linear feet of concrete sidewalk was formed, poured and finished around quarters #1, 5. Landscaping was accomplished around the new shop building. Topsoil was hauled in and spread. Blue grama and Sodar streambank wheatgrass was established and accented with native trees and shrubs which were transplanted around the building. 6. Numerous old stackyards were torn down and removed from refuge meadows.
Other maintenance activities were of a routine recurring nature.
C. Equipment
Two new pieces of heavy equipment were purchased with BLHP funds. The first was a Massey-Ferguson backhoe loader for $26,080,00 and the other a Case 1450 crawler with hydraulic angle and tilt dozer for a contract price of $65,285,00. Both of these machines are equipped with luxuries i—b- semtmum' A seven foot wide double auger snow blower was purchased with 1979 BLHP funds and has greatly simplified the snow removal effort.
12/79 Wilson
Hi 9.
which we are not used to such as cabs, heaters, defrosters, windshield wipers, etc. We have become accustomed to these luxuries now and do not feel that they are detrimental.
The old broken down Ski Doofs were replaced by the purchase of two new Arctic Cat Pantera snow machines.
Two new Honda 110 three wheel cycles were purchased to be used in meadow irrigation. These machines replace two Rokon two-wheel cycles that were requiring more maintenance than they were worth.
A Ford sickle-bar mower was purchased for vegetation control and roadside maintenance.
Our snow removal effort has been simplified with the purchase of a seven foot wide double auger snow blower which attaches to the three- point hitch of the farm tractor and runs off the PTO.
A new 1979 Dodge, h ton, 4x2 pickup was received in August and replaces a 1969 International Travelall 4x4 which was transferred to the State of Wyoming surplus program,
D. Wildfires
Nothing to report. 10. m. HABITAT HAMAGEMENT
A, Cropland
Nothing to report.
B. Grassland
1. Irrigated Meadows
North Parkfs irrigated meadows Including those on Arapaho, can produce up to 1^ tons of hay per acre. Because of the Intense growth and density, extensive matting of vegetation occurs each year. Controlled grazing is used as a management tool each year on some fields to prevent extensive matting and yet provide adequate nesting habitat for waterfowl each spring. All cattle grazing on the meadows is conducted between August 1 and December 1 each year. With the short growing season in North Park (30 frost free days a year), it is believed that removal of rank and matted vegetation in late summer and during the fall facilitates early growth for the following spring, thus providing good to excellent nesting cover. Approximately 5,600 acres of irrigated meadows were grazed at various intensities during 1979. Please refer to the Field Investigations section regarding grazing in relation to waterfowl nesting studies that were initiated this year on the refuge.
There are five introduced and at least six native species of grasses along with numerous sedges that characterize the refuged meadows. These species are important not only as nesting cover but also in providing food in the spring. Each fall several of the ponds are drawn down. The winter snows and wind disperse many of the peed heads to the ground which are subsequently washed into the various ponds during the spring runoff and irrigation season, thus providing a readily available food source when waterfowl arrive.
2. Uplands
Approximately one half of the upland areas under refuge control are fenced separately from the irrigated meadows. All of the upland areas that are fenced are rested from grazing for at least nne year before any type of grazing is resumed. Specific areas such as traditional big game wintering areas are not grazed at all. The other upland areas which are not fenced separately from the meadow areas are presently managed the same as the meadows for that particular unit. In addition, and until several scattered tracts of BLM within many of these units are withdrawn to become part of the refuge, management of these upland areas will be difficult at best. Approximately 1,980 acres out of a total of 5,350 acres of uplands were grazed at various intensities in 1979. • IX. C. Wetlands
The construction of waterfowl brood ponds and the proper manipulation of water continues to be the most important habitat management activity on Arapaho. The months of May, June and July were spent irrigating nearly 6,000 acres of meadows, maintaining adequate water levels in waterfowl brood ponds and installing numerous water control structures. During the fall months a considerable amount of time was spent creating new waterfowl brood habitat. Lafck of adequate brood ponds is probably the main limiting factor in holding down waterfowl production on the refuge.
D. Forestlands
None
E. Other Habitat
Hone
F. Wilderness and Special Areas
None
G. Easements for Waterfowl Management
None
IV. WILDLIFE
A. Endangered and/or Threatened Species
Endangered or threatened species found on Arapaho include the following species: peregrine falcon, prairie falcon, ferruginous hawk, white-faced ibis, western burrowing owl and the pine martin.
While none of these species are known to reproduce on Arapaho, the burrowing owl and prairie falcon are nestera in North Park.
The pine martin is on the threatened species list of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is a common but seldom seen mammal of Colorado and North Park, It is found primarily in the mountainous terrain that susrounds the refuge.
The greater sandhill crane is listed by the State of Colorado as a threatened species in North Park. Although none were observed on the refuge this year several were observed in the general vicinity.
#*• 12. The Colorado Division of Wildlife^ proposal of several years to transplant the greater sandhill crane where they historically nested. Including North Park and Arapaho has lost much of its priority status due to the Identification of more urgent needs for the present. The Division is still Interested however, in establishing a holding area for sandhills on the refuge.
While on annual leave. Assistant Manager Bill Wilson observed nine whooping cranes on May 3rd in the vicinity of Bosler, Wyoming. His observation was reported to the Area Office for proper reporting.
Migratory Birds
1. Waterfowl
a. Ducks
The first spring migrants, a flock of approximately 50 ducks, were observed on McCamraon Pond on March 31. Because of the abnormally cold weather conditions in North Park during the month of April, waterfowl populations were nearly non-existent for most of the month. It was not until May when populations began to build up. A peak population of approximately 3,500 ducks were present by the end of June,
Most nesting activity did not begin to take place on the refuge until well into Hay and June. The first brood of ducks, a pintail brood, was observed on May 29.
Total duck production on Arapaho amounted to 2,575 which was about one-half the production of the previous year. The large decrease is attributed to the extremely late spring in 1979. Estimates of duck production for 1979 were derived from a combination of nesting transects and brood counts. Prior to 1979 all production estimates were based on brood counts. Table 1 contains production data for both ducks and geese for each year since Arapaho was established.
Total duck use in 1979 dropped to 566,531 use-days. The late spring, overflight of much of the spring migration and subsequent poor production resulted in decreased duck use on the refuge this year. By the first week of November with all of the refuge ponds frozen, most of the few remaining ducks left the refuge.
b. Geese
Canada geese were first observed on March 23. A spring population of approximately 30 birds were observed on the refuge during the months of April and May.
*r! Table 1. Estimated duck and Canada gopse production on the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge, 1969-1979
YEAR Species 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
Common merganser 0 0 10 0 6 8 0 8 8 13 0 Mallard 40 100 525 700 627 650 517 566 363 663 245 Gadwall 25 20 140 145 235 247 337 483 446 856 476 American wlgeon 65 65 350 220 322 345 412 402 224 821 98 Green-winged teal 25 55 150 185 140 244 295 354 352 500 219 Blue-winged/ Cinnamon teal 5 20 145 105 83 196 218 402 507 421 376 Northern shoveler 0 10 80 140 138 247 167 113 210 V 515 80 Pintail 10 35 500 280 449 555 472 661 275 400 373 Redhead 0 0 75 10 17 52 20 85 128 289 190 Canvasback 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 7 23 Lesser scaup 0 0 0 345 386 570 410 635 156 510 474 Ruddy 0 0 65 35 42 50 59 77 76 138 13 Ring-neck 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 Bufflehaad 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2) Canada goose 0 0 0 5 5 4 0 7 0 21 48
Total Ducks 170 305 2,040 2,165 2,445 3,164 2,914 3,786 2,745 5,133 2,575
1) Duck production estimates in 1969-78 are based on brood counts, 1979 estimates are based on nesting g transects and brood counts. 2) Canada goose production estimates are based on brood counts for all years. 14. Total goose production amounted to 48 goslings, more than double the production of the previous year. The significant production Increase can probably be partially attributed to the construction of brood ponds and nesting Islands the year before.
A population of between 80 and 100 birds utilized the refuge during the fall months. By the first of November all of the birds had left the refuge.
c. Swans
Although a few whistling swans have been observed on the refuge In past years, none were observed this year.
d. Coot
A peak population of 600 coot were present on the refuge during the months of June and July. This is down from the peak of 800 recorded last year.
2. Marsh and Water Birds
Nothing unusual to report. The refuge's nesting population of black-crowned night herons expanded somewhat this year as new habitat (flooded willows) was created with the construction of several waterfowl brood ponds adjacent to the Illinois River.
3. Shoreblrds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species
Nothing unusual to report,
4. Raptors
The most common raptor nesting on Arapaho was the Swalnson's hawk. Long-eared owls, great horned owls and American kestrels also nest on the refuge In smaller numbers.
Marsh hawks were abundant during the spring and summer months although no nests were observed. There was a large influx of rough-legged hawks on the refuge In the fall with fewer numbers present after winter set in.
The golden eagle is a common year around resident on Arapaho. Three injured golden eagles, reported to us, were taken to Skyline Veter inarian Hospital in Laramie, Wyoming for proper treatment and care. Two of the eagles eventually died while the third one recuperated and was released on the refuge. All of the golden eagles were Injured In association with eating carrion on or along highways. 15 The birds either are not fast enough to fly from the highway when traffic approaches or they fly into passing vehicles from the roadside. Vehicle travel on the highways in North Park takes a number of birds each year.
No bald eagles were observed on the refuge in 1979.
5. Other Migratory Birds
Two new species were observed on the refuge this year. Several water pipits were observed on the Brocket and Case tracts in early Hay and a ruby-crowned kinglet was observed on May 15 on the Allard tract.
Matnmals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others
1. Game Mammals
A herd of Rocky Mountain elk wintered on the Case and Hampton tracts of the refuge. The peak population during the 1978-1979 winter months was 72 animals. Due to the mild winter so far this winter, the elk have not retreated to the lower elevations.
^ cow m008e with her calf spent most of the summer in the willow thickets bordering the Illinois River on the Allard tract. In the fall the cow and calf moved on up the river to spend the winter on the more forested mountainous areas of Routt National Forest.
Moose were first reintroduced into North Park in the winter of 1978 by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Additional moose were released in the winter of 1979. The population has now expanded to 42 animals from the original reintroduced population of 24 animals and is doing quite well.
Mule deer are present on the refuge throughout the year but are most common during the winter months. A herd of approximately 400 mule deer used the slopes of Owl Ridge just above the Allard subheadquarters during the months of February, March Mid April.
Pronghoms are usually present on the refuge the year around. A peak population of approximately 400 animals were present at various times during the months of January and again in December. An estimated 50 young were produced on and adjacent to the refuge.
2. Other Mammals
The beaver population has continued to Increase on the refuge. A die off, presumably from tularemia, occurred along a stretch of the Illinois River south of the Allard subheadquarters in August. In 1980 we hope to do some live trapping in cooperation with the Colorado
A cow moose and her calf spent most of the summer on the Illinois River bottom north of the Allard sub- headquarters. The yellow neck collar contains a radio transmitter for relocation purposes.
6/79 Lapham
An immature common merganser that was produced on the Brocker Tract.
8/79 Brewer 16 Division of Wildlife and transplant some of the population to other areas where they are needed. The Bureau of Land Management has Indicated that they have a couple areas where they need a beaver population.
^usfcrat population continues to Increase each year with the construction of new waterfowl brood ponds. So far the population has not caused any serious problems with dikes and other structures.
Coyotes were seen daily throughout the year along with the long- tailed weasel which was very abundant in 1979.
There are several white-tailed prairie dog towns on the refuge, most of which are located on the Case tract. The RichardsonTs ground squirrel is abundant throughout most of the refuge and is often found in association with the prairie dog towns.
The badger is rather common on the refuge while the mink, raccoon, and striped skunk are all present in lesser numbers.
3. Resident Birds
Sage grouse are year around residents on Arapaho with an estimated population of 500-550 birds. Production was down somewhat this year with an estimated 200 birds produced.
The black-billed magpie, common raven and common crow are abundant year around residents on the refuge.
4. Other Animal Life
The German brown trout makes up approximately 95% of the trout population in the Illinois River with brook and rainbow trout making the rest of the population.
Other species of fish present in the river include the northern redhorse sucker, western longnose sucker, western white sucker and several species of daces and minnows.
The Johnny darter which is listed as a threatened species in Colorado by the Division of Wildlife was discovered on the refuge in the Illinois River this past summer. Division of Wildlife personnel discovered the fish while specifically searching for endangered or threatened species that might be in the river system.
17. v- INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION
A. Information and Interpretation
1. On-Refuge
Host on-refuge Information and Interpretation Involved explaining and showing some of our management practices to refuge visitors as they are contacted In the field by the refuge staff engaged in other duties.
Both the YCC and YACC enrollees were given liberal doses of refuge and wildlife management propaganda at every opportunity. Since most enrollees come from the local community, and since most natives display little favor toward the refuge or its programs, strong efforts are made to inform these young people about the objectives of and needs for the refuge.
Assistant Manager Wilson spent the entire day of June 21 with 11 biology students and their professor from Ball State University explaining various management practices and problems. The students were on tour as part of a credit class so they paid close attention and took a lot of notes.
Bio-Aid Rachel Davidson gave a tour of the refuge to 24 4-H Camp enrollees and five adults from the Colorado State Forest on June 26 and then again on July 10 she gave a tour to 30 enrollees and five leaders of the Colorado State Forest YCC Camp.
2. Off-Refuge
Manager Patten and YACC Group Leader Alfonso attended a meeting on the greater sandhill crane at Steamboat Springs, Colorado on March 27 sponsored by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service.
Patten and Assistant Manager Wilson attended a BLM Visual Resource Inventory meeting in Walden on the evening of July 12.
Patten showed the film "To Strike the Balance" to the Jackson County Lions Club in November.
Patten and Brewer attended a reorganizational meeting of the Jackson County Lions Club in February, joined the club and were both elected to offices.
Administrative Clerk Barbara Smith was elected chairman of the Town of Walden Planning Commission and was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Colorado Women's Bowling Association. She is secretary of the Local Junior Bowling Assoniation and a Director of the local Women's Association.
18. Manager Patten again sponsored a refuge bowling team *diich competes in the local Tuesday night league.
B. Recreation
1. Wildlife Oriented
We reported last year that fishing on Arapaho appeared to be going downhill. During 1979 this assumption was proved to be true. Very few brown trout were taken and catch per hour of fishing was only about .18 fish compared to .36 in 1978 and the high of .62 in 1975. This low success quickly discouraged the anglers and only 248 activity hours of fishing were recorded which is considerably less than the 356 which took place during 1978.
Antelope hunting was permitted again for the third consecutive year. The short season (3 days) and limited number of permits issued for this section of Jackson County results in very light hunting pressure on the refuge proper. No pronghorns were taken within the actual refuge boundary but six different hunters did expend 24 activity hours on the refuge in pursuit of their quarry.
This was the second year that sage grouse hunting has been a recrea tional use on Arapaho. The season again lasted 16 days which included three weekends. Hunting pressure was higher this year than last as more people became aware that the area was open to hunting. There were 287 birds bagged by 261 hunters which amounts to 1.10 grouse taken per hunter visit. In 1978 there were 120 hunters who bagged 210 birds or 1,75 grouse per hunter visit. Most of the use occurred the first weekend and after that the birds were very difficult to find which quickly discouraged the nimrods.
2. Non-Wildlife Oriented
Nothing to report.
C. Enforcement
The small amount of public use on Arapaho Incurs comparatively few problems or incidents.
Patrol activity and bag checks were carried out during the fishing, pronghom and sage grouse seasons not only for law enforcement purposes but also to collect information and for public relations.
Patten, Wilson and Brewer worked off-refuge during the regular water fowl season. Two cases, one overbag and one failure to leave evidence of species, were made with the defendants both taking State penalty assessments.
*Tt 1^.
One violator, dressed In a complete set of buckskins, was apprehended on the Case tract hunting coyotes. When asked what he was doing he replied that he was just walking as therapy for a bad leg and that the r^fle was merely protection against badgers. One of the bio-alds had previously contacted him off the refuge and told him he couldn't hunt on the refuge and pointed out the refuge boundary signs. This man, who we have nicknamed Jeremiah Johnson, looked at him kind of funny and said, "Aw, I just don't pay no never mind to them signs." He was given a citation and when he failed to appear In court a bench warrant was Issued for his arrest. The warrant was run through the CCIC computer which revealed that there were two other warrants outstanding. One was for another misdemeanor and one for a felony i.e. aggravated vehicle theft. He has disappeared. The last time he was seen, he was heading south out of town carrying a backpack and still dressed in the same buckskins and moccasins.
While elk hunting Manager Patten overheard the conversation of some other hunters which indicated a violation. The information was reported to the local WCO who investigated and obtained a confession which resulted in a $200 fine.
Patten was also in the right place at the right time during antelope season and observed a hunter shoot a pronghom from his pickup on a public road. After some hassling through the court, a $200 fine was paid and the animal forfeited and donated to a local non-profit organization.
VI. OTHER ITEMS
Field Investigations
1. Waterfowl Nesting
During the fall of 1978 preliminary plans and preparations were made to conduct an annual waterfowl nesting study on Arapaho. This study is being coordinated with and spearheaded by Lonnle Schroeder, the Area 5 Biologist. A copy of the first progress report is attached at the end of this narrative which explains the objectives and progress thus far.
2. Illinois River Fishery
Fisheries Biologist Bruce Rosenlund visited Arapaho on two different occasions to gather information and determine the status of the Illinois River fishery. His first trip on May 7 and 8 was plagued with high water in the Illinois which hampered shocking and netting operations. Only one three inch brown trout was turned up on this excursion. YACC Work Leader Jim Alfonso hard at work.
5/79 Wilson
A fish poacher? No, it's Bio-Aid Joan Lapham making a surface sweep in '76 Pond as part of the inverte brate study that she conducted.
8/79 Patten A fish poacher? No, it's Bio-Aid Joan Lapham making a surface sweep in '76 Pond as part of the inverte brate study that she conducted.
8/79 Patten
During September water and weather conditions were more conducive to the shocking and gill net opera tions performed by Fisheries Biologist Bruce Rosenlund and the refuge crew.
9/79 Wilson
i
V XI 20. Mr. Rosenlund returned again during October when water levels were lower and obtained good samplings. We are still awaiting his final report and recommendations. \ It appears that the population of brown trout has been reduced drastically for two reasons. One is heavy fishing pressure and the other is loss of suitable spawning habitat due to the increasing number of beaver ponds in the river.
Cooperative Programs
Refuge personnel work with the Colorado Division of Wildlife in many activities. During January the refuge staff assisted DOW with their moose re-Introduction project by plowing open and maintaining the five miles of road to a transplant site on the upper Illinois River above Rand, Colorado. A total of 21 moose, obtained from the State of Wyoming were released on National Forest land on January 15 and 16.
Comments were prepared on the proposed lightning Ridge subdivision adjacent to the refuge for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.
Snowed in roads on BIM lands were plowed out for the Colorado Division of Wildlife so they could conduct sage grouse studies and reach the strutting grounds.
Dr. Lowell McEwen, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center was issued a permit to collect one egg from each of 20 black-crowned night heron nests on Arapaho and Button Lake Refuges for research studies on egg shell thickness and presence of DDE.
On July 20, Manager Patten met with Mr. J.H. Pachter, Environmental Engineer for Union Pacific Railroad, concerning possible future use of presently abandoned railroad tracks through the refuge for coal development at Coalmont.
Assistance was given Carse Pusmueller of the Natural Areas Program in the location and identification of the rare and endangered plant Phacella formosula on the bluffs adjacent to the Michigan River just north of Walden.
Refuge personnel assisted ADC in conducting their annual coyote trend counts. Two separate transects, one each in Jackson and Grand Counties were run for five consecutive days in September.
Arapaho hosted its third YCC camp in 1979. The camp was 5-day non residential and lasted for six weeks. Original plans were for 16 enrolleea but because of the shortage of available youth in this area we had only 10. This years YCC camp was undoubtedly the most successful ever at Arapaho. This station has been informed that, because of the scarcity of available enrollees, Arapaho will not be hosting a YCC camp in 1980.
21 At the beginning of the year YACC Group Leader Jim Alfonso had nine enrollees on board including two who were working for the Colorado Division of Wildlife State Ranch at Hot Sulphur Springs. The big shake-up in the entire YACC program resulted in Jim being RIFed in June. At that time only one enrollee was still employed and she stayed only a short time. The termination of the YACC program has damaged our public relations image in the community even further as several community projects which were planned and anticipated never came to pass.
Arapaho was authorized two YACC enrollees later in the year but no work leader. Connie Miller and Chuck Meyer were hired to fill these slots on October 22. Meyer was terminated effective November 24 and the year was ended with only Connie on the rolls. Following are some of the YACC projects completed during the year; 1. A number of signs were constructed for the local U.S. Forest Service Ranger District. 2. Assistance was given the Colorado Division of Wildlife in trans porting and erecting big game stackyard protective panels. 3. Approximately 40 artificial goose nesting structures were constructed for the State. 4. Ten picnic tables were constructed for the local community. 5. A large directory sign for the Soil Conservation District office building was routed, finished and erected. New steel entrance doors were also installed on this building and painted. 6. A 30' flagpole was fabricated and installed at the front of the SCD building. 7. Water rights records and testimony was compiled and assembled in an orderly easy to find fashion at the Jackson County Registrars office. 8. Leader Alfonso was instrumental in getting transect markers set up for the waterfowl nesting study.
C. Items of Interest
1, Fersonnel Changes
No changes took place in the permanent staff.
Greg Hogue entered on duty as a biological aid on February 6, 1979 and completed his appointment on August 2.
Bio-Aid Guy Stees entered on duty April 23 and Bio-Aids Rachel Davidson and Joan Lapham entered on duty April 30 to begin their 130 day appointments, Stees resigned in June for personal reasons and Lapham and Davidson were both terminated in October at the end of their appointments.
Mark Lindvall was hired as a Bio-Aid on August 14 and transferred to Parker River NWR in Massachusetts on November 30 to accept a permanent full-time position as a Recreation Planner. "Let's see - what did I do Monday?" Biological Aid Joan Lapham completing her time card.
9/79 Wilson 22.
2. Personnel Training
a. Wilson - Law Enforcement Training at Glynco, Georgia on 2/5 - 3/4/79. Understanding and Managing Human Behavior at Denver, Colorado on 9/12-14/79.
b. Brewer - Introduction to Supervision at Salt Lake City on 1/22 - 26/79. Canadian Banding Assignment in July and August.
c. Smith - YGC training in Denver on 5/14-18/79. Administrative Workshop at Salt Lake City, Utah in January,
3. Employee Awards
None to report.
4. Credits
Patten wrote all of parts I, III, and IV. Wilson wrote Parts II, V, and VI. Barbara Smith did the typing, lettered covers and assembled the report.
D. Safety
No lost-time accidents occurred at Arapaho during the year. The only accidents that did occur Involved YCC and YACC enrollees and were of a minor nature.
Safety meetings are held monthly at which time many different relavent topics are discussed. Responsibility for each formal safety meeting is rotated among the staff members.
E. Revenue Sharing
One-half of the in lieu of tax payment for the refuge ($20,976.00) was delivered to the Jackson County Treasurer in Walden on January 28, 1980. The balance of the revenue sharing payment will be paid as soon as Congress passes the Fiscal Year 1980 supplemental appropriation. BAMFORTH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WYOMING
Administered by Arapaho NWR P.O. Box 457 Walden, Colorado
Bamforth was visited only once this year and that being to discuss the grazing situation with the local permittee.
One grazing permit is issued covering unfenced refuge land lying adjacent to neighboring pasture. HUTTON LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WYOMING
Administered by Arapaho NWR P.O. Box 457 Walden, Colorado
Hutton Lake was visited by Arapaho personnel seven times for inspection, census and water management during 1979.
For the first time in many years a decent supply of water was available for the refuge. In April large amounts of run-off water completely filled Rush Lake and spilled over into Lake George. Then on May 29, the Water Commissioner James Pugh called to say that more water was available from Sand Creek, The gates to Rush Lake were opened and about 30 cfs were diverted for almost three weeks. Fresh water was provided to all five lakes including Hutton and Creighton which had not received any water for three years.
Waterfowl production was only about average in spite of the excellent water conditions with 430 ducks, 5 Canada geese and 50 coot being produced.
Ray Hart, Realty, R.O., visited Hutton Lake and Bamfmrth Refuges for land value appraisals.
Lowell McEwen of Patuxent Wildlife Research Center was issued a permit to collect one egg from each of 20 black-crowned night heron nests for research studies on egg shell thickness and the presence of DDE,
Sarah Brown, University of Wyoming, was issued a permit to conduct muskrat studies on Rueh Lake during the period September 24, 1979 to December 31, 1979. The study involved the behavior and feeding activities of muskrats and did not involve any trapping of individuals. No grazing is permitted on Hutton Lake NWR but the adjacent pastures are heavily used as is evidenced here along the north boundary of the West 40.
5/30/79 Patten
j©
Sand Creek water was diverted into Hutton Lake Refuge in quantity this year. Here 30 c.f.s. is flowing beautifully into Rush Lake from which all the other lakes are fed. PATHFINDER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WYOMING
Administered by Arapaho NWR P.O. Box 457 Walden, Colorado
Due to the lack of funds and manpower and the distance involved. Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge was visited only once in 1979. On January 24, 1979, Assistant Area Manager and Assistant Refuge Manager Wilson attended a meeting in Casper, Wyoming conducted by the Water and Power Resources Service regarding an overall manage ment plan for Pathfinder Reservoir by the various agencies Involved,
During the year there was a considerable amount of correspondence between Arapaho and the Water and Power Resources Service, Bureau of Land Management and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department concerning Pathfinder Reservoir. Host of the correspondence centered around public use activities on the refuge and the need of a comprehensive management plan for the entire area.
The low water elevation in Pathfinder Reservoir was 5,822,16t on September 30, 1979 reflecting a 17.681 drop since the first of June. The low water elevation was however, 4.24f above the low elevation recorded the previous year. ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT - 1979
TITLE: Waterfowl Production on the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge
PERSONNEL:
Principal Investigators:
Lonnie Schroeder, Refuge Biologist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Salt Lake City, Utah
Eugene Patten, Refuge Manager U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge
Bill Wilson, Assistant Refuge Manager U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge
November 29, 1979 INTRODUCTION
An intensive study of waterfowl production on the Arapaho
National Wildlife Refuge was initiated in May, 1979. This effort
was preceded by the preparation of a detailed study proposal
(reference copy attached), which was written by the Refuge Biologist,
the Refuge Manager and the Assistant Refuge Manager. The proposal
was subsequently approved by the Area Manager and the Assistant
Area Manager for Refuges and Wildlife. Justification for the study,
detailed methodologies, project schedule, project responsibilities,
and manpower and cost estimates are included in the proposal.
The objectives set forth in the study proposal, as listed
below, form the basis for a multi-ohased ongoing study approach.
Additional objectives may be ammended, as warranted, and as time
permits their implementation.
OBJECTIVES
1. To type-map the major vegetative communities on
Refuge lands and lands proposed to come under Refuge
control.
2. To angually estimate waterfowl production on the Refuge
by species and habitat type.
3. To assess the effects of varying grazing intensities on
waterfowl nesting densities on the refuge. 4. To assess trends in aquatic macroinvertebrate population
densities on the Refuge. i
• <
METHODOLOGIES :
(Presented in the attached proposal ) • ilTTtT,; . • .
RESULTS
Vegetative Type-Mapping
Vegetative type-mapoing of all lands currently owned by the Refuge and those lands scheduled to come under Refuge control was comoleted in 1979. Major vegetative communities and permanent wetlands were delineated on an aerial mosaic of '/V ;,;;J ' I . the Refuge and subsequently planimetered. Results are presented in Table 1.
• • . Waterfowl Production
In 1979 waterfowl nest searches were conducted on systemati cally placed line transects which encompassed 11,820 acres of the
14,586 acres presently owned by the Refuge. The sampling intensity was 5.5 percent (i.e. 650 acres were searched in their entirety).
The number and percent species composition of duck nests found on
transects is presented in Table 2. It w/as estimated that 527 i duck nests were present on the 11,820 acres sampled. There was
a 26 percent level of confidence associated with the estimate of • j ; ra .. . ' . V nest numbers. In other words, in 95 out of 100 cases the true
number of nests in the sampled area would fall between 390 and
664. Nest success was determihed to be 63 percent. Eight nests were known to have been destroyed by predators--two were i,,j believed to have been destroyed by avian predators and six by mammalian predators. Species of nest predators could not be determined, however, the most common potential nest predators known to be on the Refuge are coyotes, Richardson's ground squirrels, magpies, crows and ravens. The average distance of nests from open water (not including irrigation channels) was 258 meters
(282 yards). The average maximum cover height at nest sites was
5.4 decimeters (1.7 feet). The average Robel pole reading (i.e. index to height-density of cover) at nest sites was 2.9 decimeters
(0.9 feet). Primary duck nesting cover types within a 12-inch radius of nests are presented in Table 3. Seventeen percent of nests were located in non-irrigated brush-grassland areas which constitutes 46 percent of the Refuge's land area; whereas, 76 percent ' '-4 T. of nests were located in irrigated meadows! and irrigated brush- grassland areas which constitutes 46 percent of the Refuge's land area. Within the area searched for nests, one nest was located per
22.4 acres. The average clutch size of successful nests was eight eggs.
Whereas, the average brood size at class IIC-III (flight stage) was
6.4, indicating a 20 percent loss of ducklings between hatching and the flight stage.
Estimated total duck production on the Refuge in 1979 was 2,575.
This is a decrease of 50 percent from the 1978 level of 5,133 ducks produced. In 1979 duck production was 15 percent below the 1971-
/ 78 average of 3,040 (1971 was the first year in which duck production reached a moderate level since the Refuge's inception). During the
1971-79 period, duck production decreased below the most previous
year's level in only 3 years. Duck and Canada goose production
estimates are presented in Table 4 for the 1969-79 period (1969 •\ was the year of Refuge inception). Estimates of duck production for
the 1969-78 period were derived solely from brood counts; whereas - 5 the 1979 estimates were derived from a combination of nesting transects
and brood counts. A comparison of duck production estimates derived
from these methods was made in 1979 to determine if there were marked
differences in the results. This comparison yielded similar
production estimates--!,905 using brood counts and 2,575 using combined
brood counts and nesting transects. However, some areas of the Illinois
River were not censused for broods, which icould account for the lower
estimate using the "total brood count" method.
Effects of Grazing on Nesting Density and Success
In 1979 four adjacent pastures of similar size (258-306 acres each), vegetative growth stage, vegetative species composition, relief, • f grazing history and amount of wetland (6.6-12.9 acres each) were
selected to study the effects of varying grazing intensities on waterfowl nesting densities and success, pastures were assigned ; / ' "if 3 ; grazing intensities which will remain constant in each pasture for
the duration of the study; one pasture will remain a non-grazed control area. Grazing intensities in the remaining three pastures were established in accordance with SCS and BLM guidelines. One pasture was grazed heavily (80 percent removal of a favored vegetative species), one was grazed moderately (50 percent removal of a favored vegetative species) and one wa§ grazed lightly (20 percent removal of a favored vegetative species). These intensities were achieved
on schedule during the period of August 1 - October 31, 1979. The 1979
(pre-grazing) Robel pole readings showed the average residual height- density of cover in pastures was 0.5 decimeters (2 inches) for all pastures combined. There were no significant differences (P<0.05)
in height-density of residual cover among pastures prior to initiation
of grazing.
Pastures were searched twice in their entirety for waterfowl
nests, nests which were active during the second search were re
located and their fates determined during a third partial search.
Searches were all conducted at the scheduled 27-day interval in 1979.
Thirty-seven duck nests were found on the 1,136 acres encompassed by
the four pastures in 1979 (i.e. 1 nest per 30.7 acres). Numbers of
nests found per acre in each pasture were compared among pastures in
1979 and will be compared among pastures and years in 1980-81. A
comparison of numbers of nests found per acre in the four adjacent
pastures in 1979 showed a notable result. As nest searchers
preceded to pastures away from the northern-most pasture, which
borders on a newly constructed 12 acres brood pond, the number of nests
per acre in each pasture became progressively and markedly less.
More specifically, the pasture bordering the brood pond contained
-5- 1 nest per 12.3 acres (the Refuge average was 1 nest per 22.4 acres); as searchers preceded south respective densities were 1 nest per 33.3 acres, 1 nest per 45.3 acres and 1 nest per 305.9 acres.
Invertebrate Populations
Aquatic invertebrates were collected at weekly intervals in four ponds on the Refuge from May 8 through August 28, 1979. Two of the ponds were constructed in the fall of 1978 (hereafter called new brood ponds), one pond was constructed 3 years ago and the remaining pond was natural (hereafter called old brood ponds). Two surface sweep net samples and two bottom dredge samples were taken at a fixed station in each pond. Water temperature, depth and turbidity readings were recorded at each station on each sampling date. Predominant plant genera were also recorded at each station. Macroinvertebrates were
separated from other materials in samples, and were counted and identified
to family level. Comparisons of diversity and abundance of macro-
invertebrates between the new brood ponds and the old brood ponds were made.
Thirty-three families of macroinvertebrates were collected
in net and dredge samples in the new brood ponds, whereas 42 families
were collected in the old brood ponds. The number of families j decreased over the sampling period in the hew brood ponds and
increased in the old brood ponds. Numbers of individuals collected "-.H f increased over time in new and old brood ponds. Six families comprised
90 percent of macroinvertebrates collected in the new brood ponds. Chironomidae (midge larvae) was the predominant family collected in the the new ponds, accounting for 62 percent of individuals collected in net and dredge samples. Other major families encountered were Lemnaeidae
(gastropod) - 13 percent of individuals collected; Corixidae (water boatmen) - 7 percent; Planorbidae (gastropod) - 2 percent; Baetidae
• • ' • ' '1 . •• .••VP; 'i (magflies) - 4 percent; and Dytiscidae (diving beetles) - 2 percent.
The remaining 10 percent was comprised of 28 other families. Five
families comprised 88 percent of macroinvertebrates collected in the old brood ponds. Talitridae ("fresh1 water shrimp") was the most predominant
family collected in net and dredge samples, accounting for 38 percent of
individuals collected. Other major families collected were Chironomidae
27 percent of individuals collected; Grommaridae (amphipod) - 17 percent;
Corixidae - 3 percent; and Dytiscidae - 3 percent. The remaining 12
percent was comprised of 37 other families.
Average numbers of individuals collected per net sample over
the collection period was 38 (range 2-155) in new brood ponds and
76 (range 2-277) in old brood ponds. Average numbers of individuals
collected per dredge sample over the collection period was 45 (range
2-202) in new brood ponds and 66 (range 13-117) in old brood ponds.
T-tests were perfomied to test for differences in numbers of individuals
collected within major families between new and old brood ponds.
Mo differences were found (P<0.05)-
Numbers of individuals collected in all ponds peaked in July,
when water temperatures were highest (approximately 70°). Numbers of
families in new brood ponds peaked at 22 in early June, whereas,
they peaked at 29 in mid-July in the old brood ponds.
-7- Water depth, temperature and turbidity were more variable in
the new brood ponds. Water depth varied by approximately 43 cm
(17 inches) in the new ponds and by approximately 34 cm (13 inches)
in the old ponds. Water temperatures ranged between 30° and 70°
during the collection period. Turbidity dould not be validly compared
among ponds because water was of sufficient clarity that the secchi
disk would often hit bottom at 91-107 cm. (3.0-3.5 feet) while it was
still well visible, particularly in the old brood ponds. Graphic
examination of turbidity data showed that turbidity was generally
higher in the new brood ponds.
Major plant genera in the new ponds were Salix (willow),. Scirpus
(bulrush), Agrostis (grass family) and Fesituca (grass family). Bottom characteristics in new ponds consisted primarily of matted decaying
grasses without much mud or silt. Major plant genera in the old
ponds were Potamogeton (pondweed), Myriophyllum (water-milfoil),
Najas (naiad family). Ranunculus (crowfoot), and Beckmannia (sloughgrass;
Bottom characteristics in old ponds consisted primarily of mud, silt and small particles of organic detritus. " -' .. _ ' ' • , . r- .'•i ' -• ' • i 7 • ' • •/ r' In summary of this section, it was shown that in new brood /.i t , - ponds a moderate diversity of invertebrate: fami1ies was present, while numbers of individuals per family was relatively low. It is believed that many of these families were opportunists, first to col oni :e newly formed habitats. Over time, as the environmental tactors in these ponds stabilize, many of the early colonizers will likely be limited or eradicated because of limiting factors in their rapidly changing environment. Available niches in the new ponds will
-8- become filled with fewer species, but with increased numbers of individuals per species. However, given adequate time, pond bottoms will become silted and aquatic vegetation will become more diverse, more niches will become available and morfe species of invertebrates and ip ividuals per species will likely be present. This principle wa . woll displayed in the brood pond studies; new ponds decreased in number of taxa and increased in numbers of individuals per taxa over the collection period, whereas the stable environments of the old ponds increased in numbers of taxa and number of individuals per taxa over the collection period. Differences in bottom characteristics and vegetation likely influenced the family diversity between new and old ponds. Siltier bottoms, which are preferable for burrowing organisms such as amphipods, and a diversity of aquatic vegetation in the old ponds provide many more niches, hence, these ponds support a higher number of families and individuals per family.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Marked preferences were shown for irrigated meadow, and irrigated brush-grassland cover types by nesting hens. Markedly higher nesting densities occurred in close proximity to brood ponds. Permanent water presently occupies only 2.9 percent (675 acres) of Refuge lands
(Table 1). Most of this water represents flow in the Illinois River, which is of low quality for feeding and brood rearing because it is usually flowing rapidly during the nesting season. There is consi derable latitude for development of additional wetlands on the Refuge.
I believe it is presently the primary limirting factor to waterfowl nesting on the Refuge. Consequently, I recommend that an intensive teg?''*. U • i . effort be made to construct additional brood ponds in low-lying
areas which are currently irrigated or have the capability of being
irrigated. I also recommend that ponds be constructed in irrigable upland areas where "check-dams" can be constructed relatively
inexpensively. Preferably relief in these areas should allow for a
shallow feather-edge around the perifery for brood feeding and escape
cover in emergent vegetation. Contour furrowing in irrigable areas
with low relief should also be considered as a means of waterfowl
habitat development, which would supplement pond construction.
While conducting transect searches it was noted that several areas
in the irrigated meadows were inundated with shallow water, rendering
these areas very unattractive to nesting ducks. It is recognized that
with the current irrigation channels and control structures, irrigation
cannot be closely regulated in many areas. However, in areas where
irrigation can be regulated, I recommend that two or three applications
of water (^-1 inch deep), two or three days in duration and applied at
weekly intervals, should be made. This will stimulate and support
annual growth, but should have minimal impact on establishment of
nests, nest abandonment or flooding of nest.
Invertebrate data collected in new and old brood ponds on the
Refuge suggest that invertebrate diversity and abundance is sufficient
to meet the dietary requirements of current breeding waterfowl popula
tions and their broods. As recently constructed ponds age, and as
new ponds are constructed, invertebrate abundance will likely increase
and arroimnodato an expanding breeding waterfowl population. Due to
the high qualtiy of water available on the Refuge, the absence of rough fish populations, and the liklihood that these conditions will
persist in the foreseeable future, I believe that invertebrate food
availability will remain sufficient and vyill not limit the potential
of the Refuge for attracting Breeding waterfowl. Futhermore. this
effort is relatively labor intensive (60 percent of a full time techni
cians time) and there is a need for as much help as possible on several
other projects at this time of year. Given the foregoing favorable
results from the 1979 invertebrate work, I believe this facet of the overall study can be terminated.
Lastly, I recommend that range site evaluations be conducted and
systematic vegetative transect readings be taken on each grazing study pasture during 1980-82. This will enable us to ascertain the effects of grazing intensity on the vegetative species composition and density of cover, by range site and study pasture.
#K' • -n- Table 1. Acreages of primary vegetative Communities and permanent wetlands on the Arapaho NWR, 1979 (also includes areas scheduled to come under Refuge control).
i Vegetative Community (or water) r Acreage Percent
Dominant brush-grass understory 10,799 45.9
Irrigated meadows 9,887 42.0
Irrigated brush-grass complexes 1,297 5.5
Permanent water 675 2.9
Dominant brush-grass secondary 316 1.3
Willows 295 1.3
Short grass prairie 257 1.1
TOTAL 23,526 100.0 Table 2. Number and species composition of duck nests found on transects
Species Number Percent I'VwS- 1 T : - -.V':. Blue-Winged/Cinnamon Teal 6 20.7 ' • : HiV.' ,. •c • \rj 4 ' • Mallard 5 17.2
Scaup 4 13.8
Pi ntai1 3 10.3
• i Green-Winged Teal 3 10.3
Unknown 3 10.3
Gadwal1 2 6.9 «i, W' S- ' • ^ : • •• Redhead 5, '•'r':: 2 6.9 -•••'-•MM'
Shoveler 1 3.4
99.8 Table 3. Primary duck nesting cover types within a 12-inch radius of nests.
Dominant Plants Number of Nests Percent
Slough grasses (common and American) 17.2
Unidentified grasses 17.2
Slough grasses and Baltic rush 10.3
Sage brush and unidentified grasses 10.3
Sage brush 10.3
Baltic rush 6.9
Slough grasses and unidentified grasses 6.9 ' ., ' • r ' • £ v. !'V ^ Baltic rush and unidentified grasses 6,9 4 Willow and slough grasses 3.4
Alkali bullrush and slough grasses 3.4
Greasewood and slough grasses 3.4
Unknown 3.4
TOTAL 29 99.6
• i i ' *4 ; 1
4 1
-14- Table 4. Estimated duck and Canada goose production on the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge, 1969-1979.
Year ^ Species 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
Common Merganser u 0 10 0 6 8 0 8 8 13 0 Mallard 40 100 525 700 627 650 517 566 363 663 245 Gadwall 25 20 140 145 235 247 337 483 446 856 476 American Wigeon '65' 65 350 220 322 345 412 402 224 821 98 Green-Winged Teal L. J 55 150 185 140 244 295 354 352 500 219 Blue Winged/ Cinnamon Teal 5 20 145 105 83 196 218 402 507 421 376 Northern Shoveler 0 10 80 140 138 247 v 167 113 210 SIS 80 Pintail 10 35 500 280 449 555 472 661 275 400 373 Redhead 0 0 75 10 - 17 52 20 85 128 289 190 Canvasback 0 0 0 O 0 0 7 0 0 7 23 Lesser Scaup 0 0 a 345 386 570 410 635 156 510 - 474 Ruddy 0 0 65 35 42 50 59 77 76 138 13 Ring-Neck 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 Bufflehead 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Canada Goose^ 0 0 0 5 5 4 0 7 0 21 48
Total Duck's 170 305 2,040 2,165 2,445 3,164 . 2 ,914 3,786 2,745 5,133 2,575 Vi " ;•
Duck production estimates in 1969-78 are based on brood counts, 1979 estimates are based on nesting transects Canada goose production estimates are based on brood counts for all years.