Jackson, Wyoming
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1983
r US Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM Left to right: Bob Rowley, Betty Parrish, Roger Pape, Barbara Hayden, Everett Russell, Rees Madsen, John Wilbrecht, David Trudeau, Jim Griffin, Bruce Smith. NATIONAL ELK REFUGE PERMANENT EMPLOYEES Employee Position and Grade EOD John E. Wilbrecht Project Leader 07-31-77 GS-484-13 1/ Rees L. Madsen—' Refuge Manager 10-30-83 GS-485-11 (Asst Project Leader)
Bruce L. Smith Wildlife Biologist (Mgmt) 06-13-82 GS-485-11
James M. Griffin Outdoor Recreation Planner 06-03-79 GS-023-09
Betty L. Parrish Administrative Officer 01-11-81 GS-347-07
Barbara E. Hayden Clerk Typist 02-07-82 GS-322-04
Roger D. Pape Engr. Equipment Mechanic 03-30-67 WG-5803-11
Robert R. Rowley Biol. Technician (Wildlife) 12-18-67 GS-404-05/00
Everett R. Russell Biol. Technician (Wildlife) 06-15-80 GS-404-07
David J. Trudeau Biol. Technician (Wildlife) 02-22-81 GS-404-06
1/ Replacement for John Decker, Asst Refuge Mgr, who transferred to Law Enforcement, Portland, Oregon. I
i. Marilyn McElheney, Biol. Aid (Sleigh Ride Visitor Center seasonal employee).
NATIONAL ELK REFUGE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES
Employee Position & Grade Status EOD Terminated Sherie Bartsh Biol. Aid (Wildlife) TFT 10-25-82 GS-404-04
Vernon Burnside Biol. Aid (Irrigator) TFT 05-15-83 05-19-83 GS-404-03
Dale Farley Biol. Aid (Fisheries) TFT 05-15-83 GS-404-03
Robert Fisher Biol. Aid (Irrigator) TFT 06-08-83 09-30-83 GS-404-02
Jackie Gilmore Biol. Aid (Wildlife) TPT 12-16-83 04-14-84 GS-404-04
Trenton Grandy Biol. Aid (Irrigator) TFT 05-15-83 08-13-83 GS-404-03
Katie H. Grenier Biol. Aid (Wildlife) TPT 12-16-84 04-14-84 GS-404-04
Julie Holding Biol. Aid (Wildlife) TPT 07-25-82 03-05-83 GS-404-02
Marilyn McElheney Biol. Aid (Wildlife) TFT 10-31-82 04-16-83 GS-404-04
Chester Miller Biol. Aid (Irrigator) TFT 06-12-83 01-14-84 GS-404-03
ii. !_/ Biol. Aids: Katie Grenier and Sherie Bartsh.
Volunteer Diane Hall and Biol. Aid Jackie Gilmore.
/ Sleigh Ride Visitor Center seasonal employees
iii. Volunteer Elizabeth Coates
VOLUNTEERS
Elizabeth Coates Biol. Aid 06-13-83 12-05-83
Diane Hall Biol. Aid 01-03-84
Erin Muths Biol. Aid 01-10-84 01-12-84
Diana Stratton Biol. Aid 07-05-83
Erich Wilbrehct Biol. Aid 06-27-83 07-03-83
iv. Steve Minta and his wife Kathy. University of California graduate student doing research study on badger predatory strategies (see Section D-5, page
v. Left to right: Kurt Bills, Travis Conklin, Tammie Harris, Rod Piatak, Paul Miller.
YCC ENROLLEES
Enrollee Position Status EOD Terminated
Kurt W. Bills Work Leader FT 06-06-83 08-13-83
Travis L. Conklin Corpsman FT 06-06-83 08-13-83
Tammie L. Harris Corpsman FT 06-06-83 08-13-83
Paul L. Miller Corpsman FT 06-06-83 08-13-83
Rodney L. Piatak Corpsman FT 06-06-83 08-13-83
COLLEGE WORK STUDY
Sean O'Brien Biol. Aid FT 01-04-83 04-11-83
ihthi Submitted byjy Date Regional Office Review
vi. The 24,289 acre National Elk Refuge lies in the Jackson Hole area of northwestern Wyoming. The Refuge was established by Congress on August 10, 1912 to acquire, preserve and manage lands for the wintering elk of Jackson Hole. Jackson Hole is a fault trough surrounded by an extensive system of fault block mountains. While the elevation of the Refuge varies from 6,200 feet to 7,200 feet, the Tetons to the west rise to 13,766 feet at the summit of Grand Teton. The valley and the surrounding mountains are classic examples of glaciation. Spectacular elevation surges of over 7,000 feet, from an intermountain valley to cirque-cut escarpments, and glacial remnants are features that have created a wildlife and recreation area of outstanding importance.
The National Elk Refuge lies in a glacial valley and is in the Transition Zone. Soils at the lower elevations are alluvial, generally composed of sandy loam or loam, and are shallow and permeable. The soils at the higher elevations are also loamy but there are considerable areas of gravelly soils and cobblestone on the south slopes and ridges. Sheet and gully erosion is apparent on some of the steeper slopes.
The northern one-half of the Refuge is dissected by steep rolling hills. The southern one-half consists of glacial outwash material primarily, with one resistant formation (Miller Butte) rising approximately 500 feet above the valley floor.
There are two major streams flowing through the Refuge. The Gros Ventre River forms much of the northern boundary of the Refuge and Flat Creek, flowing from east to west, nearly bisects the Refuge. As Flat Creek approaches the western boundary of the Refuge, it turns and continues southward and leaves the Refuge at its extreme southwestern corner. Numerous springs emerge from the northern edge of Miller Butte and form Nowlin Creek, which flows to the northwest until it joins Flat Creek.
The Refuge lies within Teton County and is bounded on the north by Grand Teton National Park, on the east by the Bridger-Teton National Forest and on the south and west by the town of Jackson and mixed private and Bureau of Land Management lands, respectively.
The climate is typical of high valleys in the northern Rocky Mountains. Summers are cool and pleasant and winters are long. Snowfall patterns and accumulations generally form quite a gradient from 6-18 inches on the lower half of the Refuge up to four feet on the north end of the Refuge. Annual precipitation is 15.2 inches with about half received as snowfall. Temperature extremes vary from a summer high of 920-940F to winter lows of 35o-40o F below zero. Record high is 101oF and the record low is 520F below zero.
vii. Much of the Refuge consists of grassy meadows and marshes on the comparatively flat valley floor with the sedges, blue grasses and brome grass being important components of the communities. Near some of the springs and along the water courses, various willows are common. The flood plain forest, common along the Gros Ventre River, contains blue spruce, narrowleaf cottonwood, red osier dogwood and balsam poplar as major species. There are extensive areas of big sagebrush north of the Jackson National Fish Hatchery. Foothills are grass covered for the most part with some sagebrush and rock outcroppings. These open areas merge with the steeper, timbered mountain slopes to the east where lodgepole pine, limber pine, whitebark pine, Douglas fir, and aspen are found.
For major habitat types within the Refuge see page 17.
viii. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page A. HIGHLIGHTS 1
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 1
C. LAND ACQUISITION
1. General 3 2. Fee Title 4 3. Easements 5 4. Other 5
D. PLANNING
1. Master Plan - Nothing to report 2. Management Plan 6 3. Public Participation - Nothing to report 4. Compliance with Environmental Mandates 6 5. Research and Investigation 6
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel 8 2. Youth Programs 8 3. Other Manpower Programs 10 4. Volunteer Programs 11 5. Funding 11 6. Safety 12 7. Technical Assistance - Nothing to report 8. Other Items 12
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General 17 2. Wetlands 17 3. Forests 17 4. Croplands - Nothing to report 5. Grasslands 17 6. Other Habitats-Nothing to report 7. Grazing 22 8. Haying - Nothing to report 9. Fire Management - Nothing to report 10. Pest Control 22 11. Water Rights 23 12. Wilderness and Special Areas - Nothing to report 13. WPA Easement Monitoring - Nothing to report
ix. Page G. WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife Diversity 24 2. Endangered and Threatened Species 24 3. Waterfowl 24 4. Marsh and Water Birds 25 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, and Terns 27 6. • Raptors 27 7. Other Migratory Birds - Nothing to report 8. Game Mammals 27 9. Marine Mammals - Nothing to report 10. Other Resident Wildlife 32 11. Fishery Resources 32 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking - Nothing to report .... 13. Surplus Animal Disposal - Nothing to report 14. Scientific Collections - Nothing to report 15. Animal Control - Nothing to report 16. Marking and Banding 33 17. Disease Prevention and Control 33
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General 35 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers 4. Interpretive Foot Trails - Nothing to report 5. Interpretive Tour Routes ^2 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations ^2 7. Other Interpretive Programs ^5 8. Hunting ^5 9. Fishing 50 10. Trapping - Nothing to report 11. Wildlife Observation 53 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation 53 13. Camping - Nothing to report 14. Picnicking 53 15. Off-Road Vehicling - Nothing to report 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation 53 17. Law Enforcement • 53 18. Cooperating Associations 58 19. Concessions 58
J)
x. Page
1. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
1. New Construction - Nothing to report 2. Rehabilitation 60 3. Major Maintenance 61 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 61 5. Communications Systems 62 6. Energy Conservation 62 7. Other - Nothing to report
J. OTHER ITEMS
1. Cooperative Programs 66 2. Other Items - Nothing to report 3. Credits 67
K. FEEDBACK 68
xi. A. HIGHLIGHTS
- Peregrine falcon hack tower successfully fledges four birds.
- Wintering elk total 5,878 for the winter of 1982-83.
- Winter sleigh ride concession draws record number of visitors.
- Refuge elk hunt drawings attract 2,556 hopefuls for the 600 available permits.
- Refuge officers, acting on a tip, make a Lacey Act case against antler poachers.
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS*
Weather data for 1983 is shown on Table 1. Total precipitation was 63% above normal, making 1983 the wettest year on record. Much of this precipitation occurred in the July-September period.
The snowpack in northwestern Wyoming was approximately 100% of normal. The snowpack produces 75-85% of the area's streamflows.
The frost-free period in 1983 totalled 61 days (June 28 through August 29). The average length of the growing season is 60 days.
The maximum temperature for the year was 920F on August 7. The minimum of -33 F occurred December 26, 1983 during a lA-day stretch of below zero temperatures.
"Hayden Table 1. Weather Data from the Bridger-Teton National Forest Headquarters Located at the Southeast Boundary of the National Elk Refuge, 1983.
PRECIPITATION (Inches) TEMPERATURES (F0)
Normal 19 83 Snowfall Max Min Average
January 1.62 1.86 8.3 45 -25 18.0
February 1.57 2.94 15.5 46 -25 19.5
March 1.32 1.22 3.5 53 -01 32.0
April 1.35 0.54 0.9 60 5 34.5
May 1.76 1.42 (T) 79 16 42.0
June 1.35 1.07 0 81 18 53.0
July 0.92 2.60 0 89 32 60.5
Augus t 1.43 3.27 0 92 31 62.5
September 1.48 3.24 0 85 9 51.5
October 1.19 2.15 0 70 14 42.0
November 1.04 4.08 14.0 58 -21 29.0
December 1.53 2.56 28.0 38 -33 10.3
TOTALS 16.56 26.95 70.2 92 -33 37.9 (Extremes)
(T) trace amounts C. LAND ACQUISITION^
1. General
On May 7, 1982 the Department of the Interior issued a policy statement (47 FR 19784) for use of the federal portion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which requires that, in acquiring lands, waters, and interests therein necessary to achieve the natural, cultural, wildlife, and recreation management objectives, the Fish and Wildlife Service among other federal agencies will:
-Identify what land or interests in land need to be in federal ownership to achieve management unit purposes consistent with public objectives in the unit.
-Use to the maximum extent practical cost-effective alternatives to direct federal purchase of private lands and, when acquisition is necessary, acquire or retain only the minimum interests necessary to meet management objectives.
-Cooperate with landowners, other federal agencies. State and local governments, and the private sector to manage land for public use or protect it for resource conservation.
-Formulate, or revise as necessary, plans for land acquisition and resource use or protection to assure the sociocultural impacts are considered and that the most outstanding areas are adequately managed.
As a result of this directive, a "Land Protection Plan" was drafted in late 1983 and submitted to the Central Office by the Regional Office in December. Of major importance was the re-prioritizing of acquisition of remaining in- holdings (Figure 1 illustrates current in-holdings).
Grand Teton National Park, our neighbor to the north, released for public review its Land Protection Plan in October. We have gone on record with them opposing their proposal to remove the little town of Kelly from within the Park boundary and to permit development to proceed under County standards. Our objection is based on the fact that Kelly is located immediately adjacent the Wilson Sheep Mtn. Resort proposal on the Teton Ranch in-holding on the Refuge. We believe the National Park Service and Fish and Wildlife Service should continue to work together to acquire the private lands in this area in order to protect the values of the Park and Refuge. Allowing development in Kelly could negate our acquisition objectives for the Refuge in this area.
It appears that the Reagan administration's "Asset Management Program" unveiled in February 1982, or "privatization program" as it has been called, has been dropped by Interior. Public objections to the sale of public lands, in an attempt to reduce the national debt, appeared to have been responsible for that decision.
"Wilbrecht 3. NATIONAL ELK REFUGE TETON COUNTY, WYOMING UNITED STATES UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE DEPARTMENT Of THE INTERIOR RII6W R115W i to* 40*
UNACOUIRED TRACTS AS OF MAY 11., 1979
Acres *An undivided percentage of Interest Tract No. Tract Name 1n Tract (151) will be acquired with each of these tracts. 122b Teton Valley Ranch 343.19 «) 122c Teton Valley Ranch 146.36 125 Hugh 0. Soest 379.22 126 Robert B. Ranck 4.92 127 0r1n H. Soest 15.856
130 Ronald 0. Deleva 5.001 131 Philip H. Geler 5.016 134 Ellen Wilson Dornan 12.645 1 . 135 Philip W. Wilson 30.131 1 135a Philip W. Wilson 10.90 1 • 136 Wendell S. Wilson 2.132 138 William S. Knowles and Lesley C. Knowles 10.00* 139 David 0. Huntihi), Or. 11.00* 140 John 0. Rennick 10.00* 141 Donald G. Carpenter 10.00* 142 Robert F. Biolchini 10.00*
144 William A. Chittenden 10.00* 145 Sara H. Haubert 15.00* 146 Robert Budd Betts 10.00* 147 Charles D. Dickey, Jr. 10.00* 148 Donald V. Mahony and Margaret L. Mahony 10.00* 149 Carolyn Scott Dejanlkus 10.00* 151 Common Area, Teton Valley Highlands Subdivision 33 59857%
RII6W RII5W COMPILED IN SURVEYS AND MAPS FROM " SURVEYS BY BLM . USQS AND FWS SIXTH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN MEAN DECLINATION1975 OCTOBER,1975 6R WYO 74 407 3. Easements
Hugh Soest - Twin Creek Ranch (Tract 125)
Another appraisal was conducted by FWS in early 1983. We continue to work with BLM, through our 1982 agreement, to explore the possibility of a land exchange. However, recent information from BLM indicates they are not enthused about trading fee for easement, a condition Mr. Soest has imposed.
In the meantime, Rossington (Tract 150), who purchased the five acre Up-With People lot on the Twin Creek Ranch, began construction February 3 and completed his very large house by mid-June.
Sometime in 1982 Hugh Soest, owner of the Twin Creek Ranch deeded 75 acres to his son-in-law Larry Rodeck. This 75 acres included our 40+ acre "easement" area in the NW corner of the ranch plus 35 acres immediately to the south.
In mid-February Rodeck submitted preliminary plat to the County Planning Department for an eight lot "Nowlin Mountain Meadow Subdivision" located along the WSW boundary of Twin Creek Ranch (see Figure 2).
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the FWS went on record with the County expressing our concerns about the detrimental effects the subdivision development would have on elk and their use of adjacent managed winter range. In addition, the Refuge was concerned about the use of Refuge owned water rights on Twin Creek to provide fire protection to the subdivision (our present plan is to meet with the Twin Creek Ranch owners, their engineer, the State Engineer and others to resolve long standing disputes over Refuge-Ranch water rights and use).
On April 11 and May 3 the Planning Department reviewed the Preliminary Plat and discussed conditions for approval. On June 6 they gave Final Approval and on July 5 the County Commissioners gave Approval to the Final Plat. It appears the final conditions regarding access and resolution of water rights and use were of marginal concern to the Commissioners. It is our understanding that to date one lot (No. 8) has been sold at the asking price of $34,000/acre.
4. Other
On December 6, 1982, the Regional Director informed K.S.G.T. Radio that their request to receive a long term extension on their leased site was not approved and the present lease would expire in 1992. During 1983 there has been no contact with us from the owner regarding proposed improvements, including his former plans of replacing the tower and transmitter building. We have heard, via the local "grapevine," that he is considering building a new studio near his present site in town and that he has made contact with a landowner near the new high school, south of town, about acquiring a transmitter site for his tower. D. PLANNING*
2. Management Plan
The station Safety Plan was completely rewritten this year. Review by the Regional Safety Officer pointed out one deficiency that will be corrected.
4. Compliance with Environmental Mandates
An environmental assessment was written late in the year in connection with a proposed right-of-way for the Jackson Cable Corporation. The proposal involved stringing a television cable service on existing power poles across a little more than 1,300 feet of Refuge property. This part of the Refuge is covered by a major highway right-of-way as well as by the local power and telephone company.
** 5. Research and Investigation
Badger Predatory Strategies and Social Organization on the National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (WMS 82-1).
Graduate student, Steven Minta of the University of California, Davis, initiated this project during spring 1982. Objectives of his study are to test the following hypotheses: 1) the critical resource for female badgers will be food, females will be the critical resource for males; 2) resulting intrasexual competition will be manifested through the differential use of microhabitat and resource microstructure, and through interaction with conspecifics; and 3) a reduced set of highly measurable and trackable variables will parsimoniously account for and explain much of the variation in badger movement. During 1983 Steven collected data from April to December using implant telemetry (location and activity data), fecal analysis (seasonal prey variation data), and resource mapping and sampling (delineation of prey patches). His field research will continue during 1984.
Biostratigraphic and Biogeographic Implications of Miocene Mammals from Jackson Hole, Wyoming (WMS 79-4).
No work occurred on this study on the Refuge in 1983.
Population Study of Canada Geese of Jackson Hole (WMS 78-2).
No known work occurred on this study in 1983.
Geochronology of the Teewinot Formation (WMS 83-1).
Dr. Douglas Burbank, University of Southern California, conducted three weeks of field work on the Refuge during August 1983. By letter he informed us that the material he collected at 65 paleomagnetic sampling sites are in the process of being analyzed. He noted that some of the rocks were very weakly magnetized and he requests permission to conduct about 2-3 weeks of additional field sampling in 1984.
^Madsen **Smith 6. SW corner Twin Creek Ranch, location of newly approved Nowlin Mtn. Meadows subdivision. New house is on Tract 153 (Rossington) 5 acres, surrounded by, but not included in, the subdivision. Wyoming Game & Fish Department depredation fence (35 mm slide file, 8-2-83, JEW).
Regional Director Galen Buterbaugh asking "where are the jeeps?" This is remains of TV commercial filming activity on the Wilson Teton Valley Ranch adjacent the north end of Refuge. The Teton range and Grand Teton National Park in background (35 mm slide file, 7-14-83, JEW). NATIONAL ELK REFUGE
UNITED STATES TETON COUNTY, WYOMING UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ^ FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE R. 115 W.
R. 115 W. COMPILED IN SUPtVf SIXTH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN «00 BOO 1200 1600 FEtT
OCNVeN. COLORADO AFBIL i»r» REVISED: PCBROARV. 1062 6R WYO Quantity and Quality of Elk Winter Range and the Minimal Wintering Requirements of Elk on the National Elk Refuge.
No new field research on determining elk feeding levels, which had previously been conducted and funded by the Denver Wildlife Research Center, was carried out in 1983. However, a rough draft of the results of the nine years of research conducted from 1971 to 1982 was written. A final report will be prepared in 1984.
During March 1983, eleven previously radio collared elk were immobilized on the National Elk Refuge using a tranquilizing gun and Sucostrine filled darts. The radio collars of those 11 animals were replaced with collars containing batteries with longer remaining life.
In May 1983, 17 radio transmitter collars remained working on elk wintering on the Refuge. By June 1, all radioed animals had left the Refuge and were radio tracked, both from the ground and from aircraft, to calving and summering areas in Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Locations were obtained weekly throughout the summer and fall, including during the fall migration to the Refuge. One elk summered in Yellowstone, one summered along the southern border of Yellowstone in the Park and the Teton Wilderness, one summered in the Gros Ventre drainage, and 14 summered in Grand Teton National Park.
One animal was harvested during the hunting season and one radio apparentl}^ failed during fall before the animal returned to the Refuge. All 15 of the remaining radioed elk reached the Refuge by December 5, 1983. The majority (ten) migrated onto the Refuge between November 12 and 23. Two elk migrated onto the Refuge between November 2 and 6, two (1 YNP, 1 GTNP) migrated to the Refuge between November 23 and 27, and one (YNP) returned between December 2 and 5.
Field work on telemetry monitoring of elk was completed in December 1983 and during 1984 results of the six-year study will be analyzed. E. ADMINISTRATION*
1. Personnel
John Decker, who joined our staff in June 1982 as Refuge Manager (Assistant Project Leader), transferred to Law Enforcement (Portland, Oregon) in July 1983.
Rees Madsen from Red Rock Lakes NWR, Montana, replaced Decker on October 30, 1983. This is the second year in a row the position has been vacant three months out of twelve.
Marilvn McElheney, a rehire, commenced work as a biological aid in October 1982 compiling hunt statistics. Upon completion of this project, she acted as interpreter at our Sleigh Ride Visitor Center from December through the first week in April 1983. Katie Grenier and Jackie Gilmore were hired in December 1983 to share the interpreter duties at the Visitor Center for the 1983-84 season, with Jackie working Sunday through Tuesday, Jim Griffin, our Outdoor Recreation Planner, working Wednesday, and Katie working Thursday through Saturday.
Biological Technicians Everett Russell and David Trudeau were both promoted during the year due to accretion of duties; Everett from GS-6 to GS-7 on August 7, 1983, and Dave from GS-5 to GS-6 on May 1, 1983.
Three biological aids were hired to irrigate from May 15 through August; Vernon Burnside, Trenton Grandy, and Robert Fisher. Vernon has been irrigating for us since 1976. Due to ill health, he could only work for a short time this season. Chester Miller was hired to replace him. Vernon will be sorely missed by the Refuge staff; he has a talent for being able "to run water up hill" and he was a dedicated employee. Dale Farley, Jackson NTH temporary employee irrigated for us in July for a short time.
A five-year comparison of the Refuge work force is shown in Table 2.
2. Youth Programs
Thanks to our five—man YCC crew two miles of fence (bordering the Wilson property) on the northeast end of the Refuge were rebuilt this summer—a project that had been pending for the past two summers. With some help from the Refuge staff and Bob Rowley's supervision, the old buck and pole fence was replaced with a four-strand barbed fence on wooden posts with a wooden top rail. The old fence had deteriorated to the point that it was being repeatedly knocked down by longhorn cattle pastured on the Wilson property. Maintenance of the new fence is the responsibility of Wison, the private land owner adjacent to the Refuge, with the Refuge furnishing any needed materials. This fence should eliminate cattle trespass problems.
•k Parrish
8. Table 2. Refuge Work Force, Five-Year Comparison.
Calendar Permanent Year Full-time Part-time Temporary
1983 10 2
1982 10 0 19I/
1981 6 10^
1980 7 8^
1979 8 0 15
— One bio tech and four volunteers - elk studies; five irrigators; three I&R bio aids; five YCC corpsmen; and one college work study bio aid.
2/ — One bio tech and five bio aids - elk studies; five interpreters (two bio aids and three volunteers); three bio aids - irrigators; three YCC enrollees; and two YACC enrollees.
3/ — Career-seasonal.
4/ — Two student volunteers; three YACC enrollees; three bio aids - irrigators; two bio techs - one interpretive and one elk studies.
— One Coop education student; one student volunteer; three YACC enrollees; and three bio aids - irrigators. • In addition, the YCC crew built a 1-acre buck and pole enclosure along Flat Creek to reduce elk activity near critically eroding meanders. They also worked on a tree revetment project on Flat Creek, cutting pine poles, hauling them to the stream, and fastening the trees into streambanks with cables. This stabilizes the cut banks and provides additional cover for cutthroat fry.
Bob Rowley, Biological Technician, supervised the crew again this year. Kurt Bills, who was a YCC enrollee in 1982, was appointed work leader this year. As it is generally necessary to have a Refuge employee overseeing the various work projects, having Bob supervise seems to work to our advantage with the help of a YCC work leader. The only disadvantage being the loss of Rowley's time from normal Refuge operations for the ten-week YCC program period.
Environmental education for the most part was worked in on the job, with informative discussions held between the supervisor and the enrollees while commuting to and from work sites. For instance, while traveling to area to cut trees, discussing the use of the trees in the Flat Creek stream revetment project for fisheries habitat improvement and discussion of fisheries program while traveling with hatchery personnel on fish stocking trips. In addition, one field trip, boating on Jackson Lake (provided by Bob Rowley), and one afternoon of wildlife films were provided.
No personal injuries occurred to our YCC corpsmen. Safety training was worked in through hazard analysis discussions prior to each new work project assignment in addition to the supervisor's alertness to any signs of enrollees' neglect of items brought up in these discussions and frequent reminders to them to wear safety articles, i.e., safety boots, hard hats, goggles, etc., when necessary.
3. Other Manpower Programs
A community Work Services Program was initiated in 1982 after correspondence with the Regional Solicitor and the State's attorney general. The program is comprised of individuals who have been convicted of non-violent crimes, who work a designated number of hours (determined by the Court) in lieu of fine or imprisonment. The Regional Solicitor has determined this is a volunteer situation and the State attorney general considers work performed on the Refuge to be "community work." Projects included general maintenance and cleanup, sign painting, road patching and brush removal, fence building, moving fish, cleaning raceways, raking lawns and installing snow fence, and cutting and stacking wood. This year five people worked a total of 256 hours under this program.
One University of Wisconsin student, Sean O'Brien, worked from January 10 through April 16 (a total of 440 hours) under a work study program. The University's Financial Aid Department paid his salary ($3.45 an hour) and billed us for 20 percent of the total. Sean assisted our biological technicians with collection of data for several field studies and completed a 1982-83 winter snow survey. YCC project - old buck and pole fence taken down and rebuilt (35 ram slide file, 6-17-83, JEW)
YCC enrollees installing new fence on Refuge/Wilson property boundary (35 mm slide file, 6-17-83, JEW) 4. Volunteer Programs
Due to a restrictive budget, the services of our volunteers were invaluable to us. Elizabeth Coates from Washington D.C. began biological aid duties for Refuge in June and worked through the first week in December. She divided her time between the Elk Refuge and Fish Hatchery, acting as interpreter at the Hatchery together with taking part in fish care and facility maintenance, collecting Flat Creek creel census information, assisting Outdoor Recreation Planner with signing, cataloging the Refuge library, and assisting our biological technicians in collecting data for a number of field studies.
Diana Stratton and Erich Wilbrecht also did volunteer work for us at several different times during the year. Diane Hall from Pennyslvania started working the last of December and is continuing her volunteer services into 1984.
The Refuge has received a number of inquiries from nonresidents about performing volunteer service. We are somewhat restricted in the use of this program because we cannot furnish quarters to volunteers. We were able to house Elizabeth and Diane in Forest Service quarters in Jackson; however, USFS quarters are normally filled with their own volunteers or employees. As Jackson is a tourist community, rentals are difficult to find and expensive so free housing is a must for nonresident volunteers. One major problem with the volunteer program has been lack of cooperation from the Finance Center in paying volunteers for food expense (i.e., a $5 to $7 per day allowance). Washington mandates the use of volunteers, sends out information regarding reimbursing volunteers for certain expenses and the Finance Center refuses to pay them. Elizabeth went to work in June and it was October before she received reimbursement from the Finance Center for any food allowances.
Volunteers from the past year number approximately 75 individuals. This includes the 33 Boy Scouts and their leaders who help us with the antler pickup each spring. A total of 1,420 volunteer hours (0.7 of an FTE) was used last year. Jobs performed were minor construction, general maintenance, interpreter, library development, habitat surveying, fish stocking and care, wildlife censusing and public use inventories.
5. Funding
Of the $100,000 (1220 0&M) designated for supplemental feeding program, $45,900 was actually used for elk feed; $15,450 used for two replacement vehicles; and to cover costs for elk research previously funded by Denver Wildlife Research Center - $4,400 used for aerial tracking, $1,450 for elk and bison fecal analysis, and salaries for wildlife biologist ($30,000) and one tempoary biological aid ($2,800). Out of the $100,000 designated for the supplemental feeding program, we used almost $39,000 to support elk research formerly funded by the DWRC. The Regional Office must realize that this $100,000 should be used at this station only for equipment improvement, rehab of storage facilities, range and irrigation renovation projects, etc., when not used directly to purchase supplemental feed.
11. See Table 3 for our funding status for the past eight years and projected 198A funding.
6. Safety
In December, a new safety committee was appointed to serve for one year. Rees Madsen (Refuge Manager) was appointed chairman and/or safety officer and Herb Bollig (Jackson NFH), Jim Griffin and Everett Russell are the three members. The committee meets at least every quarter; more frequently if required to expedite corrective actions. Our regular monthly safety meetings are held the last Friday of the month in conjunction with a Project staff meeting.
A new Station Safety Plan was completed September 1983, forwarded to the Regional Office for approval, was reviewed by them and returned. Hazard analysis worksheets are added or updated as necessary.
Two accidents were reported in 1983; one involved 11 lost work days. Dale Farley (a Jackson NFH employee who works on the Refuge when needed) was irrigating; dragging a canvas irrigation dam across a 36" culvert; had started off the culvert on uneven terrain; turned her left foot spraining her ankle. She was wearing hip waders that were too large for her. Consequently, the boot did not support her ankle when she turned it. Proper foot wear in correct sizes had been assigned to all employees, but Dale had left her hip waders at the Hatchery and had borrowed a pair which were too large for her.
No personal injury or lost work time was involved in the second accident. Bruce Smith, our Wildlife Biologist, was traveling by government vehicle to Fort Collins for a meeting, driving at 6:30 p.m. with snow blowing across the road making visibility extremely poor. The vehicle traveled over the top of a semi truck tire (mounted on steel rim) which was lying in the middle of the road. Three other drivers behind him hit the tire and rim before he and another driver had stopped their vehicles and walked back to remove it from the highway. $700 damage was done to the vehicle's steering mechanism and the frame. Driving at a safe speed considering unusual road and weather conditions was discussed at our January safety meeting.
8. Other Items
Revenue Sharing
On February 25, 1983, Project Leader Wilbrecht presented the Teton County Commissioners with a revenue sharing check of $251,111 for FY 82 payment. This was only 91% of entitlement. Last year's (FY 81) payment was only 88% of entitlement at $242,801.
Training
Training sessions attended by Refuge personnel are listed in Table 4.
12. Table 3. National Elk Refuge Funding
1210 1220 1240 1520 1994 BLHP OVERALL a/ TOTAL Elk Feed Cycl Dona Cycl ,Wyo Boy Dona-, Cycl Rehab/ II 0&M Maint Total O&M tions Maint NER G&F Scouts GTNP tions Total 0&M Maint Total YCC Renov Total 0 = = 77 1.0 1.0 198.0 0 0 10.0 (10.0 0 0 0 ) = 208.0 22.0 0 22.0 - 73.5 = 304.5 0 = = 78 1.0 1.0 164.5 0 6.0 79.2 (79.2 0 0 0 ) = .249.7 25.0 8.0 33.0 - 0 = 283.7 0 = = 79 0 0 186. 1 0 9.0 55.9 (55.9 31.4 0 0 ) = 251.0 23.0 10.0 33.0 - 62.4 = 346.4 = 80 0 4.7 = 4.7 194.7 0 18.0 41.3 (41.3 34.5 0.9 0 ) = 254.0 26.0 12.0 38.0 - 45.6 = 342.3 = 81 0 0 = 0 236.8 0 10.0 17.2 (17.2 0 1.2 0 ) - 2 74.0 23.0 12.0 35.0 10.0 0 = 309.0 = 82 4.0 0 = 4.0 283.7 0 36.0 0 ( o 0 0 0 ) = 326.4b 49.3 0.7 50.0C 6.7 0 = 380.4 = 83 4.7 0 = 4.7 300. 1 (5.0)d 0 45.9 (45.9 60. 1 1.5 9.3e) = 364.3b 68.3 0 68.3f 7.5 9.4g 0 = 444.8
Subactivity number changes - FY 84 12 60 1260 ARUMS Elk Feed TOTAL 84 415.8 (0.6) 70.0 1.2 ( 8.2 25.5 0 ) =494.0 10.0 15. 1 = 519.1 target
WY state purchases half of elk feed. Boy Scouts purchase $5,000 donation from Rocky Mtn. Conservation Fund (Safari Club, Int'l) desiguatall feed with proceeds of antler sales. Grand Teton Nat'l Park for elk telemetry research. (Not Included in 1260 total.) purchases elk feed in exchange for horse pasture. (These amounts are not included in 1260 total.) $9,344 LE antler operations to feed fund. (Not Included in 1260 total.)
^ $100,000 of O&M base designated annually for supplemental $12,358 of this $68,287 was spent on I&R salaries ($9,463) and projects ($2,895) feeding program. Of this amount, $63,000 was specifically at Jackson NFH. designated by Congressioanl Add-On in FY 82 to 1220 0&M base $3,554 of this $9,350 was spent to replace windows and paint (interior and for supplemental feeding program. exterior) of four Jackson NFH houses. Of the $9,350 only $5,796 was spent on NER rehab projects. C $4,000 spent on I&R salaries and projects at Jackson NFH. $606 received from private individuals for habitat improvement project on Flat Creek. Table. 4. Training
Number of Employee hours Dates Training
Sherie Bartsh 4 hrs Feb 14/15 CPR training, St. John's John Decker 4 hrs Feb 14/15 Hospital, Jackson, WY Jim Griffin 4 hrs Feb 14/15 Barbara Hayden 4 hrs Feb 14/15 Roger Rape 4 hrs Feb 14/15 Betty Parrish 4 hrs Feb 14/15 Bob Rowley 4 hrs Feb 14/15 Everett Russell 4 hrs Feb 14/15 Bruce Smith 4 hrs Feb 14/15 David Trudeau 4 hrs Feb 14/15
Roger Pape 30 hrs Jan 31-Mar 2 Welding ^ Central Wyoming Bob Rowley 30 hrs Jan 31-Mar 2 College, Jackson, Wf Everett Russell 30 hrs Jan 31-Mar 2 David Trudeau 30 hrs Jan 31-Mar 2
John Decker 34 hrs June 8-12 Law enforcement refresher Jim Griffin 18 hrs June 8-12 course including firearms Roger Pape 30 hrs June 8-12 requalification, Grand Everett Russell 36 hrs June 8-12 Teton National Park, David Trudeau June 8-12 Moose, WY John Wilbrecht 16 hrs June 8-12
Jim Griffin 3 hrs November 2 LE firearms requalification. Rees Madsen 3 hrs November 2 Grand Teton National Park, Roger Pape 3 hrs November 2 Moose, NT Everett Russell 3 hrs November 2 David Trudeau 3 hrs November 2 John Wilbrecht 3 hrs November 2
Jim Griffin 40 hrs Mar 14-18 USFWS, LE training,Denver,CO
Roger Pape 80 hrs Jul 23-Aug 5 John Deere Heavy Equipment Operator Instructors Course, Davenport, Iowa
Betty Parrish 16 hrs May 24 & 25 FWS, Admin. Workshop,Denver,i
Betty Parrish 33 hrs Jan 31-Apr Beginning Computer Programmit Central Wyoming College, Jackson, WY
Betty Parrish 30 hrs Apr - May Fortran programming, Bridger- Teton National Forest, Jackson, WY
1A. Table 4. Training (continued)
Number of Employee hours Dates Training
Bruce Smith 32 hrs Apr 4-8 USFWS Flint Hills Fire Workshop S-130 & S-190, Hartford, KS
Bruce Smith 40 hrs Mar 21-25 Univ. of MT short course, Evaluation & Mgmt of Wildlife Habitat, Missoula, MT
David Trudeau 33 hrs Jan 31-May Programing personal computers, Central Wyoming College, Jackson, WY
John Wilbrecht 40 hrs May 16-20 Interagency Managing Fire Effects, Rapid City, SD
15. Community and Professional Involvement
Project Leader Wilbrecht is an ex-officio member of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and an active member of the Jackson Hole Rotary Club. He is a member of the Wildlife Society, the Central Mountains and Plains section and the Wyoming Chapter.
Jim Griffin, Outdoor Recreation Planner, is a member of the Teton County Peace Officers Association and belongs to the Jackson Hole Alliance for Responsible Planning. Biological Technicians Trudeau and Russell are also members of the Teton County Peace Officers Association.
Wildlife Biologist Smith is the vice-president of the Toastmasters Inter national of Jackson Hole and is an active member of the Wyoming Wildlife Society.
Roger Pape is a member of the Jackson-Teton County Volunteer Fire Department. He has been a member for over ten years.
16. F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT*
1. General
Major habitat types are shown in Table 5 and discussed under the following sub-sections. The Refuge is divided into ten management units (Figure 3) based upon established fields or site characteristics.
Table 5. Major Habitat Types, National Elk Refuge, 1983.
Habitat No. Acres
Upland Types Native Grassland 14,569 Introduced Grassland 4,054 Forest 2,566 Wetland Types Fresh Meadows 1,100 Shallow Marshes 1,481 Deep Marshes 50 Open Water 40 Rivers and Streams 327 Administrative Areas 102 TOTAL 24,289
2. Wetlands
Most Refuge wetlands are regulated naturally. A few ponds are maintained by dikes and water control structures. Water diversion structures are maintained on Flat Creek, the Gros Ventre River and Cache Creek for diverting irrigation water onto Refuge lands. Precipitation was 63 percent above normal and produced peak water levels throughout the year.
3. Forests
The Refuge has 2,566 acres classified as forest. Most of this is scattered patches of aspen with some conifers on the north end or stands of cottonwoods with some willows which grow along the Gros Ventre River and Flat Creek. Future management plans call for burning some aspen stands to spur regeneration.
5. Grasslands
Grasslands and subirrigated meadows comprise about 80 percent of the Refuge and support the major objective - providing winter range for an average of 7,500 elk each winter.
^Russell 17. Management of grasslands during 1983 consisted of 1) flood irrigation, 2) monitoring experimental grass seedings and three renovated fields, 3) forage production surveys and 4) forage utilization surveys.
Flood Irrigation - Irrigation data is summarized in Table 6 . Three seasonal irrigators and two PFT employees made up the irrigation crew. The irrigation season was shortened about a month because of other needs and the fact that above normal precipitation reduced the irrigation need. The irrigation crew built the East Flat Creek crossing and aided in the rehab of about eight miles of trail and several miles of fence construction.
Experimental Grass Seedings and Rangeland Renovation - Evaluations were conducted on four experimental grass seedings and three renovated fields. Table 7 summarizes evaluation data.
The McBride and Chambers fields with Russian wildrye plantings are taking hold and producing forage; however, the average plant height, not including seed stalks, averaged only four to seven inches which is soon covered by snow. This grass appears to be less tolerant of dry conditions and is robust only where it receives frequent moisture such as along ditch banks, etc. However, on some sites where moisture is abundant, Kentucky bluegrass and timothy are invading the Russian wildrye stands.
The intermediate wheatgrass planting is showing excellent results and is one of the most productive sites on the Refuge. The field averaged over 5,000 lbs/acre (dry weight) at the end of the third growing season. This grass stands up well in the snow and forage utilization by elk was about 80 percent the previous winter.
Only two of the four varieties of wildrye showed promise for good production. The Magnar basin wildrye and the Basin wildrye produced 1,731 lbs/acre and 1,104 lbs/acre (dry weight) respectively - well below their potential. Both of these grasses stand up extremely well under snow conditions which is a very important characteristic for elk winter use. The experimental grasses were irrigated only once during the growing season so it is suspected that production can be greatly increased by increasing irrigation applications.
Forage Production - It was a good year for forage production. Forty-five transects were sampled between September 9 and October 7. Results of the survey (Table 8) indicate that forage production was 139 percent of the previous five year average. Starting in 1983, annual growth on all woody shrubs (sagebrush, willow, rabbitbrush, etc.) was sampled along with herbaceous plant material and figured into the total production estimate. Excluding woody plants, forage production was actually 15 percent above the five year average. The forage production survey technique was changed to include annual growth on woody shrubs because of the increasing realization of the importance of these plants to the elk. Although woody shrubs comprise only a small percentage of the total forage utilized by elk, some willow and rabbitbrush species are browsed heavily during the winter and early spring periods.
18. . ^ national elk refuge :
^.t;: •- • • •••-•• ' • Tt:^' -73- •^"«o iT*r(« TETOII COUNTY, WYOMING rjaw^rrMkT nr Tf* mjunxt . .- • s-t, MO***" R 116 W RII5W ito*4o-
/- FIGURE 3." MANAGEMENT UNITS, NATIONAL ELK REFUGE, 1983.
MANAGEMENT AREA BOUNDARIES.
•10*44' R1I6W RII5W ~*aOk XMt Or,utktHI Ok cm kkO *1 «L> T NORTH/SOUTH PORTION u \ f % m % SIXTH PRINCIPAL li Seal* • ft i •vt t l. \ E33333 IV/ cro CR WYO 74 406 M
Wetland area west of Flat Creek near highway and KSGT radio site. Prescribed burn of this area 4-23-82 and a fairly severe winter may have suppressed sedge and rush growth during the spring of 1983 creating this open water situation. Waterfowl response, especially by broods, was excellent (35 mm slide file, 7-25-83, JEW).
One month later, the sedge/rush growth emerged - water depth within the emergents averaged 8-12" (35 mm slide file, 8-25-83, JEW). Table 6. Flood Irrigation Data, National Elk Refuge, 1983.
IRRIGATION SEASON NO. ACRES MANAGEMENT UNIT BEGIN END NO. DAYS IRRIGATED CFS (a) SOURCE
Headquarters 1-1 (b) 06-15-83 08-15-83 61 85 1.21 Cache Creek 1-2 06-15-83 08-15-83 61 90 1.29 Cache Creek
Nowlin 2-1 06-16-83 08-15-83 60 200 2.86 Nowlin Creek 2-2 06-16-83 07-19-83 33 120 1.71 Nowlin Creek 2-3 07-08-83 08-15-83 38 160 2.29 Nowlin Creek
Ben Goe 4-1 06-20-83 08-15-83 56 100 1.43 Flat Creek 4-2 06-22-83 08-15-83 54 60 .86 Flat Creek
Peterson 5-1 06-18-83 07-17-83 29 50 .71 Flat Creek 5-3 06-08-83 07-27-83 49 80 1.14 Flat Creek
McBride 6-1 06-08-83 08-08-83 61 120 1.71 Flat Creek 6-2 (b) 06-08-83 08-15-83 68 30 .43 Flat Creek 6-3 (b) 06-08-83 08-15-83 68 39 .56 Flat Creek 6-4 06-08-83 08-10-83 63 62 .89 Flat Creek
Chambers 8-3 06-08-83 08-15-83 68 180 2.57 Flat Creek 8-4 06-08-83 08-15-83 68 80 1.14 Flat Creek 8-5 06-08-83 08-15-83 68 140 2.00 Flat Creek
TOTALS 1,596 22.80
(a) Based on Wyoming legal appropriation (1 cfs per 70 acres)
(b) Irrigated twice
Additional water use: Cache Creek water was passed through Headquarters fields 1-1 and 1-2 to sub-up field 1-3 from August 15 to September 15.
19. Field at McBride renovated and planted to intermediate wheatgrass fall of 1980. This is third growing season and production is excellent - estimated at 5,411 Ibs/ac. with 3,763 Ibs/ac. of this grass. Elk use is excellent and the grass stands up well with heavy snow (35 mm slide file, 7-29-83, JEW).
Chambers field renovated and planted fall 1980. This illustrates four experimental wildrye seedings (total 15 acres). (Plot 1 on right to Plot 4 on left). Two varieties of Basin wildrye - Plots 1&2 - are growing and producing well. We are interested in their ability to stand up in heavy snow and acceptance by elk. The remainder of the 200 acre renovation is planted to Russian wildrye (35 mm slide file, 8-9-83, JEW). Table 7. Evaluation Summary of Four Experimental Grass Seedings and Three Seedlngs on Renovated Fields.
PRODUCTION (POUNDS/ACRE DRY WEIGHT)
Transect Location/ Year Perenlal Grass Prod, of Planted Mumber Acr. in Field Planted Year & Grasslikes Ann. Grass Forb SHrub Total Grass Species
HcUride Russian 30 1967 1983 1,592 76 1,668 l,A33a Wlldrye / 30 1902 A,A00 93 1981 2,370 MAb
Mcliride Intermediate 39 October 1983 5,376 35 5,All 3,763 Wheatgrass / 1980 1982 2,A75 1,370 1981 100 MA
CHambers Russian 178 October 1903 2,161 83 2 ,2AA 1,513 Wlldrye / 51 1980 1902 MS 1901 MS
CHambers llagnar A. 1 October 1983 A,390 531 A,921 1,731 Basin Wlldrye / XI 1980 1982 MS 1981 MS
CHambers Basin 3.8 October 1903 2,A00 3A7 53 2,800 1,0AA Wlldrye / X2 1980 1902 MS 1981 MS
CHambers Altai A. 1 October 1983 1,789 600 160 2,557 360 Wlldrye / X3 1980 1902 MS 1981 MS
CHambers Mammatb 2.9 October 1983 261 Trace AA5 706 65 Wlldrye / X4 1980 1902 MS 1901 MS 1 1
^ This field Is rapidly being invaded around Its borders by Pon pratensls Primarily Russian wlldrye IIS a Not sampled MA = Mot applicable: production data was not separated by species or genus Table 8. Forage Production, National Elk Refuge, 1977 through 1983.
TONS OF FORAGE PRODUCED 5-Year Percent of Management Area 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 Average 1983 Average
Headquarters 985.3 733.2 1,237.3 1,910.1 1,544.3 1,282.0 1,308.0 102
Nowlin Marsh 8,848.9 2,536.0 4,237.8 7,243.1 5,650.9 5,703.3 4,144.6 73
Miller Butte 186.9 167.8 297.8 235.6 191.3 215.9 371.3 172
Ben Goe 567.3 322.5 533.5 510.0 459.5 478.6 552 .1 115
Peterson 329.2 261.0 460.1 320.6 334.0 341.0 753.4 221
McBride 471.0 187.0 432.9 254.0 235.9 316.2 443.8 140
Poverty Flats 397.8 90.0 274.3 343.0 152.9 251.6 346.9 138
Chambers 1,243.0 519.0 354.4 675.9 507.6 660.0 1,107.8 168
Pederson 548.4 493.0 589.5 760.6 353.5 549.0 324.4 59
North End 2,928.5 2,970.0 4,648.0 5,494.4 4,147.6 4,037.7 9,856.4 244
TOTAL 16,506.3 8,279.5 13,065.6 17,747.3 13,577.5 13,835.3 19,208.7 139
Starting in 1983, the annual growth from sagebrush, rabbitbrush, willow and other woody shrubs was added to the annual production from grasses and other herbaceous plants. To a large degree, this change in figuring production was responsible for the large Increase in the 1983 estimate. In actuality, 1983 production was probably about 115 percent of the five year average. Forage Utilization - A forage utilization survey was conducted between May 13 and May 26. Twenty-eight transects were sampled with at least two in each management unit.
Table 9. Estimated Forage Utilization, National Elk Refuge, 1983.
Management Area No. Acres Utilization (%)
Headquarters 707 42 Nowlin 2,617 73 Miller Butte 1,885 38 Ben Goe 587 47 Peterson 852 65 McBride 531 85 Poverty Flats 1,190 72 Chambers 1,836 57 Pederson 651 43 North End 13,401 16 Total 24,257 Average 54
7. Grazing
Twelve horses were turned out to free range for the winter. Five are Refuge horses, five belong to Yellowstone Fisheries Assistance Office and two belong to Grand Teton National Park. The Park compensates the Refuge by purchasing alfalfa pellets for supplemental feeding of elk.
10. Pest Control
Musk thistles (Carduus nutans), noxious weeds by Wyoming law, were cut prior to flowering along the Nowlin road. This plant is a biennial, requiring two growing seasons to complete its life cycle. Cutting the flowering heads off or severing the main stalk is supposedly a good means of control. We have been doing this for three years and observations indicate that although complete control has not been achieved, we have at least reduced the plant's presence somewhat, perhaps by 30 to 40 percent.
Musk thistles growing along the Refuge-County Road right-of-way were sprayed with 2, 4-D. This spot treatment totaled less than two acres. Individual plants were reportedly killed by the herbicide. It is unrealistic to expect this one treatment to eliminate the thistle. Healthy plants are capable of producing 40,000 seeds and the plants have been growing here for an unknown but lengthy period. Control will undoubtedly require future treatments.
22. 11. Water Rights
The Refuge has water rights for the irrigation of 7,480.85 acres of land (Table 10). In 1983, 1,596 acres were flood irrigated - only 21 percent of our lawful allotment. This situation exists because: 1) water for the irrigation of 470 acres is diverted by Twin Creek Ranch before it reaches Refuge fields; 2) irrigation facilities (diversion structures, ditches, and headgates) on many areas have deteriorated beyond use or repair; 3) current levels of manpower and funding prevent increasing irrigation capabilities beyond the present level.
The Regional Office (Engineering) is working on the Twin Creek Ranch problem. Hopefully the situation can be resolved once and for ail. It has been going on for 25+ years.
Table 10- Recapitulation of Water Rights on the National Elk Refuge, 1983.
Irrigation Source Quantity (C.F.S.) Area (acres)
Gros Ventre River 6.40 449
Romney & Pederson Springs 5.18 363
Flat Creek 70.67 4,953.35
Twin Creek & Holland Spring 6.68 470
Cache Creek 7.38 518
Swamp Creek (Nowlin Creek) 4.07 285
Misc. Springs 1.06 75
SUBTOTAL BASIC RIGHTS 101.44 C.F.S 7,113.85 acres
Supplemental Supply: (Sheep Creek & North Twin Creek) 5.24 367
TOTAL WATER RIGHTS IRRIGATION 106.68 C.F.S 7,480.85 acres
23. G. WILDLIFE*
1. Wildlife Diversity
A wide variety of mammal and bird species are found on NER. This is attributable to the diversity of habitats ranging from marshlands to Douglas fir/aspen forest. The Refuge's location in the valley bottom, but including adjacent foothills and Gros Ventre River bottom, attracts many species during spring, summer, and fall. It is notably important as winter range for elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, sage grouse, trumpeter swans and waterfowl.
2. Endangered and Threatened Species
Peregrine falcons - The National Elk Refuge joined the cooperative efforts of the Peregrine Fund, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service to reestablish peregrine falcons in Jackson. A hack tower site was selected on McBride Ridge in June and the tower constructed in early July. Lower Valley Power and Light Company and the Peregrine Fund constructed the tower and hack box. Two hack site attendants, Julie Mulholland and Kathleen Fulmer, were selected to observe and feed the birds and on July 31, four young peregrines (2 males and 2 females) were placed inside the hack box atop the 30 foot tower. The hack program was a great success as all four birds fledged and reached independence in September. In all, 18 of 19 young peregrines, that were placed at five hack sites in northwest Wyoming in 1983, fledged. This was the fourth year of the cooperative reestablishment effort and it is hoped that in 1984 one or more pairs may nest in Jackson Hole - possibly on the NER tower. We have reports that a peregrine has taken up winter residence near the airport and is using a flock of Hungarian (Grey) partridge for sustenance.
Whooping cranes - A single female adult whooper spent part of the summer of 1983 in the Buffalo Fork Valley, 30 miles north of NER. The same bird had spent August and September in that vicinity in 1982. No whoopers were observed on NER.
Bald eagles - During the 1983 Christmas Bird Count, eight bald eagles (seven adults and one immature) were observed on the Refuge. During the winter of 1982-83, 12 bald eagles were seen during the Christmas count. Elk mortalities provide a winter food source for eagles - bald and golden. Warm water springs and open water areas of Flat Creek and the Gros Ventre may also provide hunting and fishing areas.
3. Waterfowl
Swans - The maximum number of swans observed on the Refuge during winter 1982-83 was 74 (61 adults and 13 cygnets) on January 14, 1983. During the September 15, 1983 Tri-State Trumpeter Swan Survey, 12 swans were counted on NER, eight adults and four cygnets.
Thus far during winter 1983-84, 57 swans (December 1983) are the most we have seen on NER.
* Smith 24. Peregrine release tower built summer of 1983 on the Refuge. Project funded by Peregrine Fund with poles, and labor to implant poles, donated by Lower Valley Power and Light Company (35 mm slide file, 8-9-83, JEW).
Peregrine hack site attendants, Julie Mulholland and Kathleen Fulmer, kept a watchful eye over the four Peregrine falcons raised summer 1983 on the Refuge (35 mm slide file, 8-9-83, JEW). One of 23 trumpeter swans which have been neck-banded in Northwest Wyoming in the past two years. As many as 17 of the marked birds were observed on NER during 1983. (35 mm slide file, 9-83, BLS)
A leg-banded immature bald eagle observed on an elk carcass on NER during February 1983. The eagle was banded as a nestling in Yellowstone National Park (35 mm slide file, 2-22-83, BLS). During summer 1983, 21 trumpeter swans were banded with green plastic neck- collars bearing white numerals as part of a cooperative study (Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Targhee National Forest and the National Elk Refuge) to determine movements and dispersal of trumpeters in northwest Wyoming. Two swans had been neck-collared in 1982. On October 19 and 20, 1983, a large influx of trumpeters onto the Refuge (,40 birds: 34 adults and six cygnets) included 17 of the 23 neck-collared birds. By late December, only four collared birds remained on the Refuge as the swans continued to move about the Jackson valley.
Three pair of adult trumpeter swans were observed on NER during late spring and summer 1983. One pair nested at Pierre's Pond, laid four eggs and hatched and reared one cygnet. Another pair nested on the Flat Creek Marsh within 20 yards of last year's nest. They laid five eggs. Three hatched and three young were reared successfully. During July 1983 a semblance of a swan nest was found in the Flat Creek Marsh in the area where a third pair of swans had spent the summer. No egg remains were found and because of the poor quality of the nest, it is believed the pair did not attempt nesting, but may have engaged in nest building behavior.
The adult pair from Pierre's Pond abandoned their cygnet on or before July 22, 1983. On July 22, Refuge and Game and Fish personnel caught and transported the cygnet 3^ miles south to Nowlin Pond #1 where the adults had moved. The three birds remained on the Nowlin Ponds until the cygnet fledged. After fledging in early October, all four of the cygnets left the Refuge for several days. Only three, which joined the adult pair that raised three young on Flat Creek Marsh, returned.
Ducks - An estimated 723 ducks were produced to flight in 1983. Mallards, gadwalls and green-winged teal accounted for 77% of the production (Table 11). To avoid duplication in our counts of the total number of broods raised, individual broods were followed by habitat area until they reached class 4,
Breeding pair counts were conducted on May 16, 1983. Refuge personnel and members of the Jackson Hole Bird Club participated. The count was conducted during a heavy spring snow storm and as a result, the number of birds observed was down from past years (Table 11).
Waterfowl censuses were conducted semimonthly during spring and fall migration (April, May, June, October, November) and monthly the rest of the year. The maximum number of ducks censused was 2,454 on October 10, 1983.
Geese - An estimated 45 Canada geese were produced on NER in 1983. The largest number of Canada geese observed on the Refuge was 118 on October 8, 1983.
4. Marsh and Water Birds
An estimated eight pair of sandhill cranes were suspected to have nested on NER in 1983. One pair nested on an island in Nowlin Pond #1 but the nest was abandoned, leaving two eggs, on June 23. Another pair, which nested north of the KSGT radio tower, hatched two young but it is likely both young Table ll. Breeding pair and brood observation data, 1983.
a Est. No. No. Broods No. Ducklings Average Estimated Species Breeding Pairs Observed Observed Brood Size Production
Gadwall 37 16 84 5.3 210
Mallard 24 12 59 4.9 180
G.W. Teal 57 7 56 8.0 168
B.W./Cinnamon Teal 33 2 15 7.5 45
Barrows Goldeneye 6 4 27 6.8 34
Ring-necked 18 2 11 5.5 25
Shovelor 11 2 7 3.5 21
American Widgeon 7 3 7 2.3 14
Common Merganser 1 1 4 4 8
Ruddy 2 0 0 - 6
Redhead 4 0 0 - 6
Scaup None Observed 1 3 3 3
Pintail 1 0 0 - 3
Bufflehead 1 0 0 - 0
Coots 22 71 100
TOTALS 224 50 344 823
^Estimated production was based on breeding pair counts, survivability to flight stage and brood visibility. fell prey to coyotes. No young were known to be raised successfully in 1983. About 20 sandhills spent the summer on the Refuge including a four-year-old bird which had been neck-banded at Gray's Lake NWR.
5. Shorebirds, Gulls, and Terns
Willets, common snipe^ spotted sandpipers and Wilson's phalaropes were among the most common shorebird species on the Refuge in 1983. One pair of long-billed curlews was observed in the vicinity of Nowlin Creek twice during April 1983.
6. Raptors
A hunter reported two long-eared owls in the upper Flat Creek Marsh in November.
A pair of golden eagles are believed to have nested east of the shop on the slope above the Refuge. They hunted the Miller Butte - Poverty Flat area all summer.
Short-eared owls were often observed near the peregrine falcon hack tower on McBride Ridge in August.
Large "flocks" of kestrels were noted by several Refuge employees during August. As many as 16 were seen together.
8. Game Mammals
Elk - Winter 1982-83 - The first significant movement of elk onto the Refuge took place during the second week of November 1982. By November 15 there were 415 elk on the south half of the Refuge (south of the area open to hunting). Many of the early migrants were males. This was also noted in previous years and we speculate that the majority are elk which summer in Grand Teton National Park. On November 19, 1982, Bruce Smith counted 1,350 elk at Nowlin Creek (all elk on the south half of the Refuge) of which 650 (48%) were bulls (162 spikes and 388 branch-antlered). On November 22, 1982, 1,700 elk were on the south half of the Refuge. Of those 971 (57%) were bulls (196 spikes and 755 branch-antlered). By December 1, there were 5,620 elk on the Refuge and the herd size remained near 5,500 until the end of the year.
Based on the Refuge's elk classification count conducted February 24, 1983, there were 5,878 elk on supplemental feed. Additional elk, observed from the air that day adjacent to the Refuge feeding area, brought the total count to 6,269 elk. All 5,878 of the elk on supplemental feed were classified. Of those, 3,312 (56.3%) were cows, 960 (16.3%) were calves, 488 (8.3%) were spike bulls, and 1,118 (19.0%) were branch-antlered bulls. This is 34 branch-antlered bulls/100 cows, 15 spikes/100 cows and 29 calves/100 cows. Table 12 shows the results of classification counts since the elk were switched from hay to palletized supplemental feed in 1975. Table 13 compares calf/cow, bull/cow, and spike/cow ratios, since the wintering herd was switched to alfalfa pellets, to the ratios during the previous 25 years when the elk were fed hay. Table 12. Number of elk classified on and adjacent to the National Elk Refuge, 1941-1983.
CLASSIFIED ELK (on feed day of count) UNCLASSIFIED ELK On NER (outliers from feed- grounds and those No. on & Number (percent of herd) Date of free-ranging Adjacent adjacent Winter Count Bulls Spikes Cows Calves Total on north end) to NER to NER
1940-41 8,014 b a to 907 (12) 444 (6) 4,568 (62) 1,420 (19) 7,339 - - 8,436 ^ 1973-74 to 00 75-76 3-5 980 (12) 511 (7) 4,725 (60) 1,642 (21) 7,858 0 515 8,373
76-77 None 5,732
77-78 2-23 1,393 (16) 424 (5) 5,133 (60) 1,541 (18) 8,491 82 383 8,956
78-79 2-23 1,503 (19) 544 (7) 4,347 (56) 1,503 (19) 7,828 130 594 8,552
79-80 3-4 1,680 (22) 441 (6) 4,443 (57) 1,185 (15) 7,749 25 206 7,980
80-81 None 6,300
81-82 2-24 1,261 (19) 405 (6) 3,801 (58) 1,063 (16) 6 ,530d 216 489 7,235
82-83 2-24 1,118 (19) 488 (8) 3,312 (56) 960 (16) 5,878 47 344 6,269
Of the 34 years between 1941 and 1974, elk were classified during only 22 winters. 3Average calculated for the 22 winters in which elk were classified. 'Average calculated for all 34 winters from 1941 to 1974. Does not include 23 cow and 14 calf elk trapped in January and trucked to Sybllle. Table 13. Classification Counts of Elk on the National Elk Refuge, Winters 1975 to 1983 Compared to the 1941-74 Average.
No. Elk Calves/ Bulls/ Spikes/ Year Classified 100 Cows 100 Cows 100 Cows
1975 No Classification Count
1976 7,858 35 21 11
1977 No Classification Count
1978 8,491 30 27 8
1979 7,828 33 35 13
1980 7,749 27 38 10
1981 No Classification Count
1982 6,530 28 33 11
1983 5,878 29 34 15
Average 7,339 31 20 10 1941-74 a
1941 and 1974 classification counts were not conducted.
29. Supplemental feeding of elk during winter 1982-83 began on February 10, and ended April 22, 1983, a total of 81 days. A total of 1,305 tons of feed (844.5 tons of alfalfa pellets and 460.5 tons of alfalfa cubes) were distributed to the elk. Four herds (Shop, Nowlin, Poverty Flat, and McBride) were fed throughout the winter. The Shop herd was fed 94% cubes (all but two days) and 6% pellets during the 36 days they remained at the Shop (2/1-3/8). They left and joined the Nowlin herd on March 9. The Nowlin herd was fed 97% pellets (all but the last eight days - April 11-18 - of the feeding period when they were fed cubes) and 3% cubes during the 71 days they were fed. The Poverty Flat herd was fed a 40:60 ratio of pellets and cubes during the 64 days they were on feed. Although there were seven days they were fed 100% pellets and nine days they were fed 100% cubes (see 1982-83 feeding records), generally 3 lbs. of pellets were fed out followed by 4 lbs. of cubes. The McBride herd was fed 83% alfalfa pellets and 17% cubes. They were fed 100% pellets until mild weather arrived in early April. From April 5-22 (the final 18 days of the 81 days the McBride herd was fed) the herd was fed a 50:50 ratio of pellets and cubes. No feed related losses occurred.
The spring of 1983 was slow in coming. The migration of elk from NER occurred between May 12 and June 4. On May 12 the majority of the elk herd, including 12 of 18 radio-collared elk, had left NER and were in GTNP. A snowstorm on May 15 and May 16 resulted in a return of 2,000-3,000 elk to NER. Fourteen of the radio-collared elk were back on NER. By May 23, 16 of the 18 radio-collared elk had left the Refuge and most of the elk remaining on NER were in the Gros Ventre Hills and river bottom.
Elk - Summer 1983 - About 100-150 elk remained on the north end of NER during summer 1983. Most of these were yearling animals of both sexes, although two raghorn bulls and one 5-point bull were observed in September. During late August - early September, 40-60 elk were occasionally seen in the McBride fields by the peregrine hack site attendants. Examination revealed that the elk sometimes bedded in these fields at night and then returned to the Gros Ventre Hills during the day often using the area near waterhole #3. During this same period, Dave Trudeau saw 60 elk near the Poverty Flat study pens for a day.
Elk - Winter 1983-84 - Elk began returning to NER during the second week of November 1983. On November 9, 11 bulls, one spike, seven cows, and two calves were observed on Miller Butte. On November 12, there were about 200 elk in the Shop area and 100 at Nowlin. Numbers continued to increase on the south end of the Refuge during the last half of November: 1,482 on 11/14; 1,775 on 11/15; 3,284 on 11/18, 3,923 on 11/23, and 4,630 on 11/29. There continued to be 4,600-4,700 on NER during December 1983.
Heavy, record-setting snowfalls during November and December 1983 resulted in initiating supplemental feeding on January 4, 1984.
During fall 1983, 302 tons of alfalfa cubes were purchased from Lloyd Dechert Company, Riverton, WY and stored in Shed 3. The Shop herd will again be fed cubes during 1984 and closely monitored to observe any feed related distress. The other three herds will be fed alfalfa pellets in order to empty Sheds 4 and 6 so that repair work and placement of doors in both ends of the sheds can be done during 1984.
30. Other Big Game - During the Wyoming Game and Fish Department winter trend count, 34 moose were recorded in the Gros Ventre River bottom on the north end of the Refuge. These included ten males, 17 females and seven calves. Thirty to forty moose generally winter along the Gros Ventre River each year. On seven occasions during summer 1983, moose were observed on the south end of NER, generally in the Nowlin Creek or Shop Ponds area. It appears there were three different moose, a cow with a calf, and a lone cow.
A maximum of 45 mule deer wintered on Miller Butte during winter 1982-83. Another 23 mule deer were counted by Refuge and Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologists during a February 24, 1983 flight over the National Forest slopes east of the Refuge. On that same flight, 28 bighorn sheep were observed. Earlier in the winter, 33 bighorn were observed east of the Chambers field in the Curtis Canyon area. A helicopter census by a Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologist on January 7, 1983 turned up 30 sheep (11 rams, two yearlings, ten ewes, and seven lambs). These sheep occasionally move onto the lower slopes on NER.
During winter 1982-83, 60 bison wintered on NER. All of those "participatedH in the elk supplemental feeding program. We estimate that a bison, because of size and dominant behavior, eats approximately three times the amount of food as an elk on the feed lines. A reported 80-85 bison summered in Grand Teton NP during 1983. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, with assistance from the Jackson Hole Cooperative Elk Studies Group, drafted a bison management plan during summer 1983. During early 1984, an approved plan - with public input - should be ready for implementation. At least eight bison calves were born on NER in 1983 before the last of the herd migrated north off the Refuge in June.
The Jackson Hole bison herd, which winters on NER, has grown to at least 70 individuals. Eight calves were born on NER in May 1983 and the bison are lingering longer each spring (June 14, 1983) before migrating to summer range in Grand Teton National Park (35 mm slide file, 11-83, BLS).
31. 10. Other Resident Wildlife
Ruffed and sage grouse are resident on NER and were recorded during 1983. Ruffed grouse occur primarily along the Gros Ventre River bottom and on occasion in quaking aspen stands in the Gros Ventre Hills. The one time that sage grouse were counted on the lek at North Gap, 55 birds were observed by Sherie Bartsh (21 males, 16 females, and 18 unclassified). Groups of nine to 40 sage grouse were often observed on Poverty Flats, McBride fields, and Long Hollow during spring and fall 1983.
During the 1983 Christmas bird count, 21 bird species and 387 individual birds were recorded on the Refuge.
11. Fishery Resources
"Fly fishing only" regulations were in effect on Lower Flat Creek and will again be adopted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for the 1984 and 1985 period. The creel census summary of the 1983 season is reviewed in Section H - Public Use - Fishing.
Our cooperative effort with the State to draft a "Flat Creek Fishery Management Plan" was considerably enhanced this year as a result of a meeting held in Jackson on May 3, 1983. The agencies agreed to begin field work on the Habitat Management section of the plan this year. Wyoming Game and Fish Department Habitat Biologist A1 Binns visited the stream in September and with the assistance of Jon Erickson (local District WGFD Fish Biologist) and Assistant Hatchery Manager Herb Bollig surveyed and mapped potential habitat improvement projects. Mr. Binns will complete his report by spring 1984.
In the meantime, Bollig sampled spring and summer Gros Ventre River irrigation diversions for silt load and the YCC program continued stream revetment work (trees anchored along erosion prone banks). In addition, the YCC crew constructed a square buck and rail exclosure, inclosing a couple of critical meanders, to divert elk movements.
Because of the popularity of the "fly fishing only" section of Flat Creek, we are attempting to accomplish habitat improvement measures on the stream by involving all the interested groups: the FWS-National Elk Refuge, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Fisheries Managers and the public. As a "kick off" to the project the Refuge arranged for Timberline Reclamation, Inc. of Bozeman, Montana, to demonstrate their silt removal machine. Flat Creek, as an important Snake River cutthroat spawning stream, has deteriorated due to heavy siltation of spawning riffles through silt deposited from improperly managed irrigation diversions in the 1960's from the Gros Ventre River. Timberline has developed a device for removing large quantities of silt without causing major disturbance of the stream bed.
Wilbrecht 32. Several WGFD fishery biologists observing silt removal operations on Flat Creek by Timberline Reclamations, Bozeman, MT. Timberline was hired to demonstrate their silt removal machine on cutthroat trout spawning riffles (35 mm slide file, 10-28-83, JEW).
Timberline biologis.t Joe Urbani checks outlet of SRM and silt quantity removed. Six riffles were partially cleaned, to an average depth 6-10." Spawning trout acceptance will be closely monitored spring 1984 (35 mm slide file, 10-28-83, JEW). We agreed to hire Timberline to demonstrate their SRM-1 (Silt Removal Machine Model 1) and give other State and Federal fishery biologists an opportunity to view the technique. Total cost of their one day operation was $1,160.59. Manager Wilbrecht solicited donations for the project from the local private sector of $606.00. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department contributed $200.00 and the Refuge paid the remaining $354.59. The six riffle areas cleaned will be mapped, measured and monitored for cutthroat redd activity and longevity.
16. Marking and Banding
See Section D - Planning, Research and Investigation, page 7.
17. Disease Prevention and Control
Elk mortalities are recorded on the Refuge each winter. The cause of mortality is often not identifiable if the carcass is not found soon after death due to scavenging by coyotes, eagles, ravens and magpies. Table 14. presents the age/sex composition of the 170 mortalities during winter 1982-83. Age determination of winter mortalities was made using tooth eruption and replacement for calves and yearlings and cementum annuli examination for adult animals. Refuge staff collected incisors from mortalities and sent them to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Lab in Laramie for cementum annuli aging. The mean age of bull (1^+) mortalities was 7.35 years. The mean age of cow (1^+) mortalities was 11.86 years. This will be continued in winter 1983-84.
Sixty-four percent (64 elk) of the 101 adult bull elk that died on NER were scabied. Only 8 percent (two elk) of 26 cow mortalities had scabies and no spike bulls or calves that died had scabies. During winter 1983-84 an attempt will be made to record the incidence of scabies in the elk herd. Table 14. Age/Sex Composition of 140 Elk Mortalities Aged by Tooth Eruption/ Replacement and Cementum Annuli Examination Techniques on the National Elk Refuge During Winter 1982-83.
Sex Age Male Female Undetermined Total
Calf 1 3 25 29 6 2 8 2% 1 1 3^ 3 1 4 4% 4 1 5 5^ 16 1 17 14 1 15 ih 10 2 12 8h 14 1 15 9h 7 2 9 10% 5 1 6 11% 3 1 4 12% 2 2 13% 1 1 14% i 1 2 15% 2 2 16% 1 1 2 17% 18% 1 1 2 19% 1 1 22% 1 1 23% 1 1 21% 1 1 Adult- 25 18 7 Not Aged Antlerless- 5 5 Not Aged TOTAL 108 32 30 170
34. H. PUBLIC USE*
1. General
I&R planning for the new Visitor Center and administrative office building for the Project was once again thwarted during 1983 as no funding was approved for FY 84. The plan calls for Visitor Center/Headquarters building to be located near the Hatchery accessible from the main highway through Jackson Hole.
In September 1983 an updated Construction Project Worksheet was submitted. This called for construction of the Visitor Center, administrative offices, exhibits, stream profile chamber, parking lot, access road, bridge over Flat Creek, and the relocation of three residences and two horse barns. The estimated cost was $3,397,000.00 for the complete package. The Regional Office has been highly supportive of the plan and a request for engineering planning ($351,000) was submitted for FY 86 and construction funds ($3,800,000) were requested for FY 87.
Various efforts were made by Felix Gula (Felix Gula Associates - exhibit designer) and Terry Cacek in the Regional Office to locate sources of private funding with no success thus far. Felix Gula developed an 18 page booklet with color photos to describe and promote the Visitor Center project plan.
Also, on December 23, 1983 the Board of Directors of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce voted to support the plan. A letter of support for the project was sent by the Chamber to the Congressional delegation and the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Total annual adjusted visitation to the National Elk Refuge was 482,377 in 1983, This represents a decrease of 50,723 visitors from 1982. Total visitation to the Jackson Hole area dropped considerably in 1983. Visitation to nearby Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park declined with Grand Teton reporting a 25% drop for the year. The visitor tally for Grand Teton was 2,571,204 visits in 1983 compared to 3,443,884 in 1982. The park recorded 1,619,955 visitors entering the park from the south. This number of visitors pass directly adjacent the Refuge and Hatchery on the main highway between Jackson and the park. Considering this heavy travel corridor, the potential visitation to the Project is tremendous. Viewing Refuge lands and wildlife from the highway pullouts accounted for over half of the total Refuge visitation.
Table 15 shows yearly and monthly comparisons on the Refuge for a ten year period. Table 16 summarizes public use activities on the Refuge for the calendar year 1983, listing total visits and activity hours for each activity category.
a Griffin 35. Table 15. Total Adjusted Visitation - Yearly/Monthly Comparisons for Ten Years, National Elk Refuge.
Month 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
Jan 3,944 4,581 7,935 5,538 8,689 22,203 20,599 24,159 21,836 23,553
Feb 7,337 7,175 7,919 6,400 10,568 23,115 22,680 27,120 25,597 27,454
March 7,258 8,377 9,073 6,650 14,897 25,627 25,331 31,206 33,583 33,058
April 5,895 3,209 7,885 6,600 5,902 20,891 26,524 29,274 26,982 27,102
May 10, 141 12,861 15,009 16,400 18,022 29,352 35,990 36,479 32,646 30,401
June 22,536 37,529 45,330 214,000 42,704 47,317 53,891 79,731 75,189 66,123
July 17,245 111,835 53,099 46,000 70,952 69,029 71,748 97,021 95,146 88,372
Aug 26,335 150,888 60, 121 59,000 74,276 72,231 75,957 91,605 94,860 66,692
Sept 16,480 28,422 20,811 24,000 35,892 49,824 44,691 44,423 48,117 39,283
Oct 14,338 20,641 8, 100 7,000 16,541 25,301 23,876 27,258 27,406 23,838
Nov 14,470 16,004 7,600 6,000 29,101 13,484 15,834 24,644 25,896 31,594
Dec 4,229 8,343 4,000 3,200 20,637 11,967 14,376 24,036 25,842 24,907
YEARLY TOTALS 150,208 409,865 246,865 400,988 348,181 410,341 431,497 536,956 533,100 482,377 (ADJ.) Table 16. Summary of Public Use Activities - 1983 Calendar Year, National Elk Refuge.
Activity and Description Number of Visits Activity Hrs
A. Interpretation 1. Wildlife Tour Routes - Conducted: Sleigh Rides and 22,702 22,702 Sleigh Ride Visitor Center 2. Visitor Contact Stations: Wyoming Highway Information 139,124 34,039 Center and Refuge Headquarters 3. Interpretive Exhibits - Self-Guided: Bulletin Board 5,349 234 Exhibits at Refuge Entrance and Headquarters 4. Other On/Off Refuge Programs: Talks/Tours to School 3,902 4,313 and Other Groups
B. Environmental Education 1. Students and Teachers: Use of Environmental Study Area 952 1,831
C. Recreation - Wildlife Consumption 1. Hunting Resident Game-Elk-Gun 767 5,548 2. Fishing - Coldwater 2,129 5,623
D. Recreation - Wildlife Non-Consumptive 1. Wildlife/Wildlands Observation - Vehicles: Vehicles on 265,115 28,276 Refuge Road and Highway Pullouts 2. Photography: Professional Photography by Permit and Bird 12 104 Blind Use
E. Recreation - Non-Wildlife 1. Picnicking: Wyoming Highway Information Center - 28,325 14,079 North Park Picnic Area 2. Other: Joggers on Refuge Road 16,860 8,429
TOTALS 485,237 125,178 The Wyoming Highway Information Center received a total visitation of 135,487 in 1983. The building is located on Refuge lands along the main highway north of Jackson. Refuge exhibit panels are located on an outside balcony over-looking Refuge lands. The building is owned by the State of Wyoming and is operated under agreement by the Jackson Chamber of Commerce which has made the Center its base of operations since 1976. The Chamber would like to establish a permanent home in the building.
An advisory committee to the Information Center (with Refuge employee as a member) usually makes an annual inspection of the building. This committee advises the Highway Commission on matters pertaining to maintenance of facilities, exhibits and other visitor informational matters to insure a coordinated, high quality visitor experience at the Center. No inspection was made during 1983 although the Highway Department notified the Chamber that $100,000 had been approved for renovations and repairs on the Center.
One of the major changes at the Center during the spring of 1983 was the addition of an original Yellowstone Park stagecoach display in the lobby.
The Project Leader is on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce and keeps well informed of their ongoing programs and activities, particularly as involves Refuge lands.
The Miller Cabin - National Elk Refuge Historic Site received little attention during 1983. No funding for rehabilitation work on the structure was planned for 1983. We contacted the Park Historian in Grand Teton National Park and he would be willing to look at the house and help us work up a priority list of maintenance needs for the structure. This site is a lower priority as far as funding for the station.
The new Miller House sign will help to interpret to Refuge visitors the significance of one of the oldest homes in Jackson Hole (35 mm slide file, 9-83, JMG).
38
r
! * A large routed wood interpretive sign for the site was installed in the spring. The sign was constructed through cooperation with the Teton County Historical Society and Bridger-Teton National Forest. A road-side pullout near the sign along the Refuge Road was built in cooperation with Teton County. This sign commemorates the site as the nucleus of the Refuge, recognizing the roles of the Forest Service and Historical Society.
Public information activities were highlighted by a variety of news, magazine, TV and radio interviews and contacts during 1983.
The Refuge staff responded to 1,795 public inquires which included phone calls and letters in 1983.
Thirteen news releases were issued directly by the Project and another 66 releases were generated indirectly on local, regional, national and international levels. Project headlines included the following:
"Refuge Guide Available" "Refuge Counts Wintering Elk" "County Receives $251,111 in Revenue Sharing from Refuge" "Refuge Sponsors Wildlife Week Poster Contest with Local Schools" "Winners Announced in Wildlife Week Poster Contest" "Elk Refuge Rides to View Elk End April 3" "Fish and Wildlife Service Sponsors YCC Program" "Fish Kill at Federal Hatchery Estimated in Thousands of Pounds" "Jackson Fish Hatchery Meets Stocking Commitments Despite Loss" "Drawings for Refuge Hunt Begin October 28" "Peregrine Recovery Underway" "Refuge Announces Hunt Drawing Location Change" "See the Elk - Take a Sleigh Ride"
News releases were most commonly issued to the Jackson Hole News, Jackson; Jackson Hole Guide, Jackson; Jackson Hole Daily, Jackson; KMTN FM Radio, Jackson; KSGT AM Radio, Jackson; the Post Register, Idaho Falls, ID: KID-TV, Idaho Falls, ID; and KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID.
During 1983 news releases, articles, stories and coverage of the Refuge also appeared in Pacific Outdoors TV show; TV-6, Pocatello, ID; Chicago Tribune; Casper Star Tribune; Blue Goose Flyer; Field and Stream magazine; Discovery magazine; Denver Post; Grand Teton National Park Guide - the Teewinot; Western Outdoors magazine; Washington Post; Wyoming Wildlife magazine; KUED-TV, PBS, Salt Lake City, Utah; National Geographic; Newsweek; Audubon magazine; Travel Holiday magazine; KNXT-TV, Los Angeles, CA; High Country News, Lander, WY; National Wildlife Federation Newsletter, "The Leader' National Geographic "Traveler" magazine; USA Cable TV; Time-Life; CBS-TV Morning News with Charles Kurault; NBC Today Show; Jackson Winter Visitor's Guide; and the Associated Press.
The Refuge received numerous written and phone inquires and requests regarding the antler pickup and auction and acquisition of elk antlers. In 1983, antlers were donated for educational, interpretive or scientific
39. purposes to: Maryville College, Tennessee; Anthropology Dept, Aerie Nature Series, Colorado for school programs; Jackson Junior High School for scrimshaw crafts; the University of Tennessee, Anthropology Dept; Theodore Roosevelt NMP for display; Teton County Recreation Dept for town antler arches; Laubins Indian Crafts for non-profit bow making presentations; the University of N.D. Anthropology Dept; Southwestern Oregon Community College for teaching program; and Spring Creek Ranch, Wyoming for a non-profit nature center.
Information programs such as National Wildlife Week and National Hunting and Fishing Day were promoted by visits to local schools and media and by distributing information releases, kits and posters. In March, a Wildlife Week poster contest was sponsored by the Refuge and our cooperating association, the Grand Teton Natural History Association (GTNHA). Local schools participated and there were three classes of competition: a junior class for grades 5-6, an intermediate class for grades 7-8 and a senior class for grades 9-12. Over 60 entries were received and winning posters were selected by a panel of five volunteer judges from Cooperating Association, Forest Service, Park Service and FWS. Winners and photos of winning posters appeared in a local newspaper during Wildlife Week. Prizes were donated to the students by the Cooperating Association and included $100 savings bonds for first place, $75.00 bonds for second place and $50.00 bonds for third place. Three honorable mention prizes of Refuge t-shirts or posters were also awarded. The first place posters were placed on public display at the Sleigh Ride Visitor Center during Wildlife Week.
Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps were available at the Refuge in 1983 and 11 stamps were sold for collecting and conservation purposes. A special Duck Stamp exhibit was displayed at the annual Ducks Unlimited banquet in Jackson and featured Wilbrecht's personal, complete stamp collection.
No new Refuge publications, consisting of brochures and leaflets, were printed in 1983. Most existing brochures were reprinted providing a stock of complimentary information for the public. The following were reprinted during 1983: "Elk of the National Elk Refuge," "Hunting Information," "1983 Hunt Season General Information," "Mammals List," and "History of the Refuge." Other printing jobs included hunt permits and a revised fishing creel census card.
Refuge brochures are dispersed at leaflet holders at Refuge Headquarters, Refuge entrance and at the Sleigh Ride Visitor Center. Limited quantities are provided as requested to the Wyoming Highway Information Center and the Moose Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park.
The Refuge received several requests for professional/commercial filming in 1983. Nine photography permits were issued: James Halfpenny, teacher/ lecturer, Colorado; Johnny Amberson, North American Danam Film Productions, Idaho Falls, ID; Bill Ervin, Natural Imagery, Boulder City, Colorado; Wolfgang Bayer Productions, Jackson, WY; Dennis Caputo, Baytown, Texas; Alex Thiermann, Nature Photography, Ames, Iowa; L. Peter Freisinger; Windsong Studio Productions, La Crosse, WI; Ila Rogers, Jackson, WY; Jackie Gilmore, Naturalist/Writer, Jackson, WY.
Wolfgang Bayer of W. Bayer Productions filmed an entire story of the Refuge for Japanese TV (Tokyo Cinema) including this segment of elk feeding operations and interview with Bio-Tech, Bob Rowley (35 mm slide file, 3-9-83, JMG).
2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students
The Refuge coordinates with the Bridger-Teton National Forest in the operation and maintenance of a jointly sponsored Environmental Study Area (ESA) along the south boundary of the Refuge. The area is most heavily used by the Jackson Elementary and Junior High Schools as an outdoor classroom. During 1983, use was approximately 952 students and teachers for 1,831 total activity hours.
3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers
The Refuge involves teachers in many aspects of the Refuge, particularly during winter months with the sleigh rides and Sleigh Ride Visitor Center. A teacher study guide entitled, "Elk Refuge Visit" is provided to teachers and the film, "Season of the Elk" is loaned to teachers prior to their visit. Some teachers develop a thorough lesson plan about the elk and Refuge before bringing their students to the area. The Refuge and sleigh ride concessionaire have a policy whereby Jackson first grades and outlying elementary schools can take the sleigh ride free and other schools studying the elk and Refuge receive a discount. As a result, hundreds of students each year take the sleigh ride and have a "first class" outdoor classroom experience.
41. An extensive local environmental education program and activities are conducted through the Teton Science School within Grand Teton National Park, north of the Refuge. This school operates an annual schedule of EE programs for all levels of education, local and non-local. Refuge personnel are actively involved with the school and its staff, coordinating trips, talks, and activities. Most classes tour the Refuge and visit the Sleigh Ride Visitor Center. The Project Leader is on the "Advisory" Board of Directors of the Teton Science School.
4. Interpretive Foot Trails
There are no interpretive foot trails on the Refuge.
5. Interpretive Tour Routes
The sleigh/wagon rides into the elk herds are a unique interpretive experience for Refuge visitors. The rides are a concession operated through an agreement with our cooperating association, the Grand Teton Natural History Association. During the 1982-83 season, both sleighs and wagons were used due to changing winter conditions. The rides operated between December 18, 1982 and April 3, 1983. During the 1982-83 season, 23,923 people took these tours (22,702 for the calendar year). Visitation was up 5,117 from the 1981-82 season and up 9,304 from 1980-81. This year was the largest visitation since the concession operated rides began in 1965. Table 17 gives a summary of sleigh ride visitation over the years.
6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations
The Sleigh Ride Visitor Center (contact station) had its third season of operation in 1983 (season was December 18, 1982 through April 3, 1983). Over 24,000 visitors entered the building during the three and one-half month season. The Center was open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, the same hours as the rides. The sleigh rides and Center were not closed any days during 1983 due to bad weather. Five employees worked at the Sleigh Ride Visitor Center during the season. ORP Griffin usually worked one day per week; Marilyn McElheney (seasonal Bio-Aid interpreter) worked five days each week; and Julie Holding (seasonal Bio-Aid) worked one day per week. Barbara Hayden (clerk) and Everett Russell (Bio-Tech.) also worked on a few occasions.
The 25-seat A-V room was filled to capacity most of the time. In addition to the 12-minute "Elk Refuge Slide Program," the "Seasons of the Elk" film was shown regularly. Another movie, "Life of the Bighorn Sheep" was shown upon request. During the season, a total of 1,010 slide shows and 223 movies were shown to the visitors.
Every state was represented in visitation through the Center's guest register. Eighteen foreign countries were also represented (see Table 18). The states which had the greatest recorded visitation were in order: Idaho, Wyoming, California, Utah and Colorado. Table 17. Sleigh Ride Concession Seasonal Summary, National Elk Refuge
Schools/Groups Ticket Children Children Free/Discount^ Visitor Prices Season Adults (6-12) (0-6) free Special Total Adult/Child Expenses Income
1965-1966 1,895 558 est. 500 2,593 $ 1.00/.50 $ 5,159 $ 2,921
1966-1967 3, 125 734 1,607 5,466 1.00/.50 4,729 4,638
1967-1968 2,618 665 821 4,104 1.50/.75 5,437 4,426
1968-1969 3,905 807 1,111 5,823 1.50/.75 3,816 6,510
1969-1970 3,670 712 1, no 5,492 1.50/.75 5,586 6,039
1970-1971 3,285 602 748 193 4,828 1.50/ .75 2,272 5,572
1971-1972 3, 190 536 616 261 4,603 1.50/.75 2,915 5,449
1972-1973 6,277 1,248 1,585 164 9,274 1.50/.75 5,125 10,515
1973-1974 4,554 701 887 88 6,230 1.50/.75 5,355 7,444
1974-1975 5, 794 813 726 34 7,367 1.50/.75 6,518 9,326
1975-1976 6,934 833 206 530 8,553 2.00/1.00 9,418 15,616
1976-1977 4,130 488 488 150 5,256 2.00/1.00 7,198 8,921
1977-1978 15,790 2,323 2,330 275 20,718 2.00/1.00 17,020 34,111
1978-1979 14,324 1,855 1,855 322 18,356 2.00/1.00 16,204 30,931
1979-1980 12,104 1,368 1,368 429 15,269 2.00/1.00 14,081 25,688
1980-1981 11,520 1,483 1,483 133 14,619 2.50/1.50 23,389 31,325
1981-1982 14,783 1,845 1,845 333 18,806 2.50/1.50 34,659 40,960
1982-1983 18,405 2,34 7 2,472 699 23,923 3.50/1.50 52,852 71,997 Table 18. Sleigh Ride Visitor Center Guest Register Summary, 1983 Season Visitation, National Elk Refuge.
Alabama: 43 Montana: 252 Alaska: 16 Nebraska: 48 Arizona: 78 New Hampshire: 24 Arkansas: 35 New Jersey: 75 California: 578 New Mexico: 46 Colorado: 403 New York: 147 Connecticut: 35 Nevada: 39 D.C.: 6 North Carolina: 14 Delaware: 4 North Dakota: 10 Florida: 110 Ohio: 60 Georgia: 22 Oklahoma: 126 Hawaii: 7 Oregon: 168 Idaho: 2 ,035 Pennsylvania: 125 Illinois: 101 Rhode Island: 6 Indiana: 24 South Carolina: 13 Iowa: 58 South Dakota: 86 Kansas: 35 Tennessee: 18 Kentucky: 12 Texas: 307 Louisiana: 56 Utah: 568 Maine: 8 Virginia: 57 Maryland: 55 Vermont: 22 Massachusetts: 76 Washington: 115 Michigan: 106 West Virginia: 7 Minnesota: 275 Wisconsin; 178 Mississippi: 16 Wyoming: 1,205 Missouri: 102
Foreign Countries:
Angola: 4 Mexico: 10 Argentina: 4 Norway: 4 Australia: 18 Saudi Arabia: 4 Brazil: 1 Scotland: 3 Canada: 59 South Africa: 7 England: 7 Switzerland: 1 France: 3 Tahiti: 1 Japan: 2 Thailand: 5 USSR: 1 West Africa: 2
44. Besides the visitation to the Sleigh Ride Visitor Center and Wyoming Information Center, 3,637 visitors stopped in at Refuge Headquarters in 1983 to receive information and ask specific questions. The Headquarters office is busiest during the hunting season with practically non-stop traffic.
The bulletin board exhibits at Refuge Headquarters and at the entrance to the Refuge Road are reworked during the year to update information and regulations and to replace old, weathered materials and photos. The exhibits are changed seasonally to include information about hunting, fishing, sleigh rides, antler dropping, etc. An estimated 5,000 or more people view these bulletin boards annually.
Several new signs were constructed this year particularly to replace old hunt signs and add new directional signs in the hunt area. These were constructed by the Grand Teton National Park sign shop under an agreement to supply lumber and materials in exchange for sign making.
7. Other Interpretive Programs
The Refuge staff gave orientations, talks, tours and programs to the public and various groups on and off the Refuge during the year. Recorded visits tallied 3,902 for 4,313 activity hours. Of this, 38 special presentations were given to 28 different groups totaling 1,133 people (1,417 activity hours). These presentations were given to the following groups: Teton Science School; Ricks College, ID; Jackson Jr. High School (7th grade); Jackson Community Children's Project; Jackson Kindergarden; Wilson School (2nd grade); LaBarge Elementary School; Dubois (7th grade); Jackson Pre-school; Greenville College, Illinois; Rawlins High School; Dubois High School; Jackson Elementary Special Ed.;*Audubon Expedition Tours; Jackson Elementary School (4th grade); Jackson District Cub Scouts; Colorado State University; Jackson Chamber of Commerce; National Outdoor Leadership School; YCC's; Missouri Western State College; Lost Creek Ranch; U.S. Dept. of Energy, ID; Wyoming Outfitters Association; Bighorn Sheep Society, CO; Sierra Club, San Francisco, CA; Grand Teton National Park.
The Refuge purchased a 16 mm film entitled "The Silver Trumpeter" filmed by a local photographer Jeff Foott and produced by Anglia Productions, England. The film depicts the story of the Jackson/Yellowstone/Red Rock Lakes NWR t rump et er swans.
8. Hunt ing
Introduction - The Refuge elk hunt began on October 29, 1983 and lasted for 33 days until November 30, 1983. The season was reduced four days from that in 1982.
The weather throughout the hunt period was moderate except for the last ten days when heavy snows, wind and cold made conditions tougher. The loop road was graded prior to the season and hunters had no problems driving the access roads most of the season. One major change this season was to move the south hunt boundary one mile north and elminate the south hunt parking lot. The south boundary now is just north of the study pens in an almost direct east-west line.
Drawings - The first hunter drawing was held at 3:00 p.m. on October 28, 1983 (see Figure 4 ) with 354 people present hoping to draw one of the 120 available "any elk" permits. In the succeeding four drawings, there were 263, 497, 792 and 650 people attending. A total of 2,556 people attended drawings during the season.
Fewer permits per hunt period were issued this year - 40 permits per period or 120 each week compared to 50/150 in 1982. The permits issued for the first two weeks of the season were for "any elk." After that, ten "any elk" permits and thirty "antlerless only" permits per hunt period.
Refuge hunt drawings were moved to the Refuge shop area where 650 hunters attended the last special permit drawing on November 25, 1983 (Jackson Hole Guide photo, S. Leibensperger).
Several changes initiated in 1982 were continued in 1983. Individual hunters had to be present at the drawing to participate - no family stand-ins were allowed. There were no daily "mini-drawings" and limited alternates (name lists determined at Friday drawings) were issued each period based on confirmed kills. Also, at the drawings, hunters were allowed to take a permit for any period in the priority order as they were drawn.
46. Figure 4 NATIONAL ELK REFUGE
1983 HUNT SEASON
GENERAL INFORMATION
-Public firearm and archery hunting of elk on the Refuge is permitted from October 29 through November 30, 1983, unless Area 77 season closes earlier.
-A non-fee Refuge Hunting Permit is required which is obtained by participation in a weekly public drawing at Refuge Headquarters.
-Individuals wishing to draw for a Refuge Hunting Permit must be present at the drawing and possess a valid State of Wyoming "general" elk hunting license \ (resident or non-resident) and a valid hunter safety card or certification or a current hunter safety instructor card issued by any state.
-One hundred and twenty (120) Refuge Hunting Permits will bq issued each week to qualified individuals by the drawings. There is no pre-application for permits.
-Drawings will be held at Refuge Headquarters at 3:00 p.m. on the following Fridays: October 28, November 4, 11, 18 and 25 unless Area 77 closes earlier, i Participants should come to Refuge Headquarters at 2:45 p.m. in order that licenses and safety cards can be checked and a numbered ticket issued prior to the drawing.
! -Permits will be drawn for three hunt periods each week - 40 permits will be I valid for Saturday and Sunday; 40 permits valid for Monday and Tuesday; and • 40 permits valid for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
-"Any elk" permits will be issued from October.29 through November 11. From November 12 until November 30, ten (10) "any elk" permits and thirty (30) "antlerless only" permits will be issued per hunt period.
-Additional permits may be issued from an "alternate list". An "alternate list" of 15 to 20 names per hunt period will be determined each week at the Friday afternoon drawings.
-It is the responsibility of hunters to use proper hunter ethics and to report all accidents and crippled animals to Refuge personnel.
; -If you have any questions or need additional information, contact Refuge Headquarters: National Elk Refuge; P.O. Box C; Jackson, Wyoming 83001; Phone 307/733-9212.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Hunter Success - As in 1982 hunters had a successful hunt on the opening weekend with 37 elk taken. This kill was from the resident elk herd composed mostly of spike bulls. After the first weekend most elk were dispersed onto Grand Teton National Park or onto Forest Service lands.
The hunt on the three special permit areas of Grand Teton National Park did not start until two weeks after the Refuge hunt began. After November 9, as the weather worsened and the hunt started in the Park, the number of elk killed per day increased dramatically and remained fairly constant throughout the remainder of the season. The individual hunter success for the entire season was 43%, up about 10% from 1982. Table 19 shows that a total of 671 hunters killed 295 elk. The total kill on the Refuge was 317. The additional 22 animals were those seized as illegal kills, or by the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, or hunt mortalities disposed of by natural predators on the Refuge.
The total kill on the Refuge for 1983 was similar to 1982 (323) despite the shortened season and reduced number of permits issued.
Problems - Some previous problems were corrected in 1983 but some new ones were added. Better hunt area signing helped solve some problems of hunters locating parking areas and finding directions (i.e. to Area 80). Area 80 immediately east of the Refuge closed this year on November 4, a month earlier than usual. This eliminated problems for the Refuge, particularly by reducing the large amount of traffic through the Refuge and the great number of hunters asking Refuge employees directions and information about Area 80.
Also, moving the south hunt boundary to the north and eliminating the south parking lot was very beneficial as it allowed elk a better chance to move through and spread out and reduced the hunter road chasing of elk.
One problem regarding hunter parking for the Friday drawings developed this season. After two drawings were held at Refuge Headquarters with considerable traffic and congested parking on East Broadway St. the Town of Jackson received complaint(s) from resident(s). The Town Mayor and City Manager voiced their concerns and we met with the Jackson Chief of Police to discuss and try to resolve the problem. Various alternate locations for the drawings were discussed such as the shop area and Jackson Rodeo Grounds. The Rodeo Grounds were the most feasible alternate location but would have been very difficult to arrange during mid-hunt season. The next most reasonable alternative was the Refuge shop area, with plenty of parking along the Refuge Road. We decided to move the drawings to the shop and the last three drawings were held there. However, this location had its problems too. Two miles of parked vehicles along the Refuge Road created a congestion problem and further complaints:
47. Table 19. National Elk Refuge 1977-1983 Hunt Summary.
1977 , 19 78 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 Hunt Period 10/29-12/6 10/28-12/8 10/20-12/9 10/25-12/21 10/30-12/6 10/30-12/5 10/29-11/30 No. Days in Season 32 42 51 52 38 37 33
Any Elk-Days 0 0 14 43 25 385^ 320^
Antierless Elk-Days 32 42 37 9 12 646AA 447AA
Permits Issued 481 639 1,024 1,549 1,126 1,031 767 Permits Used 314 466 777 1,152 883 735 614 Permits Not Used 41 70 145 138 83 41 31 Permits Not Returned 126 103 78 259 160 255 122 Activity Hours 3,678 3,909 6,013 8,460 5,809 6,637 5,271 Hunter-Days 614 679 1,053 1,485 1,150 1,208 936
No. Individual Hunters *255 *379 *6 32 *937 718 857 671 Resident « 639 775 622 Non-Resident 79 82 49 Kill:
Bulls - - 7 235 132 61 73
Spikes - - 23 54 19 30 39 Cows 146 146 175 140 258 157 132 Calves (M) 15 17 15 16 37 23 23 Calves (F) 27 21 22 27 27 22 28
Calves (Unknown) 2 1 -- - - - Hunter Take 190 185 242 493 473 304 307 Other Hunt Related Mortality 30 42 38 20 8 19 10 Total Kill 220 227 280 513 481 323 317 A Ind. Hunter Success (%) *75% 49% ''38% *53% 66% 34% 43%
* No exact head count of hunters until 1981. Estimate based on 1981 ratio hunters/permits used. A Number of any elk permits. AA Number of antierless only permits. "Hunter Take": salvaged animals given to hunters. "Other" hunt related mortalities: Crippling loss (not salvaged). Illegals (salvaged - given to WG&FD). 1) It was difficult to get all vehicles to park on the east side of the road because of the narrow road and steep shoulders.
2) State District Judge Ranck and his family who have to traverse this road to get to their home sent a written complaint stating that we had "effectively closed" the road for three hours.
3) The County road supervisor stated that all the vehicles parking on the shoulders, making u-turns, getting stuck, etc. were causing damage to the County-maintained road.
The change of drawing location with instructions for hunter parking was announced on local radios and papers and signs directing hunters and parking were placed at Headquarters and at the Refuge Road. After the first drawing at the shop, two Refuge Officers and three Sheriff Deputies even worked on the road to direct and control traffic.
It was difficult to control the movement of hundreds of hunters into the shop area because of the size of the area and it was difficult to adequately check licenses and hunter safety cards. Also, adverse weather conditions, mud, and hundreds of people milling about created a "wallow" in front of the shop building.
In an attempt to solve a parking problem on East Broadway for Headquarters drawings we created more of a problem for ourselves by moving to the shop area. Next year we will check the possibility of conducting the drawings at the Jackson Rodeo Grounds (about miles SW of Headquarters) where there is adequate parking off city streets and plenty of space.
Hunting Violations - Special Regulations - During the 1983 hunt season, 28 violations were reported by Refuge or State law enforcement personnel. Twenty-three of these were warnings and five were violation notices. The following specifies the number of incidents for each violation and whether a warning (W) or notice (NOV) was issued:
Incident No. Incidents Action
Vehicle trespass 5 3 W; 2 NOV ($50) Hunt wrong area (trespass) 6 5 W; 1 NOV ($25) Hunt closed area 2 2 NOV ($210) Shoot from road 1 W Hunt-special regs 4 2 W; 2 NOV ($50) Improper tagging 6 W Orange clothing required 3 W Hunt under influence of alcohol 1 W
Again this year, special hunt regulations for the Refuge were not published in the Federal Register. The Regional Office urged us to use other sections of 50 CFR rather than the hunting section for special regs (32.2 f). We wanted
49. to enforce special regs during the 1983 hunt and hopefully have them "stand-up" in the U.S. Magistrate Court. The hunt information brochure was modified for 1983 and contained all special regulations which we believed were important for public information and enforcement. In addition, the Refuge hunt permit was printed with the statement, "The terms and conditions of this hunt permit are set forth in the accompanying Refuge Hunting Information brochure which lists special regulations for state hunt area number 77." In this way we felt we could enforce special regs by using the 50 CFR regulation 26.22(b) which reads: "A permit shall be required for any person entering a national wildlife refuge. ...the permittee will abide by all the terms and conditions set forth in the permit."
During 1983 none of the violations of special hunt regulations were tested in court - either warnings were given or fines for NOV's were paid. Nonetheless, we would feel more comfortable having special regs written in the Federal Register and/or CFR.
9. Fishing
Fishing for Snake River cutthroat trout, brook trout and other species is a popular summer and fall activity on the Refuge. Fishing occurs on the Gros Ventre River along the north boundary of the Refuge and on Flat Creek through the Refuge. In 1983, fishing was permitted May 21 through October 31 on the upper portion of Flat Creek, and August 1 through October 31 on lower Flat Creek. Fly fishing only was permitted along the 3-mile portion of lower Flat Creek. An estimated 2,129 fishermen spent 5,693 activity hours fishing Refuge waters this year.
A voluntary creel census to survey anglers along the fly fishing portion of Flat Creek was again employed in 1983. This method was begun in 1982. The creel census card was modified this year (see Figure 5 ) with some information omitted and seven size categories reduced to five. Creel census cards were readily available to anglers at the two fishing access points.
During the 92 day season, an estimated 1,000 anglers used the stream and turned in 641 census cards. The information on the cards was summarized, and information about the number of resident/non-resident anglers; hours fished; successful/unsuccessful anglers; fish landed, kept or released and angler's comments about special regulations is recorded in Table 20 . The summary indicates that 1.03 fish were landed per hour of fishing activity. The angler report summary is based on "complete" and "incomplete" cards; "complete" reports meaning that all categories on the card had been filled in, and "incomplete" meaning that one or more categories on the card were not filled in.
The summary indicated that there were a few more resident anglers than non-resident. Two-thirds were successful and most fish caught (91%) were released. Of the many comments about specific special fishing regulations, over half suggested that the area should be catch and release only. See Table 21 for yearly comparisons of angler report summaries for Lower Flat Creek.
50. Figure 5. Flat Creek Creel Census Card
gS on - > ° •? /~vi CD C CO CO z oM H
§ Ed B CO A CO UEd 0) C u • 3 •H J= OS CO CO o Ed Ed 0) -o cd EC >-l Ed CO 0) = Q M J3 O Z UA •• AJ —i /—s 0) CO Q Ed J3 c t-J U oCO m < < CO Z <1> Ed (X CO E-i £i 3 Ua o oCO O O M CO MH o CJ z ca CO CM 0) 4J Ed CO a. M M 3 CO oS § O 3 dS Ed O o CM O OS UA 3S •3 id -3 3 Ed M 3 3 § O CM *3 U 3 3 •3 H a 3 o 3 i—t En 4-1 •H J3 •• a CD J3 -rt a 3 -3 CM M co 3 3 vo OS J3 CM JO Ed M CO o a = Q 3 TH 3 O Z "H «M M 3 ^ 33 oo 3 fl 3 -9 3 U a -tj 3 3 -H z 3 •S Q 3 Ed • v—' •—< Table 20. Angler Report Summary, 1983 Lower Flat Creek Creel Census (fly fishing only).
Dates: August 1 - October 31
Days in Season: 92
Reports Turned in: Complete: 604 Incomplete: 37 Total: 641
Residents/Non-Residents: Resident: Complete: 310 from 604 reports Incomplete: 12 from 30 reports Total: 322 from 634 reports
Non-Resident: Complete: 294 from 604 reports Incomplete: 18 from 30 reports Total: 312 from 634 reports
Hours Fished: Complete: 1,701 hours from 604 reports Incomplete: 18 hours from 29 reports Total: 1,719 hours from 633 reports
Successful/Unsuccessful; Successful: Complete: 405 of 604 reports Incomplete; 34 of 37 reports Total: 439 of 641 reports
Unsuccessful; Complete: 199 of 604 reports Incomplete: 3 of 37 reports Total: 202 of 641 reports
Fish Landed; Complete: 1,703 from 604 reports Incomplete: 60 from 10 reports Total 1,763 from 614 reports
Fish Kept: Complete; 144 from 604 reports Incomplete; 14 from 10 reports Total: 158 from 614 reports
Fish Released: Complete: 1,559 from 604 reports Incomplete; 46 from 10 reports Total: 1,605 from 614 reports
Total Fish Landed Per Hour; 1,763 fish landed -f 1,719 total hours = 1.03 fish/hour
Comments; Total Reports: 641 Reports with Comments; 284 Percent Commenting: 34% Specific Comments about Special Regs: 126 comments from 93 reports
51. Table 21. Yearly Comparisons, Lower Flat Creek Angler Report Summaries, (1982-1983).
1982 1983 Season: Aug. 1 - Oct. 31 Aug. 1 - Oct. 31 (92 days) (92 days) Total Reports: 682 641 Hours Fished: 1,654 1,719 Fish Landed: 1,861 1,763 Fish Released: 1,611 1,605 Percent Released 87% 91% Fish Landed Per Hour: 1.13 1.03
Refuge lands are used for a variety of public uses, such as this fly fishing contest for kids in North Park (35 mm slide file, 8-83, JEW).
52. 10. Trapping
There is no trapping.
11. Wildlife Observation
Wildlife observation accounted for approximately 265,115 visits to the Refuge in 1983. This figure represents over half of the total Refuge visitation. A large portion of this visitation occurred by vehicles stopping at turn-outs along U.S. Highway 187/26 on the west side of the Refuge and vehicles on the interior Refuge Road. Several paved pullouts along the highway aid travelers who enjoy observing and photographing the Refuge and wildlife.
12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation
During 1983, two people used the Refuge photography bird blind and ten professional photographers obtained special permits for a total of 104 activity hours.
13. Camping
There is no camping.
14. Picnicking
The North Park picnic/rest area located on Refuge lands near the Wyoming Highway Information Center accomodated 28,325 picnickers in 1983. This is a major summer rest area for area visitors traveling north-south along the main highway on the west side of the Refuge. The park is operated by written agreement with the City of Jackson and Teton County which maintain the area.
15. Off-Road Vehicling
There is no off-road vehicling.
16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation
The Refuge Road which begins at the end of East Broadway Street in Jackson is a popular road for joggers and runners. An estimated 16,860 people ran on the Refuge in 1983 totaling 8,429 activity hours. Runners are on the road from early morning to after dark in all seasons of the year. Although the road provides an excellent pathway for runners, off the congested streets of town, there are times when wintering elk are disturbed by runners, particularly in evening hours. We are monitoring the situation.
17. Law Enforcement
During 1983, 140 law enforcement related incidents/encounters were recorded on the Refuge. Most of these incidents (113) were handled by verbal or written warnings. The most frequent violations were people, animal and vehicle trespass. Twenty-seven violation notices or complaints were issued,
53. of which 18 were paid through the Central Violations Bureau in Denver and seven were heard in U.S. Magistrate Court or State Court in Jackson. Two NOV's issued in 1983 are still pending. See Table 22 for a summary.
The Refuge had six commissioned law enforcement officers in 1983. These were Jim Griffin, who coordinates the LE program; Everett Russell; Dave Trudeau; Roger Rape; John Wilbrecht; John Decker (transferred) and Rees Madsen, who joined the staff in 1983.
Regularly scheduled patrols occurred only during the hunting season which is the peak of enforcement activity on the Refuge. Extra patrol efforts occurred during the spring antler pickup, storage and auction time in April and May, and during the July holiday weekend. Most patrols and law enforcement matters during the remainder of the year were incidental to other duties.
A legal intern, Mr. John Scorcine, worked with the Project staff and other local Federal agencies during the summer. He was assigned to the area through the U.S. Attorney's Office in Cheyenne, and assisted the Refuge in various law enforcement matters.
In September 1983, we finally received word from the U.S. District Court that our revisions of the 1978 collateral fine list had been officially approved and that CVB would be printing a new fine booklet. This was done after the fine list revisions had been in the "mill" for four years. Several fines were raised substantially and of particular note was 50 CFR 27.21, "taking animals," which was raised from a $25.00 to $250.00.
The Refuge again attended the interagency law enforcement meeting which was held in Grand Teton National Park in June. Attending were the U.S. District Court Judge, U.S. Attorney, U.S. Magistrates for Wyoming and representatives of all Federal law enforcement agencies.
Law enforcement efforts on the Refuge Road continued to be handled in a "low key" manner by Refuge officers and routine road patrols, radar usage and accident investigations on the road were handled by the Teton County Sheriff Department.
Several cases are of particular interest in 1983. One of the most notable was the antler poaching, Lacey Act case of April. The Refuge received information through an informant that certain individuals had been removing large quantities of antlers from the Refuge at night, had sold the antlers for a couple thousand dollars and were coming back for more. Four Refuge officers staked out a portion of the Refuge for two nights and on the second night at 3:00 a.m. arrested two people with a truck load of 338 pounds, of antlers valued over $2,000.00. These two were charged with transporting wildlife with intent to sell under the Lacey Act. The individuals cooperated fully with the Refuge and U.S. Attorney's Office and provided names and information which may lead to further arrests. Both were charged in U.S. Magistrate Court with the misdemeanor Lacey Act. One, a juvenile, had charges dismissed and the other received a 90 day suspended jail sentence and $500.00 fine. Another 410 pounds of antlers valued at approximately $2,500.00 was confiscated from a local buyer as a result of this case. Further investigation and Grand Jury indictments on several other individuals are still pending.
54. Table 22. National Elk Refuge Summary of Violations, (number of incidents) 1983.
DISPOSITION OF VIOLATIONS-1983
Court Dismissed Pending Type of Violation TOTALS Violation Notices Court or Suspended VN's (Incidents) 1983 1982 1981 Warnings (Paid Amts) (Paid Amts) (Amounts) (Amounts)
Trespass (animal) 21 36 15 10 10($275) Trespass (people) 37 96 62 34 2($ 50) 1($25) Trespass (vehicle) 8 9 10 6 2($ 50) Trespass (vehicle - 4 hill climbing) Trespass (camping) 22 19 24 22 Unauthorized landing-aircraft 1 Disturb. WL (animal) 3 2 4 2 1($50) Disturb. WL (people) 1 1 2 1 Disturb. WL (vehicle) 1 1 Disturb. WL (aircraft) Taking plants/animals 1 1 2 1 Hunting-illegal kill (bull) 2 3 Enter hunt area w/o permit Hunt in wrong area 6 1 5 1($ 25) Hunt in closed area 2 2($210) Hunt-Special Regs. 6 3 2 4 2($ 50) Improper tagging 6 1 6 Hunt-overlimit 1 2 Hunt-orange clothing 3 4 1 3 Hunt-w/o license Hunt-retain evidence/sex 4 Fire from/upon/across road 1 3 1 Firearm in closed area 1 1 2 1 Other weapons Fireworks/explosive 1 2 Spot lighting 1 1 1 Fishing-overlimit 1 CONTINUED Table 22. Continued
DISPOSITION OF VIOLATIONS-1983
Court Dismissed Pending Type of Violation TOTALS Violation Notices Court or Suspended VN's (Incidents) 1983 1982 1981 Warnings (Paid Amts) (Paid Amts) (Amounts) (Amounts)
Fishing-closed area 1($55) Fishing-improper gear Fishing w/o license Speeding Careless driving DUI Improper licensed vehicle Opr. MV w/o license 1 1 Opr. MV-vision obstruction Opr. MV-w/o lights Opr. motorcycle w/o lights Opr. Motorcycle w/o helmet Unlawful parking Littering Boats-unauthorized Alcohol-under age Alcohol-under influence Interfere w/officer Disorderly conduct Destruction/removal of 1 6 1($150) property F ires-unauthorized 1 Lacey Act 2 1($500)
TOTALS 140 198 157 113 18($505) 4($860) 3($75) 2($25) On January 13, 1983, the Sleigh Ride Visitor Center was burglarized. The door lock was broken and thieve(s) stole 47 pounds of display antlers valued at approximately $300.00. No other items of value were taken. A certain individual(s) was suspect although no major leads were developed.
Another theft of public property occurred on the night of March 13, 1983 at the Jackson National Fish Hatchery. An undetermined number of lake trout brood fish were taken from the raceways and one fish was killed and left. A makeshift gaff or spear made of a stick of wood and a nail had been used to take the fish. No arrests were made in this case.
On June 23, 1983 there was an attempted suicide (drug overdose) in a vehicle parked on the Refuge Road. The Sheriff Department handled this case and the individual survived.
On the night of August 8, 1983 three pickup trucks and a tractor trailer parked at the Refuge shop had gasoline stolen from them. Gas caps were missing from the vehicles and an estimated 25 gallons o,f fuel was missing.
In the fall, one routed wood "No Camping..." sign was stolen from the hunter access parking area. The sign was not recovered.
There were several auto accidents during 1983 on the Refuge. One DUI accident on June 20 near the shop caused considerable damage to the vehicle with little injury to the driver. Another DUI case in July involved a vehicle which crashed through the Refuge buck and rail fence and landed in Flat Creek north of the bridge on the highway. The driver's insurance company paid for damages to Refuge property. Numerous vehicles got stuck in the snow-drifted, deep road shoulders during winter months and several vehicles sustained damages.
Refuge LE personnel attended portions of the 40 hour refresher law enforcement training through Grand Teton National Park in early June. Jim Griff in attended the 40 FWS refresher course in Denver in March. In the future our officers will be scheduled to attend the FWS course once every two years with some supplemental training locally through the Sheriff Department or Park Service. Firearms practice and qualification was held on the Park range on June 8 and November 2 with Park Service range instructors.
In the fall Special Agent, Jim Klett, was assigned to Lander, Wyoming which is a new duty station for the agents. We will be working closely with Jim in the future.
Three Refuge officers, Everett Russell, Dave Trudeau, and Jim Griffin were members of the Teton County Peace Officers Association in 1983. This is a local non-profit community service organization composed of the Wyoming State Highway Patrol, Teton County Sheriff Department, Jackson Police Department, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, National Park Service and Forest Service.
57. 18. Cooperating Associations
The Cooperating Association for the Project, Grand Teton Natural History Association (GTNHA) through Grand Teton National Park, had its third season of operations during 1983. The Project affiliates with the GTNHA to operate an interpretive sales outlet at the Sleigh Ride Visitor Center. The Refuge Outdoor Recreation Planner is the coordinator for the affiliation with the GTNHA and works closely with the Association's business manager and Board of Directors. In 1983, the Refuge sales outlet offered 32 different products for purchase including books, postcards, slide sets, t-shirts, and posters. Gross sales for 1983 were $7,128.00 ($2,172.52 profit).
In addition to the sales, this was the second season that the winter sleigh rides on the Refuge have been under the management of the GTNHA. The rides are managed through a supplemental agreement with the FWS and GTNHA and a sub-contract agreement with the GTNHA and a concessionaire. The concessioners provide the horse-drawn sleighs and operate the rides. Through the agreement, the GTNHA receives a franchise fee from the concession which is seven percent of the season's gross ticket sales. Gross sales for the season's sleigh ride tickets was $71,997.00 ($5,171.87 profit).
From book sale profits and sleigh ride franchise fee the Association realized a net profit of $7,344.39 in 1983. This is used as a donation fund to enhance visitor information, education and interpretive efforts and services for the Project. In 1983, the Project received $4,872.00 in donations from the Association which included savings bonds and prizes for National Wildlife Week school poster contest winners; library books; slide storage and viewing cabinets; mounting and framing photos; 16 mm film; per diem payment for volunteer and gifts to schools, coop students, YCC's and other agencies.
The Jackson National Fish Hatchery also became involved with Association book sales in 1983. A custom oak book display rack was built and book sales began on August 12, 1983. Due to the late start in the tourist season and a problem with theft of books no significant sales were recorded for 1983.
The agreement between the Project and the GTNHA for sales and sleigh rides was to expire in November 1983. In May the GTNHA Board met with the Project and the Cooperative Agreement was extended to November 1986. The GTNHA has renewed the agreement with the understanding that we still intend to create our own Cooperating Association or join another FWS Cooperating Association at the time we develop a major year-round Visitor Center operation.
19. Concessions
Brad and Joanne Luton continued to operate the sleigh/wagon ride concession . during the winter months on the Refuge. See Section 5, Interpretive Tour Routes, and Table 17 for statistical information on this season's rides.
58. The 1982-83 season was the Luton's seventh season as concessionaires. It was the second season that the operators conducted the rides under agreement with the Cooperating Association (GTNHA).
The sleigh ride concession provides a valuable public service on the Refuge and performs recreational and interpretive duties that the Refuge used to perform and no longer does due to financial constraints. The Lutons have operated a dependable, safe, informative and enjoyable visitor service and have met the objectives and performance standards the Refuge has set in the "contract for visitor sleigh rides."
Facilities and services offered in 1983 were essentially the same as in 1982. The Lutons added one more sleigh to their operations and now have six sleighs and five wagons. The cost of the rides was raised from $2.50 to $3.50 for adults and $1.50 to $2.50 for children age 6-12. Children under six were free. Some schools and special groups were discounted or free. The rides ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily on a continuous basis. The 1982-83 season was December 18 to April 3, 1983. * I. Equipment and Facilities
2. Rehabilitation
Several projects were accomplsihed in 1983. The most significant of these was the completion of the east crossing on Flat Creek. Three eight foot sections of concrete tube with 4' x 9' openings were set into place in September of 1982. In early May we excavated the site, then formed and poured concrete wing walls. The completion of this project widened the road bed to 22 feet, improved the approach to the crossing, and should prevent the road from washing out during peak stream flows.
Trudeau, Russell, Miller, and Rowley finishing the concrete wing walls on the East Flat Creek Crossing (35 mm slide file, 5-27-83, JEW).
A major effort was made to upgrade our irrigation system. Sixty-five wooden headgates were replaced. Three culverts were put in to facilitate travel on some of the Refuge roads that previously became quite boggy during irrigation season.
We hauled gravel for several weeks to improve some of the Refuge roads before they became heavily traveled during the hunting season. The loop road on the north end of the Refuge was also graded.
The oil pan on our TD-20 got cracked while we were burying the old dump. We finished the job with the new D-6 and dug a new dump.
"Trudeau 60. 3. Major Maintenance
We have been catching up on some much needed quarters maintenance since we started cost coding time and materials to 1994 funds.
Several remodelling projects were completed. Major remodelling of the kitchen and bathroom was completed in quarters 9. The kitchen was repainted, paneling was installed, new sink and counter top were installed, and additional lighting put in. In the bathroom, paneling was put up, ceiling tile was installed, a new floor was put down, the medicine cabinet was replaced, new water fixtures installed in the basin and shower, new tub and shower stall put in, new lighting wired in, and a built-in linen closet was constructed. A new solid core front door was also put in.
In quarters 3, the bathroom was repainted, the shower stall was tiled and the fixtures were replaced. Double pane windows were also purchased for quarters 3 and a couple of them got installed before the weather became too cold.
In our bunk house, quarters 11, the oil furnace, which has given us unreliable service, was replaced with baseboard heaters. Double pane windows were also purchased for quarters 11 but are not yet installed.
Exhaust fans were installed in the maintenance shop in the wash rack and in the carpenter's shop.
4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement
We were able to get a new D-6 crawler tractor with fire suppression funds in 1983. We will be using this equipment to haul a 10-ton feed trailer during our winter elk feeding season. It will help upgrade our feeding program for the McBride elk herd since our TD-20's, both about 25 years old, are frequently in for repairs.
Refuge Mechanic Pape put a loader bucket on our Towmotor forklift so that it can now be used to load the Kenworth feed truck.
A new 20 gallon fuel tank was installed in the Thiokol, replacing the 60 gallon tank that was leaking. With the smaller gas tank, there was room to install a jump seat so that three people can be transported in this vehicle. The tracks were also replaced at this time. Later in the year a re-built engine was installed.
After communicating with Mechanic Kermit Bolstad of Medicine Lake, Roger Pape put some quick-couplers on the cooling system of the engine block on a couple of pick-ups. Now we can run hoses to our heavy equipment and use the pick-up engine to preheat the equipment for sub-zero starts. We previously had a lot of difficulty starting equipment when the temperature would drop below -20oF. This new system seems to be working very well.
Our Hotsy pressure washer needed some major repairs on the pump and the heating coils had the lime removed by the dealer in Idaho Falls. We also replaced the bed on our low-boy trailer with new oak flooring. Fire extinguishers were installed in all vehicles not previously so equippped.
5. Communication Systems
We purchased two additional radios with converta-comms this year. We installed one converta-comm in the Kenworth feedtruck and put the other in a Hatchery vehicle that is occasionally used by a Refuge law enforcement officer for night patrols.
6. Energy Conservation
We added storm windows to the basement windows in the office and in quarters 11. We put up storm doors on the office and on three quarters. We purchased and are in the process of installing double pane windows in quarters 3 and 11.
Table 23. Regular and Unleaded Gasoline - Gallons Used Base (FY 80) Period Total NER DWRC-^ Calendar Year 1982 1983 Qtr II,FY 80 628 628 + no record Jan-Feb-Mar 1,155 980 Qtr III,FY 80 1,563 1,132 + 431 Apr-May-Jun 1,790 1,899 Qtr IV,FY 80 1,738 1,431 + 307 Jul-Aug-Sep 1,315 1,457 Qtr I,FY 80 1,152 1,012 + 140 Oct-Nov-Dec 1,260 1,453 TOTAL used: 5,081 4,203 + 878 5,520 5,789 1/ Research studies formerly conducted by Denver Wildlife Research Center were turned over to NER on 10/1/81. Therefore, DWTIC gasoline used has to be added to our base year data for comparison with CY 1982 usage.
Table 24. Diesel - Gallons Used
Base (FY 80) Period Total Calendar Year 1982 1983 Qtr II, FY 50 35 Jan-Feb-Mar 1,178 873 Qtr III, FY 80 1,741 Apr-May-Jun 375 213 Qtr IV, FY 80 1,343 Jul-Aug-Sep 0 370 Qtr I, FY 80 417 Oct-Nov-Dec 357 458 TOTAL used 3,536 1,910 1,914
62. New D-6 Caterpillar pulling the 10-ton feed trailer (35 mm slide file, 1-17- JEW).
Pape and Madsen reassembling the thiokol snowcat after installing a rebuilt engine (35 mm slide file, 12-12-83, JEW). Table 25. Electricity - KWH's Used
r, • jy 2/ Base Period- Period Total Office— Shop Other Period Total Office Shop Other Calendar Year 1982 1983 1982 1983 1982 1983 1982 1933 Qtr 11,FY 81 23,500 1,260 20,440 1 ,800 Jan-Feb-Mar 46,634 48,784 1,230 3,092 36,800 40,960 8,604 4,732 Qtr III,FY 80 39,892 1,212 34,880 3,800 Apr-May-Jun 16,392 27,476 1,308 3,167 9,480 18,630 5,604 5,629 Qtr IV FY 80 25,528 1,324 14,760 9,444 Jul-Aug-Sep 6,289 4,250 1,483 2,429 2,000 1,520 2,806 301 Qtr I, FY 81 4,828 1,267 2,640 921 Oct-Nov-Dec 18,665 37 ,79 2—^ 1,981 2,990^ 13,600 30,320^/' 3,084 4,482—^ TOTAL used 93,748 5,063 72,720 15,965 87,980 118,302 6,002 11,678 61,880 91,480 20,098 15,144
to
Table. 26. Fuel Oil - Gallons Used
Base Period—'' Period Total Office Other Period Total Office Other Calendar Year 1982 1983 1982 1983 1982 im Qtr II,FY 81 745 534 211 Jan-Feb-Mar 556 589 358 346 198 243 Qtr III,FY 30 157 86 71 Apr-May-Jun 134 102 80 40 54 62 Qtr IV,FY 80 19 19 0 Jul-Aug-Sep 122 90 63 38 59 52 Qtr I, FY 81 588 163 425 Oct-Nov-Dec 556 287 358 257 198 30 TOTAL used 1,509 802 707 1,368 1,068 859 681 509 387
— Base Period used Is the first full year after conversion of shop from fuel oil heating to electric heating. 2/ — 480 sq feet of office space heated and lighted by electricity added to office facility 11/82. 3/ — Record cold temperatures this period. Table 27. Major Equipment Acquisition and Rehabilitation, 1983.
Cost Item Source Material Labor Funding
Portable generator Onan Corp $458 0 Fire suppression (FSS) funds
D-6 Cat crawler Catepillar $83,682 $220 Fire suppression (GSA) funds - WO
Thiokol engine KEM Equipment $1,320 $1,300 1260(FY 84 funds) (sole source)
Thiokol tracks Delorian Co. $10,782 $300 1220(FY 82 funds) (sole source)
TD-20 cable control Arnold Equipment $1,285 $900 1220
Hotsy washer Steam Store $752 $110 1220
Low-boy trailer deck Sunrise Lumber $1,108 $838 1220(FY 82 funds)
2 radios and Motorola $3,810 $110 1220 & 1240 converta-comms (FSS)
Chainsaw McCulloughs $188 0 Fire suppression (FSS) funds
Jeep CF7, 4x4 American Motors $8,050 1220 (GSA)
Dodge 1-ton pickup Chrysler Motors $7,400 1220 4x4 (GSA)
Battery analyzer Hennessey Industries $131 1220 (FSS)
Lawnmower Lawnboy Products $301 0 1220 Group, OMC (FSS)
Photocopier Xerox $3,670 0 1220 (FSS)
Tire chains Rudd Chain, Inc. $678 0 1220 (road grader)
Slide cabinet & base Multiplex $1,682 0 Grand Teton Natural History Assoc.
64 Table 28. Major Construction or Rehabilitation.
Cost Proj ect Material Labor
Wingwalls - East Crossing on $3,340 $2,415 Flat Creek
Irrigation Structures 1,690 1,255
Gravelling Roads 2,810
Fencing - North Refuge Boundary 5,644 7,360
Quarters 11 - Heating System 390 1,258
Windows 503 not installed in '83
Stormdoors (2) 300 89
Quarters 9 - Remodel Bathroom 833 1,780
Remodel Kitchen 647 1,245
Stormdoor 150 37
Front Door 100 73
Quarters 3 - Remodel Bathroom 305 890
Windows 1,486 not installed in '83
65. * J. OTHER ITEMS
1. Cooperative Programs
The annual antler pickup by the Jackson District of the Boy Scouts was accomplished on April 23, 1983. Antlers in more inaccessible areas were picked up on May 17, 1983 with the aid of the thiokol. The pickup was authorized by a Special Use Permit issued to the Scouts for the period April 16 through May 21. Per terras of the Special Use Permit, the Scouts also conducted a clean-up campaign on Refuge lands.
The total number of antlers collected on the Refuge was 1,302 plus 67 matched pairs at a total weight of 4,729 pounds. Of these, 80 pounds were old white antlers. Refuge personnel and sleigh ride personnel had picked up some of these antlers prior to pickup as a security measure. In the spring of 1983 an alarm security system was installed in the small shed behind quarters #3. All antlers picked up during the year prior to the spring Boy Scout pickup were stored in this building for security. These antlers were moved to Headquarters prior to bundling by the Scouts. Half of the cost of the security system was paid for by the Scouts.
Beginning on April 25 and on three other dates antlers were bundled into 245 bundles for the auction. All bundled antlers were stored at Refuge Headquarters prior to the auction.
During the main pickup, 141 boys and 75 adults participated. A total of 2,019 person-hours were spent during the antler and trash pickup, antler bundling and weighing and the sale.
The annual antler auction was held on May 21, 1983 at 10:00 a.m. in the Jackson town square. All bidders were required to register with the Scouts prior to bidding and were assigned a card with identifying bidder number. A total amount of 534,714.87 was collected at the auction. The average price paid for bundled antlers was $5.65 per pound and matched sets sold for an average of $100.37 per set. In addition to the antlers, 50 sets of ivory teeth were sold for $560.00 (approximately $11.00 per set).
Under the provisions of the Special Use Permit, the Boy Scouts initially receive $7,500.00 from total receipts and the FWS (General Fund) gets five percent of gross receipts in excess of the $7,500.00. A check for $1,361.20 was paid to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1983. Besides the $7,500.00 to the Scouts, an additional five percent of the net profit ($1,292.68) went to Scout operations. The remaining $24,560.99 was added to the Boy Scout's "antler supplemental feed fund." This year the Scouts purchased $24,197.02 of supplemental feed and donated it to the Refuge and Wyoming Game and Fish Department (see Section E, Administration, funding table, for history of such donations). Since 1979 the Scouts have purchased and donated to the Refuge-Wyoming Game and Fish Department over $131,000 worth of supplemental feed from antler sale proceeds. In 1983, after the fee to the FWS and the donation for elk feed the Scouts received a total of $8,792.68 from the antler collecting sale program.
* 66. Griffin Refuge employees aid the Boy Scouts in their antler pickup by driving the thiokol into inaccessible marshy areas (35 mm slide file, 4-23-83, BLS). 3. Credits
See individual sections for author credit. Clerk Hayden typed and A.O. Parrish and Hayden assembled. The report was edited by Project Leader Wilbrecht. The personnel data at the beginning of the report was compiled by Administrative Officer Parrish.
67. \
K. FEEDBACK*
I was so impressed with the following explanation of some of the frustrations field managers face that I include it here in an effort to expose the thoughts of those who may not have had an opportunity to read it. It was written for the Feedback section C.Y. 1981 Narrative Report of the Litchfield Wetland Management District, Minnesota by Wetland Manager Matthias A. Kerschbaum. I believe it appropriate to date.
AfatoA a Qfizout dz&l ofi tkomgiit and diAauiMtion, I falnd I am con^oundud bij the. -Impact ofi cctttngs OQ VO/LIOU^ fzlndi upon hoiv ooc at the klctd Zcvct a/ic abZc to do out Lvotfz. We have cetltngs on total fiundi, Aub-fiund* [1210, 1220, etc.], cnctgy uic, buildings, cnctij ui>c-vchtclc6, ttavel, pc-uonncl-PFT, pe/Lionncl-otlict, etc. Tkc numbct ofi celling^ ieemi to gtoic and gtou).
I have made the naive a6sumption that tke pu/ipote ofi a ceiling 16 to 6tabilize ot even teduce gtoootk ofi Government 6pending and tkete may be nothing wtong ooith that putpote. Kdmlvilh Viative ptocedute6 de6lgned to stabilize, conttol, on. neduce the gnoivtk Oft Govennment can be ven.y Impontant and necet6an.y u)ken that 16 tkein only e^ect.
But, I am veny concenned by ukat I 6ee a6 a neal tkneat to a Managen'6 ability to manage effectively. A Vnoject Leaden 16 fln6t contnolted by the total fund6 allotted to the Station. Within thl6 funding limit kef6he can plan the be6t and mont effective methodb to achieve Senvlce objectives fon the Station.
But contnols have 6lmply not 6topped thene. Vnoject Leadens one funthen nestnlcted by othen, uhat I ^ee£ aAe, veny anbltnany celllng6.
The6e celllng6 do nothing to neduce 6pendlng of a Station'6 total allotment, but they do everything to neduce a Manager'6 latitude and flexibility. These celllng6 put up neal bannlers uhlch nequlne Immense Ingenuity and cneatlvlty to ovencome; ingenuity and creativity which could be fan betten 6pent on 6olutlons of neal nesounce pnoblem6.
One example of the kind of conflict these ceillng6 cause Is In the energy u6e and tnavel ceilings. On one hand we one required to neduce energy use. One way to do this Is to stay out In the field longer, not returning dally to our duty Station until the job Is completed. Tlvis requires pen diem which conflicts with the tnavel celling. To stay within the travel limits we one forced to u6e more energy. Total dollars of the allotment are still spent so the ceilings have not really done what I believe Is their intended purpose.
•k Wilbrecht 68. I Submit tkcut QUA S&IVLCKL and otkzA GoveAnm&nt agznclzA lAioald be fiaA beXt&i OQft uilth tht ont contiot, that ofa to tat dottanb, and tht atmovat ok tilt mamj oAbttaaKj ttttlng-6 ivhtch do tltXtt to tontaot Aptnding bat math to tntambtA a Managta'A tkkttttvtntbb .
I makt two patmt6t5. A PAojttt Ltadta ka6 a kanltt amoant ok tlmt and moAt LVOAIZ at a k-bttd Station tan be tamptd into thAtt tattgoAitb: tAtoiat, aAgtnt, and important. PoA pwipoAt ok ouA tommanitation, I witl pAt6tnt my dtkinttionA ok tath ok tktbt. a. JAivtat: iOoAk in tvhith tht oattomt doti> not mattta and ivaAAant* no Aignikitant amoant ok a PAOjttt LtadeA'A timt.
b. LlAgtnt: UoAk Lolvith dot6 not tontAibatt to tht mi6Aion ok tht kittd Station ptAkoaming it bat ii> ntvtithtltiA AtqatAtd ok thtm by kightA aathoAity. It may OA may not be impoAtant to tht mission ok hightA tthttoyis ok thtStAvitt.
e. ImpoAtaitt'' UoAk aiiith tontAibatts and ti> tsstntiai to tht mission ok tht k^-tld Station OA pAOjttt and altimattiy tht StAvitt.
Bttaast I havt a k-bnttt amoant ok timt, I ast tht abovt dtkinitions dotty to pAioAitizt my LDOAIZ. I havt no tAoabtt atth (a) tAivial k^A it dots not matttA hoa OA somttimts tvtn ik I do it. It is bad, hoatvtA, ik tAiviat tvoAk stachs ap and AtqaiAtS signkictant amoants ok timt.
I havt no tAoabtt with (c) impoAtant k0/l this is tht aAta which S ho aid Atttivt tht gAtattst shaAt ok my timt and tntAgy.
It is with (b) aAgtnt that I diAtct this "kttdbatk." Tht ^e£d Station is dtiagtd with Atqatsts k0*1 inkoAmotion OA AtpoAts to comptttt. Okttn thest Atqazsts aAt tasitA to makt than thty aAt to dtat with and comptttt. Okttn thty contAibutt titttc OA nothing to tht mission ok tht k^ttd Station and, in divtnt timt and attention k^om ouA impoAtant WOAJZ. Ont hopes that the aAgtnt woAk sabmitted to the kheid is in Atalsty impoAtant wo Ah ok the StAvict. Iky Atqatst is that hightA Itvti ManagtAS give Atai considtAation to the votamt and taAn-oAoand time k0/l Atqatsts OA AtpoAts thty aAt AtqaiAing kAom the We, ok coarse, witi continat to AttaAn the most pAo- ktssionat and accoAatt Atsponsts to these Atqatsts. HightA level management mast AtmtmbtA that btcaust ok the pAinciplt ok lint aathoAity, trivial or argent jobs mast and will be honored by sabordinatt management levels and it well sometimes be at the tsptnst ok traly ImpoAtant work.