12Th Annual Gopher Tortoise Candidate Conservation Agreement Report

Candidate Conservation Agreement DEP for the Gopher Tortoise October 1, 2019 – September 30, 2020

12th Annual

Submitted to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1 March 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF ACRONYMS……………………………………………………………………………...... 2

INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………...4

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY…………………………………………………………………………….6

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES TO LISTING FACTOR A (THE PRESENT OR THREATENED DESTRUCTION, MODIFICATION, OR CURTAILMENT OF THE SPECIES HABITAT OR RANGE)…………………………………………………………….....21

LAND CONSERVATION…………………………………………………………………………...60

GOPHER TORTOISE POPULATION MONITORING……………………………………..87

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES TO LISTING FACTOR B (OVERUTILIZATION FOR COMMERCIAL, RECREATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES)………………………………………………………………………………………...119

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES TO LISTING FACTOR C (DISEASE OR PREDATION)…………………………………………………………………....126

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES TO LISTING FACTOR D (INADEQUACY OF EXISTING REGULATORY MECHANISMS)………………………………………………………………..130

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES TO LISTING FACTOR E (OTHER NATURAL OF MANMADE FACTORS AFFECTING THE SPECIES’ CONTINUED EXISTENCE)……………………………………………………………………...…………………135

ALL OTHER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH NOT MENTIONED IN ABOVE SECTIONS……………………………………………………………………………………………151

RESEARCH STUDIES CONDUCTED BY OR SUPPORTED BY AGENCY/ORGANIZATION………………………………………………………………………156

CCA AGENCY/ORGANIZATION CONSERVATION STRATEGY……………………...159

APPENDIX I: GOPHER TORTOISE CCA REPORT FORMAT………………………...161

APPENDIX II: DEFINITIONS…………………………………………………………………..170

GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

LIST OF ACRONYMS

ADCNR Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources AFB Air Force Base AFC Alabama Forestry Commission AFF American Forest Foundation AFR Air Force Range AGTHP Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve APAFR Avon Park Air Force Range BMP Best Management Practices CCA Candidate Conservation Agreement CCAA Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances CCAFS Cape Canaveral Air Force Station DWFF Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries ESA Endangered Species Act FFS Florida Forest Service FNAI Florida Natural Areas Inventory FWC Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission FWRI Fish and Wildlife Research Institute FY Fiscal year GDNR Georgia Department of Natural Resources GDOT Georgia Department of Transportation GIS Geographic Information System GSF Geneva State Forest GT Gopher Tortoise GTHAP Gopher Tortoise Habitat Assistance Program GTMP Gopher Tortoise Management Plan GTT Gopher Tortoise Team HMU Habitat Management Unit INRMP Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan ITP Incidental Take Permit JDMTA Jonathan Dickinson Missile Tracking Annex LAP Landowner Assistance Program LEEF League of Environmental Educators in Florida LIP Landowner Incentive Program LLP Longleaf Pine LRSF Little River State Forest LTDS Line Transect Distance Sampling MGGTAI Management Guidelines for Gopher Tortoises on Army Installations MOA Memorandum of Agreement MOU Memorandum of Understanding MTA Malabar Transmitter Annex MVP Minimum Viable Population NAS Naval Air Station NEPA National Environmental Policy Act NF National Forest NPS National Park Service

March 2021 2 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

NS Naval Station NSA Naval Support Activity NSB Naval Submarine Base NWR National Wildlife Refuge PSA Public Service Announcement OBVM Objective-based Vegetation Management OLF Outlying Landing Field PAFB Patrick Air Force Base PFW Partners for Fish and Wildlife POC Point of Contact REPI Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration ROW Right of Way SCDNR South Carolina Department of Natural Resources SLD State Lands Division SMR State Management Recommendations SP State Park SREL Savannah River Ecology Laboratory STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Math SW Space Wing SWG State Wildlife Grant TES Threatened and Endangered Species TPA Trees Per Acre TSRHP Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve TYCC Tribal Youth Conservation Corps URTD Upper Respiratory Tract Disease U.S. United States USAF United States Air Force USDA United States Department of Agriculture USFS United States Forest Service USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service WEA Wildlife and Environmental Area WMA Wildlife Management Area WRD Wildlife Resources Division

March 2021 3 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

INTRODUCTION

This is the 12th annual report for the Gopher Tortoise Candidate Conservation Agreement (GTCCA) that includes data and information from the signatory agencies and organizations to the agreement. The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is endemic to the southeastern United States and has been in population decline in recent years. While the tortoise is federally-listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the western portion of its range, it is currently a candidate species for listing in the eastern portion which includes Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and eastern Alabama. The “candidate” species status is a result of a petition to list the species (2006), and the subsequent 12-month finding published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in July 2011. As a response to the listing petition, stakeholders representing the fish and wildlife agencies of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina, branches of the Department of Defense, and related non-profit organizations drafted and executed a Candidate Conservation Agreement (CCA).

The goal of the CCA is to organize a cooperative range-wide approach to gopher tortoise management and conservation in its eastern range. The CCA allows the signing parties to leverage knowledge and funding within a common conservation approach and framework. The CCA is voluntary and flexible in nature so that various conservation and management actions can be agreed to and implemented at different levels by the signing parties.

Established under the CCA, the Gopher Tortoise Team (GTT) is charged with implementation of the Agreement. The Chair position has rotated among the states throughout the years, giving everyone an opportunity to learn about the implementation and administration of the agreement. The Chair’s responsibilities include organizing the annual meeting of the parties (or assisting another representative with organizing) and compiling the annual report required under the CCA. The Alabama Forestry Commission agreed to compile the 2020 report and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will host the next meeting virtually in December, 2020. The signatories continue to work together to organize meetings as needed to assess conservation efforts.

A standardized report format helps support an organized conservation approach and encourages uniform actions and reporting, integration of monitoring and research efforts with management, and support partnership formation. In 2014, the GTT did a minor clean-up to improve consistency in data reported by the signatories. The format is organized to specifically address the 5-factor analysis used by the USFWS when evaluating a species for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act. The addition of tables was included to help streamline the data reported and ensure consistency among parties. It is also intended to help compile and build upon data each year, preventing the USFWS from losing or having to shuffle through older reports to assess the species status. The goal of the reorganized reporting structure is to ensure the information compiled by the CCA parties will be useful to the USFWS when re-evaluating the species as a candidate each year.

The parties contributing to this report collectively own and/or manage more than 1.35 million acres of gopher tortoise habitat in the eastern portion of the species’ range. An additional 14,075 acres of habitat was protected through easements and acquisition of public lands. Of those acres, more than 590,420 acres of gopher tortoise habitat was managed using a variety of tools, most commonly with prescribed fire with a large percentage occurring during the growing season. Some habitat (several dozen) was lost due to conversion to non-compatible uses such as development activities and coastal erosion. Gopher tortoises are commonly relocated when at risk or as a result of impending habitat alteration. In Florida, where the FWC manages a comprehensive regulatory program for tortoises, 9,860

March 2021 4 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT tortoises were relocated to protected lands and released into temporary enclosures for a minimum of 6 months. Many of the other parties also relocated tortoises (total of 344) onto protected lands, however, soft release using temporary enclosures is not yet a standardized practice among all parties.

Improvements to avoid/minimize the use of hard release is an important conservation practice to implement that, based on scientific studies, results in a greater conservation benefit for the tortoises. Implementation of the standard population survey methodology, Line Transect Distance Sampling (LTDS), is occurring across the species’ range. Significant population data is included in this report and shows many viable populations in both Georgia and Florida occurring mainly on public conservation lands. Some data provided still represents presence/absence as a means to avoid impacts from projects rather than for monitoring populations, however, most if not all parties have implemented LTDS on some level or have plans to do so in the near future.

Comprehensive reports were submitted by each CCA party in January-February 2021 with the last report received on February 15 for the period covering October 1, 2019 – September 30, 2020. A compiled report was not received from the United States Army but Ft. Rucker in Alabama submitted an installation report. A draft of this report was emailed for review to the points of contacts for each party, and all corrections have been incorporated into this final draft.

It is important to note that not every section of the report is applicable to every party. Parties with no information appropriate to a particular section have indicated this with “not provided,” “not applicable,” “none,” or “none provided this reporting period.” Reports were submitted by each party’s point of contact and compiled by the Chair with minimal edits.

Thank you to all the parties for compiling this information on behalf of their agency and on behalf of gopher tortoise conservation. This annual report continues to be vital for range-wide conservation of this keystone species.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

UNITED STATES ARMY

A compiled report from all installations was not received. Ft. Rucker in SE Alabama submitted an installation report which is stated herein.

Ft. Rucker, Enterprise, AL: POC Danny Spillers, [email protected] Forest and wildlife management and activities beneficial to gopher tortoises such as thinning, timber stand improvement, and invasive species control continued during FY 20. The NEPA project review process continued to formally look at proposed projects for impacts to gopher tortoise habitats and to existing tortoise populations. Construction projects which resulted in loss of gopher tortoise habitat were evaluated and surveyed for existing gopher tortoises and gopher tortoises captured and relocated as necessary.

UNITED STATES NAVY

NAS Whiting Field, FL, POC: Christina Malitz, [email protected]; (850) 623-7602 NAS Whiting Field has a wide-ranging and significant gopher tortoise population with a total of 4,264 acres of GT habitat maintained. Gopher tortoises occur at 8 of 13 installation properties in five counties in Florida and Alabama. To supplement Navy staff, interns from the Student Conservation Association were employed to aid with the survey. Prescribed burning was completed on 305 acres and 100 acres of invasive species were chemically treated on the NAS Whiting Field complex to improve gopher tortoise habitat.

NAS Pensacola, FL, POC: Michael Hardy, [email protected]; (850) 452-2070 NAS Pensacola has gopher tortoise populations at the main installation, Bronson Field, and Saufley Field. A comprehensive Gopher Tortoise survey report by the The University of Georgia’s Savannah River lab was submitted in the summer of 2018 and several juvenile burrows were discovered by NR staff during 2019 and 2020. Prescribed burning was accomplished on 77 acres of gopher tortoise habitat, 35 acres of Cogon grass was treated, and three coyotes were removed from areas near burring areas. Mechanical mulching was accomplished on 140 acres of Gopher Tortoise habitat. Also, herbicide was used on 40 acres to reduce additional invasive species to improve this habitat. Translocation plans were implemented to survey and document gopher tortoise in the primary surface clear zones at the NAS Pensacola airfield. Two tortoises were translocated from an encroachment area on the airfield to the fenced gopher tortoise population area on the installation’s north side.

NSB Kings Bay, GA, POC: Kurt Moseley, [email protected]; (912)-573-4678

NSB Kings Bay continued to manage approximately 5000 acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat. In 2020, two tortoises were killed during construction of a parking/office space area. This prompted the Environmental Division to develop “Special Construction Provisions for Gopher Tortoise.” The measures were authorized by the Installation Commanding Officer and are a contractor requirement for all future construction projects. A burrow survey was conducted in September 2020 covering 489 acres. Survey results are expected in early 2021. Additionally, NSB Kings Bay received a $10 million REPI Award to purchase a conservation easement on 4,419 acres (Ceylon) located along the Georgia coast.

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NSA Orlando, Bugg Springs Facility, FL, POC: Jeremy Jennings, [email protected]; (904)542-1412 The Bugg Springs facility/property consists of ~80 total acres in Okahumpka, FL. The Gopher Tortoises (GT) found on the property are primarily located in the abandoned agriculture field/cleared meadow, residential grounds, and on the edges of the upland hardwood forest. Currently, the Bugg Springs property has 30-40 acres of suitable GT habitat. NSA Orlando protects habitat for GT ‘s and their associated habitat at the Bugg Springs property through active management of factors such as invasive plant species control and habitat enhancement projects (e.g. mechanical reduction of forest understory). During 2020 activities to improve GT habitat included herbicide treatment of 67 acres for a habitat enhancement project to reduce the invasive species throughout the property including previously mechanically thinned areas. By removing the invasive species it reduces the understory in the upland hardwood forest and allows beneficial native species to thrive. Currently the estimated GT population on the Bugg Springs property is less than ten adults and appears to be stable.

NAS Jacksonville, FL, POC: Angela Glass, [email protected]; (904) 542-2798 Gopher tortoises are located in mission sensitive areas on NAS Jacksonville, Outlying Landing Field (OLF) Whitehouse and Rodman Range. In addition to Navy-owned lands, gopher tortoise populations occur at the Navy’s Pinecastle Range, land leased from the U.S. Forest Service. NAS Jacksonville protects habitat for gopher tortoises through active management of factors such as landscaping and grounds maintenance, invasive species control, and silvicultural activities including forest thinnings, reforestation, and forest protection. During this reporting period activities included, removal of 22 feral hogs, two coyotes, and several feral cats. Surveying for the GT continues to be an ongoing action across all three properties by the Student Conservation Association intern.

NS Mayport, FL, POC: Heather Hahn, [email protected]; (904)-509-6842 Surveying for Gopher Tortoises was accomplished on 127 acres resulting in discovery of 40 adult burrows. The burrows were mapped using ArcGIS. In 2020, invasive asparagus fern was mechanically removed from approximately 7 acres of the dune line to foster the growth of native species and improve gopher tortoise habitat. Areas where invasive asparagus fern was removed in 2019 were treated with herbicide to remove new growth. Education is routinely provided during base indoctrination briefings to new personnel that included endangered species topics. Environmental works with the base and regional Public Affairs Office to post educational information on social media including gopher tortoise awareness flyers.

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

The US Air Force continued its commitment to excellent gopher tortoise management in fiscal year 2020 (FY20) on more than 464,000 acres, even as COVID-19 restricted normal operations tempo. The US Air Force has six installations within the eastern range of the Gopher Tortoise (GT). There was a slight increase in the aggressive feral hog removal programs, that resulted in 951 feral hogs removed from AF properties in FY20 as compared to 705 in FY19. Additionally, 219 raccoons, and 54 coyotes were removed. Prescribed fire was applied to 70,111 acres, which is a substantial decrease from the AF average of 114,160 acres, due to COVID-19 restrictions. Installations continue to successfully partner with and rely on the USAF Wildland Fire Branch, to achieve prescribed fire goals and look forward to business as usual, as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Avon Park Air Force Range (AFR): Management at Avon Park AFR consisted of prescribed fire, invasive species treatments, mechanical scrub restoration and intensive feral hog removal. GT population monitoring is conducted every 5 years. A survey of scrub habitats within Avon Park AFR was completed

March 2021 7 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT in FY16, in addition to an intensive survey of four key habitat sites (two in scrub and two in native flatwoods) to determine demographic parameters of the gopher tortoise population, sex ratio, and juvenile & adult survival. One paper was published from prior year’s work in FY18 with another manuscript currently under review. The next GT population monitoring effort is programmed for FY21.

45th Space Wing/U.S. Space Force, (Cape Canaveral Air Force Station): Completed surveys for presence/absence in support of various construction, utility, and other miscellaneous projects. Completed excavation/bucket trapping and relocation of gopher tortoises in support of projects where gopher tortoise burrows could not be avoided. Completed restoration/management of gopher tortoise habitat through mechanical cutting of overgrown scrub and treatment of invasive flora through mechanical cutting and/or herbicide application. Additionally, monitoring of previously treated invasive vegetation continued to prevent re-growth. Removed nonnative and/or nuisance wildlife (raccoons, feral hogs and coyotes) to support protection of threatened and endangered species. Conducted educational outreach through display of gopher tortoise information at 45 SW Family Day, and provided natural resources training to security forces and other AF personnel that conduct off road activities – gopher tortoises were included in the training.

Eglin Air Force Base (AFB): Eglin AFB continued to manage almost 400,000 acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat. Management tools include prescribed fire, chemical treatment of hardwood midstory, chemical treatment of invasive plants, control measures for invasive exotic animal species and sand pine removal. 23 tortoises were permanently relocated from Eglin Main Base where burrows were impacting flight safety and normal operations. Two tortoises were permanently relocated from construction sites. Three tortoises were permanently relocated from Duke Field where burrows were impacting flight safety and operations. 14 tortoises were permanently relocated from isolated non-viable populations of less than 250 adults in unmanaged habitats. 243 Incidental Take Permit (ITP) tortoises were translocated from privately owned properties in Florida to Eglin AFB. All tortoises were relocated to sites with enclosures and have been or will be held at least 6 months. Population monitoring documented two MVP’s in ITP translocation enclosures after pen removal and one non-viable population in an internal Eglin relocation enclosure. All burrows located were mapped and data collected for each included status, and size. Camera trapping efforts continued to document breeding attempts by ITP tortoises, adult predation by coyotes and various commensal activity associated with tortoise burrows. A tri-party MOA between Eglin AFB, FWC, and Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida was signed, designating Eglin AFB as an approved recipient site for tortoises displaced by alternative energy development. Under this MOA, an additional 1,000 tortoises are estimated to be translocated annually.

MacDill Air Force Base (AFB): No significant changes have occurred at MacDill AFB over the past 12 months in FY20. Treatment for non-native invasive plant species occurred on approximately 597 acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat. Zero (0) acres of prescribed fire were applied to potential gopher tortoise habitat due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gopher tortoise continue to utilize the airfield for foraging and burrow construction. This area is regularly maintained through mowing and other airport- specific ground maintenance operations. The airfield acreage is not included in the potential gopher tortoise habitat acreage due to the inability of natural resource and land management activities to occur within the airfield boundaries. Six (6) gopher tortoise were temporarily relocated within the installation boundaries by USDA Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) personnel due to potential conflicts with military aircraft and/or other maintenance activities. There was one (1) confirmed death due to vehicular impact. No Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) incidents were identified or reported on installation.

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Moody Air Force Base (AFB): Moody AFB is located 10 miles northeast of the City of Valdosta in Lowndes and Lanier counties in south‐central Georgia. Comprising approximately 11,000 acres of federally owned land, the installation includes the main base (5,039 acres), the adjacent Grand Bay Range (5,874 acres), and the Grassy Pond Recreational Annex (489 acres), located 25 miles southwest of the main base. There are approximately 938 acres of gopher tortoise habitat located on the installation. Gopher tortoise management is accomplished through projects identified in the Moody AFB Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan with concurrence by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Current projects include: seasonal monitoring and surveys of known gopher tortoise populations, disease surveillance for Upper Respiratory Tract Disease, and habitat improvement/restoration through burning, chemical release, and mechanical means.

Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB): Tyndall Air Force Base has approximately 4,800 acres of potential suitable gopher tortoise habitat that is currently being monitored. Annual gopher tortoise surveys include a total burrow count to monitor burrow usage and provide an estimate of population size on Tyndall AFB. All burrows encountered are mapped, scoped, marked, and measured for population estimate reporting and to make visible for forestry operations and land use management. Additional data collected during surveys include burrow occupancy by gopher tortoises and commensals as well as burrow condition. Spring and fall surveys were conducted in FY 20 resulting in 182 total burrows marked and scoped; 94 of which were actively maintained and 69 occupied by gopher tortoises during the surveys. Hurricane Michael (October 2018) caused catastrophic or severe damage to the forested areas across the majority of Tyndall Air Force Base. Subsequent to clearing the damaged timber across the installation, 9,000 acres is being site prepped and planted with longleaf pine between FY20 and FY24. Reforested areas will be managed with fire on a 2-3 year fire return interval or managed with chemical or mechanical timber stand improvement techniques where fire is not meeting management goals. In the fall of 2020, we conducted baseline vegetation surveys at 28 burrows across the installation as part of a long-term monitoring effort to assess gopher tortoise habitat quality as it relates to change in understory and midstory community composition and structure over time.

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

Marine Corps LB Albany: During the FY20 report year MCLB Albany continued with storm recovery efforts associated with Hurricane Michael. These efforts included removal of forest debris on 411 acres, herbicide treatment of 212 acres to control hardwoods and to prepare areas for planting of longleaf pine next fiscal year. MCLB Albany contracted with USDA Wildlife Services to provide a wildlife technician to assist in controlling nuisance wildlife, including known predators of gopher tortoises. MCLB Albany’s gopher tortoise population likely is less than 5 individuals and currently only one active burrow location is known.

Marine Corps Support Facility – Blount Island: MCSF-BI has conducted bi-annual gopher tortoise surveys since 2009. The surveys are completed by trained biologist. During the 2019 fall survey a hatchling was found at the mouth of one of the burrows. No other burrows were found and MCSF-BI plans to continue conducting surveys to protect its endangered species.

Marine Corps Station Beaufort: MCAS Beaufort (MCAS-B) was not a part of the original CCA because at the time of signature, no GT’s were known to be present on MCAS-B. A single GT was found at MCAS-B in FY19. Conversations and investigations by SC DNR and NAVFAC biologists led to the hypothesis that the individual had been released. Surveys performed in FY20 confirmed the theory that the GT had been released as no burrows or other GT’s were found.

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Marine Corps Station Townsend Bombing Range: MCAS Townsend Bombing Range, GA (TBR) was not a part of the original CCA because at the time of signature, TBR was not owned by the USMC. Since then GT’s have been discovered on TBR. Partial assessments have been conducted but no complete data is available yet. As a result, many of the following questions are N/A at this time.

A contract was awarded through NAVFAC to perform a desktop analysis of the TBR property with a goal of qualifying the land as high, medium, or low probability in regards to GT presence. After completing this task, the biologists on contract surveyed approximately 620 acres to affirm the presence or absence of GT’s in those probability areas. No population data was gathered in this effort. Both active and inactive burrows were discovered. TBR staff discovered additional GT’s and burrows within areas not ranked on the probability maps, which cast doubt on the validity of the assessment techniques.

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE

Conecuh National Forest - In FY20, the Conecuh NF contributed to the continued conservation of gopher tortoise through the active restoration and maintenance of native fire ecosystems—some of which was achieved through partnerships with the LLA and TNC. The Conecuh NF was on a historic pace for prescribed fire operations in FY20, well on our way to meeting our goal of conducting prescribed fire operations on 54% of the forest, until the pandemic discontinued our operations. Despite the pandemic-related impacts, the Conecuh NF still accomplished prescribed burning on 42% of the forest in FY20 and looks forward to trying to improve upon those numbers in FY21, with the ultimate goal of keeping the forest on a 2-3 year burn rotation. Additionally, support was provided to the ADCNR’s statewide efforts through participation in the semi-annual Alabama Tortoise Alliance (ALTA) meetings and to Auburn University’s long-term gopher tortoise population monitoring efforts on the Conecuh. Our typical outreach efforts were cancelled this year due to the pandemic.

Apalachicola National Forest - The Apalachicola NF’s management activities for the maintenance/restoration of gopher tortoise habitat for FY20 included: Timber thinning, prescribed burning, non-native invasive species treatment, and midstory and understory restoration using mechanical and herbicide treatments. Additionally, gopher tortoises were repatriated to portions of the forest as part of a research recipient program.

Ocala National Forest - This year’s activities were severely limited due to COVID-19 pandemic. Several projects were completed with the full assistance of outside funds and personnel. Other projects were postponed or placed on hold until further notice. Still, Ocala National Forest was able to complete over 500 acres of spray work, over 150 acres of habitat restoration through fuel reduction and over 5,000 acres of dormant season burning.

Osceola National Forest - Our goal is to update the current distribution of tortoises across the Osceola NF. We have some historic data, but we want to update and enhance that data to more accurately represent their current population. We work with the fire shop after Rx burns to help maximize our surveying efforts. This helps reduce fuel loads which makes it easier to visually see burrows when surveying. Around 549 acres were surveyed during FY20 with 758 active burrows being observed on the Osceola NF. So far there seems to be a good distribution of adult, sub-adult, and juvenile burrows in the surveyed areas.

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UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

For FY20, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) data is being submitted for the National Wildlife Refuges (NWR), National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS), and Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) program; those refuges contributing to the annual report include:

Florida: Archie Carr NWR (AC); Chassahowitzka NWR (CH); Egmont Key NWR (EK); Everglades Headwaters NWR (EH); Hobe Sound NWR (HS); J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR (DD); Lake Wales Ridge NWR (LWR); Lake Woodruff NWR (LW); Lower Suwannee/Cedar Key NWR (LS); Merritt Island NWR (MI); Pelican Island NWR (PI); St. Marks NWR (SM); and St. Vincent NWR (SV).

Georgia: Okefenokee NWR (OK) Archie Carr NWR: Management conducted in 2020 on ACNWR consisted of one 30 acre burn and survey of the unit for active burrows after the burn. Report only reflects federally owned or managed lands and does not include county owned protected properties within the Archie Carr NWR acquisition boundary.

Egmont Key NWR: .36 acres of Australian pine within 5.5 gross acres and 11.92 acres of Brazilian pepper within 276 gross acres were treated with herbicides by Florida Park Service staff, who cooperatively manages the island with USFWS. Florida Park Service also treated .24 acres of Rosary pea within 8 acres. An additional 57 acres of Brazilian pepper and Australian pine and 32 acres of coin vine, cogon grass, and beach naupaka were treated under contract.

Chassahowitzka NWR: no exotics were treated.

Ding Darling NWR: Refuge treated 37 acres of gopher tortoise habitat for non-native invasive plants.

Everglades Headwaters NWR: The refuge currently consists of about 9,000 acres (5,000 ac easements and 4,000 ac fee). Approximately 6,500 acres is gopher tortoise habitat. In 2020, 620 acres were burned on 2 different units.

Hobe Sound NWR: The Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound NWR encompasses 1,091 acres of coastal dune, mangrove forest, coastal hammock, and sand pine scrub habitat. Gopher tortoises occur on about 290 acres of sand pine scrub and 25 acres of coastal dune habitat. During the period of performance, approximately 205 acres were treated for non-native, invasive plants, and a 32-acre prescribed fire was conducted on occupied gopher tortoise habitat. We also provided educational opportunities to school groups and the general public.

Lake Wales Ridge NWR: LWR Consists of approximately 1,900 acres of gopher tortoise habitat. Approximately 340 acres were burned in 2020.

Lake Woodruff NWR: Refuge continued to manage habitat for gopher tortoises by controlling exotics and prescribed burning.

Lower Suwannee NWR: In 2020, Refuge staff surveyed for gopher tortoises only as a protective measure in areas slated for manipulation – i.e., areas to be logged or cleared for trails, new facilities, etc. The LTDS pilot study that was completed in 2013 still provides the best data for population on the Refuge as resources are currently lacking to complete the full LTDS survey here. Refuge staff were able to apply prescribed fire to 2,341 acres (830 acres burned in dormant season, 1,511 acres in growing season);

March 2021 11 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT approximately 1,171 acres of which is good potential gopher tortoise habitat. Refuge staff also treated 209 acres of upland with herbicide or mechanical means for gopher habitat restoration and planted 44 acres in longleaf pine. All of these 253 restoration acres are in good gopher tortoise habitat.

Merritt Island NWR: Refuge continued to manage habitat for gopher tortoises by controlling exotics and prescribed burning.

Okefenokee NWR: Habitat for gopher tortoises on Okefenokee NWR is limited to the area around the refuge’s east entrance that is on Trail Ridge and slopes to the Okefenokee Swamp’s edge. North of the refuge entrance, the higher sand ridge feature known as Trail Ridge is owned by the USFWS but managed for timber by Forest Investment Associates until 2081. Gopher tortoise burrows continue to be protected on these lands through the timber production activities. Widening of the refuge entrance road was completed in May 2020. A few gopher tortoises have created burrows in the area and one was relocated away from the road to remove any risk of mortality from construction activities.

Pelican Island NWR: 20 acres were treated for invasive plants in 2020. PI also consistently mowed 20 acres of gopher tortoise habitat. Motion cameras were also set on many burrows and provided the opportunity to better understand the utilization of the burrows by tortoises and other species.

St. Marks NWR: In addition to the prescribed burning of 3,824 acres, St. Marks NWR staff worked to complete the LTDS of Gopher Tortoise Habitat.

St. Vincent NWR: This fiscal year gopher tortoise stewardship consisted of a growing season prescribed burn and a lightning caused wildfire response, invasive exotic plant removal, and nonnative predator control, e.g., armadillo, feral swine, and coyote removal. Additionally, the Refuge began a gopher tortoise research partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey through the Science Support Partnership program.

Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery continued their head start program that was initiated in 2018. Sixty head-started tortoises were released in July 2019 at Lanahassee Wildlife Management Area in Webster County, GA. In August 2019, four gopher tortoise eggs successfully hatched, which were joined in September 2020 by 41 yearlings from UGA - bringing us to 44 juveniles currently on station.

PFW: Habitat improvement was completed on private lands throughout the southeast. Actions included prescribed fire, installation of fire breaks, longleaf pine planting, and site prep.

ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES

In Alabama, the gopher tortoise is federally listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the western portion of its range (Mobile, Washington and Choctaw counties) and currently a candidate species for listing in the eastern portion, which includes twenty-three southern Alabama counties. The State of Alabama permanently protects and manages approximately 26,000 acres of tortoise habitat on public lands including Charles D. Kelley-Autauga, Barbour, Geneva State Forest (only the DWFF owned lands are being reported; AFC reports on the acres they own that are in the Geneva State Forest Wildlife Management Area), and Perdido River Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), Uchee Creek, Fred T. Stimpson and Upper State Special Opportunity Areas, and Elhew Research Station (Wehle tract). The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (DWFF) and the State Lands Division (SLD) continue to work together to restore and maintain

March 2021 12 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT gopher tortoise habitat on DWFF, Forever Wild Land Trust, and SLD lands. Land management conducted by DWFF staff included 6030 acres of prescribed burning (combined dormant and growing season burns), 575 acres of thinned pine plantation, 821 acres of clearcut, mechanically treated 400 acres, site prepped 1178 acres, reforested 1118 acres to longleaf pine, reforested 2730 acres to loblolly pine, and removed 104 acres of invasive plant species. Additionally, over 131 feral hogs, 26 coyotes, and 7 raccoons were removed from DWFF lands. Land management conducted by the SLD, Elhew Research Station personnel included 14 acres of dormant season burns and conducted other habitat management activities on 173 acres.

DWFF continues work towards determining a more accurate gopher tortoise population estimate and distribution in Alabama. Gopher tortoise surveys on public lands using Line Transect Distance Sampling (LTDS) methodology were completed in Oct 2017. (AL Gopher Tortoise Surveys on Public Lands SWG Final Report, 2017). Since non-industrial private landowners own most of the gopher tortoise habitat in Alabama, significant efforts were made to gain access to private lands to conduct gopher tortoise surveys. However, access to private lands has been difficult mostly due to the misperceptions of information needed and data protection concerns. Several targeted landowner meetings took place throughout the fiscal year educating landowners on the status of the tortoise in AL and throughout the range. These workshops have been, so far, well received as landowners are now contacting DWFF and partners to learn more about how they can assist with the conservation of the species and to offer access for LTDS surveys. Alabama gopher tortoise population counts are as follows (including public and non-industrial private lands): • 5 viable populations • 5 Primary support populations • 31 Secondary support populations

There have been no targeted relocation efforts from private lands this year. To date, four gopher tortoises were placed in a one-acre enclosure established in summer 2020 at Geneva State Forest (AFC owned lands). All tortoises were soft released and will remain in the enclosure for 6-12 months after which the enclosure will be removed.

In February 2020 DWFF staff organized and facilitated the 5th Alabama Tortoise Alliance (ALTA) meeting. ALTA is a partnership that includes private industrial and non-industrial landowners, state, tribal and federal agencies, local governments, organizations and businesses. The purpose of ALTA is to foster an increased level of communication, collaboration and conservation among the stakeholders to actively manage and conserve gopher tortoise populations and habitat in Alabama so that the species no longer warrants state or federal protection. Conservation and recovery of the gopher tortoise through implementation of this alliance will require the cooperation of non-industrial private landowners; local governments; state, tribal and federal agencies; non-governmental organizations; and business interests.

Education and outreach activities were mostly canceled this year due to COVID-19. Social media was our main vehicle in educating the public about gopher tortoises and their habitat.

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Progress on the implementation and completion of conservation actions outlined in the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan (GTMP, September 2012) continue to be achieved. The GTMP guides the continued recovery of the gopher tortoise in Florida through 2022. For this 10-year plan, the overarching objective

March 2021 13 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT of no net loss of gopher tortoises will be accomplished by meeting four conservation objectives: minimize loss, increase and improve habitat, enhance and restore populations, and maintain the gopher tortoise’s function as a keystone species. The plan presents a suite of conservation strategies and actions that serve to achieve these objectives. The actions are captured under the following broad categories: regulation, permitting, local government coordination, law enforcement, habitat protection, habitat management, population management, disease management, incentives, monitoring, education and outreach, and research. The Gopher tortoise Permitting Guidelines (GTPG, 2008) were developed to provide a comprehensive overview of FWC’s permitting system and are used as one tool in accomplishing the goals and objectives set forth in FWC’s Gopher Tortoise Management Plan (September 2012). In FY20, FWC made significant revisions to these Permitting Guidelines, which were approved by the Commission on July 23, 2020 and incorporated into Florida Administrative Code rule 68A-27.003 by reference on November 2, 2020. The tenth revision to the GTPG was conducted to clarify protections and streamline the permitting process; to improve data quality, methods, and requirements for relocation activities, and; to update guidance when encountering commensals during permitted activities to ensure consistency with Commission-approved Species Action Plans and Permitting Guidelines. Significant progress has been made on completing gopher tortoise surveys using Line Transect Distance Sampling under a contract with the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI). In FY20, seven surveys on state-owned public conservation lands were completed and included 11,807 acres (4,778.12 hectares) of suitable gopher tortoise habitat. All seven surveys were conducted by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory. Of the seven sites surveyed this FY, six were considered viable and one was considered a primary support population. Surveys completed under this contract, in addition to FWC staff-led surveys, will continue into the next few years. As development in Florida continues to increase, so does the number of gopher tortoises that are relocated. In FY20, 10,798 gopher tortoises were relocated from development sites, with most of those tortoises relocated to lands under permanent conservation easements. With the demand for recipient sites high, 3,440 new acres were brought in as permitted recipient sites. FWC is actively promoting actionable science to help address knowledge gaps and inform the policies and practices outlined in the GTPG. FWC documented eight new research priorities for 2020, which include evaluating the impacts of relocated gopher tortoises on natural and adjacent populations, determining factors that enhance site fidelity and relocation success, and developing a line-transect distance sampling (LTDS) survey protocol for recipient sites. The FWC continues to work with stakeholders to discuss any new challenges and work together toward possible solutions throughout the implementation of the Gopher Tortoise Management Plan. The continued participation of stakeholders is important to the long-term conservation of the species. The implementation and completion of many management plan actions to protect the gopher tortoise and its habitat has made an impact on the status of the keystone species and continues to show progress toward achieving conservation.

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

The Gopher Tortoise Initiative (GTI) is a Georgia-based effort that aims to protect at least 65 tortoise populations that meet or exceed the current USFWS standard for a minimum viable population (MVP; >250 adult tortoises). The state is currently on track to have 61 of the 65 populations protected by 2022.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) was awarded a grant that funded two new full- time positions focused on gopher tortoise conservation. Marylou Moore has been hired as the new Gopher Tortoise Biologist and Jacob Wilson accepted the Gopher Tortoise Technician Position. In

March 2021 14 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT addition to these positions, the grant is also funding a new prescribed fire crew which will focus on high priority gopher tortoise habitat.

During the reporting year, the GADNR Wildlife Conservation Section’s tortoise survey crew completed LTDS surveys on six sites. The largest effort was extended at Ceylon WMA, which has over 3,000 acres of tortoise habitat. The estimate for the tortoise population on Ceylon is 2,990, at a density of 2.3 per hectare, likely occurring as 4 distinct populations.

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

During the 2019-2020 reporting period SCDNR has continued to actively participate in gopher tortoise conservation and management. Both Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve and Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve have continued management activities for the benefit of the gopher tortoise, including prescribed fire. Additionally, SCDNR and Savannah River Ecology Lab (SREL) continue efforts to establish a MVP at AGTHP, which would be the third in South Carolina.

SCDNR and Savanah River Ecology Lab (SREL) staff continue efforts to restock the AGTHP utilizing waif tortoises and have released 350 tortoises to the site (~180 adults). SCDNR completed their study to examine survivorship and movements of hatchling, head-started yearling, and head-started 2-year-old gopher tortoises at the preserve. From 2016-2020 we examined survivorship and movements of 71 hatchling and head-started tortoises at AGTHP using radio telemetry. We are currently analyzing the data from this project but preliminary results suggest that gopher tortoises head started for two years had higher annual survival and that lengthy movements had the largest negative impact on survival. To date, we have released 186 tortoises (20 hatchlings, 140 yearlings and 26 two-year olds).

Continued restoration has occurred on the 180 acres of restored habitat on Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve. During the report period, various activities, such as planting of longleaf pine, wiregrass and restoration of other native groundcover has occurred, in addition to herbicide application in restored areas with increased shrubby recruitment. This effort will provide significant additional acreage for tortoises on the preserve and increase the carrying capacity of the site.

SCDNR continues to be active in the gopher tortoise conservation community. Andrew Grosse serves as the Gopher Tortoise Council SC state representative and attended the 2020 virtual annual meeting with the Assistant Chief of Wildlife, Will Dillman and regional Heritage Preserve Biologists James Fowler and Hunter Young.

In October new regulations were passed that added substantial protections to all native reptiles and amphibians in South Carolina. Specifically, no native reptile or amphibian, including parts, products, eggs, and derivatives may be sold, purchased, traded, exchanged, bartered, exported or shipped, transferred and/or re-homed unless permitted by regulation. Possession limits were established for all native turtles by species and in aggregate. While these new regulations don’t impact gopher tortoises directly, it will protect many commensals living in the long leaf pine ecosystem. Additionally, release or escape of non-native reptiles and amphibians is prohibited and SCDNR has the authority to prohibit the import of nonnative species that may become established and/or negatively impact our native wildlife, agriculture, or human health and safety. More information can be found at our website.

In August, South Carolina received its first confirmed sighting of an Argentine black and white tegu in Lexington county. Reports from the public over the next three months confirmed 11 sightings

March 2021 15 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT throughout the state. There is concern for our gopher tortoise populations since they are known egg predators and have been documented eating gopher tortoise eggs/hatchlings in other states. 70% of tegus found in SC have been removed from the wild at this point.

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

GADOT continues to survey suitable habitat in order to minimize the effects of roadway projects on the Gopher Tortoise. Of the 46 total gopher tortoise burrows previously found immediately north of Exit 2 on I-75, GADOT identified 26 burrows that would be directly impacted by a planned interchange improvement project. In May 2020, those 26 burrows were excavated and 8 tortoises (5 adults, 3 juveniles) were relocated to a neighboring safety zone just outside of the project area. Relocations were completed without injury and exclusionary fencing installed prior to the start of relocations will stay in place until construction is complete. Other management activities on GADOT owned properties were performed by GADNR and are included in their reporting.

POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS

Activities completed by The Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PBCI) are as follows: • Follow up training to maintain and update present Gopher Tortoise Surveys • Continuing with education and outreach • Up scaled the burn program to meet the demand

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION (AFF)

The American Forest Foundation (AFF) is working to increase the number of landowners managing their forests to provide a sustainable wood supply and wildlife habitat for at-risk species. This is accomplished through partnerships with local, state and federal entities and through various programs including the American Tree Farm System, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation partnership called Southern Woods and Wildlife, and a cooperative agreement with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A major focal species in these various AFF projects across the South is the Gopher Tortoise.

AFF sponsors six Tree Farm programs at the state level who in turn ensures that private landowners third party certified to the AFF Standards of Sustainability are protecting biodiversity. There are 7,238 certified Tree Farms representing 4,601, 562 acres in the counties identified within the range of the Gopher Tortoise.

AFF has funded the purchase of equipment necessary for 3 crews to conduct Line Transect Distance Surveys for Gopher Tortoise surveys on private lands in Alabama. Partners involved in this effort are Longleaf Alliance, Alabama Forestry Association and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. With over 90% of the land in the Gopher Tortoise range in Alabama owned by private landowners. Utilizing this equipment, 15 100% surveys were completed on 1,300 acres of suitable Gopher Tortoise soils on both private and public lands.

In Alabama, AFF has been a major partner with Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) in identifying Gopher Tortoise populations on private lands. Through direct funding of population surveys, supplying partner crews with equipment and outreach to private landowners with technical and financial assistance, AFF has been instrumental in quadrupling the number of known Gopher Tortoise populations from 11 in 2017 to 40 in 2019.

March 2021 16 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

AFF‘s cooperative agreement with the USFWS’ Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program provides cost share for forestry activities on private property to enhance the habitat for at-risk species with Gopher Tortoise as a primary focal species in Alabama, Florida, Georgia Tennessee and South Carolina. Landowners must have a Gopher Tortoise population on or adjacent to their property and agree to a ten-year management commitment to participate in the initiative. During this time, 2,327 acres of Gopher Tortoise habitat were improved through establishment of Longleaf Pine, prescribed burning and control of undesirable understory species. Gopher Tortoise surveys have and will be completed on all properties enrolled in the agreement. Several more landowner agreements are being added and the program is expanding to Mississippi.

In addition, AFF partners with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and contributes financially to the Longleaf Stewardship Fund. Our money is granted to seven collaboratives across six states and focuses on engaging landowners in longleaf restoration by connecting them with technical service providers. The purpose of these meetings is to shift the landowner towards better forest management, especially around improving habitat for Gopher Tortoise. During this timeframe, 41 landowners have been reached leading to 3,802 acres of establishment, enhancement, and maintenance of Longleaf Pine.

In order to continue outreach and education to Alabama landowners, we continue to distribute the book – Pine Ecosystem – Conservation Handbook for Gopher Tortoise Management in Alabama. This book is undergoing revision and 2,000 more copies are in the process of reprinting. We have also printed 500 signs to landowners for distribution noting their commitment to manage their land as a wildlife conservation area.

LONGLEAF ALLIANCE

The Longleaf Alliance (LLA) continues work with dozens of private landowners, public land managers, and partners across the historic range of gopher tortoises to restore and maintain gopher tortoise habitat as an essential part of restoring the longleaf ecosystem. LLA staff provides technical assistance (virtually and in the field) and financial assistance, primarily through cost-share funding to assist in these restoration efforts. LLA staff provide hundreds of technical assists to landowners requiring specific management assistance in all the states of the gopher tortoise range leading to changed behavior, applied habitat improvements, and raised awareness and appreciation. LLA staff also incorporate gopher tortoise conservation messaging in our Longleaf Academy course offerings and in many other outreach events like field days, workshops, and festivals.

LLA’s on the ground management staff, including both the Ecosystem Support Team (EST) and the Wetland Ecosystem Support Team (WEST), assist partners with management in Northwest Florida and South Alabama. In 2019, the EST supported prescribed fires on 58, 980 acres on both public and private lands, all within gopher tortoise habitat. The teams also completed 3,142.22 acres of survey and control of invasives with a focus on cogongrass and Chinese Tallow tree. A portion of this (1, 649 acres) was in upland habitat preferred by gopher tortoise. LLA also collaborates with multiple partners in the WC GA gopher tortoise initiative to connect private landowners with USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program incentives and assistance promoting tortoise habitat improvement.

In Georgia, LLA provided funding to burn on priority habitat on public and private lands through the Ft. Stewart Altamaha LIT. We also provided funding through various funding sources to plant longleaf pine seedlings and collecting native groundcover for restoration. LLA recently was awarded a grant to lead a

March 2021 17 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

3-year pilot project in the Georgia Sentinel Landscape with a goal of burning an additional 35,000 acres in the next three years.

LLA also works with landowners within the gopher tortoise range in SC to provide both technical and financial assistance to improve their habitat and work with them to enroll in other cost-share and incentive programs through various agencies. Since 2017, LLA has been partnering with the UGA Savannah River Ecology Lab, SCDNR, and USFWS to support gopher tortoise headstarting for release onto suitable habitat approved by SCDNR. To date a total of 247 tortoises have been head-started and released, 76 of which were released in 2020 at AGTHP and one additional private property. Funding for this work is provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the USFWS Coastal Program. 2020 was a challenging year for the headstarting program due to COVID restrictions and low nest detection and hatch rate, possibly indicating low reproductive success this year. There was an atypical low rate of nest detection -this year just over 50% but usually 90%. Also there was a low hatch rate of clutches detected -this year just over 50% but typical years is 90%.

JONES CENTER AT ICHUAWAY

We continued to manage uplands with prescribed fire on 11,856.2 acres of habitat. We also continued Commented [LLS1]: update long term research on the effects of mesopredators on tortoise populations and collaborated with researchers from Georgia Southern University on effects of climate change on reproduction in gopher tortoises. Gopher tortoise surveys using line transect distance sampling will take place in 2021.

We continued to manage uplands with prescribed fire on 11,856.2 acres of habitat. We also continued long term research on the effects of mesopredators on tortoise populations and collaborated with researchers from Georgia Southern University on effects of climate change on reproduction in gopher tortoises. Gopher tortoise surveys using line transect distance sampling will take place in 2021.

ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION

The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) manages eight state forests within the gopher tortoise’s (GTs) range. Geneva State Forest (GSF) and Little River State Forest (LRSF) are the largest two and provide permanent protection for GTs. These two state forests total 9,363 acres, GSF is 7,200 acres and LRSF is 2,163 acres. GSF has AFC personnel permanently stationed there, while LRSF utilizes surrounding county personnel to conduct operations. It is one of AFC’s objectives to continue improving GT habitat on GSF and LRSF lands through prescribed burning, timely timber stand thinning and removal of hardwood midstory where applicable, creating and maintaining useful forest openings, planting longleaf pine on applicable sites and conducting final harvests as needed. Geneva State Forest is managed for natural regeneration of longleaf pine by using shelterwood harvest. The forest is managed on a 72-year rotation. Additional information is listed in the following sections.

The majority of work AFC personnel conduct is for private landowners. There are 9,021,520 acres of timberland within the GT’s native range in Alabama. Of these timberland acres 96.5%, or 8,711,638 acres, are privately owned. AFC has foresters and rangers available to assist landowners in all 27 counties within the GT candidate range. AFC provides GT habitat management recommendations to landowners during site visits, stand management recommendations, and in Stewardship Forest Management Plans. Other forms of landowner assistance provided that benefit GTs include invasive species control recommendations and prescribed burning.

March 2021 18 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Andersonville National Historic Site

No activities conducted this year.

Cumberland Island National Seashore

Cumberland Island National Seashore (CUIS) consists of 18,000 acres of uplands and 18,000 acres of freshwater and saltmarsh wetlands. CUIS is one of two Georgia barrier islands with gopher tortoise populations. No historical records have been found explaining how tortoises arrived on CUIS. The parks has surveyed gopher tortoise populations since 2015. The island has one main reproductively active colony in Stafford Field, a 114 acres field dating back to the cotton era. There are tortoises in other areas of the island in old growth forest, scrub, and cultural landscape habitats, but these are best described as single adults and random occurrences. The park's fire management program sets prescriptions for the Stafford Field colony and surrounding area with a goal of maintaining existing habitat and converting additional habitat suitable for dispersal. The park is working in conjunction with GADNR in 2021 to evaluate genetics of CUIS tortoises and adjacent mainland populations. No surveys were conducted in FY20 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Desoto National Memorial

No activities reported.

Everglades National Park

During FY 2020, there was no management focused on gopher tortoise or their habitat within Everglades National Park besides beginning to plan a prescribed fire in the area for coming years that is intended to maintain suitable tortoise habitat and other ecological values.

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

No activities were completed this year due to park closures related to COVID-19.

Canaveral National Seashore

No activities conducted this year. Before boardwalk construction on the dune biologist search for and mark any gopher tortoise burrows in the project footprint to be avoided. This year there were two burrows within the project footprints. They were marked with a stake and avoided during demo and construction.

Fort Matanzas National Monument

Gopher tortoises within the park are protected from harassment, as is all other wildlife, per NPS policy. Specifically, park staff maintain approximately 500’ of low fencing along SR A1A, which runs through the park for about one mile, to mitigate gopher tortoise-vehicle encounters. Staff also patrol the road as often as possible to move tortoise that have ventured too close to the road. Ones that are killed are reported to the FWC database, while ones that are injured are taken to a certified wildlife rehabilitator

March 2021 19 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT who specialized in gopher tortoises. Invasive plants are removed throughout the park, which improves tortoise habitat. And finally, the park erects signage informing the public not to disturb gopher tortoises they encounter in the vicinity of the visitor center.

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY

Electric power delivery rights-of-way must be accessed with heavy machinery periodically for construction and maintenance, and in emergency situations to restore power. The following practices were observed this year by Alabama Power Company (APC) in order to minimize impacts to gopher tortoises during these activities: Surveying segments of ROWs prior to construction/maintenance was conducted to detect and mark burrows (i.e., sign, cone, flagging, etc.); A GIS database of gopher tortoise burrow locations is maintained; BMPs are implemented specifying buffer zones, matting criteria, etc. to help reduce risk to tortoises and burrows and educate transmission crews. Alabama Power has marked nearly 1000 burrows with GT signs this year; each sign is labeled with “Sensitive Area” and “No Equipment or Excavation Within 25 Feet;” the signs also have a contact number to call if someone has questions; the signs are highly visible and can be seen at distances far greater than 25 feet; signs are placed relatively close to the burrow near the apron but APC avoids sign placement on GT trails.

APC has also participated in the Alabama Tortoise Alliance (ALTA) meetings and the Gopher Tortoise Candidate Conservation Agreement (GTCCA) meetings to stay current on listing decisions and discuss best management and conservation practices with state and federal agencies.

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY

Georgia Power continued with longleaf habitat restoration and management by conducting prescribed burns on about 975 acres, planting longleaf pines on about 85 acres, and planting wiregrass on about 15 acres at Plant Vogtle and at Plant Hatch.

March 2021 20 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES TO LISTING FACTOR A (THE PRESENT OR THREATENED DESTRUCTION, MODIFICATION, OR CURTAILMENT OF THE SPECIES’ HABITAT OR RANGE)

ARMY

A compiled report from all installations was not received but Ft. Rucker reported having 49,066 acres of protected public lands and the following management activities:

Acres managed *Total acres Acres Acres Acres of (e.g., restored or burned - burned - invasive mechanical, Report maintained as growing dormant species longleaf year GT habitat season season treated planting) Owned or 8786 5824 1666 370 626 2019 managed lands **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Owned or 2020 managed lands 4900 4543 102 255 **Other lands

NAVY

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage? i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise) 12,522

Table 1. Acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat owned or managed by the signatory agency (put n/a if not applicable)

Protected lands Other lands owned or Report year Protected lands (Private) (Public) managed by the agency

2009 12,140 N/A N/A

2010 12,140 N/A N/A

2011 12,140 N/A N/A

2012 12,140 N/A N/A

2013 12,140 N/A N/A

2014 12,140 N/A N/A

2015 12,357 N/A N/A

2016 12,182 N/A N/A

March 2021 21 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2017 12,522 N/A N/A

2018 12,522 N/A N/A

2019 12,522 N/A N/A

2020 12,522 N/A N/A

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes. i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on Navy lands remains relatively stable. Prescribed burning was accomplished, but on a less scale than desired due to military mission, COVID-19 and weather factors. Surveying and identification of areas continued as well as protection of gopher tortoises and habitat by removing predators, invasive species, and identification of burrows for safety in mowing and construction areas. Community outreach and education efforts continued. See the Navy Executive Summary for the full narrative.

March 2021 22 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

**Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Owned or 1439 60 110 409 860 managed lands 2015 **Other lands N/A 50+ 200+ N/A N/A Owned or 2809 175 268 75 135 2016 managed lands **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Owned or 2017 1035 0 877 50 108 managed lands **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Owned or 338 0 268 25 45 2018 managed lands **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2263 Owned or (Pensacola, 0 244 30 128 2019 managed lands Bronson, Saufley) **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Owned or 828 0 328 242 204 2020 managed lands **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A * The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the succeeding 4 columns.

**Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement.

AIR FORCE

Table 1. Acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat owned or managed by the signatory agency (put n/a if not applicable)

Protected lands Other lands owned or Report year Protected lands (Private) (Public)* managed by the agency 2009 101 470,840

2010 101 457,965

2011 151 457,292

March 2021 23 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2012 190 456,733

2013 190 21,100 456,674

2014 190 22,806 456,630

2015 190 22,806 464,368*

2016 190 22,806 464,368*

2017 190 23,306 464,261*

2018 190 23,306 464,187

2019 190 23,306 464,187

2020 190 29,773 453,622 * Corrected; previous acreage report was incorrect.

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

Avon Park AFR: Prescribed fire (20,335 acres), Cogongrass treatments (2,032 acres), scrub restoration (376 acres), plantation thinning (280 acres) and feral hog removal (330 individuals removed).

45th Space Force: Mechanical cutting of overgrown scrub habitat using a variety of methods including roller chopping, hydro ax, v-saw and tree cutter. Treatment of invasive vegetative species using mechanical and hand-cutting and herbicide; monitoring and herbicide treatment in previously treated areas to prevent re-growth. No prescribed burns occurred during FY20.

Eglin AFB: Eglin AFB continued to manage almost 400,000 acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat. Primary management tools include prescribed fire, chemical treatment of hardwood midstory, chemical treatment of invasive plants, control measures for invasive exotic animal species and sand pine removal. A total of 64,949 acres of GT habitat received targeted management treatment for the 2020 reporting period, however this number falls well short of prior years’ efforts. The reduction in treatment is almost exclusively a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most notably was the impact to prescribed fire application due to personnel being subject to CDC and AF HPCON guidelines and confines. Eglin is optimistic that land management productivity will return to pre-COVID levels in 2021.

MacDill AFB: Treatment for non-native invasive plant species occurred on approximately 597 acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat. Zero (0) acres of mechanical vegetation treatments were conducted in potential gopher tortoise habitat to reduce woody invasive species midstory, vegetation heights, and perform preparatory work for future prescribed burns. Zero (0) acres of prescribed fire were conducted within potential gopher tortoise habitat. Due to contractor issues and Covid-19 related constraints, habitat management was extremely difficult to carry out during the year.

March 2021 24 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Moody AFB: In 2020, gopher tortoise management activities included prescribed burning (514 acres), invasive species control (36 acres), clear cut and site prep (22 acres), and longleaf planting (18 acres). No chemical treatments were carried out.

Tyndall AFB: Hurricane Michael (October 2018) caused catastrophic or severe damage to the forested areas across the majority of Tyndall Air Force Base. Subsequent to clearing the damaged timber across the installation, 9,000 acres is being site prepped and planted with longleaf pine between FY20 and FY24. Reforested areas will be managed with fire on a 2-3 year fire return interval or managed with chemical or mechanical timber stand improvement techniques where fire is not meeting management goals. In FY20 approximately 1,500 acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat was site prepped using single drum roller chopping and planted with containerized longleaf pine seedlings (2,763 acres total, including mesic flatwoods). 1,225 acres were treated for invasive species on the installation of which approximately 1,000 acres were of potential gopher tortoise habitat. 4,045 acres were burned during the growing season across the installation and approximately 1,500 acres were of potential gopher tortoise habitat.

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

March 2021 25 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 2. Land Management (numbers reflect acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat) *Total acres Acres managed restored or Acres Acres Acres of (e.g., maintained burned - burned - invasive mechanical, Report as GT growing dormant species longleaf year habitat season (%) season (%) treated planting) Owned or 2009 managed lands 21,945 4,000 (45%) 4,946 (55%) 7,430 Unk. **Other lands Owned or 34,946 100,346 2010 managed lands 147,466 (26%) (74%) 2,506 9,668 **Other lands Owned or 31,151 68,124 2011 managed lands 113,654 (31%) (69%) 2,056 14,423 **Other lands 10 10 Owned or 35,669 2012 managed lands 124,219 (32%) 76,703 (67%) 3,470 11,551 **Other lands Owned or 53,234 63,368 2013 managed lands 128,738 (46%) (54%) 3,578 11,179 **Other lands Owned or 75,564 2014 managed lands 129,294 39,186 (34%) (66%) 3,076 11,468 **Other lands Owned or 2015 managed lands 128,529 59,664 (50%) 58,583 (50%) 5,378 8,269 **Other lands Owned or

managed lands 106,746 46,406 (45%) 56,176 (55%) 2,542 3,256 2016 **Other lands Owned or 2017 managed lands 96,297 53,498 (62%) 33,276 (38%) 3,029 6,491 **Other lands Owned or 2018 managed lands 113,081 45,338(44%) 58,694(56%) 3,285 5,764 **Other lands Owned or 49,771 64,557 4,364 11,489 2019 managed lands 130,181 (38%) (50%) **Other lands Owned or 82,319 20,081 50,030 5,199 7,009 2020 managed lands **Other lands *The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the succeeding 4 columns.

March 2021 26 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

**Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement.

MARINES

Protected lands Other lands owned or Protected lands (Private) Report year (Public) managed by the agency

2017 1,200 NA NA

2018

2 (MCSF BI) 2019 1,500 (MCLB Albany) 3,190 ((MCAS TBR)

2 (MCSF BI) 2020 1,500 (MCLB Albany) 3,190 ((MCAS TBR)

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

MCLB Albany: MCLB Albany has been making progress in restoring pine savannah habitat aboard the installation. A lack of prescribed burning between 2009-2012, over reliance on dormant season fire, and a lack of control of invasive species degraded gopher tortoise habitat across the installation. From 2012-2017 mechanical chopping, herbicide application, and other mechanical clearing improved potential habitat for gopher tortoises. Approximately 150 acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat was removed in 2016 for the construction of a solar array. A 2017 tornado significantly impacted the installation but created opportunities to plant longleaf pine and native groundcover where a 180-acre pecan orchard formerly stood. Hurricane Michael caused additional temporary habitat loss as a result of land clearing activities impacting vegetation. MCLB Albany has shifted since 2017 towards a higher percentage of growing season burning and is hopeful to see rapid recovery of potential habitat for gopher tortoises.

MCLB Albany focused on removing forest debris, controlling midstory, preparing for planting approximately 63 acres of longleaf pine and 120 acres of underplanting slash stands in longleaf pine. These efforts included mechanical removing (piling/burning/mulching) on 411 acres and 212 acres total of herbicide application.

March 2021 27 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

MCSF-BI: Management activities include bi-annual surveys and overseeing the mowing process. MCSF-BI uses contracted vendors to conduct surveys and provide written reports. The ground maintenance operators are aware of the gopher tortoise area and continue to watch for tortoises foraging within the mowed grass.

MCAS Beaufort: Environmental staff and others (civil service and contractors) were instructed to ensure that GT’s and burrows were not disturbed by firebreak maintenance work or contracted work. Prescribed burning was conducted within some suitable habitat.

MCAS Townsend Bombing Range: Assessment phase is still in progress to determine distribution of Gt’s at TBR. Prescribed burning was conducted on some areas known to provide habitat to GT’s although most of those lands are not considered typical habitat (loblolly pine overstory, marginally wet soils)

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization. Table 2. Land Management (numbers reflect acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat) Acres managed *Total acres Acres Acres Acres of (e.g., restored or burned - burned - invasive mechanical, Report maintained as growing dormant species longleaf year GT habitat season (%) season (%) treated planting) Owned or 2016 managed lands 1,200 264 267 200 0 **Other lands Owned or 2017 managed lands 1,200 0 138 50 0 **Other lands Owned or 2018 Managed Lands **Other lands Owned or 382 300 2019 Managed Lands 1,500 56% 44% 60 50 **Other lands Owned or 170 353 2020 Managed Lands 1,500 32% 68% 214 411 **Other lands *The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the preceding 4 columns. **Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement

March 2021 28 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

USFS

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise) Table 1. Acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat owned or managed by the signatory agency (put n/a if not applicable)

Protected lands Other lands owned or Protected lands (Private) Report year (Public) managed by the agency

2009 60,000

2010 60,000

2011 60,000

2012 221,448

2013 221,448

2014 221,448

2015 221,448

2016 221,531

2017 221,625

2018 221,708

2019 222,151

2020 301,926*

March 2021 29 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

*No additional acreage was obtained. The acres were calculated using different methods and reflected is a higher number.

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

Conecuh NF- During FY20, management activities on the Conecuh NF for the restoration and maintenance of native fire ecosystems that support gopher tortoise included: timber thinning in mature longleaf stands, timber harvest in slash and other timber types to restore native overstory species (longleaf), prescribed burning, wildlife opening maintenance, mid-story removal and understory restoration using mechanical and herbicide treatments, road and fire line restoration activities, supported gopher tortoise surveys by academic institutions, and non- native invasive species treatment.

Apalachicola NF- In FY20, the Apalachicola NF contributed to the restoration and maintenance of native fire ecosystems that support gopher tortoise by: timber thinning in mature longleaf stands, timber harvest to restore native over-story species (longleaf), prescribed burning, midstory and understory restoration using mechanical and herbicide treatments, site prep for seeding mechanical (roller chopping), site prep for planting mechanical (mowing), non-native invasive species treatment, and gopher tortoise surveys.

Ocala NF- • FY20 Norwalk Island Fuel Reduction: The project area in Norwalk Island (C19) comprises longleaf pine/wiregrass in a sandhill ecosystem. Norwalk Island has benefited from past habitat restoration efforts resulting in the expansion of new residents of red-cockaded woodpeckers (RCW), and newly found gopher tortoise burrows locations. Further continued groundwork is needed to maintain the growth of suitable habitat into other sections of compartment 19 and to decrease wildfire risks. The project area is 172 acres and fully funded by FWC. • FY20 NNIS Treatment - FWC fully funded a contract for spray work in the southeastern region of the forest. Due to COVID constraints, most of the spray work was cancelled. Therefore, 100 acres were completed in house, mostly on the naval unit, Pinecastle Bombing Range. Another 400 acres were completed with FWC funding which included personnel, equipment, and chemicals. • The FY20 prescribed fire program was severely hindered from burning planned units. All acres accomplished were completed before the COVID shut down in the spring, totaling 5,625acres out of the 75,500acres that were originally planned.

Osceola NF- Prescribed burning is the main practice used to manage gopher tortoise habitat on the Osceola NF. However, other practices are used such as thinning, mowing, and roller chopping. Out of the potential gopher tortoise habitat on the Osceola NF (23,138 acres), 4,039 acres were managed during FY20. This includes 3,358 acres of dormant season burning, 55 acres of thinning, 85 acres of roller chopping, and 541 acres of mulching.

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

March 2021 30 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 2. Land Management (numbers reflect acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat)

Acres managed *Total acres Acres Acres Acres of (e.g., restored or burned - burned - invasive mechanical, Report maintained as growing dormant species longleaf year GT habitat season (%) season (%) treated planting) Owned or 30,354 5,357 35,721 60 ? 2012 managed lands (85%) (15%) **Other lands Owned or 48,851 27,817 76,776 173 ? 2013 managed lands (64%) (36%) **Other lands Owned or 38370 45,433 103,809 126 15,171 2014 managed lands (46%) (54%) **Other lands Owned or 29,178 34,893 79,761 201 9,091 2015 managed lands (46%) (54%) **Other lands Owned or 33,778 45,939 88,010 397 7,896 managed lands (42%) (58%) 2016 **Other lands Owned or 17,176 14,785 85,430 1120 52,349 2017 managed lands (54%) (46%) **Other lands Owned or 67,913 86,362 175,960 1,152 20,533 2018 managed lands (44%) (56%) **Other lands Owned or 55,560 50,579 124,369 2,753 15,477 2019 managed lands (52%) (48%) **Other lands Owned or 14,372 34,176 52,154 834 2,772 2020 managed lands (30%) (70%) **Other lands *The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the succeeding 4 columns.

**Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement.

USFWS

March 2021 31 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 1. Acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat owned or managed by the signatory agency (put n/a if not applicable)

Protected lands Other lands owned or Protected lands (Private) Report year (Public) managed by the agency

EK: 6.5 SV: 6,117 EH: 3,500 PI: 363 MI: 88,751 LS: 4,855 LW: 2,400 EK: 260 CH: 35 n/a 2016 EH: 1,500 HS: 315 AC: 2,000 LWR: 1,900 DD: 37

Total: 108,533 acres Total: 3,506.5 acres

AC – 200 CH – 30 EK – 250 EH – 1,855 HS – 315 DD – 37 LWR – 1,900 EK – 6.5 LW – 2,400 EH – 4,440 2017 LS – 4,855 OK – 982

MI – 88,751 TOTAL = 4,446.5 PI – 250 SM – 10,928 SV – 6,117 OK – 470

TOTAL = 118,358

AC – 200 CH - 30 EK – 260 EH – 1,855 LWR – 1,900 LW – 2,400 2018 LS – 4,855 MI – 88,751 PI – 250 SV – 6,117 OK – 470

March 2021 32 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

TOTAL = 107,088

AC – 200 EK – 250 CH – 30 EH - 4,000 HS – 315 DD – 37 OK – 982 LWR - 1,900 EK - 6.5 LW - 2,400 EH - 5,000 2019 LS - 4,855 MI - 88,751 Total = 5,006.5 Total = 982 PI – 350 SM - 10,928 SV - 6,117 OK - 470

TOTAL = 120,603 AC – 200 EK – 240 CH – 30 EH - 1,500 HS – 315 DD – 37 OK – 982 LWR - 1,900 EK - 6.5 LW - 2,400 EH - 3,595 2020 LS - 4,855 MI - 88,751 Total = 3,601.5 acres Total = 982 acres PI – 200 SM - 10,928 SV - 6,117 OK - 470

Total = 117,943 acres

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

AC: approximately 30 acres were burned during the growing season.

EK: .36 acres of Australian pine within 5.5 gross acres and 11.92 acres of Brazilian pepper within 276 gross acres were treated with herbicides by Florida Park Service staff, who cooperatively manages the island with USFWS. Florida Park Service also treated .24 acres of Rosary pea within

March 2021 33 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

8 acres. An additional 57 acres of Brazilian pepper and Australian pine and 32 acres of coin vine, cogon grass, and beach naupaka were treated under contract.

CH: no exotics were treated.

EH: approximately 620 acres were burned.

HS: A prescribed burn was conducted on 32 acres of sand pine scrub habitat. Exotic plants were treated on 205 acres of scrub habitat. Control efforts took place on refuge lands. Species controlled included Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, earleaf acacia, beach naupaka, rosary pea, arrow bamboo and all other Category I and II Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Exotic plant species.

LWR: approximately 340 acres were burned.

OK: Prescribed burns were completed on 401 (117 acres in dormant season, 284 acres in growing season) of the 470 acres of gopher tortoise habitat on protected lands during 2020.

PI: approximately 20 acres were treated for non-native plants and an additional 20 acres mowed.

SV: Growing season prescribed fire and a lightning caused wildfire response was utilized to enhance approximately 2,868 acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat in August and September 2020. Invasive exotic plant removal enhanced over 11 acres of occupied and unoccupied gopher tortoise habitat. Predator control by staff and a continued partnership with USDA Wildlife Services resulted in a reduction of gopher tortoise predators. Occupied gopher tortoise habitat (approximately 373 acres) includes beach dunes and scrub. Potential gopher tortoise habitat (approximately 5,744 acres) includes beach dunes, coastal grasslands, scrub, and pine flatwoods.

LS: Refuge staff were able to apply prescribed fire to 2,341 acres (830 acres burned in dormant season, 1,511 acres in growing season); approximately 1,171 acres of which is good potential gopher tortoise habitat. Refuge staff also treated 209 acres of upland with herbicide or mechanical means for gopher habitat restoration, and planted 44 acres in longleaf pine. All of these 253 restoration acres are in good gopher tortoise habitat.

DD: Refuge treated 37 acres of gopher tortoise habitat for non-native invasive plants.

PFW: Ten landowner projects (five each for AFF-FWS GT Initiative and Longleaf Alliance Grant) equaling 811 acres were restored/ enhanced on upland longleaf pine habitat using PFW cost share funds. Practices utilized include: mechanical and chemical site prep, mowing, chemical application as a release, firebreak installation / maintenance, prescribed burning, longleaf pine seedling planting, native groundcover seeding and seedling planting.

March 2021 34 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 2. Land Management (numbers reflect acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat) Acres managed *Total acres Acres of (e.g., restored or Acres burned Acres burned - invasive mechanical, Report maintained as - growing dormant season species longleaf year GT habitat season (%) (%) treated planting) AC: 350 LWR: 350 LW: 100 AC: 114 EK: 6 LS: 4,030 LS: 825 EK: 6 CH: 35 MI: 60% MI: 40% EH: 1,200 EH: 1,200 (no acreage) (no acreage) HS: 154 HS: 315 SV: 1000 SV: 4,466 LWR: 491 Owned or LWR: 841 LW: 2 managed CH: 35 LW: 1,391 MI: 26 lands 2016 LS: 4,855 PI: 363 MI: 10,645 SV: 10 SV: 5,476 DD: 37 DD: 37 Total: 5,380 Total: 5,391 Total: 25,151 (not incl. MI) (not incl. MI) Total: 2,403 EH 3,500 **Other EK 6.5 EK 6.5 lands Total: 3,506.5 Owned or AC – 200 LS – 1,620 LW – 100 EK – 15 AC – 200 managed CH – 30 MI – 11 LS – 127 EH – 62 CH – 30 lands EK – 16.2 SV – 10 MI – 89 HS – 5 EK – 1.2 EH – 62 SM – 582 DD – 37 LW – 6 HS – 5 TOTAL = SV – 847 LWR – 350 LS – 112 DD – 37 1,641 (43.6%) OK – 378 LW – 2 MI – 5,285 LWR – 350 LS – 30 PI – 20 LW – 108 TOTAL = 2,123 MI – 39 SM – 270 LS – 1,889 (56.4%) PI – 230 2017 MI – 5,424 TOTAL = PI – 250 TOTAL = 770 5,924.2 SM – 852 SV – 857 OK – 378

TOTAL = 10,458.2 **Other EK – 6.5 EK – 6.5

lands AC – 45 LW-40(40%) AC – 45 LW – 36 Owned or LW-60(60%) EK – 5 LS-2,333(86%) EK – 5 LS – 253 managed LS-441(16%) LW – 1,000 SV-2,834 LW – 2 PI – 22 lands 2018 LS – 4,855 OK-375(100%) LS – 25 Total 501ac MI – 1,007 MI – 459 Total=311 (8% of total) PI – 56.5 Total =5,582ac PI – 34.5

SV – 2,844 (92% of total) SV – 10

March 2021 35 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

OK – 470 OK – 1

Total = 10,282.5 Total=581.5 **Other OK - 982

lands Owned or AC - 200 AC – 200 CH – 30 managed EK - 4 EK – 4 LS – 366 lands CH – 30 EH – 100 PI – 20 EH - 100 HS - 3) SM – 18 HS – 3 DD – 37 LS (833:39%) DD – 37 LWR - 500 LS – 18 MI(6,433:81%) LWR - 500 LS (1,323:61%) MI – 485 MI(1,509:19%) SM(2,904, LS – 2,540 SV – 20 Total = 434 SV (5,609) 100%) MI – 8,427 2019 PI – 20 Total = 8,941 Total = 10,170 SM – 2,922 Total = 867 SV – 5,639 PFW – 12,641

Total = 33,063 **Other EK - 6.5 EK - 6.5 lands Total = 6.5 Total = 6.5 Owned or AC - 30 managed EK - 378.5 lands CH - 30 EH – 620 AC - 30:100% EH - 300:48% HS – 237 EK - 378.5 LWR - EH - 320:52% DD – 37 340:100% HS – 205 HS - 32:14% LWR – 340 LS - 750:53% DD – 37 CH – 30 LS - 415:29% LS - 1,418 LW - 660:99% LS – 21 LS – 232 MI - 6,433:76% LW – 670 MI - LW – 10 PI – 20 SM - 1,858:17% 1,509:18% MI - 8,427 PFW - 621:77% MI – 485 PFW – 190 SM - 2020 PI – 40 OK - 117:30% PI – 20 3,825:67% SM - 5,683 SV – 11 Total = 472 SV - 2,868:99% SV - 2,879 Total = 9,796 PFW – 811 OK - 284:70% Total = 1167.5

OK – 401 Total = 10,566

Total = 22,001.5 **Other EK – 6.5 EK – 6.5 lands Total = 6.5 Total = 6.5 *The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the succeeding 4 columns. **Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement.

March 2021 36 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

ALABAMA DCNR

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise)

Table 1. Acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat owned or managed by the signatory agency (put n/a if not applicable)

Protected lands Other lands owned or Protected lands (Private) Report year (Public) managed by the agency

2014 8263 0 0

2015 19603 0 5050

2016 19103 0 0

2017 20354 0 0

2018 21168 0 0

2019 22895 0 0

2020 27,198* 0 0

*WMAs, SOAs, and Wehle Center total 78,806 acres and of those total acres 27,198 acres are considered suitable soils.

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

The State of Alabama permanently protects and manages approximately 26,000 acres of tortoise habitat on public lands including Charles D. Kelley-Autauga, Barbour, Geneva State Forest, and Perdido River Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), Uchee Creek, Fred T. Stimpson and Upper State Special Opportunity Areas (SOAs), and Elhew Research Station (Wehle tract). DWFF and SLD continue to work together to restore and maintain gopher tortoise habitat on DWFF, Forever Wild Land Trust, and SLD lands. Public land management breakdown:

1. Charles D. Kelley-Autauga WMA –Clear cut 114 acres, site prepped 451 acres, dormant season burn 802 acres, growing season burn 311 acres, and planted 348 acres of longleaf pine.

March 2021 37 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2. Barbour WMA – Thinned 150 acres, clear cut 482 acres, mechanically treated 50 acres, site prepped 502 acres, dormant season burn 2200 acres, growing season burn 300 acres, planted 580 acres of longleaf pine, and treated 15.5 acres of invasive plant species. 3. Geneva State Forest WMA (only DWFF ownership acres are being reported) - Thinned 150 acres, clear cut 225 acres, mechanically treated 350 acres, site prepped 225 acres, dormant season burn 450 acres, growing season burn 70 acres, and treated 8 acres of invasive plant species. 4. Perdido River WMA - Thinned 275 acres, dormant season burn 300 acres, growing season burn, 1200 acres, and treated 80 acres of invasive plant species. 5. Fred T. Stimpson SOA – Growing season burn 183 acres and treated 20 acres of invasive plant species. 6. Upper State SOA – Dormant season burn 121 acres, planted 100 acres of loblolly pine and treated 10 acres of invasive plant species. 7. Uchee Creek SOA - Dormant season burn 80 acres, planted 190 acres of longleaf pine, and planted 2730 acres of loblolly pine. 8. Elhew Research Station (Wehle Center) (SLD) - Dormant season burn 14 acres and maintained 173 acres.

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

*The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the succeeding 4 columns. **Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement.

March 2021 38 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

***ADCNR owned lands includes Wehle Center, WMAs and SOAs mentioned in executive summary.

FLORIDA FWCC

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

A potential gopher tortoise habitat model, created by FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), was used to gather data on where potential gopher tortoise habitat occurs on FWC- managed lands. The model was updated in 2016 by the Gopher Tortoise Conservation Program to include improved pasturelands as potential habitat. For the current reporting year (FY20), acres reported in the following table represent the current cumulative total acreage of potential gopher tortoise habitat in each category. In FY20, a 181-acre conservation land changed from public to private ownership, accounting for much of the apparent loss of protected public lands.

i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise)

Table 1. Acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat owned or managed by the signatory agency (put n/a if not applicable) Other lands owned or Report year Protected lands (Public) Protected lands (Private) managed by the agency

2009 n/a n/a n/a

2010 n/a n/a n/a

2011 104,485 n/a n/a

2012 150,872 n/a n/a

2013 143,784 8,740 257

2014 145,931 n/a n/a

2015 177,533 9,944 219

2016 180,960 14,021 n/a

2017 180,958 14,021 n/a

March 2021 39 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2018 180,948 14,021 n/a

2019 181,257 13,682 n/a

2020 181,076 13,682 n/a

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

The FWC and other state agencies have completed prescribed burns and exotic species removal across the state. The FWC’s Objective-based Vegetation Management (OBVM) system was queried to gather data on lands by management activity, i.e., prescribed burns, mechanical treatments, planting, and invasive species removal/treatments. For FY19-2020, the acres of gopher tortoise habitat reported include LAP acres managed for the purposes of Conservation, Wildlife, and Forestry (13,410 acres) and acres managed via the FWC’s Gopher Tortoise Habitat Assistance Program (GTHAP; 381 acres). Data in Table 2 report estimates of acres burned during the dormant season (October-March) and growing season (April-September).

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

Table 2. Land Management (numbers reflect acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat)

Acres managed *Total acres Acres Acres Acres of (e.g., restored or burned - burned - invasive mechanical, Report maintained growing dormant species longleaf year as GT habitat season (%) season (%) treated planting) Owned or managed 1,461 lands 6,104 4,643 2009 **Other lands 52 n/a n/a n/a n/a Owned or managed 15,162 lands 25,389 12,426 1,847 2010 **Other lands 72,318 n/a 41,221 31,097 Owned or managed lands 62,327 11,479 10,042 382 2011 **Other lands 60,031 41,421 18,610 n/a n/a Owned or managed lands 60,322 27,264 15,682 6,880 2012 **Other lands 63,580 36,241 27,339 n/a n/a Owned or managed 2013 lands 304,423 138,345 166,078

March 2021 40 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

**Other lands 83,918 35,377 47,793 513 Owned or managed lands 67,485 15,356 16,809 23,452 11,868 2014 **Other lands 32,929 169 136 722 Owned or managed 48,985 59,862 lands 210,877 (45%) (55%) 64,137 37,893 29,149 21,123 2015 **Other lands 53,251 (58%) (42%) 495 2,484 Owned or managed 55,708 55,394 lands 229,680 (50%) (50%) 57,072 61,506 10,317 10,005 2016 **Other lands 22,386 (51%) (49%) 481 1,583 Owned or managed 32,594 57,065 lands 217,696 (36%) (64%) 86,341 42,696 1,470 4,090 2017 **Other lands 6,130 (26%) (74%) 281 289 Owned or managed 29,743 68,320 lands 238,650 (43%) (57%) 107,617 32,970 1,912 2,848 2018 **Other lands 5,768 (33%) (67%) 250 758 Owned or managed 56,830 47,181 lands 258,423 (55%) (45%) 124,996 29,416 2019 9,265 5,511 **Other lands 21,830 (63%) (37%) 336 6,718 Owned or managed 41,594 66,003 lands 244,330 (39%) (61%) 109,366 27,367 2020 2,643 1,651 **Other lands 13,791 (62%) (38%) 1,431 8,066 *The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the succeeding 4 columns.

**Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement.

GEORGIA DNR

Data submitted through separate documents at same time as this document.

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise)

March 2021 41 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 1. Acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat owned or managed by the signatory agency (put n/a if not applicable) Protected lands Other lands owned or Protected lands (Private) Report year (Public) managed by the agency

2009 30,889 n/a n/a

2010 31,692 n/a n/a

2011 31,716 n/a n/a

2012 31,716 n/a n/a

2013 32,840 n/a n/a

2014 39,641 n/a n/a

2015 40,525 n/a n/a

2016 46,192 n/a n/a

2017 51,451 n/a n/a

2018 60,104 n/a n/a

2019

2020 73,746.7 N/A N/A

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

March 2021 42 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 2. Land Management (numbers reflect acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat) Acres managed *Total acres Acres Acres Acres of (e.g., restored or burned - burned - invasive mechanical, Report maintained growing dormant species longleaf year as GT habitat season (%) season (%) treated planting) Owned or managed 17,865 2009 lands 22,899 305 (2%) (98%) 758 3,971 **Other lands 0 0 0 0 0 Owned or managed 14,326 lands 19,622 1,360 (9%) (91%) 10 3,926 10,210 2010 (seasons not **Other lands 10,690 ? reported) 0 480 Owned or managed 15,487 lands 19,644 1,830 (11%) (89%) 417 1,910 3,333 2011 (seasons not **Other lands 3,862 ? reported) 379 150 Owned or managed 11,315 lands 18,005 3,543 (24%) (76%) 300 2,847 5,776 2012 (seasons not **Other lands 6,291 ? reported) 30 485 Owned or managed 15,601 lands 21,781 3,189 (17%) (83%) 2,211 780 2013 3,314 **Other lands 7,427 4,026 (55%) (45%) 0 87 Owned or managed 16,048 lands 32,714 8,343 (34%) (66%) 1,003 7,320 2014 1,298 **Other lands 2,127 829 (39%) (61%) 0 0 Owned or managed 13,459 lands 26,162 5,725 (30%) (70%) 815 6,163 2015 1,250 **Other lands 3,752 2,502 (67%) (33%) 0 0 Owned or managed 14,158 lands 26,285 7,882 (36%) (64%) 91 4,154 2016 2,513 **Other lands 4,380 1,487 (37%) (63%) 0 380 Owned or managed 10,359 2017 lands 24,145 9,062 (47%) (53%) 44 4,680

March 2021 43 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

**Other lands 640 335 (52%) 305 (48%) 0 0 Owned or managed 11,338 2018 lands 29,631 14,104 (55%) (45%) 6 4,183 **Other lands 276 87 189 0 0 Owned or managed 2019 lands **Other lands 105 acres 2,425 acres of sand thinned; 719 2020 Owned or managed 6,780 26,429 pine acres planted lands 36,458 (20.4%) (79.6%) removed in longleaf **Other lands *The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the succeeding 4 columns. **Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement.

NOTE: Our burn data do not break down acreages by habitat. As a result, the burn acreages given here unfortunately over-estimate tortoise habitat burned by including all habitats within burn units. However, all burn units used in these calculations contain tortoise habitat.

SOUTH CAROLINA DNR

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise)

2012 3059

2013 3124

2014 3124

2015 3124

2016 3124 ~450 (deed restriction)

March 2021 44 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2017 3124 ~450 (deed restriction)

2018 3124 450

2019 3124 450

2020 3124 450

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

TSRHP -1437 acres AGTHP -1687 acres Total= 3124 acres

Table 2. Land Management (numbers reflect acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat)

Acres managed *Total acres Acres Acres Acres of (e.g., restored or burned - burned - invasive mechanical, Report maintained growing dormant species longleaf year as GT habitat season (%) season (%) treated planting) Owned or managed 2012 lands 3059 337 476 245 **Other lands Owned or managed 2013 lands 3124 93 487 **Other lands Owned or managed 2014 lands 3124 0 395 **Other lands Owned or managed 2015 lands 3124 350 613 300 **Other lands Owned or managed 2016 lands 3124 0 550 **Other lands

March 2021 45 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Owned or managed 2017 lands 3124 544 175 43.5 **Other lands Owned or managed 2018 lands 3124 31 254 180 **Other lands 450 Owned or managed 2019 lands 3124 460 105 106 **Other lands 450 Owned or managed 2020 lands 3124 131 150 100 **Other lands 450 150 *The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the succeeding 4 columns. **Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement.

GEORGIA DOT

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise)

2013 1492 acres 0 acres 55* acres

2014 1492 acres 0 acres 55 acres

2015 1492 acres 0 acres 55 acres

2016 1492 acres 0 acres 55 acres

2017 1492 acres 0 acres 55 acres

2018 1,492 acres 0 acres 0 acres

March 2021 46 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2019 1,492 acres 0 acres 0 acres

2020

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

Management activities on GADOT owned properties were performed by GADNR and is included in their report.

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

Table 2. Land Management (numbers reflect acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat) Acres *Total acres Acres Acres Acres of managed Report restored or burned - burned - invasive (e.g., year maintained as growing dormant species mechanical, GT habitat season (%) season (%) treated longleaf planting) Owned or Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown None managed lands 2013 **Other lands Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown None

Owned or 200 acres 550 acres 750 acres 700 acres None 2014 managed lands (27%) (73%) **Other lands None None None None None Owned or 500 acres 200 acres 700 acres Unknown 180 acres^ 2015 managed lands (71%) (29%) **Other lands None None None None None Owned or 1050 acres 1050 acres None Unknown 280 acres^ 2016 managed lands (100%) **Other lands None None None None None Owned or 280 acres 280 acres None Unknown None managed lands (27%) 2017 **Other lands None None None None None Owned or

2018 managed land **Other lands Owned or 2019 managed land **Other lands

March 2021 47 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Owned or

2020 managed land **Other lands * The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the preceding 4 columns. **Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement. ^ Acres managed were also burned, so figures from this column are not included in the sum of the left- most column: “Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat.”

NOTE: All burns on GDOT properties were carried out by GADNR. These acreages are included within the data provided by GADNR data.

POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise)

2016 0 11,895 0

2017 0 12,845 0

2018 0 14,645 0

2019 0 15,545 0

2020 0 15,885 0

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

With the help of the Longleaf Alliance and Jones Center, PBCI is continuing to monitor gopher tortoise populations. PBCI is in the process of completing field training with the Jones Center and has purchased survey equipment to complete monitoring activities. PBCI has also stepped up the burning regiment to help get the overgrowth under control which was one of our big issues.

March 2021 48 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION

AFF does not own any land.

LONGLEAF ALLIANCE

Longleaf Alliance does not own land. b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

March 2021 49 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

JONES CENTER

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

2009 N/A 16,976 ac (6870 ha) N/A

2010 N/A 16,976 ac (6870 ha) N/A

March 2021 50 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2011 N/A 16,976 ac (6870 ha) N/A

2012 N/A 16,976 ac (6870 ha) N/A

2013 N/A 16,976 ac (6870 ha) N/A

2014 N/A 16,976 ac (6870 ha) N/A

2015 N/A 16,976 ac (6870 ha) N/A

2016 N/A 16,976 ac (6870 ha) N/A

2017 N/A 16,976 ac (6870 ha) N/A

2018 N/A 16,976 ac (6870 ha) N/A

2019 N/A 16,976 ac (6,870 ha) N/A

2020 N/A 16,976 ac (6,870 ha) N/A

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

11,856.2 ac of habitat were managed with prescribed fire in 2020.

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

March 2021 51 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Owned or managed 3441.9 ac 9645.1 ac 13,125 ac N/A 38 ac lands (26.3%) (73.7%) 2013 **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Owned or managed 786 ac 11,579 ac 12,425 ac N/A 60 ac lands (6%) (94%) 2014 **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Owned or managed 2528.7 ac 10382.0 ac N/A 63.6 lands 12,974.4 ac (19.6%) (80.4%) 2015 **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Owned or managed †2920.4 ac 10170.8 ac 13,091.2 ac N/A 2016 lands (22.3%) (77.7%) N/A **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Owned or managed 2797.3 ac 10127.3 ac 12,962.6 ac 2017 lands (22%) (78%) N/A N/A **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Owned or managed 1141.1 10935.8 12,076.8 ac. N/A N/A 2018 lands (9.4%) (90.6%) **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Owned or managed †2,735.6 ac 10,194.8 ac 12,930.5 ac N/A 0 2019 lands (21.2%) (78.8%) **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Owned or managed †1794.5 10,061.6 ac 11,856.2 ac N/A N/A 2020 lands (15.1%) (84.9%) **Other lands N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A *The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the succeeding 4 columns. **Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement. †Note: Growing season burns occurred from May-September; dormant season burns occurred from January-April.

ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise)

AFC actively manages a total of 9,363 acres of state land. Geneva State Forest and Little River State Forest are 7,200 and 2,163 acres, respectively. There are 741 acres of state forest land that are managed less intensively.

March 2021 52 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2014 9,363 N/A 741

2015 9,363 N/A 741

2016 9,363 N/A 741

2017 9,363 N/A 741

2018 9,363 N/A 741

2019 9,363 N/A 741

2020 9,363 N/A 741

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

Geneva State Forest: AFC personnel prescribe burned approximately 1,218 and 813 acres on Geneva State Forest during the dormant and growing seasons, respectively. Eight miles of fire lanes were installed or refreshed. Tortoise burrows were marked in one unit prior to timber harvesting to minimize risk of heavy equipment causing burrow collapse. Approximately 20.0 acres of cogongrass were treated. Covid-19 pandemic restrictions kept the agency from conducting a landowner tour and Classroom in the Forest events during the spring of 2020.

Little River State Forest: AFC personnel prescribe burned 304 acres and installed or refreshed 3.65 miles of firelanes. Efforts began to informally survey the forest as time allows. LRSF has approximately 40-60 tortoises scattered across the 2,093 acre tract. Approximately 15 acres of cogongrass were treated within the boundary.

Private Landowner Report: It is important to capture and convey the accomplishments that are being achieved on private lands. Not all the accomplishments completed on private lands were aimed directly at GT habitat management, however indirectly they could improve the habitat for the tortoise. During the reporting period, AFC personnel conducted 152 prescribed burns for a total of 7,237 acres. This acreage includes dormant and growing season understory and site preparation burns. AFC personnel wrote or revised 63 Stewardship Management Plans for 7,507 acres. AFC personnel wrote a variety of stand management recommendations (SMRs) for landowners; these included recommendations on thinning, harvesting, planting pines, prescribed burning, and timber stand improvement. AFC also performs compliance/practice checks for cost share and financial assistance programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

March 2021 53 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization

Table 2. Land Management (numbers reflect acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat) Acres managed *Total acres Acres Acres Acres of (e.g., restored or burned - burned - invasive mechanical, Report maintained growing dormant species longleaf year as GT habitat season (%) season (%) treated planting) Owned or managed 2014 lands **Other lands 600 Cogongrass Owned or managed 781.5 110 – site 60 110 11.5 ac. 2015 lands prep **Other lands 15,651.51 N/A 14,353.61 372.2 925.7 1580 Cogongrass 200 – LLP Owned or managed 2,362.1 240 – site 540 12.1 ac. 30 - Slash 2016 lands prep **Other lands 14,972.94 14,350.17*** 395.46 227.31 Owned or managed 1,395 600 790 5 0 2017 lands **Other lands 15,545 13,741 1,072*** 732 Owned or managed 2,526 852 1617 5 52 2018 lands **Other lands 12,872 12,620 252 Owned or managed 2,622 1,317 1,297 8.0 0 2019 lands **Other lands 18,447 18,327 120 0 Owned or managed 2,370 1,218 1,117 35 0 lands 2020 155 7,392 7,237 0 **Other lands cogongrass *The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the succeeding 4 columns. **Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement. *** 275 acres of cogongrass, 23 acres of kudzu, 774 acres of invasive control verified through CRP

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise)

March 2021 54 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2009 75 (ANHS) 0 N/A

2010 75 (ANHS) 0 N/A

2011 75 (ANHS) 0 N/A

2012 75 (ANHS) 0 N/A

2013 75 (ANHS) 0 N/A

2014 75 (ANHS) 0 N/A

2015 75 (ANHS) 0 N/A

2016 75 (ANHS) 0 N/A

2017 75 (ANHS) 0 N/A

2018 75 (ANHS) 0 N/A

75 (ANHS) 9,900 (TIMU & FOCA) 2019 0 N/A 10,000 (CNS) 69 (FMNM) 173 (EVER) 10,000 (CANA) 679 (CUIS) 2020 15 (DESO) 0 N/A 69 (FOMA) 75 (ANDE) 9,900 (TIMU/FOCA)

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

March 2021 55 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Cumberland Island National Seashore CUIS maintained 130 acres of occupied habitat via mechanical treatments and prescribed fire applications during FY20.

Everglades National Park Everglades National Park has a small geographically isolated population of gopher tortoises located on the southwest coastline of Cape Sable. The available tortoise habitat at this site consists of approximately 173 acres of low beach dunes and coastal grassland bordered by hardwood tree hammock and mangrove swamp further inland. Despite having an unclear origin at this remote site, tortoises on Cape Sable are notable as they are genetically unique and therefore not a recent introduction. While the park does not actively manage for gopher tortoises on Cape Sable, several burrow surveys have been conducted over the years. Additionally, some enhancement of the vegetation at East and Middle Cape Sable has been achieved through treatment of invasive plant species. Burrow surveys, using line- or strip- transect methods, were conducted in 1979, 1990, and 2001. A partial survey, using a line- transect distance sampling method, was conducted in 2017, but the arrival of Hurricane Irma prevented completion of the study. The density of active burrows decreased 76 percent between 1979 and 2001. Between 1979 and 1990 the population was probably stable or slightly increasing, but declined substantially between 1990 and 2001, despite evidence of recruitment. The 2017 partial survey found 41 burrows on East and Middle Cape (7 active, 13 inactive, 21 abandoned) and one live tortoise on Middle Cape. However, the Middle Cape portion of this survey (where most tortoises have been found during past surveys) was not yet complete before Hurricane Irma impacted the area in September 2017. A post-storm site visit of several previously surveyed burrows on Middle Cape on 02 November 2017 found fresh signs of tortoise activity at several of the burrows. Due to logistics and extensive debris at the site, the survey was not repeated. Coastal habitat instability from storms and periodic drought may be the cause of fluctuations in the tortoise population on Cape Sable.

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

2012 lands **Other lands Owned or managed

2013 lands **Other lands Owned or managed 2014 lands

March 2021 56 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

**Other lands Owned or managed

2015 lands **Other lands Owned or managed

2016 lands **Other lands Owned or managed

2017 lands **Other lands Owned or managed

2018 lands **Other lands 10,000 (CNS) 9,900 (TIMU 2 (ANHS) 1,000(CNS) & FOCA) 0 0 0 2019 69 (FMNM) 1 (FMNM) Owned or managed Total=1,003 lands Total=19,969 **Other lands 173 (EVER) 10,000 (CANA) 490 (CUIS) 15 (DESO) 69 (FOMA) 0 (EVER) 0 (EVER) 0 (EVER) 0 (EVER) 9,900 5,5 (CANA) 20 (CANA) 2020 0 (CANA) 0 (CANA) (TIMU/FOCA) 0 (CUIS) 474 (CUIS) 0 (CUIS) 15 (CUIS) 75 (ANDE) 0 (DESO) 0 (DESO) 0 (DESO) 0 (DESO) 0 (FOMA) 0 (FOMA) 1 (FOMA) 0 (FOMA) Owned or managed Total = 0 (TIMU/FOCA) 0 (TIMU/FOCA) 0 (TIMU/FOCA) 0 (TIMU/FOCA) lands 20,722 0 (ANDE) 0 (ANDE) 0 (ANDE) 0 (ANDE) **Other lands *The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the succeeding 4 columns. **Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement.

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

Alabama Power either owns or manages roughly 30,000 acres of transmission line rights-of-way easements within eastern and western ranges of gopher tortoise. For easements that are not owned by Alabama Power, the company follows Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce impacts in gopher tortoise habitat; however, following BMPs does not mean that we fully “protect” easements since we can’t control access or impacts from the property owner.

March 2021 57 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise)

2018 n/a n/a 30,000

2019 n/a n/a 30,000

2020 N/A N/A 30,000

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

The section of this report is not applicable.

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

March 2021 58 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY

a) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise)

2018 n/a n/a Approximately 4,200

2019 n/a n/a Approximately 4,200

2020 n/a n/a Approximately 4,200

b) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

Management activities that enhanced gopher tortoise habitat included prescribed burning, timber harvest, longleaf pine planting, and wiregrass planting within suitable habitat.

i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

March 2021 59 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

*The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the preceding 4 columns. **Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement.

LAND CONSERVATION

ARMY

A compiled report of all installations was not received but Ft. Rucker in Enterprise, AL reported no (0) new acres of gopher tortoise habitat was protected or lost during FY 2020.

UNITED STATES NAVY

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

March 2021 60 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

Private lands under Other lands Report Public conservation permanent Military installation protected by short- year lands conservation lands (buffer areas) term easement, easement MOU, or similar

2009 N/A

2010 N/A

2011 N/A

2012 N/A

2013 N/A

2014 N/A

2015 N/A

2016 N/A

2017 N/A

2018 N/A

2019 N/A

2020 4,419 100

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

March 2021 61 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2009 N/A N/A N/A

2010 N/A N/A N/A

2011 N/A N/A N/A

2012 N/A N/A N/A

2013 N/A N/A N/A

2014 N/A N/A N/A

2015 435 Solar panel projects at NSB King’s Bay Permanent

Solar panel project at NAS Pensacola and 2016 300 NAS Whitling Field (Saufley Field and NOLF Permanent Holley)

Unknown Acres 2017 (NAS Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma Temporary Jacksonville and NS Mayport) Unknown acres Hurricane Michael and Dorian damage of 2018 Temporary at Panhandle forest resources and longleaf understory and NAS JAX

2019 450 Solar Panel project at NAS Pensacola Permanent

Development, Parking Lot and Office 2020 Temporary 1 Space

March 2021 62 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

AIR FORCE

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.\

Avon Park AFR: In FY20, DoD at APAFR entered into a Phase I easement on the 668 ac Micco Bluff property, 500 ac of which have soils characteristic of gopher tortoise habitat. In addition, DoD at APAFR entered into a Phase I easement on the 746 ac SY Hartt #5 property, 387 ac of which have soils characteristic of gopher tortoise habitat.

March 2021 63 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

Private lands under Other lands Report Public conservation permanent Military installation protected by short- year lands conservation lands (buffer areas) term easement, easement MOU, or similar

2009 101 0 0 0

2010 0 0 0 0

2011 50 0 0 0

2012 39 0 0 0

2013 0 21,000 0 0

2014 0 1,706 0 0

2015 0 0 0 0

2016 0 0 0 0

2017 0 500 0 0

2018 0 0 0 0

2019 0 5,580 Avon Park AFR 0

887 2020 0 (Avon Park)

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

March 2021 64 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2009 610 Construction Permanent

334 Permanent, 114 2010 448 Construction Temporary

2011 673 Construction Permanent

559 Permanent, 75 2012 634 Construction Temporary

59 Permanent, 51 2013 110 Construction Temporary

54 Permanent, 5 2014 59 Construction, Mowing Temporary

22 Permanent, 15 2015 37 Construction Temporary

2016 336 Construction, Site Restoration Temporary

2017 90 Construction Permanent

2018 74 Construction Permanent

Moody AFB – Conversion for a military field 2019 8 Permanent training/exercise area Relativity Construction at Space Launch 2020 5 Permanent Complex 16 (45th Space Wing)

March 2021 65 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

MARINES i. Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

MCLB Albany: No changes.

MCSF-BI: No changes have been recommended to the current management approach, which is to continue to monitor the presence of gopher tortoises at MCSF-BI. The two active burrows are set back from the mowed field at the edge of forested area along the facility’s north shoreline. None of the burrows appear to be a hindrance to current USMC use of the specific area where the burrows are located.

MCAS Beaufort: The INRMP includes discussion of the GT. Further surveys with a considerable amount of field verification are planned for future years. Local government staff has responsibility for keeping personnel and contractors from harming or “taking” any of the species.

MCAS Townsend Bombing Range:

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

Private lands under Other lands Report Public conservation permanent Military installation protected by short- year lands conservation lands (buffer areas) term easement, easement MOU, or similar

2016 NA NA NA NA

2017 NA NA NA NA

2018

2019 0 0 0 0

2020 0 0 0 0

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

March 2021 66 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2016 NA NA NA

2017 NA NA NA

2018

2019 0 0 0

2020 0 0 0

USFS

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

2014 0 0 0 0

2015 0 0 0 0

2016 83* 0 0 0

2017 94* 0 0 0

March 2021 67 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2018 83* 0 0 0

2019 0 0 0 0

2020 0 0 0 0

*Conecuh National Forest purchased 2 tracts in FY16 totaling 83 acres, 2 tracts in FY17 totaling 94 acres, and 2 tracts in FY18 totaling 83 acres.

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2016 0

2017 0 N/A N/A

2018 0 N/A N/A

2019 0 N/A N/A

2020 0 N/A N/A

USFWS

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

EH - In 2019, approximately 2,000 acres were acquired in fee simple.

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

Private lands under Other lands Report Public conservation permanent Military installation protected by short- year lands conservation lands (buffer areas) term easement, easement MOU, or similar

March 2021 68 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2016 HS – 40 ac

2017 EH – 351 EH – 223

2018 EH - 712

2019 EH – 2,000

2020

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

Egmont Key suffered severe erosion along the north, west, and southwest beaches due to hurricanes, high winds, shipping traffic, and sea level rise in 2020. Approximately 350,000 cubic yards of sand was deposited during the summer of 2019 on Egmont Key during a beach renourishment project. Much of this sand has now eroded due to storms. The island was 328 acres (fee title) in 1974, but now is approximately 240 acres. Six tropical systems impacted Egmont Key in 2020: TS Cristobal on 6/6-8, TS Hanna (was a Cat. 1 hurricane at one point) on 7/22-23, Hurricane Marco (was a Cat. 1 hurricane at one point) on 8/23-24, Hurricane Laura (was a Cat. 4 hurricane at one point) on 8/26-27, Hurricane Sally (was a Cat. 2 hurricane at one point) on 9/13-17, and TS Eta (was a Cat. 4 hurricane at one point) on 11/12. While the other storms caused a lot of beach erosion and loss of sea turtles nests, TS Eta overwashed three quarters of Egmont Key with flooding that lasted several days. Eight gopher tortoises were found dead. Six adults and two hatchlings were relocated to higher ground. At least 10 acres of beach were lost to these storms.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

EK – Dozens; EK – Erosion due to storm tides and sea 2016 Unknown actual unknown level rise EK: Dozens; EK: erosion due to storm tides, high waves EK: Hopefully temporary, actual unknown from wind, and sea level rise. but historic loss permanent. Hurricane 2017 PI: Acres not “lost”; habitat was re-assessed Irma hit the west coast of PI: 113 and fewer acres determined to be suitable Florida September 11, 2017.

March 2021 69 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

PI: Permanent

EK – Dozens EK – erosion due to storm tides, high waves 2018 (actual from wind, and sea level rise unknown) Dozens on Erosion due to storm tides, high waves from Unknown 2019 Egmont Key wind, and sea level rise. NWR Dozens on Erosion due to storm tides, high waves from Unknown 2020 Egmont Key wind, and sea level rise. NWR

ALABAMA DCNR

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

2010 852

2011 382

2012 1001

2013 1746

2014 3629* 1818

2015 5725* 653

2016 2893

March 2021 70 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2017

2018 23**

2019 1341***

2020 0 0 0 0

* Acres were added to Geneva SF WMA, ** Acres added to Perdido WMA, *** Acres added to Barbour WMA

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

Unknown.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2014 No acres lost this FY

2015 No acres lost this FY

2016 No acres lost this FY

2017 No acres lost this FY

2018 No acres lost this FY

2019 No acres lost this FY

2020 Unknown

March 2021 71 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

FLORIDA FWCC

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

Of public conservation lands newly protected in FY20, 6,910 acres comprise potentially suitable gopher tortoise habitat; these lands were primarily acquired via Florida Forever. Two newly permitted privately-owned recipient sites were placed under perpetual conservation easement and comprise 3,343 acres of gopher tortoise habitat. One previously permitted and protected privately- owned recipient site added an additional 97 acres of gopher tortoise habitat during FY20. One newly permitted public conservation land recipient site was established under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Eglin Air Force Base and comprises 849 acres of gopher tortoise habitat. Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected Private lands under Military Other lands protected by Report Public permanent conservation installation lands short-term easement, year conservation lands easement (buffer areas) MOU, or similar

2009 n/a 719 n/a n/a

2010 n/a 1,214 n/a n/a

2011 n/a 1,115 n/a n/a

2012 n/a 1,789 n/a n/a

2013 n/a 5,595 20,800 1,631

2014 n/a 3,370 n/a n/a

2015 52 2,745 n/a n/a

2016 n/a 417.43 n/a 2,443

2017 2,619 2,237 n/a 59

2018 906 1,709 n/a 404

2019 2,066 1,880 n/a 965

March 2021 72 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2020 6,910 3,440 n/a 849

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Permanent or Acres lost Cause year Temporary

2009 Unknown n/a n/a

2010 Unknown n/a n/a

2011 Unknown n/a n/a

2012 Unknown n/a n/a

2013 Unknown n/a n/a

2014 Unknown n/a n/a

FWC is developing a public shooting park and hunter education center at Triple N 2015 82.7 Permanent Ranch Wildlife Management Area, resulting in a loss of gopher tortoise habitat

2016 n/a n/a n/a

Tenoroc Wildlife Management Area 2017 11.53 Permanent Shooting Range Clubhouse facilities

2018 n/a n/a n/a

2019 n/a n/a n/a

2020 n/a n/a n/a

March 2021 73 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

GEORGIA DNR

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

Private lands under Other lands Report Public conservation permanent Military installation protected by short- year lands conservation lands (buffer areas) term easement, easement MOU, or similar

2009 600 3,172 n/a 0

2010 803 4,756 n/a 0

2011 24 1,662 n/a 0

2012 0 2,507 n/a 0

2013 865 5,944 n/a 0

2014 4,152 1,480 n/a 0

2015 884 841 n/a 0

2016 5,563 0 n/a 0

2017 5,931 0 0 0

2018 8,653 2,170 n/a 0

2019

2020 2,366.69 10,243.19 N/A N/A

March 2021 74 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Permanent or Acres lost Cause year Temporary

2009 None

2010 None

2011 None

2012 None

2013 None

2014 None

2015 None

2016 None

2017 None

2018 None

2019

2020 None

March 2021 75 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

SOUTH CAROLINA DNR

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

Private lands under Other lands Report Public conservation permanent Military installation protected by short- year lands conservation lands (buffer areas) term easement, easement MOU, or similar Unknown – one easement on old MWV property 2016 450 acres – “Slater” “Whitener Tract” 140 acres may still be under easement

2017 0 0 0 Unknown

2018 0 0 0 Unknown

2019 0 0 0

2020 0 0 0

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2016 None None None

2017 None None None

2018 None None None

March 2021 76 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2019 None None None

2020 None None None

GA DOT

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

Private lands under Other lands Report Public conservation permanent Military installation protected by short- year lands conservation lands (buffer areas) term easement, easement MOU, or similar

2013 None None None None

2014 None None None None

2015 None None None None

2016 None None None None

2017 None None None None

2018 None None None None

2019 None None None None

2020 None None None None

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

March 2021 77 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2013 None None None

2014 None None None

2015 None None None

2016 None None None

2017 None None None

2018 None None None

2019 None None None

2020 None None None

POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

Private lands under Other lands Report Public conservation permanent Military installation protected by short- year lands conservation lands (buffer areas) term easement, easement MOU, or similar

2016 None None None None

2017 None None None None

2018 None None None None

March 2021 78 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2019 None None None None

2020 None None None None

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2016 None None None

2017 None None None

2018 None None None

2019 290 Converted to other use Permanent

2020 None None None

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION

None reported.

LONGLEAF ALLIANCE

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

None reported.

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

None reported.

March 2021 79 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

JONES CENTER

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat. N/A

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

2010 None None None None

2011 None None None None

2012 None None None None

2013 None None None None

2014 None None None None

2015 None None None None

2016 None None None None

2017 None None None None

2018 None None None None

2019 None None None None

2020 None None None None

March 2021 80 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

N/A

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2009 0 N/A N/A

2010 0 N/A N/A

2011 0 N/A N/A

2012 0 N/A N/A

2013 0 N/A N/A

2014 0 N/A N/A

2015 0 N/A N/A

2016 0 N/A N/A

2017 0 N/A N/A

2018 0 N/A N/A

2019 0 N/A N/A

2020 0 N/A N/A

March 2021 81 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

Private lands under Other lands Report Public conservation permanent Military installation protected by short- year lands conservation lands (buffer areas) term easement, easement MOU, or similar

2014 None None None None

2015 None None None None

2016 None None None None

2017 None None None None

2018 None None None None

2019 None None None None

2020 None None None None

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2014 None None None

2015 None None None

March 2021 82 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2016 None None None

2017 None None None

2018 None None None

2019 None None None

2020 None None None

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

Private lands under Other lands Report Public conservation permanent Military installation protected by short- year lands conservation lands (buffer areas) term easement, easement MOU, or similar

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019 None None None None

March 2021 83 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2020 None None None None

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2013 None None None

2014 None None None

2015 None None None

2016 None None None

2017 None None None

2018 None None None

2019 None None None

2020 None None None

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

As stated in the summary, APC performed the following activities: • Survey segments of ROWs prior to construction/maintenance to detect and mark burrows (i.e., sign, cone, flagging, etc.) • Maintain GIS database of gopher tortoise burrow locations

March 2021 84 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

• Implement BMPs specifying buffer zones, matting criteria, etc. to help reduce risk to tortoises and burrows • APC marked nearly 1000 burrows with GT signs this year; each sign is labeled with “Sensitive Area” and “No Equipment or Excavation Within 25 Feet;” the signs also have a contact number to call if someone has questions; the signs are highly visible and can be seen at distances far greater than 25 feet; signs are placed relatively close to the burrow near the apron but APC avoids sign placement on GT trails.

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

2019

2020

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

The section of this report is not applicable.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2018 Unknown

2019 Unknown

2020

March 2021 85 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

Private lands under Other lands Report Public conservation permanent Military installation protected by short- year lands conservation lands (buffer areas) term easement, easement MOU, or similar

2018 0 0 0 0

2019 0 0 0 0

2020 0 0 0 0

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Acres lost Cause Permanent or Temporary year

2018 0

2019 0

2020 0

March 2021 86 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

GOPHER TORTOISE POPULATION MONITORING

ARMY

A compiled report for all installations was not received but Ft. Rucker in Enterprise, AL provided a report. Line Transect Distance Sampling was conducted in September, 2019 at Ft. Rucker and the results identified two subpopulations. Informal observations during FY 2020 indicate the two subpopulations appear to be stable.

NAVY

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

Viable, Trend primary Methodolo Property Populatio (increase, or Report Survey Acres gy surveyed n decrease, secondar year date surveyed (if not (name) estimate juveniles, y support LTDS) etc.) populatio n? All Year All Navy 5500 428 Found 31 100% (ongoing installations (estimate new at any or either in from burrows 2009 all of the whole or subsampl five part e) installaton s) All Year All Navy 8400 512 Found 77 100% (ongoing installations (based on new survey at any or either in survey burrows, method, all of the whole or results) unable to subsampl 2010 five part scope e burrow installaton subadult scoping s) and juvenile burrows All Year All Navy 8400 512 (no Burrow Based on (ongoing installations new info cameras 2010 at any or either in this year) purchase survey 2011 all of the whole or d five part installaton s) All Year All Navy 8400 480 Monitorin 100% 2012 (ongoing installations g and survey at any or either in marking method,

March 2021 87 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

all of the whole or of GT subsampl five part burrows e burrow installaton scoping s) All Year All Navy 17,963 500 Slight 100% (ongoing installations (included (estimate increase, survey of at any or either in non- slight camera all Gt all of the whole or habitat increase scoping is habitats 2013 five part areas; from beginning discovere installaton urban 2012) to d s) areas) validate prior year estimate All Year All Navy 5,532 500 Steady 100% (ongoing installations survey of at any or either in all Gt 2014 all of the whole or habitats five part discovere installaton d s) All Year All Navy 2,398 590 Steady; 100% (ongoing installations Survey at monitorin at any or either in NOLF g of all GT all of the whole or Holley habitats 2015 six part was in discovere installaton preparati d s) on for a solar farm project All Year All Navy 3,500 500 Steady; 100% (ongoing installations slight monitorin at any or either in increase g of all GT all of the whole or at habitats six part Mayport; discovere installaton decrease d, camera 2016 s) at NAS logs. Pensacola likely due to survey intensity reduction in 2016 All Year All Navy 6,654 721 Juvenile 100% (ongoing installations burrows monitorin 2017 at any or either in on the g of all GT all of the whole or increase. habitats six part Increase discovere

March 2021 88 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

installaton of d; 100% s) burrows of at NAS burrows Whiting scoped at Field. NAS Decrease Whiting in adult Field. burrows due to hurricane at NAS Jacksonvil le and NS Mayport. Steady at other sites. All Year All Navy 2,485 750 Active Meanderi (ongoing installations burrows ng at any or either in increased transects, all of the whole or at NAS road six part Jacksonvil survey, installaton le, NAS 100% 2018 s) Mayport, monitorin and NAS g of all GT Whiting habitat Field, discovere steady at d. other sites. All Year All Navy Acreages Complete 2018 100% installations NASP d survey survey monitorin either in (1713) for NASP, complete g of all GT whole or Bronson Saufley, d by UGA habitats part (350) Bronson for NAS discovere Saufley Pensacola d. 2019 (200) ; increase Total in (2,263) juvenile burrows from 2016 survey. All Year All Navy Acreages UNK Transect Secondar installations Kings Bay Burrow y 2020 either in (489) Survey whole or Mayport part (127)

March 2021 89 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

AIRFORCE

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used) Viable, primary or Trend (increase, Report Property Acres Population Methodology secondary Survey date decrease, year surveyed (name) surveyed estimate (if not LTDS) support juveniles, etc.) population ? 2016 Survey APAFR – scrub 6,368 ac 1,525 adult N/A. Monitoring LTDS The conducted habitat tortoises has not been population

2/11/2015 – (CV going on long at APAFR is 5/6/2015. 15.92%); enough to detect likely a Final data 1,847 trends. Juvenile viable analyses subadult tortoises (≤ 14 population, completed and adult cm CL) comprised especially in May tortoises only 2% of when 2016. (CV 13.22%) tortoises found in considering the survey. the large However, this is numbers of likely an tortoises underestimate inhabiting because small adjacent juvenile-sized non-scrub burrows have habitats much lower (e.g., detection flatwoods, probability. plantations ).

Monitoring APAFR – 6 Total 670 Mean of Two of the six Burrow The conducted subpopulations ac (range 0.96 non- sites were surveys population 6/24/2015 – inhabiting a 62-143 ac collapsed surveyed (width, at APAFR is 9/1/2016 representative across burrows per previously in activity likely a mix of scrub, the 6 ac (range 2011. At the status) along viable flatwoods, and sites) 0.67-1.34 Kissimmee 7 5-m-spaced population, sandhill habitats burrows per South scrub site, transects. especially ac); Mean the abundance of Most non- when 2016 proportion non-collapsed collapsed considering of non- burrows did not burrows were the large collapsed change between also scoped, numbers of burrows 2011 and 2015, but in many tortoises that were but there were cases inhabiting juvenile- relatively more occupancy adjacent sized (mean subadult-sized could not be non-scrub 0.08, range and relatively determined habitats 0.01-0.20), fewer juvenile- due to (e.g.,

March 2021 90 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

subadult- sized burrows in flooding (high flatwoods, sized (mean 2015. At the water table). plantations 0.15, range Smith 4 ). 0.06-0.38), flatwoods site, and adult- the density of sized (mean non-collapsed 0.77, range burrows declined 0.48-0.90) by 33% and the burrow size distribution was even more skewed toward adult sizes.

October 2015 Eglin AFB (Duck 41 5.60 Decrease Area- secondary 2016 Pond Lt) constrained Total Transect

October 2015 Eglin AFB (Duck 41 0.00 Decrease Area- secondary 2016 Pond Paired #2) constrained Total Transect

May/June Eglin AFB (Rogue 35 6.72 Decrease Area- secondary 2016 Creek LT) constrained Total Transect

May/June Eglin AFB 15 6.16 Decrease Area- secondary 2016 (McQuage constrained Branch LT) Total Transect

November Eglin AFB (East 26 23.52 n/a Area- secondary 2016 Bay LT) constrained Total Transect

May/June Eglin AFB 12 3.92 n/a Area- secondary 2016 B70C1 – Legacy constrained Study Total Transect

May/June Eglin AFB 12.1 5.60 n/a Area- secondary 2016 B70C2 – Legacy constrained Study Total Transect

May/June Eglin AFB 13.9 8.40 n/a Area- secondary 2016 B70E – Legacy constrained Study Total Transect

May/June Eglin AFB 16.5 3.36 n/a Area- secondary 2016 C64 – Legacy constrained Study Total Transect

March 2021 91 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

May/June Eglin AFB 10.4 25.2 n/a Area- Primary 2016 C61A – Legacy constrained Study Total Transect

May/June Eglin AFB 10.6 8.40 n/a Area- secondary 2016 C72 – Legacy constrained Study Total Transect

May/June Eglin AFB 10.0 5.60 n/a Area- secondary 2016 C62N – Legacy constrained Study Total Transect

May/June Eglin AFB 10.4 9.52 n/a Area- secondary 2016 C62S – Legacy constrained Study Total Transect

May/June Eglin AFB 10.5 7.28 n/a Area- Primary 2016 Pine Log – Legacy constrained Study Total Transect

May/June Eglin AFB 9.9 9.52 n/a Area- Primary 2016 201E – Legacy constrained Study Total Transect

Mar – Oct Moody AFB- 50 30 Stable Pedestrian Primary Main Base survey. No 2016 Gopher Tortoise scoping of Colonies burrows

Summer Tyndall AFB, 530 229 Active Increasing, 100% of 2016 Florida burrows juveniles known 2016 burrows were inspected

Area- Eglin AFB (Duck 2017 October 2016 40.8 5.60 Decrease constrained secondary Pond Lt) Total Transect

Area- secondary Eglin AFB (Duck 2017 October 2016 40.8 0.00 Decrease constrained Pond Paired #2) Total Transect

Eglin AFB (Turtle Area- secondary 2017 September Creek 48.7 8.40 Decrease constrained 2017 Reintroduction Total Transect Site) Eglin AFB (Turtle Area- secondary 2017 September Creek 48.7 0.00 n/a constrained 2017 Reintroduction Total Transect Site Paired #1)

March 2021 92 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Area- secondary 2017 September Eglin AFB B75 – 25.7 12.9 n/a constrained 2017 Legacy Study Total Transect

Eglin AFB Bull Area- secondary September 2017 Creek – Legacy 24.7 12.9 n/a constrained 2017 Study Total Transect

Eglin AFB Middle Area- secondary September 2017 Creek – Legacy 34.6 5.6 n/a constrained 2017 Study Total Transect Pedestrian Moody AFB Main Mar – Sep Stable to slight Survey. No 2017 Base Gopher 50 30 tortoises Primary 2017 decrease scoping of Tortoise Colonies burrows.

Slightly Total Count 2017 3,648 202 Increasing, Spring 2017 Tyndall AFB and LTDS juveniles

Area- 2018 October 2017 Eglin C-74 25 20 decrease constrained Secondary Total Transect

Area- 2018 October 2017 Eglin C-52N 28 4 decrease constrained Secondary Total Transect

Area- 2018 October 2017 Eglin B-71C 26 30 decrease constrained Secondary Total Transect

Area- Eglin Garnier 2018 March 2018 25 1 decrease constrained Secondary Creek Total Transect

Area- September 2018 Eglin C-61A 153 88 increase constrained Secondary 2018 Total Transect

11 tortoise; Incidental; 2018 157 N/A N/A Year-round MacDill AFB 40 burrows Grid

100% 2018 Spring Moody AFB 946 220 Stable Pedestrian Primary Survey

March 2021 93 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Slight increase, 2018 Year-round Tyndall AFB 3,750 214 juveniles in Total Count N/A multiple areas

Cape Canaveral Unknown (first Viable/Pri 2019 July 4,458 2,017* AFS survey) mary Area- Eglin AFB 2019 March 107 250 Initial Survey constrained Primary H26 Pen Total Transect

Area- Eglin AFB East 2019 September 25.9 50 Increase constrained Primary Bay Total Transect

Stable LTDS: 2019 1783 149 w/juveniles Primary March MacDill AFB Incidental observed

100% Winter 2019 Moody AFB 946 228 Stable Pedestrian Survey

Stable-slight 100% Survey 2019 3,771 60 Primary Year-Round Tyndall AFB increase Total Count

Stable, some 2020 4,021 70-80 Total Count Primary Spring/Fall Tyndall AFB juveniles

100% Stable/slight 2020 946 184 pedestrian Primary Winter Moody AFB decrease survey

149

(based on 2020 Year-round MacDill AFB N/A N/A Incidental N/A 2019 survey)

Eglin AFB Area-

2020 August 649 2 Initial Survey constrained Secondary I-26 (Red Empire Total Transect Drop Zone)

2020 N/A 45th Space Wing N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

2020 N/A Avon Park AFR N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

*Cape Canaveral AFS believe this number is underestimated based on capture/recapture data.

March 2021 94 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

MARINES

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used. Viable, Property Trend (increase, primary or Report Survey Acres Population Methodology surveyed decrease, secondary year date surveyed estimate (if not LTDS) (name) juveniles, etc.) support population?

2009 4/2009 MCSF-BI 911 67 Survey

2010 7/2010 MCSF-BI 911 100 Increase Survey

Bucket traps, hand and 911 120 Increase 2011 4/2011 MCSF-BI mechanical excavation

Mechanical 911 49 Decrease 2012 4/2012 MCSF-BI excavation

2013 4/2013 MCSF-BI 911 10 Decrease Survey

Mechanical 911 11 2014 8/2014 MCSF-BI excavation

2015 3/2015 MCSF-BI 911 3 Decrease Survey

2016 4/2016 MCSF-BI 911 1 Decrease Survey

Year- Direct 2016 MCLB Albany 1,200 3 Decrease No round Encounter Direct 2017 Year- MCLB Albany 1,200 1 Decrease No round Encounter

2017 4/2017 MCSF-BI 911 1 No change Survey

2018 10/2018 MCSF-BI 911 2 Increase Survey

March 2021 95 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Personal 2019 2 MCLB Albany Observation

Personal 2020 1 Decrease MCLB Albany Observation

Increase (found a 2020 911 3 Survey 10/2019 MCSF-BI hatchling)

2020 MCAS-TBR 9/2020 100 0 LTDS EOD Area

2021 11/2020 MCSF-BI 911 2

USFS

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

Viable, Property Trend (increase, primary or Report Survey Acres Population Methodology surveyed decrease, secondary year date surveyed estimate (if not LTDS) (name) juveniles, etc.) support population? 1,457ha/ Munson East 1.81 per ha 9/2014 3,600acres or2,638 First Year

2014 6,688ha/ .24 per ha First Year Munson 16,527 9/2014 or1,613 West acres

2015

2016

2017

2018 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

28 Active Baseline data, all Total Area Viable 2019 8/15/2019 Osceola NF 45 acres Burrows ages present Survey Population 01/03/20- 758 active Viable 2020 Osceola NF 549 acres 03/19/20 burrows Population

March 2021 96 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

USFWS

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

Viable, Property Trend (increase, primary or Report Acres Population Methodology Survey date surveyed decrease, secondary year surveyed estimate (if not LTDS) (name) juveniles, etc.) support population?

nd 2016 Several CH 30 ~55 Stable 100% 2 support

nd 2016 Apr-Jun DD 37 38 Increase 100% 2 support

2017 EK – Oct 2016 NWR 80 84 burrows Stable LTDS pilot Support

2018 None

Secondary 37 15 Minor decrease 100% 2019 Fall Ding Darling support

Fall Secondary 2020 Ding Darling 37 17 Minor increase 100% support Active 2020 SUMMER Archie Carr 30 33 Unknown Burrow Viable/primary Count

5,438 summer/winter 448-859 slight decrease LTDS Primary 2020 St. Marks individuals

Burrow Count – 2020 Spring St. Vincent 99 63 burrows known occupied areas

2020 Summer PFW 732 160

SV - In partnership with the U. S. Geological Survey, population monitoring began in March 2020. At that time, pilot surveys were conducted in preparation for a full Line Transect Distance Sampling (LTDS)

March 2021 97 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

survey. Additionally, burrow searches were conducted throughout the year in areas of known tortoise occupancy. Those efforts resulted in detection of 63 tortoise burrows.

SM: According to the gopher tortoise survey handbook Smith et al. (2009), gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) population surveys should take place every 3-5 years to monitor their long-term population trends. The future of St. Marks gopher tortoise population relies on management plans that are drawn from the findings of these surveys. The first gopher tortoise survey at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) using line transect distance sampling (LTDS) techniques adapted from Buckland et al. (2001) was done by Keys and Legleu (2011).

This report contains details of the 2020-2021 LTDS survey, replicated from the 2011 survey, for gopher tortoises at St. Marks NWR. Tortoise density was determined to be 0.206-0.395 tortoises per hectare, and the total tortoise population estimate for the refuge was determined to be 448-859 individuals (95% CI). Population estimate has remained consistent with those of 2011, which found refuge-wide tortoise density to be between 0.22 and 0.39 tortoises per hectare and a tortoise population between 484 and 846 individuals. Tortoise population at St. Marks NWR is widespread and occurs at a density below the 0.4 tortoises per hectare at which tortoise demographics and behavior have been known to be negatively impacted (Guyer et al. 2012). Specifically, gopher tortoises at St. Marks may be negatively impacted by demographic isolation and habitat degradation due to infrequent burning on parts of the refuge. Follow- up is necessary to inform management strategies and ensure the long-term demographic and genetic viability of the of gopher tortoise population at St. Marks NWR.

PFW: Georgia Department of Natural Resources conducted initial surveys on two properties enrolled in AFF-GT Initiative during summer 2020.

Acres surveyed -- 732 Population est. -- 160 Burrows found -- ~350

ALABAMA DCNR

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

Viable, Property Trend (increase, primary or Report Survey Acres Population Methodology surveyed decrease, secondary year date surveyed estimate (if not LTDS) (name) juveniles, etc.) support population? Evidence of Secondary Field 724 .02 Gt/ha juveniles and Support 2012 Aug-Oct Wehle Center Reconnaissance eggs at burrow Popn

Secondary Juvenile Field 724 .02 GT/ha Support 2013 Aug-Oct Wehle Center Confirmed Reconnaissance Popn

March 2021 98 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Secondary Geneva State 2013 10/14 2172.8 589 Initial survey LTDS Support Forest (AFC) Popn

Evidence of Secondary Wehle Center Field 2014 724 20 juveniles and Support Aug-Oct (State Lands Reconnaissance Division) eggs at burrow. popn

Conecuh NF Secondary 2014 7/14 (Snake 985.9 205 Initial survey LTDS Support Release Pens) Popn Pilot Survey 2014 Lakepoint 9/14 74.7 Initial Survey NA State Park Only Solon Dixon Secondary 2014 Forestry 10/14 1479.0 201 Initial survey LTDS Support Education Popn Center (AU) Support 2015 Conecuh NF 4/15 1213.8 163 Initial survey LTDS (Jim’s Site) Popn

2015 Conecuh NF 9/13 826.7 337 Initial survey LTDS MVP (Nellie Pond)

Perdido WMA Secondary 2015 6/15 (Forever Wild 3299.9 434 Initial survey LTDS Support Land Trust) Popn Secondary Pilot Survey 2015 Gulf State 173 <20 Initial survey Support 8/15 Only Park Popn

Secondary Pilot Survey 2016 369 <20 Initial survey Support 3/16 Barbour WMA Only Popn

Secondary 2016 7/16 Geneva WMA 2441.6 140 Initial survey LTDS Support popn

Secondary Pilot Survey 2016 Upper State 268.5 <20 Initial survey Support 11/17 Only SOA Popn

Secondary 2017 Fred T 11/17 1213.8 214 Initial survey LTDS Support Stimpson SOA Popn

March 2021 99 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Secondary July – Juveniles Complete ~700 ac 20 support 2017 October Wehle Tract observed trapping effort 2017 population Juveniles Secondary July – Targeted ~700 ac 20 observed/nest support 2018 October Wehle Tract trapping effort 2018 discovered population Nest with eggs Secondary Targeted 50 23 discovered Support 2019 7/19 Wehle Tract trapping effort during trapping Popn

N=143 Primary July, CNF Work 2019 293.5 ha Initial, Hermann LTDS Support 2019 Station Site .489 GT/ha Population

N=50 Primary July, 2019 CNF Site 4 139.8 ha Initial, Hermann LTDS Support 2019 .356 GT/ha Population

Primary August, CNF Nellie 2019 101 ha N=158 Initial, Hermann LTDS Support 2019 Pond Site Population

Pilot Survey, not enough GT Sept., encounters to 2019 CNF Site 2 413 ha LTDS 2019 continue with survey, Hermann

Private Sept., landowner 5, Pilot Survey 2019 402.6 ha LTDS 2019 Baldwin Only County Private N=117 Primary Sept., landowner 6, 2019 88.87 ha Initial Survey LTDS Support 2019 Houston .86 GT/ha Popn County Private N=34 Secondary Oct., landowner 4, 2020 147.53 Initial LTDS Support 2019 Covington .23 GT/ha Popn County Private Primary Nov., landowner 2, 2020 92.91 ha N=119 Initial LTDS Support 2019 Geneva Popn County

March 2021 100 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Private N=34 Secondary Nov., 2020 landowner 3, 76.66 Initial LTDS Support 2019 .43 GT/ha Coffee County Popn

Private N=26 Secondary Jan., landowner 7, 2020 172.05 Initial LTDS Support 2020 Escambia .15 GT/ha Popn County Private N=27 Secondary Jan., 2020 landowner 8, 117.8 ha Initial LTDS Support 2020 .28 GT/ha Henry County Popn Private Secondary May, landowner 9, 2020 1144.3 ha N= <25 GT Initial LTDS Pilot only support 2018 Conecuh population County Private N=5 Secondary Feb., landowner 12, 2020 7.0 ha Initial 100% support 2019 Geneva .71 GT/ha population County Private N=2 Secondary March, landowner 13, 2020 19.7 ha Initial 100% support 2019 Geneva .10 GT/ha population County Private N=43 Secondary April, 2020 landowner 14, 34.22 ha Initial 100% support 2019 1.25 GT/ha Dale County population

Private N=7 Secondary Dec., landowner 15, 2020 5.54 Initial 100% support 2019 Barbour 1.16GT/ha population County Private N=1 Secondary March, landowner 16, 2020 15.4 Initial 100% support 2019 Houston .06 GT/ha population County Private N=9 Secondary Dec., landowner 17, 2020 39.51 ha Initial 100% support 2019 Russell .22 GT/ha population County Secondary N=27 Pseudocircuit Sept., CNF Prickly 101 ha Initial, Hermann Support 2020 Design 2020 Pear Site 1.09 GT/ha Population

LTDS Pilot Sept., CNF Hogfoot Survey, not 2020 413 ha LTDS 2020 Road Site enough GT encounters to

March 2021 101 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

continue with survey, Hermann

FLORIDA FWC

Beginning in 2014, Florida adopted and has implemented the range-wide population survey protocol as outlined in the GT CCA, Line Transect Distance Sampling (LTDS). Seven gopher tortoise surveys were completed between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020 and included 11,807 acres of suitable gopher tortoise habitat. All of the surveys were conducted by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory. Of the seven sites surveyed this FY, six were considered viable and one was considered a primary support population. Of the two sites where LTDS surveys have been repeated, one site’s population (Watermelon Pond WEA) increased from a primary support population to a viable population; the population survey for Moody Branch WEA indicated a population decline and lost its status as a viable population. The cause of this apparent decline is currently unknown. Density estimates are provided for sites surveyed prior to LTDS implementation in 2014.

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used). Viable, Property Trend (increase, primary or Report Survey Acres Population surveyed decrease, Methodology secondary year date surveyed estimate (name) juveniles, etc.) support population?

2009 n/a n/a n/a n/a

Apalachee Belt transect FY 2009 - Wildlife 400 1.16 n/a (burrow 2010 Management survey) Area Big Bend WMA Belt transect FY 2009 - (Spring Creek 350 0.31 n/a (burrow 2010 Unit) survey) Belt transect FY 2009 - Jennings State Increase from 400 (Total) (burrow 2010 Forest WMA 2005 2010 survey) Belt transect Northwest January-10 150 0.07 n/a (burrow Hackletrap (RS) survey) Belt transect January-10 The Woods (RS) 75.25 0.03 n/a (burrow survey) Belt transect Lake Louisa June-10 6.4 0.54 n/a (burrow State Park (RS) survey)

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Allen Brossard Belt transect August-10 Conservancy 40 0.2 n/a (burrow (RS) survey) Withlacoochee Belt transect Bay Trail July-10 53 0.2 n/a (burrow (Felburn survey) Trailhead) PSC Gopher Belt transect December- Ranch Eight 55.7 0.2 n/a (burrow 09 Mile Still Road survey) (RS) Belt transect Chinquapin January-10 31.9 1.88 n/a (burrow Farm (RS) survey) Hatchineha Belt transect February- Ranch Cons 17.6 0.9 n/a (burrow 10 Bank (RS) survey) Belt transect Chassahowitzka May-11 1,636 0.24 n/a (burrow WMA survey) Belt transect Guana River April-11 402 0.18 n/a (burrow WMA survey) Belt transect Caravelle Ranch July-11 47 0.88 n/a (burrow WMA survey) Belt transect June-11 Aucilla WMA 280 0.023 n/a (burrow survey) 2011 Belt transect December- Hickey Creek 80 1 n/a (burrow 10 survey) Belt transect North Buck June-11 49.06 1.72 n/a (burrow Lake Sanctuary survey) Allen Broussard Belt transect January-11 Conservancy 316.4 0.22 n/a (burrow (RS) survey) Nokuse Belt transect February- Plantation 494 0.12 n/a (burrow 11 (Black Creek survey) Unit) (RS) Belt transect February- Heritage Ranch 8.95 1.34 n/a (burrow 11 (Unit 1) (RS) survey)

March 2021 103 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Belt transect February- Heritage Ranch 42.28 0.85 n/a (burrow 11 (Unit 2) (RS) survey) Belt transect February- Heritage Ranch 29.26 0.34 n/a (burrow 11 (Unit 3) (RS) survey) Charlotte Belt transect County May-11 28.4 1.28 n/a (burrow (Tippecanoe survey) Unit 4) (RS) Belt transect September- Adams Ranch 273.1 0.57 n/a (burrow 11 (RS) survey) Belt transect Russakis Ranch May-11 221.56 0.15 n/a (burrow (Phase 1) (RS) survey) Tiger Lake Belt transect June-11 Wildlife Ranch 270.1 0.16 n/a (burrow (RS) survey) Nokuse Plantation Belt transect August-11 (Magnolia 250 0 n/a (burrow Creek Sandhill) survey) (RS) Allapattah Flats Belt transect Wildlife October-10 16.36 0.24 n/a (burrow Management survey) Area (RS) Belt transect June-12 Aucilla WMA 346.56 0.01 n/a (burrow survey) Belt transect Blackwater May-12 3,000 0.04 n/a (burrow WMA survey) Belt transect 2012 Econfina Creek May-12 203 0.08 n/a (burrow WMA survey) Belt transect Jennings Stat April-12 5,820.3 0.36 n/a (burrow Forest survey) Point Belt transect July-12 Washington 387.9 0.01 n/a (burrow WMA survey) Belt transect June-12 Pine Log WMA 410.97 0.03 n/a (burrow survey)

March 2021 104 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Belt transect Beville Ranch August-12 125.3 0.18 n/a (burrow Phase 2 (RS) survey) Belt transect Gator Hole January-12 20.85 0 n/a (burrow preserve (RS) survey) Belt transect November- Isle of Pine 7.05 1.49 n/a (burrow 11 Preserve (RS) survey) Viera Belt transect April-12 Wilderness Park 41.18 0.08 n/a (burrow Stage 1 (RS) survey) Camp La-No- Belt transect June-12 Che Wildlife 92 0.01 n/a (burrow Cons Area (RS) survey) Belt transect November- Bowman's 62.89 0.52 n/a (burrow 11 Beach (RS) survey) Belt transect Venus Ranch January-12 200 0.08 n/a (burrow (RS) survey) Ongoing Blackwater, Belt transect FY 2012 - Econfina, Pine (burrow 2013 Log and Point survey) Washington WMAs Allen Broussard Belt transect November- Conservancy 294.83 0.083 n/a (burrow 12 Long-Term survey) Protected Site Allen Broussard Belt transect November- Conservancy 344.28 0.101 n/a (burrow 12 2013 Phase II survey) Belt transect November- Russakis Ranch 221.33 0.164 n/a (burrow 12 Phase II survey) West Belt transect November- Grasshopper 212.9 0.436 n/a (burrow 12 Tract Unit 1 survey) Russakis Belt transect January-13 Investments 181.64 0.102 n/a (burrow Phase I survey) Dunns Creek Belt transect September- State Park 52 0.545 n/a (burrow 13 Recipient Site survey)

March 2021 105 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Triple S Land Belt transect September- Company Phase 135.6 0.876 n/a (burrow 13 I survey) Triple S Land Belt transect September- Company Phase 413.15 0.066 n/a (burrow 13 II survey) August – October Bell Ridge WEA 721.94 1,197 Baseline LTDS Viable 2014 August – October Ft. White WEA 808.04 974 Baseline LTDS Viable 2014 2014 August – Goldhead October 1,880.96 843 Baseline LTDS Viable Branch SP 2014 August – Ichetucknee October 790.18 1,269 Baseline LTDS Viable Springs SP 2014 Cayo Costa April-15 404.02 343 Baseline LTDS Viable State Park Edward Ball Primary January-15 Wakulla Springs 1,111.73 73 Baseline LTDS Support State Park Goethe SF Levy December- County- Main 4,724.65 2,039 Baseline LTDS Viable 14 tract Guana River Primary March-15 941.96 219 Baseline LTDS WMA Support Hilochee WMA February- Primary (non-Osprey 1,291.12 176 Baseline LTDS 15 Support 2015 unit) Primary October-14 Joe Budd WMA 638.03 66 Baseline LTDS Support Jonathan March-15 Dickinson State 2,794.02 870 Baseline LTDS Viable Park Lake Louisa August-15 1,853.53 1,626 Baseline LTDS Viable State Park Lake Wales Primary May-15 Ridge WEA 1766.80 243 Baseline LTDS Support Carter Creek Lake Wales March-15 Ridge WEA 454.67 296 Baseline LTDS Viable Silver Lake

March 2021 106 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Little Talbot October-14 Island State 402.29 754 Baseline LTDS Viable Park Moody Branch March-15 448.50 478 Baseline LTDS Viable WEA

November- O'Leno/River 1,147.06 1,011 Baseline LTDS Viable 14 Rise State Park

February- Perry Primary 333.10 213 Baseline LTDS 15 Oldenburg WEA Support

St. Sebastian June-15 2,817.00 977 Baseline LTDS Viable River SP NE

Watermelon Primary October-14 329.64 184 Baseline LTDS Pond WEA Support

Wingate Creek July-15 376.09 303 Baseline LTDS Viable State Park

February- Withlacoochee 44,229.32 7,179 Baseline LTDS Viable 15 SF Citrus Apalachicola Sept 2014- NF-Munson 3,600.32 2,638 Baseline LTDS Viable Feb 2015 East Apalachicola Sept 2014- Primary NF-Munson 14,030.62 1,207 Baseline LTDS Feb 2015 Support West Ocala NF- Primary April-15 8,974.85 1,126 Baseline LTDS Riverside Island Support Tall Timbers Secondary April Research 558.46 42 Baseline LTDS Support Station Woodfield Primary April Springs 2,132.52 231 Baseline LTDS Support Plantation Primary May Dixie Plantation 1,989.2 166 Baseline LTDS Support Merrily Plantation Secondary June 574.00 34 Baseline LTDS Conservation Support Easement Cherokee Secondary July 647.00 19 Baseline LTDS Plantation Support

March 2021 107 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

El Destino Primary July 1,524.64 373 Baseline LTDS Plantation Support Foshalee Plantation Secondary August 1,907.65 45 Baseline LTDS Conservation Support Easement Horseshoe Primary October 3,422.41 469 Baseline LTDS Plantation Support

January- Bullfrog Creek 457.49 378 Baseline LTDS Viable 12 WEA Blackwater February- Primary River SF West 6,989.91 284 Baseline LTDS 12 Support Boundary Unit Withlacoochee April-7 12,761.51 8,221 Baseline LTDS Viable SF Croom

Half Moon May 2,396.60 820 Baseline LTDS Viable WMA

Big Bend WMA Primary 2016 May 721.55 208 Baseline LTDS Spring Creek Support

Big Bend WMA Primary May 341.50 238 Baseline LTDS Tide Swamp Support

Secondary June Eglin AFB 6,543.00 36 Baseline LTDS Support

Lafayette Forest September 760.59 388 Baseline LTDS Viable WEA

Suwannee September 1,135.94 831 Baseline LTDS Viable Ridge WEA

Platt Branch March- 14 762 967 Baseline LTDS Viable WEA

Julington- March-20 542 273 Baseline LTDS Viable Durbin Preserve 2017 Twin Rivers SF- April 2,570 1189 Baseline LTDS Viable Ellaville Tract

Branan Field Secondary April 92 132 Baseline LTDS WEA Support

March 2021 108 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Honeymoon Secondary April 154 217 Baseline LTDS Island SP Support Kissimmee April Prairie Preserve 18,506 4778 Baseline LTDS Viable SP Highlands April 2,988 1,658 Baseline LTDS Viable Hammock SP

Unable to Secondary May Tate’s Hell SF 223 Baseline LTDS determine Support Econfina Creek Primary May WMA- Carter 948 96 Baseline LTDS Support Tract

May Jennings SF 7,075 3,828 Baseline LTDS Viable

Apalachee September 2,147 434 Baseline LTDS Viable WMA

Ralph E. October 939 1,408 Baseline LTDS Viable Simmons SF

Primary October Torreya SP 2,032 216 Baseline LTDS Support

Twin Rivers SF- November 2,036 2,498 Baseline LTDS Viable Blue Springs

Chassahowitzka November 6,420 1,491 Baseline LTDS Viable WMA 2018 Little Manatee April 1,141 272 Baseline LTDS Viable River SP

Rainbow April 591 479 Baseline LTDS Viable Springs SP Withlacoochee Primary May West CA- Quail 611 154 Baseline LTDS Support Farms Green Swamp May West Unit 8,080 2,204 Baseline LTDS Viable WMA Oscar Scherer March 986 564 Baseline LTDS Viable State Park 2019 Halpata Tastanaki May 4,441 1,966 Baseline LTDS Viable & Cross FL

March 2021 109 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Greenway Pruitt Tract

Seabranch Primary May Preserve State 570 228 Baseline LTDS Support Park Bullfrog Creek September 404 430 Stable LTDS Viable WEA Lake Wales February Ridge State SF 2,403 672 Baseline LTDS Viable Walk in Water

2,698 2020 March Starkey WP 1,156 Baseline LTDS Viable

Wekiwa Springs SP & April 3,249 3,436 Baseline LTDS Viable Rock Springs Run SR

GEORGIA DNR

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

Viable, primary or Property Trend (increase, Report Survey Acres Population Methodology secondary surveyed decrease, year date surveyed estimate (if not LTDS) support name) juveniles, etc.) population? * Various (12 2009 7,925 1,933 n/a 3/7/2 sites)

2010 No surveys

No 2011 completed surveys Various (19 2012 20,930 7,405 n/a 5/13/1 sites)

Various (16 2013 15,424 3,468 n/a 1/14/1 sites)

March 2021 110 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Increase at Various (14 2014 11,335 3,808 FLWSMA; n/a 7/7/0 sites) others

Increase at Various (12 2015 16,157 4,275 Barrington; n/a 7/13/4 sites) others

Lower Satilla 2016 1/2016 692 471 n/a Viable WMA Fort 1/2016- Primary 2016 Perry/Flournoy 2,377 137 n/a 3/2016 support /McLaurin 3/2016- Primary 2016 Altama WMA 764 182 n/a 5/2016 support Primary 2016 5/2016- Altamaha WMA 161 68 n/a 6/2016 (Cox Tract) support

2016 6/2016- Alapaha River 1,068 513 n/a Viable 7/2016 Ranch Primary 2016 7/2016- Flint River 210 63 n/a 8/2016 WMA support Bullard Creek 8/2016- 2016 WMA TCF 692 315 n/a Viable 9/2016 additions Ohoopee Primary 2017 9-10/2016 1,890 195 Increase Dunes support Primary 2017 10- Alligator Creek 2,016 201 n/a 11/2016 WMA support

General Coffee Primary 2017 11/2016 136 97 Increase State Park support

TNC R.G. Primary 2017 12/2016 141 74 Increase Daniels support

George L. Smith Primary 2017 12/2016 509 157 Increase State Park support

Ohoopee Dune 2017 1-2/2017 2209 395 n/a Viable WMA addition

TCF 2017 2-3/2017 736 389 n/a Viable Bulloch/Bryan

March 2021 111 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Southern 2017 3-4/2017 529 320 n/a Viable Power Wayne

Alapaha River 2017 5-7/2017 2946 2385 Increase Viable WMA Primary 2017 1473 183 n/a 7-8/2017 Hilliard Tract support

Sandhills WMA 2017 8-9/2017 1764 270 n/a Viable addition

Moody Forest Primary 2018 10/2017 850 168 Increase WMA support Primary 2018 311 51 n/a 10/2017 Plant Hatch support

Ohoopee 11- Primary 2018 Dunes WMA 618 126 Increase 12/2017 support additions Secondary 2018 12/2017- Georgia Power 353 21 n/a 1/2018 Rouse Tract support Westervelt’s 2018 1-3/2018 Tiger Creek 1882 340 n/a Viable Tract Secondary 2018 301 27 n/a 3-4/2018 Plant Vogtle support

Primary 2018 4297 104 Increase 4-6/2018 Yuchi WMA support

2018 6-8/2018 Doerun WMA 346 258 Increase Viable

2018 8-9/2018 Thomas Farms 1001 257 n/a Viable

2019 10/2019 Flat Tub WMA 1,732 341 Increase Viable

River Creek 2019 10/2019 791 311 N/A Viable WMA

2019 11/2019- Seminole State 405 247 N/A Viable 12/2019 Park

12/2019- 2019/ Ceylon WMA 3,136 2,990 N/A Viable 9/2020

March 2021 112 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2020

Dykes Emanuel 2020 9/2020 133 94 N/A Primary Co.

2020 7/2020- Greenwood 791 217 N/A Primary 9/2020 Plantation

SOUTH CAROLINA DNR

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

Trend Viable, primary Property Report Survey Acres Population (increase, Methodology or secondary surveyed year date surveyed estimate decrease, (if not LTDS) support (name) juveniles, etc.) population? Baseline survey 232 (169- 2015 ~400 all age classes LTDS Viable 11/2015 TSRHP 320) present

381 (263- Buckfield ~1700 553 Baseline LTDS Viable Winter/sp 2016 surveys all age ring ~474 141 (92- LTDS PSP Slater classes present 218)

Baseline – all 104 (79- Green Swamp ~470 sizes present LTDS PSP Winter/sp 138) 2017 ring 2017 ~739 Baseline – only LTDS PSP SCPSA 88(64-120) adults

Summer All sizes 2018 Aiken GTHP ∼1600 107 Live Trapping PSP 2018 present

2019

2020

March 2021 113 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

GA DOT

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

Property Trend (increase, Report Survey Acres Population Methodology surveyed decrease, year date surveyed estimate (if not LTDS) (name) juveniles, etc.) GDOT 2013 * Proposed * * * Presence/Absence Rights-of-Way GDOT 2014 * Proposed * * * Presence/Absence Rights-of-Way GDOT 2015 * Proposed * * * Presence/Absence Rights-of-Way GDOT 2016 * Proposed * * * Presence/Absence Rights-of-Way GDOT 2017 * Proposed * * * Presence/Absence Rights-of-Way GDOT 2018 * Proposed * * * Presence/Absence Rights-of-Way GDOT 2019 * Proposed * * * Presence/Absence Rights-of-Way GDOT 2020 * Proposed * * * Presence/Absence Rights-of-Way * GDOT conducts numerous habitat and presence/absence surveys for gopher tortoise within proposed transportation project rights-of-way annually.

POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

Viable, primary Property Trend (increase, Report Survey Acres Population Methodology or secondary surveyed decrease, year date surveyed estimate (if not LTDS) support (name) juveniles, etc.) population?

March 2021 114 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2016

2017

2018

106 August PBCI Area 1 348.5 ha Initial Survey LTDS SSP 2019 .30 GT/ha 2019 336 August PBCI Area 2 613.3 ha Initial Survey LTDS MVP 2019 .55 GT/ha

2020

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION (AFF)

None reported.

LONGLEAF ALLIANCE

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

2018 Fall Conecuh NF 600+ 63 100% cruise

2019

2020

March 2021 115 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

JONES CENTER

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

2012 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

2013 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

2014 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

2015 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

2016 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

2015 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

2016 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

16,976 ac 5319±722; Stable or 2017 Fall Ichauway (6870 ha) 13.6% CV increasing LTDS Viable

2018 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

2019 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

2020 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

March 2021 116 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

Viable, Property Trend (increase, primary or Survey Acres Population Methodology Report year surveyed decrease, secondary date surveyed estimate (if not LTDS) (name) juveniles, etc.) support population? April- Geneva State 589 2014 5,430 LTDS October Forest (0.27/ha)

2015 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

2016 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

2017 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

2018 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

2019 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

2020 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

Viable, Property Trend (increase, primary or Survey Acres Population Methodology Report year surveyed decrease, secondary date surveyed estimate (if not LTDS) (name) juveniles, etc.) support population? June, Burrow Count 2014- TRA = 15 2014 TRA & AB & Occupancy Dec., AB = 19 Scope 2014

March 2021 117 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2015

2016

June, TRA TRA=3 TRA=4 2017 - FC FC=3 FC=2 Burrow Count 2017 August, KP KP=7 KP=5 Active/Inactive 2017 AB AB=3 AB=19 TRA = stable FC = increase TRA TRA=10 TRA = 8 June, KP = stable Burrow FC FC = 10 FC = 5 2018- AB = substantial County and 2018 KP KP = 7 KP = 9 August, increase, Occupancy CP CP = 12 CP = 22 2018 especially Scope AB AB = 10 AB = 55 juveniles and subadults

2019 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

2020 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

Viable, Property Trend (increase, primary or Acres Population Methodology Report year Survey date surveyed decrease, secondary surveyed estimate (if not LTDS) (name) juveniles, etc.) support population? 2018 March/April RMS 238 20 NA/first survey

Secondary 2019 March, Farley 580.7 47 Initial Survey Support May, 2019 Nuclear Plant Population

2020

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY

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Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

2019

2020 NA

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES TO LISTING FACTOR B (OVERUTILIZATION FOR COMMERCIAL, RECREATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES)

ARMY

A compiled report of all installations was not received but Ft. Rucker in Enterprise, AL provided an installation report. No activities were conducted related to Listing Factor B.

NAVY a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. i) Publications [signage, brochures]; NAS Jacksonville maintains signs installed near burrows located in the watchable wildlife area with information on the burrows, species status, and protection; signs are large enough that mowers will no longer run over burrow aprons.

ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; NAS Jacksonville Environmental continued monthly INDOC briefings to approximately 75 military personnel stationed at NAS Jacksonville for GT identification vs aquatic turtle and GT burrow identification vs armadillo.

iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; N/A iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]; Short educational video on NAS JAX Facebook page promoting the conservation center and Student Conservation Association Intern.

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AIR FORCE a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. i) Publications [signage, brochures]; (1) Avon Park AFR: The outdoor recreation department provides information on state and federally-listed species occurring at APAFR for recreationist awareness through information kiosks, brochures, and briefings. Tyndall AFB: Gopher tortoise signs are posted on all roadways where burrows are close in proximity. Brochures about gopher tortoises are made available at the Natural Resources Office, Base Checker Tail Welcome events, and various outreach events. ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

MARINES a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. i) Publications [signage, brochures]; ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] MCLB Albany: Education and outreach is through a monthly Welcome Aboard brief given to incoming active duty military members. Rare species are discussed in the brief. MCSF-BI: Annual refresher training is done on Natural Resources for MCSF-BI personnel and their sub-contractors. USFS a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. None reported i) Publications [signage, brochures]; ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] USFWS a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. i) Publications [signage, brochures]; EK: The Tampa Bay tearsheet provides information that gopher tortoises may be found on Egmont Key and are protected. There is a gopher tortoise informational sign at the north end of the island and the Florida Park Service provides a gopher tortoise brochure. CH: The refuge visitor contact station in Crystal River has interpretive material including the USFWS fact sheet on gopher tortoises. PI: displays signs educating the public about gopher tortoises and reminding the public that they do not belong in the water. LS: Outreach efforts on Refuge include kiosks, signage, along with information on Gopher tortoises in the Refuge brochure and on the website. ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer];

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LS: Rx Fire Talk, Feb 2020, Suwannee Community Center, open to Public, Refuge FMO; Habitat Restoration Talk – UF Virtual Field trip, July 2020, Refuge FMO. Opportunities were limited due to COVID. iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

ALABAMA DCNR a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. i) publications [signage, brochures]; NA ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; NA iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or NA iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] NA

FLORIDA FWCC a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. i) Publications [signage, brochures]; Over 10,500 (10,594) outreach materials were distributed during this reporting period. Approximately 2,559 copies of the pamphlet A Guide to Living with Gopher Tortoises were distributed to local governments, schools, nature centers, and Florida residents. The informational poster, Got Gophers, Get Permits! has been distributed 14 times to local governments and citizen stakeholders. The Safe Roads for People and Gopher Tortoises placard was distributed 1,003 times during the reporting period, and is still available at Florida Visitor Centers, and state and local parks. All FWC gopher tortoise publications are available at each of FWC’s Regional Offices or for free download at http://MyFWC.com/GopherTortoise.

ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; Utilizing staff and student interns, the Gopher Tortoise Conservation Program hosted and/or participated in 33 outreach events in FY20, including: 1 local government workshop; 2 public comment webinars; 3 law enforcement training events; 3 FDOT training events; 2 homebuilder workshops, and; 22 other outreach events, including the 22nd annual Red Hills Horse Trials, the Flatwoods Fire and Nature Festival at Tall Timbers Research Station, the Tallahassee Science Festival, the Fire Festival at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, the Taylor County 4-H Ag Day, two elementary school events, and multiple diverse presentations.

Due to COVID-19, many events and workshops were cancelled in 2020, including in-person Gopher Tortoise Day events and resolution adoptions. The FWC eventually was able to continue outreach efforts by moving to a virtual format. FWC gopher tortoise presentations and/or education booths were present at a variety of events, including:

• Presentation at Hundred Acre Hollows • Audubon Gopher Tortoise & Burrowing Owl Presentation • Wallwood Longleaf Challenge • DR Horton Homebuilder Presentation • Tallahassee Science Festival

March 2021 121 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

• FDACS Safety Fair • Reptilepalooza • Waterworks Science Salon • Maronda Homes Presentation • FSU Environmental Service Program Presentation • Project Learning Tree • Earth Day at St. Marks Episcopal School • Gopher Tortoise Council Presentations

iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; N/A iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] The FWC created 14 social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat) posts relating to gopher tortoise conservation, including topics such as: Reporting gopher tortoise sightings using the FWC Gopher Tortoise Sightings webpage, Commission meeting announcements for the Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines Commission item, reporting sightings of Argentine black and white tegus (which eat tortoise eggs), a groundhog day post highlighting Florida’s burrow animals, a private landowner recognition post mentioning gopher tortoise habitat conservation, and a post on the Gopher Tortoise Conservation Internship application period. The FWC published press releases and a weekly agency report to announce a regional workshop for local governments to help conserve gopher tortoises in Florida, Commission approval of the 2020 Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines revision, and to report gopher tortoise sightings using the FWC Gopher Tortoise Sightings webpage. The FWC continues to use the GovDelivery Listserv to send digital communications to subscribers who wish to receive gopher tortoise information relating to local governments, volunteer programs, stakeholders, and news/general information.

GEORGIA DNR a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. GA DNR reports submitted separately at the same time as this document. i) publications [signage, brochures]; (1) New metal signs printed that show a photo of the tortoise and include its protection status and legal protection in the state. ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; (1) Featured gopher tortoise and commensals at DNR-WRD CoastFest booth in Brunswick, GA. Linda May, GADNR on October 5, 2019. (2) Presented “Conserving Georgia’s Wildlife” to biology students at Kennesaw State University. Included the importance of longleaf pine ecosystems and the gopher tortoise as a keystone species. Linda May, GADNR on February 20, 2020. (3) Promoted “Teacher Guide to Georgia Sandhills” at schools visited prior to Claxton Rattlesnake & Wildlife Festival (3 schools visited by 3 different naturalists; presented about longleaf ecosystems). - Collins Elementary (Collins), Nevils Elementary (Statesboro) & Reidsville Elementary (Reidsville). Linda May, March 13, 2020

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(4) Featured gopher tortoise and commensals at Claxton Rattlesnake & Wildlife Festival in GA DNR booth. Linda May, March 14-15, 2020. (5) Responded to USFS request for Rx Fire lessons by sharing “Teacher Guide to Georgia Sandhills” with Steven Bekkerus. Linda May, GA DNR, March, 26, 2020. iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or (1) Released DNR press release announcing the “Teacher Guide to Georgia Sandhills.” https://georgiawildlife.com/new-teacher-guide-highlights-key-georgia-habitat- sandhills. The article was picked up by various media across the state. - Ie. Rockdale/Newton Citizen: https://www.rockdalenewtoncitizen.com/features/new- teacher-guide-highlights-georgia-sandhill-habitat/article_810b377b-3756-538e-a797- 6fa367848371.html. Linda May, GADNR, May 27, 2020. (2) Gave printed copies of “Teacher Guide to Georgia Sandhills” to Allen Dykes (748 Old McLeod Bridge Road, Adrian, GA 31002), landowner adjacent to Ohoopee Dunes WMA, for use with his homeschooled grandchildren. [email protected]. Linda May, GADNR, July 18, 2020. iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] (1) Added webpage to DNR-WRD website re: “Teacher Guide to Georgia Sandhills.” www.georgiawildlife.com/SandhillsTeacherGuide Also featured on other DNR websites (Parks, LE, etc.) as well as www.EEinGeorgia.org (environmental education resource clearinghouse). Linda May, GADNR, March 9, 2020.

SOUTH CAROLINA DNR a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. i) Publications [signage, brochures]; None to report. ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; Attended and provided update on gopher tortoise related activities in South Carolina at the Gopher Tortoise Council Meeting iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; None to report. iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] Media post for World Turtle Day, highlighting all native turtle species, including the gopher tortoise – May 23, 2020 Gopher Tortoise reestablishment on the Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve highlighted in the, The Warnell Log, a publication from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. Highlights how alumni are working to protect declining species. Featured in article and on front cover entitled, “Heros in a Half Shell” – Jan 2020 Three SCDNR media posts regarding black and white tegu lizards found in SC. Concern for our gopher tortoise populations since they are known egg predators and have been documented eating gopher tortoise eggs/hatchlings in other states. Multiple local and national news outlets for black and white tegu information in South Carolina

GEORGIA DOT a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. i) publications [signage, brochures]; NA

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ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; NA iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or NA iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] NA

POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. i) publications [signage, brochures]; NA ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; NA iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or NA iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] NA

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION

None reported.

LONGLEAF ALLIANCE a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. i) Publications [signage, brochures]; ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; Flora and Fauna Webinar-July 21, 2020, 118 attendees, The Longleaf Alliance and Clemson Extension AL Tortoise Alliance meeting presentation in Ozark, AL February 20, 2020 – presentation by Ad Platt iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

JONES CENTER a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. N/A i) Publications [signage, brochures]; ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. N/A i) Publications [signage, brochures]; ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

March 2021 124 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. Burrows at TIMU and FOCA in public access areas are flagged. Interpretive signage near selected burrows in public high use areas. Gopher tortoise educational messages are incorporated when appropriate in public interpretive programs and publications.

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY b) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. i) publications [signage, brochures]; APC marked nearly 1000 burrows with GT signs this year; each sign is labeled with “Sensitive Area” and “No Equipment or Excavation Within 25 Feet;” the signs also have a contact number to call if someone has questions; the signs are highly visible and can be seen at distances far greater than 25 feet; signs are placed relatively close to the burrow near the apron but APC avoids sign placement on GT trails. ii) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; None provided during this reporting period. iii) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or None provided during this reporting period. iv) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] None provided during this reporting period.

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY a) Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows. i. Publications [signage, brochures]; ii. Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; iii. Public service broadcasts/announcements; or iv. Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

March 2021 125 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES TO LISTING FACTOR C (DISEASE OR PREDATION)

ARMY

A compiled report of all installations was not received but Ft. Rucker in Enterprise, AL provided an installation report. Predator control programs in place at Ft. Rucker removed 503 feral hogs and 74 coyotes.

NAVY a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths): No mortalities found. b) Disease screening efforts; N/A c) Predator control: Coyote and hog direct lethal control, and other predator removals / relocations continued in GT habitats.

AIR FORCE a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) Tyndall AFB: One death was noted in 2020 from a vehicle strike on Beacon Beach Rd near Base Housing.

Eglin AFB: At the ITP translocation site H-21, evidence of 70 gopher tortoise mortalities (approximately 8.3% of 843 released) was found, totaling 55 adults, 7 subadults, 2 juveniles, and 6 of unknown age. At the ITP translocation site F-26, evidence of 19 gopher tortoise mortalities (approximately 4.9% of 391 released) was found, including 12 adults, 3 subadults, 1 juvenile, and 3 of unknown age. At the internal Eglin relocation site F-35A, evidence of 2 adult gopher tortoises were found (2% of 87 released). These mortalities ranged from full carcasses to pieces of the carapace or plastron. Mortality rate is consistent with other large-scale translocation efforts in the Florida panhandle. Cause of death for these tortoises is mostly unknown, although one tortoise was caught in the winter burn that removed the soft-release pen. That gopher tortoise was taken to a nearby rehabilitation facility but did not recover from the fire damage. No tortoises were observed exhibiting signs of URTD.

b) Disease screening efforts Eglin AFB: All relocated tortoises were given cursory health screening for URTD.

Moody AFB: Continued URTD screening in gopher tortoise colonies in cooperation with Valdosta State University

c) Predator control Tyndall AFB: A full time USDA Trapper is employed at Tyndall for predator control. Totals for FY20 include: 118 raccoon, 8 coyote, 6 gray fox, 42 opossum, and 11 nine banded armadillo.

Eglin AFB: 37 coyotes were removed in areas adjacent to translocation sites. 512 feral hogs were removed across the installation.

45th Space Wing: Removed 109 hogs, 101 raccoons and 9 coyotes.

Avon Park AFR: Removed 330 feral hogs

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MARINES a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) b) Disease screening efforts c) Predator control MCLB Albany: Partnered with USDA Wildlife Services to contract a full time wildlife technician to assist with predator control in addition to habitat management. Position spends approximately 25% of time on nuisance control. USFS a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths): None b) Disease screening efforts: None c) Predator control: None

USFWS a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) b) Disease screening efforts c) Predator Control: SV: Nonnative predator and overabundant mesopredator control was provided by an approved animal control plan and a conservation partnership with USDA Wildlife Services. One armadillo, 81 raccoons, 1 feral hog, and one coyote were removed.

ALABAMA DCNR a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) NA b) Disease screening efforts - None other than visual evaluation of waif tortoises when received and relocated to the Geneva SF enclosure. c) Predator control – • Autauga WMA – Trapped 14 coyotes and 1 raccoon. • Barbour WMA – DWFF staff continued predator removal program removing 80+ feral hogs from this property during the reporting period. • Geneva WMA –51 feral hogs were removed from this property during the reporting period. • Perdido River WMA – Removed 12 coyotes and 6 raccoons. • Fred T. Stimpson Special Opportunity Area – Removed 45 Feral Pigs, 4 Coyotes, 12 Raccoons • Upper State Special Opportunity Area – Removed 200 Feral Pigs, 6 Coyotes, 2 Bobcats • Uchee SOA – No trapping was done this reporting period.

FLORIDA FWCC a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) Since December 2014, the Gopher Tortoise Conservation Program has been collecting gopher tortoise mortality data submitted to the FWC via an online web form (https://public.myfwc.com/HSC/GopherTortoise). From the web form’s inception to the end of the reporting period (September 30, 2020), 817 gopher tortoises were reported as sick, injured, or dead. Vehicles were the most commonly reported cause of injury and/or mortality with 352 tortoises reported hit on roads. For the reporting period of this fiscal year (October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020), 232 gopher tortoises were reported as sick, injured, or dead.

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Vehicles were the most commonly documented cause of injury or mortality with 125 gopher tortoises reported hit on roads.

b) Disease screening efforts c) Predator control

GEORGIA DNR a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) i) 8/4/2020 – 1 Tortoise found dead on road after being hit by vehicle in Jesup, GA ii) A total of five tortoises tested positive for Mycoplasma agassizii. Four of these tortoises were excavated during a road widening project in Toombs, County. The fifth Mycoplasma positive tortoise was a waif that was found outside of the natural range in GA. This individual was spotted crossing a road in Peach County. Its carapace had been painted red and was suspected to be an escaped pet.

b) Disease screening efforts i) Any gopher tortoises being moved to a new area first received a thorough health screening and were tested for Mycoplasma.

c) Predator control i) No predator control specifically for gopher tortoises. However, 1,113 wild hogs were removed from Wildlife Management Areas along the Altamaha River Corridor.

SOUTH CAROLINA DNR a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) We are aware of multiple deaths of hatchling, yearling, and 2 year old tortoises at AGTHP as part of our survivorship study. At least one was due to a domestic dog attack. Others are from unknown causes. b) Disease screening efforts All waif tortoises received for release at AGTHP are given a physical assessment before release. Blood samples are banked. c) Predator control AGTHP continues to experience occasional domestic dog activity including the excavation of some burrows. An effort was made to allow SCDNR law enforcement to enforce the county dogs at large ordinance. New evidence of domestic dog activity at a privately owned gopher tortoise preserve. Dogs were captured on trail cameras and created substantial damage to at least one burrow. Private landowner has discussed with dog owners. Three SCDNR media posts regarding black and white tegu lizards found in SC. There is concern for our gopher tortoise populations since they are known egg predators and have been documented eating gopher tortoise eggs/hatchlings in other states. 70% of tegus found in SC have been removed from the wild at this point.

GEORGIA DOT a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) N/A b) Disease screening efforts N/A c) Predator control NA

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POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) N/A b) Disease screening efforts N/A c) Predator control NA

LONGLEAF ALLIANCE a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) N/A b) Disease screening efforts N/A c) Predator control NA

JONES CENTER a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) - N/A b) Disease screening efforts - N/A c) Predator control: Mesomammalian predators (raccoon, opossum, skunk, fox, bobcat, and coyote) are excluded from 4 large-scale (90 ac) study plots to monitor effects on recruitment of gopher tortoises.

ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) N/A b) Disease screening efforts N/A c) Predator control N/A

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) N/A b) Disease screening efforts N/A c) Predator control USDA Wildlife Services has been contracted to control feral hogs, coyote and raccoon populations at Canaveral National Seashore. Eighty-seven hogs were removed from the park in 2020.

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) N/A b) Disease screening efforts N/A c) Predator control NA

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY a) Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths) N/A b) Disease screening efforts N/A c) Predator control N/A

March 2021 129 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES TO LISTING FACTOR D (INADEQUACY OF EXISTING REGULATORY MECHANISMS)

ARMY A compiled report of all installations was not received but Ft. Rucker in Enterprise, AL provided an installation report. No relevant activities were conducted related to Listing Factor D.

NAVY a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulations ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents: NSB Kings Bay Instruction 11015.2H was updated to include “Special Construction Provisions for Gopher Tortoises.” These provisions will be required for all construction projects on NSB Kings Bay, measures include protective buffers, signage, and construction crew training. iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted)

AIR FORCE a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulations ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents Eglin AFB: Eglin continued partnership with FWC and continued translocation activities for tortoises permitted for take on private lands under the incidental take permit system (ITP). By the end of FY20, 2,101 ITP tortoises have been translocated to Eglin AFB. Per USFWS conference assessment and current INRMP, the FWS has established an installation specific prelisting recovery goal of 18 Minimum Viable Populations of gopher tortoises (around 6,000 adult tortoises), with populations occurring on Eglin owned properties (excluding test areas, airfields, and cantonment areas). Eglin will utilize tortoises from various source populations to meet the recovery goal of 18 MVPs, including FWC ITP tortoises, conservation permit tortoises, and displaced tortoises from mission and construction activity on Eglin AFB and other DoD lands. All MVPs will be located in suitable, fire maintained longleaf pine habitats on Eglin. Relocation enclosures will be sited with guidance from Eglin leadership and co-located within existing endangered species habitat so as to minimize potential for constraints on military missions.

iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted) Avon Park AFR: Range Operations Biological Opinion: Short-term harassment (i.e., loss of feeding, breeding and sheltering opportunities) for 1,379 GTs and 1,109 GT nests each year as a result of prescribed fire and escaped wildfires from mission activities. This likely is an overestimate based on acreages that might be affected.

MARINES a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat). i) State laws, rules and regulations ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents

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iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted)

USFS a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat). None reported i) State laws, rules and regulations ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted)

USFWS a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat). None reported i) State laws, rules and regulations ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted)

ALABAMA DCNR a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulations - None ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents - None iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted) - None

FLORIDA FWCC a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulations Revisions to FWC’s Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines were approved by Commissioners on July 23rd, 2020 and have been incorporated into Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) rules 68A-27.003 and 68A-25.002 by reference. ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents Revisions to the Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines (highlights below) were approved by the commission in July 2020. A complete summary of revisions is included in the approved guidelines that is available online. • Clarified definitions for abandoned burrows, survey methods, registered agent, unimproved pasture, depth to water table, phased relocation and interim after- action reports • Eliminated mitigation requirements for all recipient site permit applications and made the additional per tortoise contribution that is added to the standard mitigation consistent across disturbed site permits • Changed after-action reporting timeframe from 30 days from release to 45 days from date of capture • Clarified that 90-day survey timeframe relates to start of capture activities • Clarified that failure to report tortoise injuries/mortalities meets infraction issuance criteria • Added maximum time of 120 hours for notification of capture activities

March 2021 131 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

• Clarified that cold weather restrictions include day of release • Added criteria for renewing Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent permits and extended duration of Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent permits from 2 years to 4 years • Revised permit application limit for Registered Agents to two permits per 12-month period • Clarified that burrow surveys conducted on donor (development) sites should be pedestrian surveys, but may be ATV surveys if FWC is notified in advance; changed land-use classification and depth to water table data requirements for permit applications • Added ponding frequency to recipient site criteria, eliminated maximum transect length and clarified transect width, clarified stocking density for soft release enclosure pens, clarified that FWC reserves the right to undertake its own investigation into mortalities on recipient sites, revised methods and reporting requirements, including duration, for monitoring recipient sites • Updated guidance when encountering commensals during permitted activities • Revised habitat suitability criteria for relocating gopher tortoises on-site under 10 or Fewer Burrows permits • Added criteria for Scientific Collecting permits for proposed research, waif tortoises and educational activities that involve gopher tortoises • Revised infraction process

iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted) - None

GEORGIA DNR a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulation No changes ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents No changes iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted) (1) 11 GADNR Permitted takes for a total of 360 gopher tortoises throughout the range in Georgia

SOUTH CAROLINA DNR a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulations Listed under SCDNR state endangered list (not new) New Regulations for Reptiles and Amphibians in SC broadly protect all native species in SC. While these new regulations don’t impact gopher tortoises directly, it will protect many commensals living in the long leaf pine ecosystem. Agency policies/directives/compliance documents -SCDNR has taken the position that site development resulting in the destruction of a burrow would constitute a take, and consequently a violation of the states endangered species protection regulation. ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents

March 2021 132 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

SCDNR has taken the position that site development resulting in the destruction of a burrow would constitute a take, and consequently a violation of the states endangered species protection regulation. iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted)

GEORGIA DOT a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulation - NA ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents - NA iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted) - NA

POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulation - NA ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents - NA iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted) - NA

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION

None reported.

LONGLEAF ALLIANCE a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulation ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted)

JONES CENTER a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) N/A i) State laws, rules and regulation ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted)

ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulations NA ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents – Existing Policy – The AFC will take appropriate measures to protect the interest of TES whenever they are known to occur within a project area. AFC personnel will be aware of the TES known to occur within their work unit and will consult the AFC Threatened and Endangered Species Manual regarding the potential effect of cultural treatments on TES.

March 2021 133 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

If a TES is encountered during the course of an AFC activity, personnel should contact their Regional Coordinator and the AFC Forest Health Coordinator for consultation concerning appropriate action. Management recommendations made in areas where TES are known to occur will be made in a manner that provides either benefits or no negative effects on the TES in question. AFC inserts a clause in logging contracts that requires heavy logging equipment to stay at least 15 feet away from all known burrow entrances at Geneva State Forest. We “flag” burrows prior to the onset of any new logging activity so crews would be aware of the known burrows. Burrow locations are marked and entered into a database for future reference. iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted) N/A

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulation All wildlife including gopher tortoises are protected on National Park Service owned lands. ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents None iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted)

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulation ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted)

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY a) Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat) i) State laws, rules and regulation ii) Agency policies/directives/compliance documents iii) Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted)

March 2021 134 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

RELEVANT ACTIVITIES TO LISTING FACTOR E (OTHER NATURAL OR MANMADE FACTORS AFFECTING THE SPECIES CONTINUED EXISTENCE)

ARMY

A compiled report of all installations was not received but Ft. Rucker in Enterprise, AL provided an installation report. No (0) gopher tortoises on Ft. Rucker were translocated to protected lands and released into enclosures and held for at least 6 months.

NAVY

a) Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form).

The NAVSTA Mayport Gopher Tortoise population is located within the duneline adjacent to approximately one mile of beach. Increase in storms and high tides threatens habitat, due to coastal erosion.

Translocation plans were implemented to survey and document gopher tortoise in the primary surface clear zones at the NAS Pensacola airfield. Two tortoises were translocated from an encroachment area on the airfield to the fenced gopher tortoise population area on the installation’s north side.

Table 6. Translocation

Total number of Number of Were GTs released Number of GTs Number of GTs to Report tortoises tortoises into soft enclosures to protected unprotected year permanently temporarily and held for at least 6 lands lands translocated relocated months?

2009 0 0 0 0 0

2010 1 1 0 0 No

2011 3 3 0 0 No

2012 0 0 0 0 0

2013 0 0 0 0 0

2014 2 2 0 0 No

March 2021 135 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Yes (ongoing at NOLF 2015 47 47 0 0 Holley) No, except for NAS 2016 72 72 0 0 Whiting Field (NOLF Holley).

2017 3 3 0 0 No

Yes (Soft Enclosure 2018 1 1 0 0 NASP) Yes, Soft Enclosure 1 (NASP) NASP. GT to rehab 2019 1 (NASP) 0 0 1 (NS Mayport) center for NS Mayport 2020 2 2 0 0 NA

AIR FORCE

a) Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form)

MacDill AFB: The temporarily relocated gopher tortoises were moved from the airfield to outside of the airfield security fencing. These individuals have the ability to cross back under the security fencing in several different locations. The goal is to remove the immediate threat to aircraft and human safety. Individuals are not permanently removed from the airfield or installation.

Eglin AFB: Within Eglin: 2 tortoises were permanently relocated from construction sites. 23 tortoises were permanently relocated from Eglin Main Base. 3 tortoises were permanently relocated from Duke Field. 14 tortoises were permanently relocated from isolated, non-viable populations of less than 250 adults in unmanaged habitat. All tortoises were relocated to sites with enclosures and have been or will be held at least 6 months. One site containing a 12 acre enclosure began receiving tortoises in April 2019 and reached full capacity in March 2020. A second site containing a 15 acre enclosure began receiving tortoises in July 2020 and has not yet reached full capacity.

Off-site relocation to Eglin: 243 Incidental Take Permit (ITP) tortoises were translocated from privately owned properties in Florida to Eglin AFB. All tortoises were relocated to sites with enclosures and have been or will be held at least 6 months. ITP tortoises have been translocated to 2 sites on Eglin. ITP tortoises are permitted for take by FWC under an older permitting system, but still honored by the state. One site containing a 60 acre enclosure began receiving tortoises in June 2019 and reached full occupancy in April 2020. A second 59 acre enclosure began receiving tortoises in June 2020 and has not yet reached full capacity.

March 2021 136 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

45TH Space Wing: 15 tortoises permanently translocated to support installation of an underground gaseous helium line. 71 tortoises permanently translocated to support Relativity construction of new launch complex at Space Launch Complex 16. Only five acres were permanently removed however tortoises were removed from the entire 30 acre site for their safety.

Table 6. Translocation

2011 53 0 53 0 NO

2012 16 0 16 0 NO

2013 97 0 97 0 NO

2014 18 0 18 0 NO

2015 60 0 60 0 24 NO, 36 YES

2016 36 0 105 69 36 YES, 69 NO

2017 666 0 666 0 40 NO, 626 YES

2018 818 0 827 9 17 NO, 810 YES

575 Eglin AFB (471 ITP, 104 0 575 0 Yes 2019 Eglin) 7 Cape Canaveral AFS 0 7 0 No

March 2021 137 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Eglin:285 285 6 NO (243 ITP, 42 Eglin)

2020 0 45th Space Wing 87 87 0 Yes

MARINES

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019 0 0 0 0 NA

2020 0 0 0 0 NA

March 2021 138 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

USFS

a) Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form)

Apalachicola NF - The study mentioned in section VIII below resulted in 191 gopher tortoises being translocated to the Apalachicola National Forest in FY 2020

Table 6. Translocation

Total number of Number of Were GTs released Number of GTs Number of GTs Report tortoises tortoises into soft enclosures to protected to unprotected year permanently temporarily and held for at least lands lands translocated relocated 6 months?

2016 20* 20* Yes

2017 905* 905* Yes

2018 539* 539*

ANF – 0 ANF – Yes 2019 608* 608* 0 Ocala NF _ 19 Ocala NF - No

2020 191* 191* 0 0 Yes

*Apalachicola NF was the recipient site

USFWS

a) Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form)

Table 6. Translocation

March 2021 139 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2018 OK - 2 OK - 2

2019 None

2020 None

ALABAMA DCNR

a) Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form)

There were no targeted relocation efforts from private lands in 2020. To date, five gopher tortoises were placed in a one-acre enclosure established in summer 2020 at Geneva State Forest (AL Forestry Commission owned land). All tortoises were soft released and will remain in the enclosure for 6-12 months after which the enclosure will be removed.

Table 6. Translocation

2006 17 17* 0 0 Yes

2007 3 3* 0 0 Yes

2008 11 11* 0 0 Yes

2009 24 24* 0 0 Yes

2010 0 0 0 0

2011 1 1* 0 0 No

2012

March 2021 140 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

2013

2014 1 1* 0 0 No

2015

2016 7 7** 0 0 Yes

2017 21 21** 0 0 yes

2018 7 7** 0 1 Yes

2019 8 8** 0 0 Yes

2020 4 4 0 0 Yes

*Wehle Nature Center ** Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries

FLORIDA FWCC

a) Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form)

All development projects that will impact gopher tortoises are required to obtain a relocation permit from the FWC and relocate tortoises prior to any land clearing or vegetation disturbance. Tortoises must be moved to a permitted recipient site or relocated on-site if sufficient habitat will remain post-development.

Under the FWC’s gopher tortoise permit system, a total of 10,798 gopher tortoises were relocated from development sites during FY20. This includes adult, sub-adult, juvenile, and hatchling tortoises. All off-site relocation requires tortoises to be released into temporary enclosures for 6-12 months at the recipient site. Of the total number of tortoises relocated, 9,860 were relocated to long or short-term protected recipient sites, 451 were relocated on- site, and 487 were temporarily relocated for utility right-of-way projects. As a result of ongoing efforts by the FWC and its partners to encourage humane relocation of gopher tortoises from sites with previously permitted Incidental Take Permits (ITP), 243 adult, juvenile and hatchling gopher tortoises were relocated to three protected sites in the Florida Panhandle. These three sites are Avalon Plantation in Jefferson County, Nokuse Plantation in Walton County and Eglin Air Force Base in Okaloosa County. Although these ITP recipient sites are not permitted under the current standard, they do follow the current practices and guidelines and are considered protected sites because of a perpetual conservation easement that prevents future

March 2021 141 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

development on Avalon Plantation and Nokuse Plantation and an Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan that Eglin Air Force Base follows.

In addition to the permitted relocations, the FWC has continued efforts to identify solutions for waif tortoises. Waif tortoises are gopher tortoises that have been removed from the wild (either unauthorized or due to injury) and are not associated with a permitted relocation. One solution includes establishing “waif tortoise recipient sites” on lands owned by local governments and conservation organizations. For this reporting period, one publicly managed waif recipient site was established at Lemon Bay Park in Englewood, Sarasota County, FL. Two releasable waif gopher tortoises were transferred to the waif site during the reporting period (1 M, 1 F, 0 U).

Several existing waif recipient sites received gopher tortoises during the reporting period: Circle B Bar Reserve received 17 adult tortoises, 2 sub-adult tortoises, and 3 tortoises of unknown sex (9 M, 8 F, 5 U); Winding Waters Preserve received 8 adult tortoises, 3 sub-adult tortoises, and 5 juvenile tortoises (8 M, 2 F, 6 J/U); Marie Acres received 3 adult tortoises (0 M, 0 F, 3 U), and; the Bay Pines STEM Center received 6 adult tortoises (2 M, 3 F, 1 U). No tortoises were released at the Perico Preserve (at capacity), Nixon Smiley Pinelands Preserve, Bay Pines STEM Center, Kingman Preserve, Panama City Beach, Clewiston, or Holt waif sites.

One non-releasable gopher tortoise was transferred from a wildlife rehabilitator to an FWC- approved educational facility. Gopher tortoises are deemed non-releasable when they have an ailment that otherwise would prevent them from surviving in the wild. The sub-adult tortoise was deemed non-releasable due to significant pyramiding and an abnormally soft carapace for its age/size class. The tortoise was placed as an educational specimen with Sarasota County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources. The tortoise will be reevaluated in the future to determine if it is suitable for release, once appropriate husbandry practices have been instituted and its carapace has had time to harden.

Under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), there is an ongoing effort to restock gopher tortoises on public lands where they are currently depleted in South Carolina through the waif program. During FY20, 21 tortoises (16 adult, 5 sub-adult) were transferred from Florida to SCDNR.

March 2021 142 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 6. Translocation

2009 3,091 199 2,892* 6 Yes

2010 2,724 2,393 331 1,165 Yes

2011 2,623 2,267 356 291 Yes

2012 2,023 1,921 102 169 Yes

2013 2,128 1,979 149 165 Yes

2014 2,822 2,561 122 374* Yes

2015 5,692 5,248 195 453* Yes

2016 7,889 7,515 262 347* Yes

2017 6,582 6,334 248 558* Yes

2018 8,584 8,277 307 322 Yes

2019 8,488* 8,129* 359* 405* Yes

2020 10,311 9,860 451 487 Yes

*Number adjusted since FY 2018-19 report due to late receipt of after-action reports showing translocation during reporting period

March 2021 143 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

GEORGIA DNR

a) Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form)

Tortoises were translocated in situations where development was occurring, tortoises were found on mining sites or in road-widening projects, and if found to be a waif tortoise.

Table 6. Translocation

2009 2 2 0 0 Yes

2010 3 3 0 0 Yes

2011 18 18 0 0 Yes

2012 19 19 0 0 Yes

2013 0 0 0 0 n/a

8 GTs = yes 2014 20 12 8 0 12 head-started GTs = no 207 GTs = yes 2015 350 350 0 0 143 headstarted GTs = no 170 GTs = yes 2016 198 198 0 53 28 headstarted GTs = no

2017 157 157 0 0 yes

2018 148 148 0 0 yes

2019

March 2021 144 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

125 (36 were 35 (mine on-site 77 headstarts in Yes, except for the 2020 160 headstarts) relocation) captivity headstarts

SOUTH CAROLINA DNR

a) Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form)

SCDNR and SREL have collaborated since 2006 to utilize waif tortoise from the entire species range as a conservation tool to establish a viable population at AGTHP.

Table 6. Translocation

2012

2013 18 all 0 0 yes

2014 11 all 0 0 yes

2015 8 all 0 0 yes

2016 44 all 0 0 yes

10 – Slater 2017 3 waif – AGTHP* All 0 0 yes

2018 8 waif AGTHP* All 0 0 yes

2019 14 waif to AGTHP All 0 0 yes

2020 22 waif to AGTHP All 0 0 Yes

*An additional 54 headstarted tortoises were released initially collected as eggs at AGTHP during the report period.

March 2021 145 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

GEORGIA DOT

a) Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form)

None reported

Table 6. Translocation

2013 0 0 0 0 N/A

2014 0 0 0 0 N/A

2015 32 32 0 0 Unknown

2016 32 32 0 0 Unknown

2017 0 0 0 0 N/A

2018 0 0 0 0 N/A

2019 0 0 0 0 N/A

2020 0 0 0 0 N/A

POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS

None reported.

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION

None reported.

March 2021 146 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

LONGLEAF ALLIANCE

None reported.

JONES CENTER

a) Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form) N/A

N/A – No translocations reported.

March 2021 147 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Table 6. Translocation

2009 0 0 0 0 N/A

2010 0 0 0 0 N/A

2011 0 0 0 0 N/A

2012 0 0 0 0 N/A

2013 0 0 0 0 N/A

2014 0 0 0 0 N/A

2015 0 0 0 0 N/A

2016 0 0 0 0 N/A

2017 0 0 0 0 N/A

2018 0 0 0 0 N/A

2019 0 0 0 0 N/A

2020 0 0 0 0 N/A

ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION

a) Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form)

March 2021 148 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

A 1-acre enclosure was constructed at GSF with the assistance of the Gulf Coast Plain Ecosystem Partnership (Longleaf Alliance) and other partners. Four gopher tortoises were permanently translocated to the site through a coordinated effort with Ericha Nix with ADCNR - she will report in the ADCNR CCA report.

Table 6. Translocation

2016 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

2017 NA NA NA NA NA

2018 NA NA NA NA NA

2019 NA NA NA NA NA

2020 NA NA NA NA NA

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

No activities reported

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY

None reported.

March 2021 149 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY

a) Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form)

Table 6. Translocation

2018 NA NA NA NA NA

2019 NA NA NA 2 NA

2020 NA NA NA NA NA

March 2021 150 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

ALL OTHER EDUCATION AND OUTREACH NOT MENTIONED IN ABOVE SECTIONS

ARMY

A compiled report of all installations was not received but Ft. Rucker in Enterprise, AL provided an installation report. Ft. Rucker Natural Resources staff utilize Facebook and the Environmental and Natural Resources website to disseminate information.

NAVY

a) Publications [signage, brochures]; Signs were placed in maintained areas where gopher tortoises have been spotted. Signs were placed in conjunction with a route change for lifeguard atvs to minimize risks.

b) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; NAS Jacksonville held a base- wide clean up event involving 175 people and removed 600lbs of trash from the installation.

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements;

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]; NAVSTA Mayport posted gopher tortoise flyers to Facebook through PAO office.

AIR FORCE

a) Publications [signage, brochures];

MacDill AFB: Gopher tortoise crossing signs were created to deploy in construction areas with gopher tortoise present.

b) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer];

45th Space Wing: The 45 SW set up a display at CCSFS for Family Day in March 2020; the audience was 45 SW personnel and family members (approximately 500 people). The display included education material on gopher tortoises.

The 45 SW provided natural resources training to contractor, security, Navy and explosive ordinance disposal personnel that have a need to occasionally travel off road. The training presentation included a discussion on gopher tortoise use of roads and road shoulders and using caution when driving in areas where tortoises may burrow or forage.

Eglin AFB: Workshop: Program Audit Professional Review. Date: 10 October 2019. Location: Eglin AFB. Audience: Eglin AFB Natural Resource Office Staff. Organizer: Texas A&M. Title: Recommendations for Fine-Tuning Gopher Tortoise Translocation Success on Eglin Air Force Base. Professional gopher tortoise experts Tracey Tuberville and Kurt Buhlmann, visited Eglin to offer their recommendations for improving translocation efforts.

Event: Gopher Tortoise Council Meeting. Date: 15-17 November 2019. Location: Gulf Shores, AL. Audience: Professional herpetologists from various state and government agencies, land managers, and college students. Organizer: Gopher Tortoise Council. Virginia Tech presented a

March 2021 151 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

poster on telemetry study comparing native Eglin tortoise movements on test ranges versus forested sites.

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

MacDill AFB: Gopher tortoise information is routinely published on Twitter while tagging the official MacDill AFB Twitter handle. MARINES

None reported.

a) Publications [signage, brochures];

b) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer];

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

USFS

a) Publications [signage, brochures]; b) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer];

i) Conecuh NF – Covington County Fair, 10/14/2019-10/20/2019, Local communities, Organized by Kiwanis

ii) Apalachicola NF - “Apalachicola National Forest (ANF) Gopher Tortoise Restoration, Relocation, and Research Project Update,” 2019 Alabama Chapter of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 10th Annual Meeting in Nauvoo, Alabama, November 1-3, 2019.

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

USFWS

a) Publications [signage, brochures]; N/A

b) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; N/A

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or N/A

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] N/A

March 2021 152 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

ALABAMA DCNR

a) Publications [signage, brochures]; NA

b) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer];

2/20/2020; Alabama Tortoise Alliance Meeting in Ozark, AL; Meeting objectives are as follows: In the spirit of cooperation, work collaboratively to contribute information to the USFWS Species Status Assessment regarding the federal listing of the gopher tortoise by: developing methods for stakeholders to contribute to data gaps and survey needs, gain access to private lands (to assist data gap objective), further increase and improve gopher tortoise habitat throughout the Alabama range, promote the importance of increasing and improving tortoise habitat (education component), and discuss potential options and solutions to protect both primary and support tortoise populations in perpetuity.; ADCNR, Nongame Wildlife Conservation Program. c) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or NA

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

Several facebook posts and ADCNR DWFF newsletter articles were released to the public throughout the year regarding gopher tortoise conservation and management.

FLORIDA FWCC

a) Publications [signage, brochures]; NA

b) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; NA

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or NA

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] NA

GEORGIA DNR

a) Publications [signage, brochures]; NA

b) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; NA

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or NA

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] NA

SOUTH CAROLINA DNR

a. Publications [signage, brochures];

b. Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; None to report.

c. Public service broadcasts/announcements; or None to report.

d. Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] None to report.

March 2021 153 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

GEORGIA DOT

a) Publications [signage, brochures]; NA

b) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer]; NA

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or NA

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] NA

POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS

a) Publications [signage, brochures];

b) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer];

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or NA

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] NA

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION

None reported.

LONGLEAF ALLIANCE

a) Publications [signage, brochures]; NA

b) Workshops and events (date, location, audience, organizer); NA

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or NA

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach] NA

JONES CENTER

a) Publications [signage, brochures];

b) Workshops and events (date, location, audience, organizer);

i) Virtual Gopher Tortoise Line Transect Distance Sampling Training Workshop on December 7-8, 2020, Participants included state wildlife agencies from FL, GA, SC, USFWS Refuge Staff, DOD staff, private landowners, private consultants

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

March 2021 154 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION

a) Publications [signage, brochures];

AFC “Treasured Forests” magazine. Article entitled “Alabama Tortoise Alliance Makes Progress”

b) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer];

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

Several agency facebook posts throughout the fiscal year focusing on prescribed fire and gopher tortoises.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

None reported.

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY

None reported.

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY

a) Publications [signage, brochures];

b) Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer];

c) Public service broadcasts/announcements; or

d) Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

March 2021 155 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

RESEARCH STUDIES – CONDUCTED BY OR SUPPORTED BY AGENCY/ORGANIZATION (IF PUBLISHED, INCLUDE CITATION)

ARMY

A compiled report of all installations was not received but Ft. Rucker in Enterprise, AL provided an installation report. No activities were conducted related to research studies.

NAVY

None reported.

AIR FORCE

Moody AFB: Demographic Monitoring of Gopher Tortoise Populations on Moody AFB, GA. Valdosta State University, Dr. Mitch Lockhart, Principal Investigator.

Interactions of Armadillos and Gopher Tortoises, to include analysis of armadillo use of gopher tortoise burrows, Dr. Colleen McDonough and Dr. Corey Anderson, Principal Investigators, Valdosta State University

Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species (Gopher Tortoise, Eastern Indigo Snake, Spotted Turtle, Dusky Salamander) Surveys at Moody AFB. Dial-Cordy and Associates. USACE Contract Number W912EP-16-D-0008, DOD No. W912HN-18-F-1009

Eglin AFB: Continue partnership with Texas A&M to conduct passive survey and monitoring of ITP tortoise populations to include camera trapping potential predator impacts to translocated animals, commensal use of ITP burrows, and movement/general activity of ITP tortoises in novel habitats. Effort includes the deploying of multiple camera arrays at all ITP tortoise enclosures. Efforts thus far have documented breeding attempts, various commensal species utilizing burrows and adult tortoise predation by coyotes.

MARINES

None reported.

USFS Conecuh NF - Long-term population monitoring conducted by Auburn University and Eckerd College

Apalachicola NF - The National Forest in Florida was participating in a project under an MOU with the Florid Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc. and Wiregrass Ecological Associates. The Research Study Plan is titled THE SITE FIDELITY RESPONSE OF TRANSLOCATED GOPHER TORTOISES (GOPHERUS POLYPHEMUS) TO ENCLOSURE TIME, MECHANICAL THINNING, PRESCRIBED BURNING, AND HERBICIDE APPLICATION ON THE APALACHICOLA NATIONAL FOREST IN FLORIDA. This project has since come to a termination. It is expected new research will begin again in December 2021.

March 2021 156 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

USFWS

SV - A collaborative effort with the U. S. Geological Survey was established to study gopher tortoises on St. Vincent Island. Activity patterns of tortoises and use of their burrows by commensals were documented using game cameras. Trapping efforts were also initiated to study the demographics and genetics of the population. Pilot surveys were conducted in preparation for a full Line Transect Distance Sampling (LTDS) survey.

ALABAMA DCNR

Folt, B., J.M Goessling, A. Tucker, C. Guyer, S.Hermann, E. Shelton-Nix, and C. McGowan. 2020. Contrasting Patterns of Demography and Population Viability among Gopher Tortoise Populations in Alabama. Journal of Wildlife Management. (Funded by AL Dept. of Transportation).

Goessling, J.M. 2020. Long-term demographic monitoring of peripheral gopher tortoise populations. ADCNR Final Section 6 Report.

Hermann, S. 2020. Template for Selecting Gopher Tortoise Conservation Areas. ADCNR Final Report.

Shelton-Nix, E. 2020. Population Survey for the Gopher Tortoise in the Eastern Portion of the AL Range. ADCNR Final Report.

FLORIDA FFWCC

Smith LL, Howze JM, Staiger JS, Sievers ER, Burr DB, Enge KM . 2020. Added value: gopher tortoise surveys provide estimates of gopher frog abundance in tortoise burrows. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 12(1).

To promote actionable science, FWC is funding research annually using gopher tortoise mitigation contributions. FWC identified new research priorities in the 2020 fiscal year, including:

• Factors that enhance recipient site fidelity and overall relocation success • Impacts of relocated gopher tortoises on natural and adjacent gopher tortoise populations • Updated Florida-wide gopher tortoise population estimate • Compatibility of solar sites with gopher tortoises • Natural gopher tortoise densities by landcover community type in Florida • Line transect distance sampling (LTDS) survey protocol for recipient sites • Site fidelity of tortoises inhabiting burrows proximal to development and/or on preserves of developed property • Methods to reduce road mortalities • Efficacy of burrow survey methodologies

GEORGIA DNR

None reported.

SOUTH CAROLINA DNR

March 2021 157 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

Survivorship and movements – Completed a telemetry study funded by State Wildlife Grants at AGTHP to look at differences between hatchling, yearling, and 2-year old headstarts collected as eggs at AGTHP. Currently analyzing data and writing manuscript of results.

Restocking with Waifs – evaluating using waif tortoises as a conservation tool – efforts in collaboration with Drs. Tuberville and Buhlmann (SREL) to continually asses using waifs to create an MVP at AGTHP.

GEORGIA DOT

None reported

POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS

None reported.

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION

None reported.

LONGLEAF ALLIANCE

None reported.

JONES CENTER

a) Murphy, C. M., L. L. Smith, J. J. O’Brien, R. B. Chandler, and S. B. Castleberry. 2021. Vertebrate use of gopher tortoise burrows and stump holes in the longleaf pine ecosystem. Forest Ecology and Management. In press. b) Smith, L. L., J. M. Howze, J. S. Staiger, E. R. Sievers, D. Burr, K. M. Enge. 2021. Added value: gopher tortoise surveys provide estimates of gopher frog abundance in tortoise burrows. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. In press.

ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION

N/A.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

No report received.

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY

None reported.

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY

None reported.

March 2021 158 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

CCA AGENCY/ORGANIZATION CONSERVATION STRATEGY

(see CCA Section 10.2)

ARMY

A compiled report of all installations was not received but Ft. Rucker in Enterprise, AL provided an installation report. No activities reported for this section of report.

NAVY

No report received.

AIR FORCE

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy

MARINES

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy N/A b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy N/A

USFS

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy N/A b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy N/A

USFWS

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy None b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy None

ALABAMA DCNR

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy None b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy None

FLORIDA FWCC

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy N/A

b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy N/A

GEORGIA DNR

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy None

b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy None

March 2021 159 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

SOUTH CAROLINA DNR

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy None to report. b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy None

GEORGIA DOT

None reported.

POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy None b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy None

AMERICAN FOREST FOUNDATION

None reported.

LONGLEAF ALLIANCE

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy None b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy None

JONES CENTER

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy N/A b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy N/A

ALABAMA FORESTRY COMMISSION

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy - None

b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy - None

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

None reported.

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy - None b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy - None

GEORGIA POWER COMPANY

a) Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy - None b) New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy - None

March 2021 160 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

APPENDIX I

Gopher Tortoise Candidate Conservation Agreement (GTCCA) Reporting Period: October 1, 2019 – September 30, 2020 Report due to the CCA Gopher Tortoise Team (GTT) Chair: February 15, 2021 Annual Assessment Report for:

Organization/Agency name

Submitted by: Email: Phone:

Organization/Agency contact name

The Candidate Conservation Agreement for the Gopher Tortoise (GTCCA) was signed and implemented in December 2008. The Agreement requires an annual assessment report from each party to the agreement to document conservation activities occurring within the gopher tortoise’ non- federally listed range. To facilitate the compilation of information, this report format should be followed by all CCA partners. The assessment report should include activities completed on an annual basis for the period covering October 1 – September 30. Not all sections included below will be applicable to each organization. If sections of this report are not applicable to your organization’s gopher tortoise conservation activities or are not applicable for the current reporting period, please indicate so. Please do not report the same data/information more than 1 time in the submitted report. Tables are provided below to help data on acres, management of gopher tortoise habitat, habitat protected, population monitoring, and translocations be consistent and easy to track and compile. Please add a new row for each reporting year.

The annual assessment report will be submitted to the Gopher Tortoise Team Chair by February 15, 2021. The final CCA Annual report will be compiled and submitted by the Gopher Tortoise Team Chair to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS) Principals by March 15, 2020. The final report will also be posted to the GTCCA website.

II. Executive Summary

Provide a brief summary of activities completed during the current reporting year.

III. Relevant Activities to Listing Factor A (The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of the species habitat or range).

Complete the table below to provide information on acres and management of gopher tortoise habitat under your agency’s authority or management. Please combine totals if reporting on multiple properties.

c) How much potential gopher tortoise habitat does the signatory agency directly own or manage?

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i. Total estimated acreage of protected gopher tortoise habitat (either by public ownership, by easement, or covered under a management plan that provides for the conservation of the gopher tortoise)

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

d) Provide a short narrative regarding the type of management activities that were completed on the signatory’s lands or other lands during the year, including any challenges or successes.

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i. Total estimated gopher tortoise habitat acres managed on “owned or managed lands” or “other lands” for reporting agency/organization.

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**Other lands Owned or 2020 managed lands **Other lands *The Total acres restored or maintained as GT habitat should be the sum of the preceding 4 columns. **Other gopher tortoise habitat/lands can include ANY lands regardless of ownership, protection level, or agreement.

e) Land Conservation

i) Describe the type of acquisitions, easements and other conservation protection of gopher tortoise habitat.

Table 3. New acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat protected

Private lands under Other lands Military Report Public permanent protected by short- installation lands year conservation lands conservation term easement, (buffer areas) easement MOU, or similar

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

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2019

2020

ii) Total acres of land/habitat loss due to development activities or habitat degradation (identify cause of loss and if permanent/temporary). If data is not available, enter “unknown”.

Table 4. Acres of land/ gopher tortoise habitat lost that is under the direct ownership of the signatory agency.

Report Permanent or Acres lost Cause year Temporary

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

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2020

d) Gopher tortoise population monitoring

Table 5. Population survey data (if survey methodology was not Line Transect Distance Sampling, indicate what methodology was used)

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

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e) Relevant Activities to Listing Factor B (Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes)

a. Education and outreach specifically targeting any collection activities that may incidentally or intentionally have negative impacts on either tortoises or their burrows.

i. publications [signage, brochures];

ii. Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer];

iii. Public service broadcasts/announcements; or

iv. Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

f) Relevant Activities to Listing Factor C (Disease or predation)

a. Disease and die-offs (date, property/location, cause if known, number of deaths)

b. Disease screening efforts

c. Predator control

g) Relevant Activities to Listing Factor D (Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms)

a. Legal protection measures (new, revised or expired legal protections that impact tortoises and/or their habitat)

i. State laws, rules and regulations

ii. Agency policies/directives/compliance documents

iii. Permitted takes (property/location, number of takes permitted)

h) Relevant Activities to Listing Factor E (Other natural or manmade factors affecting the species continued existence)

a. Describe type(s) of projects or actions that prompted the permanent translocation or temporary relocation of gopher tortoises (in narrative form)

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Table 6. Translocation

Total number of Number of Number of Were GTs released Number of GTs Report tortoises GTs to tortoises into soft enclosures to unprotected year permanently protected temporarily and held for at least lands translocated lands relocated 6 months?

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

i) All other education and outreach not mentioned in Section III., above.

a. Publications [signage, brochures];

b. Workshops and events [date, location, audience, organizer];

March 2021 168 GOPHER TORTOISE CANDIDATE CONSERVATION AGREEMENT TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT

c. Public service broadcasts/announcements; or

d. Electronic media [website, Listserv, other internet-based outreach]

j) Research studies – Conducted by or supported by agency (if published, include citation)

k) CCA Agency Conservation Strategy (see CCA Section 10.2) a. Deviations from CCA Agency Conservation Strategy b. New goals and strategies not included under the CCA Agency Conservation Strategy

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APPENDIX II

DEFINITIONS (please see the GTCCA for a full list of definitions):

Habitat without a designated special protection status – applies to lands that are included in a management plan: this could consist of state public lands under a state management plan; Department of Defense installations (with a signed/approved Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan - INRMP).

Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) - a document that supports the military mission by combining a series of component plans into an ecosystem management approach and is the primary tool for managing species and their habitat on military installations.

Long-term protection (habitat) – applies to either privately owned lands placed under a perpetual (i.e., endless duration) conservation easement, or publicly owned lands purchased for conservation purposes where either restrictions on the acquisition funding source or government commitment (through ordinances or other regulations) would prevent or prohibit the eventual sale or development of the property.

Protected (habitat) – applies to any land that is protected from any future development (i.e. take of habitat).

Short-term protection (habitat) – applies to either privately or publicly owned lands that have some enforceable protection commitment, but those commitments do not meet the definition of "long-term protection."

Unprotected Site (habitat) – applies to lands that do not have any enforceable protection commitments or use restrictions that would prevent them from being modified and made unsuitable for tortoises.

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