Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge

DRIFTLESS AREA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

McGregor, Iowa

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

FY2006

DRIFTLESS AREA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

McGregor, Iowa Fiscal Year 2006

______Prepared by Date

______Refuge Manager Date Complex Manager Date

______Regional Chief, NWRS Date INTRODUCTION

1. Location

The Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1989 for the protection and recovery of the threatened Northern monkshood and endangered Iowa Pleistocene snail. These species occur on a rare habitat type termed algific talus slopes. These are slopes with outflows of cold underground air that provide a glacial relict habitat to which certain species have adapted (see diagram below). The Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge consists of ten units scattered throughout Allamakee, Clayton, Dubuque, and Jackson Counties in northeast Iowa. Total Refuge acreage is 811 acres with individual units ranging from 6 to 208 acres. Acquisition targets not only the algific slope, but surrounding buffer habitat that includes sinkholes important to air flow to the slope. Acquisition is ongoing, but limited due to insufficient funds.

2. Topography

Refuge units are primarily forested and generally consist of steep topography with narrow creek valleys, large rock outcroppings, and karst features. Riparian and grassland habitat also occur on the Refuge.

3. Points of Interest

The algific talus slope habitat of the Refuge harbors many unusual and rare plant and land snail species, some of which are also on the state threatened and endangered species list. These areas tend to be scenic with cliffs and rock outcroppings, springs, and coldwater streams.

4. Physical Facilities

The Refuge office is located at the McGregor District of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, McGregor, Iowa. One Refuge Operations Specialist is assigned to the Driftless Area NWR.

Iowa Pleistocene snail

Northern monkshood INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents

Highlights

Page 1. Monitoring and Studies a. Surveys and Censuses...... 1 b. Studies and Investigation...... NTR

2. Habitat Restoration a. Wetland Restoration...... NTR b. Upland Restoration...... 6 c. Deep Water/Riverine Restoration...... NTR

3. Habitat Management a. Water Level Management...... NTR b. Moist Soil Management...... NTR c. Graze/Mow/Hay...... NTR d. Farming...... 7 e. Forest Management...... NTR f. Fire Management...... 7 g. Pest Plant Control...... 7 h. Other Habitat Management...... NTR

4. Fish and Wildlife Management a. Bird Banding...... NTR b. Disease Monitoring and Treatment...... NTR c. Reintroductions...... NTR d. Nest Structures...... NTR e. Pest, Predator and Exotic Animal Control...... NTR

5. Coordination Activities a. Interagency Coordination...... 11 b. Private Lands Activities...... 11

6. Resource Protection a. Law Enforcement...... 12 b. Permits and Economic Use Management...... NTR c. Contaminant Investigation...... NTR d. Contaminant Cleanup...... NTR e. Water Rights Management...... NTR f. Cultural Resource Management...... NTR g. Land Acquisition Support...... 12 h. Wilderness or Special Areas...... NTR

7. Public Education and Recreation a. Provide Visitor Services...... 12 b. Outreach...... 13 c. Hunting...... 14 d. Trapping...... NTR e. Fishing...... NTR f. Other Public Use...... NTR

8. Planning and Administration a. Comprehensive Conservation Planning...... 14 b. General Administration...... 16 c. Safety...... 16 d. Maintenance...... 16 e. Volunteers...... 16 f. Personnel...... 18

9. Wildlife a. Endangered/Threatened Species...... 17 b. Waterfowl...... 17 c. Marsh and Water birds...... NTR d. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, & Allies...... NTR e. Raptors...... NTR f. Other Migratory Birds...... NTR g. Game Mammals...... NTR h. Other Resident Wildlife...... NTR i. Fisheries Resources...... NTR j. Wildlife Diversity...... NTR

10. Items of Interest...... 17

11. Climatic Conditions...... 19 Highlights

Record of Decision for CCP EIS signed including Refuge acquisition boundary expansion.

30 acre Turkey River unit added.

Garlic Mustard control expanded and monitoring program initiated.

Trees planted at Fern Ridge unit as part of long term forest restoration.

Pine Creek unit opened to hunting, fishing, wildlife observation.

TNC land steward assistants map sinkholes, control invasive species, and monitor endangered species.

Aquatic insects sampled at Refuge springs by University of Iowa Hygienic Lab.

1. MONITORING AND STUDIES

1.a. Surveys and Censuses

The sixth year of Iowa Pleistocene snail monitoring was completed based on the monitoring protocol developed in 2001. Monitoring is done with boards placed on the algific slopes. Snails under the sampling area crawl to the surface and onto the underside of the boards where they are more readily observed and sampled.

Five random boards (0.124 m2, 8 x 24 inches) were sampled at the same locations within slopes as previous years (Table 1). Snails captured on random boards were marked with plastic colored and numbered bee tags or visible implant fish tags attached to the shell with superglue. Juvenile snails, less than 5 mm were marked with individual color combinations of paint. We measured soil temperature with a six inch soil thermometer. Air temperature and humidity were recorded at each location. Boards were left in place for 2 days on all slopes.

Table 1. Algific talus slopes on which Iowa Pleistocene snail monitoring was conducted in 2006 in northeast Iowa. Slope name Slope Owner County number Buck Creek 2 81-99 The Nature Conservancy Clayton Buck Creek 1 81-98 The Nature Conservancy Clayton Bear Creek 5 86-281 Private Fayette Bixby 80-62 Iowa DNR Clayton Bankston West 83-207 US Fish and Wildlife Service Dubuque Dry Mill North 3 81-76 US Fish and Wildlife Service Clayton Cow Branch West 85-229 US Fish and Wildlife Service Clayton Dry Mill East 81-137 Private Clayton Lytle Creek 6 86-297 Iowa DNR Jackson

At sites 81-98, 86-281,and 83-207, the same 32 by 48 inch (0.991 m2) mark-recapture location was used as in the previous three years. The mark-recapture site at 80-33 was not sampled this year due to time constraints, concern about trampling on this site, and the low number of snails captured in previous years making data analyses difficult. A two by two inch grid on each board was used for recording snail location as an x, y coordinate. Boards were checked for five consecutive days after placement and then removed from the slope. Soil temperature, air temperature and humidity were recorded at each visit. A rain gauge was placed at each mark recapture location and checked each of the five days to evaluate whether moisture may affect snail captures. Snails were marked as described above. When a snail was captured with a painted shell from a previous year (juvenile) and had grown to five millimeters or larger (adult), a bee tag was attached to the shell. Shell diameter, shell height, umbilicus diameter, and number of whorls were measured with a caliper to the nearest 0.5 mm on each snail. Sampling took place from June 1 through June 28, 2006. Population estimates were derived using the same methods as Henry et al. (2003). Model Chao-Mth of program CAPTURE was used to analyze the mark-recapture data.

Mark-recapture

There was one recapture from 2002 on slope 86-281 and 14 total recaptures from previous years at slopes 86-281 and 83-207. Captures on slope 81-98 were all recaptures from previous years. At 86-281 and 83- 1 207 captures were similar to last year and in the same range as other years (Table 2). Overall average soil temperature during mark recapture surveys was 48.1 oF.

Random board captures

The number of snails captured on random boards was higher at most sites this year (Table 3) and again appeared to be related to moisture at time of sampling, although there is no concrete correlation between rainfall and captures. A reliable way of measuring moisture at the surface is needed to show this correlation. Soil temperatures at random board locations ranged from 38 to 60oF with an average of 49.5oF.

Table 2. Snail captures (C) and population estimates (N) from mark- recapture surveys, 2001-2006. The total number of snail captures includes recaptures. The number of individual snails captured is given in parentheses. Slope 2001 N 2002 N 2003 N 2004 N 2005 N 2006 N C 95%CI C 95%CI C 95%CI C 95%CI C 95%CI C 95%CI 83-207 24 28 9 (4) na 20 14 50 54 30 (17) 29 35 (25) 47 (16) 19-68 (11) 12-33 (29) 38-102 21-61 32-105

80-33 51 38 2 (1) na 13 (5) 5 5 (2) na 2 (1) na na na (31) 34-56 5-10

81-98 38 59 114 202 12 (8) 10 28 44 1 na 8 (4) na (28) 38-133 (86) 142-327 9-23 (20) 27-109

86-281 185 396 243 290 233 470 197 624 120(88) 239 126 176 (142) 281- (170) 238-381 (180) 351-671 (172) 423- 162-396 (87) 130- 604 986 270

Table 3. Number of snails captured on random boards located on algific slopes, summer 2001-2006. Slope name Slope 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 number Buck Creek 2 81-99 17 18 1 17 1 9 Buck Creek 1 81-98 12 15 4 3 0 1 Bear Creek 5 86-281 56 6 31 40 20 21 Bixby 80-62 13 0 3 4 0 1 Bankston West 83-207 2 0 0 1 0 5 Howard Creek 3 85-247 2 0 0 a 0 a White Pine 2 80-33 16 3 14 0 4 a Cow Branch West 85-229 1 0 0 0 0 0 Dry Mill East 81-137 a 26 14 10 7 21 Brush Creek 86-291 0 0 a 0 a a Lytle Creek 6 86-297 16 16 a 22 17 37 Dry Mill North 81-76 a a a 1 5 2 a site not sampled in this year.

Overall, the snail size distribution from random board data again indicates predominance (83%) of mature individuals (shell diameter ≥5mm) similar to previous years’ data. The size distribution in mark- recapture surveys was 82% mature snails. Size distribution on 81-98 again indicates a population with little recruitment of immature snails. As expected with the greater number of overall captures, 86-281 had the greatest number of immature snails captured during mark-recapture sampling.

2 As suggested by previous years’ sampling, the variability in snail captures is high and is likely a result of many factors. Dr. William Clark at Iowa State University was contracted to complete further analysis of the data collected during all years to determine if population trends are evident and whether monitoring methods should be modified in any way. That analysis will be complete in 2007.

McGregor District intern, Dan Mohn assisted with Iowa Pleistocene snail monitoring.

Soil temperature data loggers (HOBO microstation) continued to be used at 8 sites for long term temperature observation of algific slopes. They have been in use since 2002. There are loggers at cold air vents on algific slopes at the Pine creek, Bankston, Hickory creek, Lytle creek, Fern Ridge, Howard creek, and Cow branch units of the Refuge and at The Nature Conservancy’s Bluebell Hollow Preserve on Buck Creek. There are also loggers in sinkholes at Cow branch, Pine Creek, and Fern Ridge units. Temperature is the most important environmental factor in this habitat for endangered species and long term monitoring is needed to better understand how the algific slopes work and for clues to potential impacts from climate change.

Northern Monkshood monitoring is set up on a three year rotational schedule. In 2006, only one site was scheduled for monitoring. Monitoring was completed at the privately owned site 81-134, Buck Creek main 1. Dr. Kathy McMullen at Iowa State University was contracted to evaluate all of the Northern monkshood data collected since 1991. She will analyze all data to determine if trends are evident and whether there should be any modification to monitoring methods. The results will be due in 2007.

3 The Nature Conservancy provided a winter intern to locate and map sinkholes associated with algific talus slopes. The locations of sinkholes that are associated with an algific slope are not always known and there may be several that provide air flow to the site. It is important to know these locations to adequately protect algific slopes. Sinkholes are easily located in winter due to relatively warm air coming from them causing snow to melt and steam to rise. In addition, they are more visible with lack of vegetation. Interns Ryan Harr and Connie Dettman mapped over 800 sinkholes in Allamakee, Clayton, Clinton, Dubuque, and Jackson counties. These were added to locations previously collected by the Refuge and incorporated into a GIS layer. The size of the sinkhole and landowners are included in the data file. Photos were taken of most of the sinkholes. Most of the sinkholes were on private land and good cooperation was obtained from landowners. Many knew of locations of sinkholes and accompanied the intern, or were interested to know what we found and maps were given to them showing the locations. Several sinkholes were found filled with junk and one had a tile drain in it. The Refuge is working with NRCS to remedy the tile drain that flows into a sinkhole above a Northern monkshood site. One landowner had over 40 sinkholes on his property, mostly in crop land. His property contains both Northern monkshood and Iowa Pleistocene snails.

Tile drain running into a sinkhole (above). TNC intern Connie Dettman taking GPS coordinates at a sinkhole in Dubuque County (below).

5 2. HABITAT RESTORATION

2.b. Upland Restoration

Trees were planted in a 40 acre field at the Fern Ridge Unit. The field is cool season grasses that were converted from forest to agriculture years ago. The remainder of the unit is forest and this planting will eventually add to the forest habitat. The Elkader global concerns class and Upper Iowa University students helped plant 366 white oak and 147 walnut trees and apply weed barriers. The trees were grown at a nursery using locally collected seed with root prune method. Most of the trees were 2 to 3 feet tall. The trees were spread throughout the field in anticipation of adding more trees of other species at a later date. Additionally, 25 dutch elm disease tolerant trees were planted in the same field and tree protectors were placed around the trees.

Elkader student planting trees at Fern Ridge unit.

Cedars were cut on a hill below one of the prairie remnants at Howard Creek unit. Native grasses occur under the cedars and this was an attempt to rejuvenate additional prairie remnant areas. Box elder, prickly ash, and buckthorn were removed from portions of the grassland areas at Howard Creek unit. Volunteer Harold Krambeer removed European buckthorn, prickly ash, and box elders from prairie remnants at the Howard Creek unit. Four members of the Prairie’s Edge Forestry Cooperative in northeast Iowa also spent one Saturday in February removing brush from prairie remnants. Wild parsnip and Canada thistle were mowed in the grassland areas at Howard Creek unit. Eleven acres were planted to prairie at Howard Creek which ended the need for cooperative farming at this unit. 6

Volunteers cleared brush from prairie remnants at the Howard Creek unit.

3. HABITAT MANAGEMENT

3.d. Farming

Neighbors John Wessel and Gene Schenke farmed 71 acres at the Pine Creek unit. Schenke had 48 acres in corn and Wessel had 23 acres in soybeans. These fields will eventually be planted with trees.

3.f Fire Management

Brush piles were burned during the winter at Howard Creek unit. 31.7 acres of grassland were burned at Howard Creek unit on April 17 2006. A four person fire crew from Mark Twain Refuge Complex assisted with the burn. Recent rains and green up prevented burning more of the 134 acre burn unit. The west prairie remnant near the cemetery was burned on April 18 for an additional 4 acres. A wildfire occurred at the Howard Creek unit on April 14 discovered by a contractor working at the site. He contacted the Farmersburg fire department who was able to put it out. The fire had burned slowly through the restoration site near the warehouse. There was no damage and no injuries and the field was planned to be burned as part of a prescribed burn. The cause was not determined.

3.g. Pest Plant Control

Mapping of invasive species was initiated with The Nature Conservancy’s 7 Weed Information Management System. The system was challenging to get up and running, but garlic mustard was mapped at Howard Creek, Fern Ridge, and Bankston units as well as wild parsnip and other species at the Howard Creek unit. The temporary biological technician conducted most of the mapping.

Control of garlic mustard was more aggressively pursued this year. A challenge cost share grant was received to hire a biological technician for three months. Connie Dettman was hired for this position. A 17 acre area of forest above the algific slopes at Howard Creek received the most intensive control efforts. Control included propane torching of seedlings in the spring, pulling or weed whipping flower heads to prevent seed from forming, and dormant season spraying with Roundup herbicide. Garlic mustard was pulled on the algific slopes where possible. The Nature Conservancy provided a crew of 10 interns for a week to pull garlic mustard as part of the matching for the challenge cost share grant.

TNC intern crew with many bags of garlic mustard pulled at the Howard Creek and Fern Ridge units of the Refuge, and TNC’s Bluebell Hollow preserve. Flowering plants must be bagged as they will continue to go to seed if discarded on the ground.

Monitoring was initiated at Howard Creek to determine the most effective and efficient combination of methods for garlic mustard control and to determine the response of native vegetation. Forty-five, one square meter plots were set up to test the effectiveness of five different treatments (hand pull, weed whip, herbicide, torch, and herbicide-torch- hand pull combination) on control of garlic mustard. Five plots received no treatments to serve as controls. Plots were subjectively stratified across dense patches of garlic mustard containing first year seedlings, second year adult plants, and a combination of both first and 8 second year plants. This was necessary as the type of control technique used depends upon the developmental stage of garlic mustard and the time of year. Generally, hand pulling and weed whipping targeted second year adult plants, while torching targeted first year seedlings. Dormant season herbicide application targeted both first and second year plants.

Each treatment was assigned to five plots in a stratified random manner as the treatment was somewhat dependent on developmental stage of garlic mustard (e.g., weed whipping was only applied to second year adult plants). The treatment was also applied, on average, to a two meter buffer area around each plot. This was done to keep seeds from outside a plot dispersing to within and contaminating that plot.

All treatments were completed in mid to late May, 2006, except for dormant season herbicide application which was done in mid to late November, 2006. Hand pulling involved physical removal of the entire plant along with the roots, placing the plant in a black garbage bag, and carrying the bag off site to decompose. Weed whipping was done with a hand-held Homelite gas-powered trimmer. Herbicide application consisted of one and one-half percent glyphosate solution of Roundup Weathermax applied through a backpack pump sprayer. Finally, torching was carried out with a BP 2512C Red Dragon backpack propane torch unit.

Photos were taken before and after treatment of one plot per treatment as a representative of the effects of that particular treatment. Photos were also taken during the third vegetation sampling event to further monitor treatment effects later in the growing season.

All plots were permanently marked with steel fence posts containing an aluminum tag with a unique number code. Plots were located and marked in early spring, 2006, and the ground layer vegetation of each plot was surveyed three times throughout the growing season (May, June, and August). All herbaceous plants, shrubs, and vines in the plots were identified and abundance of each species was assessed according to eight cover classes (1 = 1-2 individuals or clusters <5% cover, 2 = few to many individuals with <5 % cover, 3 = numerous individuals <5% cover, 4 = 5-15%, 5 = 16-25%, 6 = 26-50%, 7 = 51-75%, 8 = 76-100%). All trees over three cm diameter at breast height (dbh) were identified to species and dbh was estimated. Tree seedlings and saplings were also identified and recorded. Nomenclature follows Flora of North America (1993+) and the USDA plants database (USDA, NRCS, 2005).

Garlic mustard monitoring plots. The top photo is before treatment and the bottom photo is after torching of seedlings and weed whipping flowering plants.

The annual weed survey was completed. Garlic mustard, leafy spurge, wild parsnip, European buckthorn, and Canada thistle were identified as the top five weed species on the Refuge. Most of these occur at the Howard Creek unit. Garlic mustard is also present at Bankston, Fern Ridge, Lytle Creek, Pine Creek, and Cow Branch units.

5. COORDINATION ACTIVITIES

5.a. Interagency Coordination

A meeting was held with the DNR and the Boy Scouts to discuss restoration options for the Pine Creek valley in Clayton County. The valley was grazed for many, many years and is primarily exotic cool season grasses and forbs. The TNC intern researched historic vegetation for the area and the group agreed to work toward restoration of grassland or savanna throughout the valley where there is land owned by the Refuge, DNR, and Boy Scouts. A prescribed burn will be attempted in 2007 with monitoring to determine whether any native vegetation is returning. Herbicide treatment and planting may be completed in the future. The TNC intern installed permanent monitoring plots in the valley.

5.b. Private Lands

ROS Henry continued to work with the Iowa DNR to identify and coordinate with algific slope landowners who were willing to place conservation easements on their property. Three were identified that the DNR pursued and completed an easement on one site through their Landowner Incentive Program grants. In addition, the TNC intern coordinated removal of junk from a sinkhole on private land above an algific slope on Buck Creek in Clayton County, Iowa. The DNR paid for a contractor to remove the bulk of it through the Landowner Incentive Program. The contractor removed several 30 yard dumpsters full of various metal objects and cans, and plastic and glass containers. 31 tires were also removed and recycled.

Crew cleaning up a sinkhole in Clayton County.

ROS Henry maintained contact with several landowners who have Iowa Pleistocene snails, monkshood, and algific slopes on their property. Several sites were visited at the request of Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Iowa DNR, and landowners to determine the presence of algific slopes or endangered species.

6. RESOURCE PROTECTION

6.a. Law Enforcement

Refuge officer Nick Stavropolus worked the Iowa shotgun seasons on the Refuge and various weekends during the fall. No citations were written. ROS Henry performed regular inspection of Refuge units.

6.g. Land Acquisition Support

Acquisition of the Helle tract was completed to add 30.33 acres to the Refuge for the protection of a Northern monkshood population. This tract is located near the Turkey River just outside of Elkader in Clayton County, Iowa. The unit will be closed to public uses. Boundary signs were placed during the summer of 2006.

7. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RECREATION

7.a. Provide Visitor Services

The Refuge hunt plan was modified in preparation for opening the Pine Creek Unit to hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography in 12 the fall of 2006. A closed area was posted around the algific slope. A gravel parking lot and kiosk were added to the unit. The kiosk was constructed by an eagle scout from Edgewood as part of a challenge cost share agreement. In addition, Realty completed a formal access easement across the Brian Wessel property that the public can use.

7.b. Outreach

A presentation about the Refuge was given to the Midwest Driftless Area Restoration Effort which is part of the Service’s National Fish Habitat Action Plan. ROS Henry assisted with Bald Eagle Day in Prairie du Chien, Riverfest at Lock and Dam 9, Ding Darling Day at the Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque, and Cassville school Legacy project.

Pine Creek unit with adjacent State land.

13 Presentations were given to a conservation and geology class at Upper Iowa University. A tour of algific slopes was given as part of the annual meeting of the National Association of Interpreter’s held in Dubuque, Iowa. Tours were given to the Missouri Native Plant Society, University of Northern Iowa ecology class, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, NRCS new employees, a continuing education class for teachers about invasive species, and to an aid from Senator Harkin’s office. A tour was also given for The Nature Conservancy members. TNC hosted various tours around the state as part of their upcoming capital campaign that included the driftless area.

Tour with members of The Nature Conservancy at Howard Creek unit.

7.c. Hunting

Several deer, primarily bucks were taken with bow and arrow and muzzleloader from the Howard Creek unit. Some pheasant and squirrel hunting also occurred at the Howard Creek and Fern Ridge units. We do not currently have a method of counting these visitors other than contacts with a few of the hunters who regularly use the area.

8. PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION

8.a. Comprehensive Conservation Planning

ROS Henry worked with planning staff in the regional office to finalize 14 the Comprehensive Conservation Plan. The Record of Decision was signed April 18, 2006. The final plan included expansion of the Refuge acquisition boundary to approximately 6000 acres in 14 additional counties. The complete acquisition boundary includes 22 counties in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin for threatened and endangered species protection as well as for species of concern.

2006 approved acquisition boundary for Driftless Area NWR.

The Driftless Area NWR CCP includes the following goals and objectives: Habitat Goal: Conserve endangered species habitat and contribute migratory bird and other wildlife habitats within a larger landscape. Objective 1: Increase management of physical and biological impacts to algific slopes by eliminating invasive species (on slopes), maintaining

15 zero impacts from public use, and reducing off Refuge impacts on two units by 2015. Objective 2: Restore existing 40 acres of grassland on the Howard Creek Unit to a mixture of at least 25 species of local genotype grasses and forbs by 2009. Objective 3: Establish oak-hickory forests on all lands that were historically hardwood forest under pre-European settlement conditions by 2012. Objective 4: Permanently conserve 2,200 additional acres of endangered species habitat above the 2004 level to achieve this recovery goal for the Iowa Pleistocene snail and contribute to recovery goals for the Northern monkshood and Leedy’s roseroot by 2020. Objective 5: Permanently conserve 75 additional acres of habitat above the 2004 level to help preclude listing of glacial relict species of concern by 2020. Species Management Goal: Manage and protect endangered species, other trust species, and species of management interest based on sound science through identification and understanding of algific slope communities and associated habitats. Objective 1: Identify and evaluate new algific slopes in the Driftless Area for the presence of threatened and endangered species and species of concern within 3 years of plan approval. Objective 2: Establish the size of upland buffers needed to provide permanent protection of algific talus slopes by 2009. Objective 3: Gain a better understanding of plants and animals associated with algific talus slopes and similar habitats in the Driftless Area. Objective 4: By 2008, determine the appropriate deer density and population structure for Refuge units that will safeguard habitat. Objective 5: Update the recovery plans for Iowa Pleistocene snail and Northern Monkshood within 5 years of CCP approval. Visitor Services Goal: Visitors have an understanding and appreciation of the role of the Refuge in conserving endangered species. Objective 1: Increase environmental education programs by 50 percent within 8 years of CCP approval and establish a reliable system for documenting and monitoring public use within 5 years of CCP approval.

8.b. General Administration

ROS Henry attended the Advanced Refuge Academy in August. ROS Henry was acting McGregor District Manager from October 2005 through January 2006. ROS Henry attended the Regional Biological Workshop in LaCrosse in February and presented a poster on snail monitoring.

8.c. Safety

Monthly safety meetings were attended in conjunction with McGregor District.

8.d. Maintenance

A 2006 Chevy pickup was acquired to replace the 2001 Chevy pickup. A telephone and alarm system were installed at the warehouse at the Howard Creek unit.

8.e. Volunteers

The Nature Conservancy supplied winter and summer interns that contributed a total of 607 hours. A total of 1082 volunteer hours were 16 reported from 25 volunteers. There were several groups that worked at the Refuge to remove invasive vegetation.

8.f. Personnel

Cathy Henry continues to be the ROS in charge of the Driftless Area NWR. McGregor District Manager John Lindell retired October 1, 2005. Tim Yager is the new District Manager who supervises the Driftless Area Refuge.

9. WILDLIFE

9.a. Endangered/Threatened Species

Ecological Services requested the Refuge to complete a five-year review for the Iowa Pleistocene snail. A 5-year review is a periodic process conducted to ensure that the listing classification of a species as threatened or endangered on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants is accurate. The 5-year review is required by section 4(c)(2) of the Endangered Species Act. Refuge staff met with Rock Island ES staff and compiled information for the review which will be completed in 2007 after analysis of the six years of snail monitoring data is completed.

See section 1a, surveys and censuses, for other endangered species information.

9.b. Waterfowl

A wood duck brood was observed at the Steeles Branch Unit.

10. ITEMS OF INTEREST

The University of Iowa Hygienic Lab contacted the Refuge for information about locations of springs to sample for aquatic insects. Subsequently, a special use permit was issued to them to sample springs on the Refuge. Sampling was conducted at three units on April 25, 2006 and on May 30, 2006 at only the Cow Branch unit. Insects were collected using a variety of methods such as sweeping vegetation with nets, beating shrubs and vegetation along the stream, and hand picking insects from rocks and logs.

A total of 12 taxa of stoneflies, mayflies, and caddisflies were collected from all units (Table 4). Ten taxa were collected from the Cow Branch Unit, eight from the Pine Creek/Kulper’s Spring Unit, and four from a spring in the Steeles Branch Unit. The most unique collection was the stonefly, Soyedina vallicularia, which was present at two locations (Table 4). This stonefly had previously only been recorded in Iowa from a small seep in Dubuque County.

University of Iowa Hygienic Lab personnel sampling springs at Cow Branch Unit.

Soyedina vallicularia nymph.

Another stonefly, Nemoura trispinosa, was present at the Pine Creek/Kulper’s Spring and Steeles Branch Units and indicates excellent water quality. The caddisflies and mayflies collected from the units are typical of coldwater springs and streams in Iowa. The caddisflies Glossosoma sp., Lepidostoma sp. and Parapsyche apicalis are indicators of excellent water quality. Twelve Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa were collected from the three units within the Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge. The Trichoptera and Plecoptera made up the majority of taxa collected. When compared to other springs and seeps in Iowa, this seems typical. Finding additional locations for Soyedina vallicularia, Nemoura trispinosa, Glossosoma sp., Lepidostoma sp., and Parapsyche apicalis are good records for Iowa, which has a poor history of documenting aquatic insect distributions.

Table 4. Taxa collected from Cow Branch, Steeles Branch, and Pine Creek/Kulper’s Spring Units, April 25 and May 30, 2006.

18 Collection Sites Taxa - Genus/species Cow Branch Steele Branch Pine Creek/Kulper’s Unit Unit Spring Unit Stoneflies (Plecoptera) Amphinemura delosa X Clioperla clio X X Nemoura trispinosa X X Soyedina vallicularia X X

Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) Baetis tricaudatus X Ephemerella excrucians X

Caddisflies (Trichoptera) Cheumatopsyche sp. X Glossosoma sp. X Hesperophylax designatus X X Lepidostoma sp. X X X Neophylax sp. X X X Parapsyche apicalis X X X

ROS Henry assisted Iowa DNR by collecting litter samples for snails at the Indian Bluffs Wildlife Management Area in Jones County, Iowa. The samples were sent to Dr. Terry Frest to determine if any state listed snails species were present. They were concerned about rock climbers impacting cliff habitats. Although rock climbing is allowed, the DNR would like to ensure there are no impacts to resources at Indian Bluffs and nearby Pictured Rocks Wildlife Area.

11. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Weather conditions can vary greatly from one Refuge unit to another across four counties. Temperature and precipitation data were obtained for Praire du Chien, WI and Dubuque, IA (Table 5) which are somewhat centrally located for the Refuge units.

Table 5. Average weather conditions for FY 2006 at Prairie du Chien and Dubuque. Precipitation and snowfall are in inches, temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

Month/Year Dubuque Prairie du Chien Mean temp Total Total Mean temp Total Total precip snow precip snow Oct 2005 52 0.48 0 52 0.78 0 Nov 2005 39 2.63 0 39 2.97 0 Dec 2005 18 1.53 1 20 0.52 na Jan 2006 32 1.32 10 32 1.16 na Feb 2006 23 0.35 6 23 0.08 na March 2006 36 3.59 2 35 2.44 1.0 April 2006 52 6.6 0 53 6.61 0 May 2006 59 2.68 0 59 2.75 0 June 2006 68 3.78 0 66.7 1.03 0 July 2006 74 6.78 0 74 3.72 0 August 0 0 2006 71 2.0 70 2.55 Sept 2006 59 4.61 0 59 4.81 0 19