Environmental Assessment

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Environmental Assessment FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT DAMAGE MANAGEMENT IN MICHIGAN Prepared By: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE WILDLIFE SERVICES In Cooperation with: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE and the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE June 2011 SUMMARY The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services (USDA, APHIS, WS), the United States Department of the Interior (USDI), Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the USDI National Park Service, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore have prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) on alternatives for the management of Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus, DCCO) damage in Michigan. Increases in the North American DCCO population, and subsequent range expansion have resulted in complaints of DCCO damage to property, aquaculture, and public resources (e.g., co-nesting colonial waterbirds, sport and commercial fish populations, and vegetation), and risks to human health and safety (e.g., risk of DCCO collisions with aircraft). This EA analyzes the need for cormorant damage management (CDM) in Michigan and five alternatives for meeting the need for action including implementation of the Public Resource Depredation Order (PRDO) (50 CFR 21.48) as promulgated by the USFWS. Alternatives considered include: 1) continuing the current CDM program including implementation of the PRDO (No Action Alternative); 2) Implementing an adaptive management program proposed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNR); 3) implementing an adaptive management program proposed by the MDNR with a limit on annual DCCO take intermediate to the current program and the MDNR proposal; 4) Restricting Federal agency CDM to the use of nonlethal methods; and 5) Discontinuing CDM by Federal agencies. Under the Proposed Action Alternative, an Integrated Wildlife Damage Management (IWDM) approach would be implemented to reduce cormorant damage and conflicts to aquaculture, property, and natural resources, and risks to human health and safety in localized situations when it is deemed necessary. Cormorant damage management would be conducted on public and private property in Michigan when the resource owner (property owner) or manager requests assistance and all necessary permits and authorizations have been obtained. Landowner/resource manager permission would be obtained prior to conducting CDM activities at any site. The IWDM strategy would involve the use of practical and effective methods of preventing or reducing damage while minimizing harmful effects of damage management measures on humans, target and non-target species, and the environment. The agencies could provide technical assistance and direct operational damage management, including nonlethal and lethal management methods. When appropriate, physical exclusion, habitat modification, or harassment would be recommended and utilized to reduce damage. In other situations, birds would be humanely removed through use of shooting, egg oiling/destruction, nest destruction, or euthanasia following live capture. In determining the damage management strategy, preference would be given to practical and effective nonlethal methods. However, nonlethal methods may not always be applied as a first response to each damage problem. The most appropriate response could often be a combination of nonlethal and lethal methods, or there could be instances where the application of lethal methods alone would be the most appropriate strategy. All management activities would comply with applicable Federal, State, tribal, and local laws. The USFWS would be responsible for ensuring compliance with the PRDO regulations at 50 CFR 21.48, so that the long-term sustainability of regional DCCO populations is not threatened by CDM activities. 2011 Michigan Cormorant Damage Management EA Page ii TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ II TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................. III ACRONYMS VII CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ................................................................ 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 PURPOSE ........................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 OBJECTIVES ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 DECISION TO BE MADE ................................................................................................. 2 1.4 NEED FOR ACTION ......................................................................................................... 3 1.4.1 Potential DCCO Impact on Aquaculture ................................................................ 4 1.4.2 Potential DCCO Impact on Fishery Resources ....................................................... 4 1.4.3 Potential DCCO Impact on Wildlife and Native Vegetation, Including T&E Species .................................................................................................................... 4 1.4.4 Potential DCCO Impact on Property ...................................................................... 4 1.4.5 Potential DCCO Impact on Human Health and Safety ........................................... 5 1.5 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................ 5 1.5.1 Double-crested Cormorants in Michigan ................................................................ 5 1.5.2 Potential DCCO Impact on Aquaculture ................................................................ 6 1.5.3 Potential DCCO Impact on Fishery Resources ....................................................... 9 1.5.3.1 Les Cheneaux Islands .............................................................................. 10 1.5.3.2 Thunder Bay............................................................................................. 14 1.5.3.3 Bays de Noc ............................................................................................. 17 1.5.3.4 Beaver Islands Archipelago ..................................................................... 19 1.5.3.5 Bellow Island ........................................................................................... 22 1.5.3.6 Paquin and Naubinway Islands ................................................................ 23 1.5.3.7 St. Marys River ........................................................................................ 23 1.5.3.8 Tahquamenon Island ................................................................................ 24 1.5.3.9 Ludington Pumped Storage Project ......................................................... 24 1.5.3.10 Fish Spawning Areas and Release Sites for Stocked Fish ..................... 26 1.5.4 Potential DCCO Impact on Wildlife and Native Vegetation, Including T&E Species .................................................................................................................. 27 1.5.5 Potential DCCO Impact on Property .................................................................... 30 1.5.6 Potential DCCO Impact on Human Health and Safety ......................................... 31 1.5.7 Michigan DCCO Coordination Group .................................................................. 33 1.5.8 Proposed Initial DCCO Population Management Objectives for Breeding Colonies in Michigan ............................................................................................ 33 1.5.8.1 General Objectives ................................................................................... 33 1.5.8.2 MDNRE Management Objectives ........................................................... 35 1.5.8.3 Tribal CDM Projects ................................................................................ 39 1.5.8.4 National Wildlife Refuge Policy .............................................................. 42 1.5.8.5 Future PRDO Projects.............................................................................. 42 1.6 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS ............................ 43 2011 Michigan Cormorant Damage Management EA Page iii 1.7 SCOPE OF THIS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ................................................. 43 1.7.1 Actions Analyzed .................................................................................................. 43 1.7.2 Period for Which this EA is Valid ........................................................................ 44 1.7.3 American Indian Tribes and Land ........................................................................ 44 1.7.4 Site Specificity ...................................................................................................... 45 1.7.5 Summary of Public Involvement .......................................................................... 46 1.8 AUTHORITY AND COMPLIANCE ............................................................................... 46 1.8.1 Authority of each Cooperating Agency in CDM in Michigan ............................. 49 1.8.2 Compliance
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