FERGUS FALLS WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Fergus Falls, Minnesota
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1986
U.S. Dept. of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service NAT'L WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM REVIEW AND APPROVALS
FERGUS FALLS WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
Fergus Falls/ Minnesota
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 1986
Submitted Ity Date
X ? u_ n Date
Regional Office Approval Date INTRODUCTION
The Fergus Falls District is one of four districts within the iMinnesota Wetlands Complex. The District covers 35,803 acres in fee title and 85,313 under easement in four west-central Minnesota counties.
The Fergus Falls Wetland Management District was established in 1952. The District manages Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA's) and administers easements in four Minnesota counties: Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail and Wilkin. The FWS attempts to purchase WPA units with a preferred habitat ratio between wetland and upland acres, which provides the nesting habitat. Other wetlands, both permanent and temporary, are protected through an easement agreement with the landowner who agrees not to burn, drain, level or fill his wetlands in return for a single lump-sum payment.
The Fergus Falls WMD lies within the transition zone between the western prairies and the eastern deciduous forests. Here, at the forest'edge, annual rainfall totals about 24 inches. This region supports woodlands on many sites and much of the uplands were once covered by tallgrass prairie vegetation.
All of Wilkin County, plus the west half of Grant County and western Otter Tail Counties lies within the basin of the Red River of the North, better known as glacial Lake Agassiz. Sixty-six percent of the District's land surface is under agricultural production.
The recent history of the Fergus Falls District's four-county area shows that it was a new frontier just a short time ago. The area was the scene of frequent clashes between the Chippewa (Ojibway) and Sioux Indians before and after white settlers moved into the region. Buffalo rings, mounds, flintstones and arrowheads are frequent signs of the region's past. The first white people in the Fergus Falls District were French and English fur traders and explorers. There are records of fur traders in Otter Tail County dating back to 1792. Settlers began arriving around 1858, but the Sioux uprising of 1862 in southern Minnesota caused many of the people to leave the' area. Joseph Whitford, the man who named Fergus Falls was killed by Indians who mistook him for a deer.
The Northern Pacific and Great Northern Railroads arrived in 1871 and 1879, respectively. They provided vital links with grain markets in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth and helped farmers move from making a subsistance living to making a profit on their crops. 1
INTRODUCTION Page TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
A. HIGHLIGHTS 4
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 5
C. LAND ACQUISITION
1. Fee Title 5 2. Easements 6 3. Other 6
D. PLANNING
1. Master Plan 9 2. Management Plan Nothing*to report 3. Public Participation Nothing to report 4. Compliance with Env. and Cult. Resource Mandates 9 5. Research and Investigation Nothing to report 5. Other Nothing to report
E. ADMINISTRATION
l'. Personnel 10 2. Youth Programs 11 3. Other Manpower Programs 12 4. Volunteer Program 13 5. Funding 13 6. Safety 13 7. Technical Assistance j 14 8. Other 14
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General : 15 2. Wetlands 17 3. Forests 22 4. Croplands 22 5. Grasslands 28 6. Other Habitats Nothing to Report 7. Grazing Nothing to Report 8. Haying Nothing to Report 9. Fire Management 28 10. Pest Control 29 11. Water Rights 32 12. Wilderness and Special Areas 33 13. WPA Easement Monitoring 33 2
G. WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife Diversity 38 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 38 3. Waterfowl 39 4. Marsh and Water Birds 50 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species 50 6. Raptors 50 7. Other Migratory Birds 51 8. Game Mammals 52 9. Marine Mammals Nothing to Report 10. Other Resident Wildlife 52 11. Fisheries Resources 52 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking Nothing to Report 13. Surplus Animal Disposal Nothing "to Report 14. Scientific Collections 53 15. Animal Control 53 16. Marking and Banding Nothing' to Report 17. Disease Prevention and Control Nothing to Report
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General 54 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students Nothing to Report 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers Nothing to Report 4. Interpretive Foot Trails Nothing to Report 5. Interpretive Tour Routes Nothing to Report 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations 54 7. Other Interpretive Programs 54 8. Hunting 55 9. Fishing 57 10. Trapping J 5 7 11. Wildlife Observation 58 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation Nothing to Report 13. Camping Nothing to Report 14. Picnicking Nothing to Report 15. Off-Road Vehicling ' 58 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation 58 17. Law Enforcement 58 18. Cooperative Assistance Nothing to Report 19. Concessions Nothing to Report
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
1. New Construction 59 2. Rehabilitation 61 3. Major Maintenance Nothing to Report 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 61 5. Communications Systems 62 6. Computer Systems Nothing to Report 7. Energy Conservation Nothing to Report 8. Other Nothing to Report 3
J. OTHER ITEMS
1. Cooperative Programs Nothing to Report 2. Other Economic Uses Nothing to Report 3. Items of Interest 53 4. Credits 65 4
A. HIGHLIGHTS
Spring, summer and early fall 1986 were extremely wet causing a multitude of problems. Farmers had difficulty seeding their crop, curing hay and getting the harvest in extended well into the fall. Many row crops had to be combined after the ground froze. High water problems were present everywhere making marsh and lake levels the highest they have been this century. Our field crews were continually getting stuck and some areas were not accessible due to the high water.
The high water problem for us on Nicholson WPA commanded considerable time and effort on our staff. The WPA lies between Swan Lake (to the north) and Mineral Lake (to the south). People on Swan say the Fish and Wildlife Service is holding back water and causing flooding problems for them. At the same time, landowners Involved with Mineral Lake say*we are letting too much water through our control structure and into that lake. To alleviate this problem, we began a pumping operation to shunt water from the Swan Lake flowage directly into the Porarae de Terre'River rather than let it go into Mineral. With all the precipitation we've had, the problem is sure to follow us into 1987.
Another highlight was the completion of the second Ducks Unlimited funded project on Redhead Slough WPA. Here a 200-acre marsh can now be managed via water control structure to exclude carp and enhance the aquatic vegetation. Several other proposed projects are in the mill right now for the next couple of years.
For the first time, we began an all out effort to trap predators from 1,500 acres of WPAs in Grant and Otter Tail Counties. We had one person working full time on this from late March through the end of June. Target species were fox, skunk, raccoon and Franklin's ground squirrels. Several of the WPAs seemed to have an explosion of Franklin's on them as our trapping summary indicates. 5
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
Precipitation Temperature
Fergus Fergus Falls Alexandria Falls Avg. Alexandria Avg. Hi Lo Hi Lo
Jan. .40 .84 .99 .67 45 -27 44 -25 Feb. .44 .62 1.09 .62 43 -26 39 -18 Mar. .80 1.05 1.03 1.00 73 -17 69 -13 Apr. 4.38 2.37 6.51 2.47 66 21 75 27 May 2.77 2 .04 3.56 3.00 89 27 88 27 Jun. 3.70 4.36 7.94 4.01 89 43 92 47 Jul. 5.01 3.21 4.98 3.18 88 49 90 56 Aug. 4.57 3.01 7.28 3.53 83 41 86 43 Sep. 6.56 2.09 4.38 2.14 75 38 79 39 Oct. .13 1.45 .5 1.89 71 16 72 22 Nov. .96 1.35 1.96 1.02 55 - 2 54 ' - 3 Dec. .04 .90 .11 .71 44 -13 46 - 7
1986 started out snowy and warm. More than average amounts of rain were received April through September. April was the second wettest April in history and October being the driest October on record. September and October were gloomy with only 35 percent of available sunshine. As of this writing, the winter of 1986-87 has a great chance of going on the record books as the warmest one yet.
C. LAND ACQUISITION
1. Fee Title
Status of Fee Acquisition as of December 31, 1986
No. of CY Total No. of Wetland Total Upland Tracts No. of Mgmt. Acres Wetland Acres Total Goal County Optioned Tracts Units Optioned* Acres Optioned * Acres Acres
Douglas 4 108 51 79 2 ,997 361 8,129 21,600
Grant 2 136 51 52 3 ,493 195 8,609 20,700
Otter Tail 9 228 101 159 6 ,023 544 17 ,464 41,180
Wilkin 2_ 15 6 132 545 354 1,601 2 ,120
TOTAL 17 487 209 422 13,058 1,454 35,803 85,600
As can be seen in the tables, fee acquisition really took off in 1986. The economically-stressed farm economy, along with the drop in land values, has given us a golden opportunity to purchase land.
Of the fee purchases in 1986, all but one tract were roundouts to existing WPAs. *in 1986 6
The Refuge Revenue Sharing Act provides for yearly payments to local units of government which are the primary collectors for general purpose real property taxes on lands under the administration of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Funding for these payments is derived from revenues received from the sale of products from these lands plus a supplemental congressional appropriation. For 1985, revenues and the supplemental appropriation provided 64 percent of the full entitled amount. The checks were personally delivered to each county in the District in June 1986 in the following amounts:
County Revenue Sharing Payment
Otter Tail $47,588 Douglas $26,260 Grant $29,553 Wilkin $ 4,903
2. Easements
Status of Easement Acquisition as of December 31, 1986
Total Total Total No. of Wetland Wetland Easement Goal County Tracts Acres Acres Acres Acres
Douglas 6 179 4,713 21,707 36,100
Grant *3 96 2,524 9,824 13,300
Otter Tail 13 303 11,133 52,851 66,800
Wilkin 0 0 173 931 1,350
Total 22 578 18,543 85,313 117,550
*This figure includes two flowage easements acquired for a Ducks Unlimited project.
Although easement acquisition was not as strong as fee, we took more easement acres in 1986 than we have since 1982. An effort was made to concentrate on wetlands along the west side of the District. Most wetlands in this region are highly vulnerable to drainage as they can be easily drained west into the Red River Valley.
3. Other
A small tract of 14.7 acres on Bjerktvedt WPA was turned over to the Fish and Wildlife Service for management by The Nature Conservancy. :• v i> j
Easement Wet Acres by Year Acres 4 ,200 4 ,000 3,800 3,600 3,400 3 ,200 3,000 2 ,800 2,600 2 ,400 2 ,200 2 ,000 1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0
Year: 62 63 64 65 66 67 58 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 k..
Fee Wet Acres by Year Acres 4 ,200 4,000 3 ,800 3,600 3,400 3 ,200 3 ,000 2 ,800 2 ,600 2 ,400 2 ,200 2 ,000 1,800 1,600 1,400 1 ,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0
oo Year: 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 9
D. PLANNING
1. Master Plan
Initial Project Worksheets were prepared for a new Wetland Management District office to be constructed at the site of the present maintenance shop and a cold storage facility to be constructed at the same site. Both projects are part of the site plan for the WMD. Projected costs are $1 million for the office and $150,000 for the storage facility.
Planning work on two future Ducks Unlimited projects was accomplished. A riser pipe on the outlet of Jones Lake on Spink WPA (Hibrooten) has been engineered, with appropriate approval being sought. Preliminary planning for a structure on the Julsrud-Haugrud units began. This is a joint project between the Fergus Falls and Detroit Lakes Wetland * Management Districts.
4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates
During 1984, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) performed a reconstruction project on Trunk Highway 59 through Otter Tail County and into Grant County. Contrary to an agreement worked out before the project started, MnDOT lowered several culverts and ditch grades. This violated Executive Order 11990. This Order states that no wetlands shall be drained with Federal funds on public works proj ects.
MnDOT agreed to correct the culvert elevations and ditch grade. This corrective work was completed during 1986. In addition, MnDOT was supposed to provide mitigation for other wetland losses associated with the project. To meet this requirement, they had agreed to purchase an undrainec wetland, restore it and transfer it either to the MN Department of Natural Resources or to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. MnDOT located a drained wetland of approximately 40-60 acres plus some upland which fit the objective perfectly. An Inspection was held at the site in early summer involving MN DOT engineers, environmental people and the area DNR game manager who would take over management. As of the end of the year, this acquisition had not taken place. Hopefully this situation will be totally resolved in 1987.
An Environmental Assessment was prepared for a joint Otter Tail County and township road project associated with Rush Lake WPA, CT-56. The permit was ordered and received; however, the project has yet to be done. No wetlands are involved with the project and the upland which is involved will be replaced by reclaiming the former roadbed site which they plan to abandon. The objective of the project is to provide potential for the Fergus Falls airport to lengthen the main runway.
Another EA was prepared for a Douglas County Highway road project involving I mile of road reconstruction east of Melby, MN. Since raising of the grade involved filling of easement wetlands, mitigation of .5 acre was required. The county met the mitigation with a permanent easement on wetlands subject to drainage. This project was County-State Aid Highway 24 out of Melby but no Federal funds were used. Mitigation on future projects like this will be aimed at restoring drained wetlands. 10
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel
'^ >5 7 s' 7/0 H ^ 1. Kevin J. Brennan, Wetland Manager, GS-I2, PFT 2. Willard E. Steffen, Asst. Wetland Manager, GS-11, PFT 3. Larry Rauen, Asst. Wetland Manager, -GS-l1, PFT A. Wendell W. Olson, Range Conservationist, GS-11, PFT 5. Charles R. Vukonich, Biological Technician, GS-7, PFT 6. Luther J. Melby, Maintenance Worker, WG-7, PFT 7. Pauline Wiziarde, Administrative Technician, GS-5, PFT 8. George Heglund, Tractor Operator, WG-5, CS 9. Alan Anderson, Biological Technician, GS-5, Temporary 10. Stephanie Fasko-Frost, Refuge Manager, GS-5, PFT (Transferred 11/10/86 11. Tom Siekaniec, Biological Aid, GS-4, Temporary 12. Tom Pabian, Biological Technician, GS-5, Temporary 13. Gordon Mcstue, Green Thumb employee 14. Ray Schnoor, County Workfare employee
Permanent Temporary
Fu11-Time Career-Seasonal
FY 1986 FY 1985 FY 1984 FY 1983 FY 1982 FY 1981 FY 1980 FY 1979 FEE ACRES, MANAGEMENT UNIT, STAFF DAYS AND DOLLARS
Fiscal Total Fee No. Mgt. Permanent Temp, YACC/YCC Year Acres Unit Staff-Days Staff-Days Staff-Days Dollars
1980 33,112 209 2,071 623 243 585,500 1981 33,222 208* 2,039 415 23 333,000 1982 33,297 208 1,690 217 220 327,800 1983 33,381 208 1,820 150 500 334,000 1984 33,602 208 1,725 325 537 339,975 1985 34,349 208 1,725 310 191 503,300 1986 35,942 209 1,725 434 197 435,950
*Decline due to Todd County transfer to Litchfield WMD.
During 1986 several changes occurred on the WMD staff. Stephanie Fasko-Frost was hired in February as a Refuge Manager Trainee, GS-5. During November, Stephanie transferred to Horicon NWR to take a' Biological Technician position.
Rollin Siegfried was selected in December 1985 for the position of Division Supervisor vacated by Norrel Wallace on January 5, 1986. Will Steffen received a temporary promotion to Wetland Manager, GS-12, from February 2 through May 11, 1986, while the search went on for a new manager. Kevin Brennan was selected as the new Wetland Manager beginning work in May. Kevin came from Crescent Lake NWR in Region 6.
The rehiring of experienced summer help (like Tom Siekaniec and Alan Anderson) proved invaluable in completing work due to their familiarity with the WMD.
E. ADMINISTRATION
2. Youth Programs
The 1986 YCC program at the Fergus Falls WMD consisted of five YCC enrollees selected from three communities. The" Minnesota Job Service Center in Fergus Falls handled the job of randomly selecting the enrollees of two boys and two girls. The fifth selected to come back for his second year served as Youth Leader. The enrollees were: Kristi Olson, Kevin Schmaltz and Leah Schultz of Fergus Falls; Eric Stonestrom, Ashby; and Youth Leader John Rose, also of Fergus Falls. The crew was supplemented by Jason Swenson and Kurt Svendsgaard, youths hired under the Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (CEP).
They were all initially supervised by Jeff Anderson, an adult CEP employee, but he left for National Guard active duty, so the job was transferred to the staff of Biological Technicians who supervised and planned the day-to-day activities. A large variety of jobs was completed by the YCC crew throughout Grant, Douglas and Otter Tail Counties. Some of the jobs and highlights are as follows: 12
They painted the entire interior of the office building, removed 7 miles of interior fence from several WPAs, repaired 10 parking lots, and moved the entire supply yard from Nicholson WPA to the present maintenance site at Mavis WPA.
Enrollees went on six field trips, including a major one to Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge.
Youth crew: Leah Schultz, John Rose (Youth Leader), Kevin Schmaltz, Jason Swenson (Youth CEP), Eric Stonestrom, Kristi Olson
3. Other Manpower Programs
This station again had Mr. Gordon Mostue and Mr. Raymond Schnoor employed under the Green Thumb Program and Countv Workfare Program, respectively. Mr. Mostue has been with the station for approximately 5 years. Gordie helps keep the maintenance shop tidy, washes and waxes vehicles as well as assisting in maintenance of the grounds and minor maintenance/janitoral duties at the office. Ray has been with us for 3 years and assists in a wide variety of vehicle maintenance and prefabrication type projects. Ray is quite capable of small and large repair jobs. We pay none of the salaries for these two employees. Green Thumb is a federally funded program under the auspices of the Department of Labor and sponsorship of the Farmers Union. I 13
1 4, Volunteer Program
We had one individual, Kevin Kvenvolden, volunteer to assist in prescribed burning. Kevin is a forestry graduate who was hoping for the chance to be involved. After attending Basic Fire Management training, he assisted on several prescribed burns.
Alan Anderson, a Biological Technician who has been a temporary employee with us for a number of years, volunteered to trap beaver from problem areas after he was terminated last fall. He was successful in removing several beaver in 10 days.
5. Funding
The following table shows the funding for the past 6 years.
WORK CODE FY 1981 FY 1982 FY 1983 FY 1984 FY 1985 —^FY 1986
1210 $281,000 $300,000 $269,000 1220 5,000 20,000 18,000 1240 15,000 11,000 15,000 1260 $273,500 $375,400 $423,100 1520 17,700 22,975 8,900 7,850 3110 10,000 6,800 5,000 3100 5,000 5,000 5,000 BLHP 2821 22,000* Job Orders 38,500 114,000 Totals $333,000 $327,800 $324,700 $339,975 $503,300 $435,950
*Could only be used for fencing.
6. Safety
Only three minor injuries were sustained this calendar year. One employee accidentally punctured a finger with a needle that had just been used to euthanize a skunk. Only an office call to the local clinic resulted.
A YCC enrollee punctured a knee when she unknowingly knelt on barbed wire. A tetanus shot was necessary.
The final accident involved an employee who slipped on ice and injured his back. The employee lost l1^ duty days and was on light duty status for ] week following injury.
Thorough inspection of the office and maintenance shop was conducted by the safety committee. Minor problems were corrected, some of which involved electrical rewiring. Earl Markwell, Regional Safety Officer, toured both the office and shop buildings during late summer 1986.
Three defensive driving safety meetings were presented. Also, First Aid Training (8 hour course) was given to all employees. 7. Technical Assistance
With the advent of the new state and federal farm programs, much emphasis has been placed on providing expertise to various agencies and individuals.
Vukonich and Brennan served on the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) steering committees for Douglas and West Otter Tail Counties.
Brennan attended various meetings put on by the SCS and met with different offices in the WMD regarding the swampbuster provisions. The FWS expertise in wetland identification and classification seems to be what the SCS would like to use. The WMD is monitoring possible violations of this provision.
The entire WMD staff began participating in the "piggyback lease" program which began late in December. This program was designed to provide a $5 per acre incentive to landowners to sign up in the CRP program. Lands are prioritized for the program as follows:
(1) Lands under FWS easement (2) Lands adjacent to WPAs (3) Lands with good wetland complexes
8. Other
The high water situation at Nicholson WPA (OT-88) - Swan Lake - Mineral Lake continued to be a problem and resulted in a tort claim of approximately $160,000. Swan Lake above Nicholson WPA is highly improved with recreational cabins and year-round homes and Mineral Lake below Nicholson WPA is relatively undeveloped with an excellent waterfowl history.
Historically, water flowed directly from what is now Nicholson WPA into the Pomme de Terre River. However, someone rerouted the water into Mineral Lake in an attempt to drain the Nicholson marsh. There had been no major effects on water levels of Mineral Lake until the past 2 years when Mineral Lake rose 4-5 feet. For the first time in approximately 100 years Mineral Lake overflowed into North Ten Mile Lake rejoining the Pomme de Terre.
The tort claim has been denied by the Field Solicitor. The claimants' only recourse is to sue. In the meantime, with Minnesota DNR concurrence, a carp barrier will be placed at the point where Swan Lake enters the WPA and a "Texas" crossing will be built to allow water to flow either into Mineral Lake or directly into the Pomme de Terre.
Another water related situation involved Busko WPA (OT-52) where high water levels came as a result of a low dike and the record rains. Water from the WPA was backed up through a private tile system into private, drained wetlands. The owner wanted to submit a tort claim for damages of $10,000 but was dissuaded by his attorney. They had considered selling part of the property to the Service, but backed out when we were forced to lower the water levels because they began to overtop the dike. When we released water, we became the target of an irate downstream landowner because of soil erosion. He ignored the fact that we had kept water flows off his property through one entire crop season and part of another. The drawdown should be completed by the time he plants another crop. Hopefully, this will mollify him.
Another tort claim resulted from rapid spring runoff discharges at Mud Lake WPA (G-IO). Downstream landowners submitted tort claims for soil erosion damage to the tune of approximately $40,000. They claim the large discharges came down the channel from Mud Lake so fast that water jumped a low levy and caused erosion across several thousand acres of flat valley farmland. According to them, the Service caused the problem by not having stoplogs in the drawdown structure. It could have been much worse if Mud Lake had not been in total drawdown. The Field Solicitor will no doubt deny the claim early in 1987, then the claimants will have to sue if they hope to gain anything.
For the spring of 1987 the plan is to have all stoplogs in place well ahead of snow melt. This is what they want knowing that a township road may be taken out. This one is not over yet!
A Minnesota DNR climatologist has released some calculations which indicate that the last 5 years in this area have been the wettest 5 years in recorded cllmatological history in the state of Minnesota. Using historical fluctuations in wet cycles and dry cycles, he also predicts that this-wet cycle could last for another 8-10 years.
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
1. General
During Calendar Year 1985, a problem associated with Anderson WPA (OT-64) developed when a land-locked neighbor established a trail on the WPA to gain access to his property. The individual was warned that it was trespass but he felt that the Service was obligated to provide him an all-weather access to his property. Certainly this would be non-compatible with the purpose of the WPA. A requested Field Solicitor opinion stated that he had not established prescriptive rights prior to the Service purchase of the property. His attorney was notified and apparently they accepted the opinion because they pursued other routes for access. A hearing was held in June 1986 before the Maine Township Board. As of this writing, the Service is out of it.
Germination values for the 1985 harvest of native prairie were not available in time to be included in the 1985 narrative. The summary is as follows: 16
1985 Seed Harvest
Harvest Area: Atherton WMA - 100 acres Yield: 3,528 lbs. cleaned bulk
% % % Purity Germ. Dorm. lbs. PLS Big Bluestem 69.47 60 3 1,544 Tall dropseed 10.15 41 52 333 Total 1,877
inert % 18.91 weeds % .17 other crop % - 1.3
Other crop: little bluestem, Indiangrass, switchgrass, green needlegrass, wheat, prairie dropseed
Weeds: lamb's quarters, ticklegrass, blazing star, *prairie cordgrass, *goldenrod, *sunflover, common milkweed
Custom combining cost: $950.00 yield/acre: 18.7 lbs. PLS
*should be listed under "other crops"
Liatris aspera Michx. (rough blazing star) appears on most of our local origin seedings about 3 years after planting. The infloresence is often covered with scape moths. An entomologist from Concordia College is seeing what he can find out about the life cycle of this moth to see if there's a possibility that it may be hitchhiking a ride on our seed. 8/86 WO 17
Very wet conditions throughout the growing season again had an adverse effect on the native prairie seed harvest. Conditions were especially wet during the fall and harvest had to be delayed. Approximately 100 acres were harvested on Atherton WMA on October 5 and 6. A 45 mph wind occurred about 10 days previous resulting in much shattering of seed. The bulk yield was only 711 pounds (cleaned). We had to leave some areas after getting the combine stuck.
A total of 111 acres were harvested on October 27 on Agassiz Beachline WPA and an adjacent private prairie (Willis Roehl). This was about one month after the normal harvest date, but it was estimated that approximately 20 percent of the seed remained; 1,534 pounds cleaned bulk were harvested. Again, some areas were left after we got the combine stuck. The small yield on this area was particularly disappointing since it most assuredly would have been a record yield had we been able to harvest a month earlier.
Total custom combine cost was $2,004.50 ($9.50/acre). The seed'test report is not available in time for the 1986 narrative. A summary will be in the 1987 narrative.
Because of 2 years in a row of lower than expected seed harvest, the 1987 seedings will deplete all of our seed reserve. A good harvest in 1987 is a must.
2. Wetlands
Water control structures of various types were operational on 19 wetland basins totalling 1,053 acres. No new control structures were installed during 1986; however, a tile riser was fitted to a 140-inch county tile line that underlies wetlands on the Green WPA (G-8) on December 5, 1986. This temporary riser will be replaced with a sub-surface irrigation water control valve in 1987 which will give water level manipulation capabilities.
The water level manipulation is directed at three areas: (1) creating conditions attractive to breeding pairs, (2) enhancing marsh productivity with major emphasis placed on providing optimum brood rearing habitat, and (3) management directed toward increasing the availability of natural foods for migrational use. The following table summarizes proposed and achieved water levels during the 1986 growing season late in the field.
All water gauges were tied into mean sea level and future reports will reflect that base elevation. This will eliminate the problem of useless past water level readings when gauges are taken out by ice. The year 1986 was one of very high precipitation. Consequently, more than enough water was available to fill the basins to desired levels. In most cases too much water was plaguing us. 1986 Water Wetland/No./Acres Management Goal Conments
Julsrud/1/150.0 Drawdown Boards were pulled in July and beaver were removed to facilitate a complete drawdown. Drawdown will continue until late summer 1987 when reflooding of pool will begin.
Julsrud/2/6.0 100.0 Basin full entire field season.
Blakesley/3/61.0 Drawdown Boards were gradually pulled beginning In July until mid August when all boards were pulled. Draw down will continue until late summer 1987 when reflooding of pool will begin. * Backstroni/4/22.0 96.5 Boards were pulled in July to meet this objective. Pool elevation will remain at this elevation through 1987 to encourage more emergent vegetation.
Mickelson/5/39.5 97.5 Hold at this level through 1987.
Rossow/6/21.5 96.0 Hold at this level through 1987.
Mortenson/7/6.3 99.3 Hold at this level through 1987.
Ten Mile/8/35.2 98.6 Attempts were made to draw down marsh beginning in late July but North Ten Mile Lake was too high to allow for this to occur. The minimum gauge reading was 97.6.
Stowe Lake/9/121/2 100.0 Stowe Lake" itself was so high that it was the same elevation as the marsh or even higher at which time (9/23/86) water was into the marsh from the lake.
Orange/12/10.2 Drawdown Began drawing down marsh in July but beaver were continually plugging attempts. Animals were removed and complete drawdown was accomplished. Drawdown will continue until late summer 1987 when pool will be reflooded. 19
1986 Water Wetland/No./Acres Management Goal Comments
Runestone/13/10.8 81.0 Held at this elevation through the full season.
Nordby/14/17.0 100.0 Maintained this pool level through the entire field season.
DeLong/15/13,0 97.5 This is the first year we have been able to hold desired water levels in the marsh basins. Goal was finally obtained.
Zickur/16/15.0 99.5 Structure was held at 98,5 tro "save" dike from severe washing that began during the spring thaw. Dike was repaired.
Staff/17/11.4 99.0 Objective maintained. Backhoe needed to remove silt both upstream and downstream.
Langos/18/28.4 100.0 Considerable beaver problems here caused water levels in excess of 100.0 most of the summer. Beaver were removed but backhoe is still needed to clean structure.
Nicholson/19/99.8 99.0 Pool was held at 99.5 all season and water was pumped directly into the Pomme de Terre River to keep water going through the structure and into Mineral Lake at a minimum. Legal problems haunt us on this structure.
Odens/22/9. 1 Nonfunctional. FWS did not obtain ag use of the property until late 1986. Basin will be flooded beginning Spring 1987.
Mud Lake/20/243 Drawdown Complete drawdown was not possible due to sediment build up betw-een the structure and Highway 55. We experienced high water problems here in the spring. This, coupled with the fact that this project is tied into the Minnesota DNR Ash Lake project, will determine if reflooding will occur in 1987. To date no decision has been made. 20
1986 Water Wetland/No./Acres Management Goal Comments
Redhead Slough/21/ Drawdown Nonfunctional in 1986 because pro- 210.0 ject was not completed until mid summer 1986.
A highlight for the summer was the completion of the Ducks Unlimited funded water control structure on Redhead Slough WPA (G-26). The structure consists of 100 feet of sheet piling with a 50-foot spillway and an 18-inch drawdown culvert with a stoplog structure. To keep carp from entering the marsh from the southwest, a carp barrier was constructed and will be fitted to the structure during the winter 1987. The 200-acre plus marsh was in a drawdown state in 1986 and reflooding is scheduled to begin in the spring of 1987.
While excavating the drawdown ditch on the Redhead Slough project, a number of buffalo skeletons were unearthed. These skulls and leg bones were found by a resident, Lyle Alvstad, who lives near the WPA. Redhead Slough is known for its flowing springs and deep muck. Buffalo no doubt would be mired down in the "traps" and die. 6/86 KJB 21
The joint effort between Ducks Unlimited and the FWS to restore Redhead Slough was a real highlight this year. Pictured in front of the weir and water dam just prior to the completion of the project are clockwise: Terry Ragen, construction manager for DU; Ernie Husmann, Chief Engineer; Wetland Manager Kevin Brennan; and Dave Thompson, Construction Engineer. 6/86 Grant Co. Herald 22
In this District, the most common type of wetland management is that of wetland restoration. This is in the form of earthen ditch plugs and tile line breaks to restore the wetlands to conditions prior to agricultural drainage. The following development work, plus additional earthwork was completed during the 1986 field season:
Ditch Plugs Tile Breaks Water Control WPA No. RIP No.'s RIP No.'s Structures
Leverson G-6 1 (RIP 47) Rachel D-5 3 (RIP 61,62,63) 1 (RIP 64) Stowe Lake D-6 1 (RIP 4) Millerville D-l 1 (RIP 164) Dahler Slough OT-57 11 (RIP 17,18,19 20,21,22,23,24, 25,26,27) Redhead Slough G-26 1 (RIP 138)* Totals 16 2 1 *
*110-foot sheet piling structure with 50-foot spillway and 18-lnch drawdown culvert with 64-inch stoplogs.
3. Forests
Forest management is very limited in the District. Most timber on WPAs consists of scattered woodlots that have previously been heavily grazed and cut over. Several units, however, do contain some native burr oak, green ash and basswood, with a mixture of aspen, ironwood and birch.
District personnel have met with a local DNR forester and it was decided that he would cruise the timber on two wooded WPAs in Douglas County. Permits are to be issued to thin the stand and to remove dead and fallen trees. Two Special Use Permits were issued for the removal of fuelwood from WPAs. One of these was- to cut five cords of dead fuelwood on the Larson WPA (D-22) and a second was issued to remove wind-blown downed trees from the Steinlicht WPA (G-5).
4. Croplands
A. Food Plots
In 1986, the WMD had a total of 17 corn food plots on WPAs. This was one more than in 1985. In addition to food plots on fee lands, 13 new food plots were created on Mid-Continent's 10-year lease areas. Local area game managers (DMPv"1 and organizations such as Pheasants Forever and sportsmen's clubs promote food plots for the small pheasant population. No further reductions in our program are planned because of the poor public relations that would result. 23
Corn Food Plots - 1986
Name No, Harvested/Left Cooperator
Otter Tail County Horstman Loomer WPA 2 6.7/3.3 FF Fish & Game (not planted) Oscar WPA 49 4/2 Dean Newton Blacken Lake WPA 27 0/3 Stalker Lake Sportsmen Rabbit River 53 0/3 Fergus Falls Fish & Game Agassiz WPA 60 6/3 Louis Obowa Iverson WPA 91 0/3 Lester Iverson PCA WPA 81 0/3 Stalker Lake Sportsmen WPA Total 1&T7/20.3
Boen, E. Lease 6 0/1.5 E. Boen Jensen, D. Lease 14 0/9 Jensen/Pheasants Forever 0/? 7 Kvern, G. Lease 3 % Maack, W. Lease 4 0/2 Maack / Pheasants Forever Piekarski, E. Lease 7 0/2 Piekarski/Pheasants Forever Lease Total 0/14.5+ County Total 16.7/34.8+
Grant County Pomme de Terre WPA 1 0/5 Sheldon Tyberg Bah Lakes WPA 28 0/3 Evansville Sportsmen(not planted) Lillemoen WPA 42 6/3 Robert Goerdt (not planted) Hibrooten Lake WPA 13 8/4 Harlan Olson WPA Total 14/15
Ricks, L. Lease 16 0/5 Ricks Schreiner, 5, Lease 6 0/1 Schreiner Lease Total 0/6 County Total 14/21
Douglas County Reger V7PA 2 0/3.5 Milierville Sportsmen Olson WPA 21 0/6 Evansville Sportsmen Fedje WPA 32 0/5 Evansville Sportsmen McDowell WPA 47 6/3 Gilbert Kuhnau Sabolik WPA 31 0/ . 7 5 DNR Glenwood Hudson WPA 4 10/5 Marvin Eblin WPA Tocal !• 23.25
Berry, J. Lease 1 C '4 Boedekker, J. Lease 2 5/3 Hi Hard .'el son Erickson, K. Lease 13 0/5 Evansville Sportsmen Hoffman, B. Lease 3 0/1 Hoffman Olson, A. 5 0/? Olson Olson, R. Lease 18 0/? Lease Total 5/13 + County Total 21/36.25+
All Counties WPAs: 46.7/58.55 All Counties Leases: 5/33.5 Grand Total: 51.7/92.05
? = unknown number of acres and unknown cooperator 24
B, Cash Rent
One thousand forty-two (1,042) acres were farmed under the cash rent program in 1986. The program allows a permittee to crop the land for a fair market value rent and is designed to leave a weed-free seedbed suitable for no-till seeding of native grass. Almost all the areas were seeded to soybeans. Treflan was used in most cases. Most areas were sprayed with Basagran for Canada thistle control. Nine thousand one hundred ninety-seven dollars ($9,197) were added to the revenue sharing fund in 1986 as a result of the cash rent program.
Overall, the cash rent program has worked quite well, but there are problems. Occasionally, a cash renter will deliberately have weed problems, thinking that he will be able to farm another year. In that case, we look for another renter. Since the program began in 1979, we have had problems collecting rent money from four permittees. Considering the large number of permittees and the shape of the farm economy, we are probably doing better collecting land rent than the private sector is.
Cash rent prices for our land have gone down steadily, mostly because it is a renter's market. Other reasons are that our land is generally of poorer quality and we are requiring more chemicals (mostly Roundup) than what is usually necessary. Since the Fish and Wildlife Service farming is designed to control weeds prior to seeding native grasses, we don't use it primarily as an economic benefits program. 25
Cash Rent Report
1986 Crop Year
Fergus Falls WMD
The following is a summary of SUPs in effect this year:
County Unit £ Acres Rate Total
Otter Tail Rabbit River 53 26 $20 $520.00 Busko 52 9 * * Scribner 68 29 1 29.00 r Kube 51 62 20 1,240.00 Knobel Lake 90 45 15 675.00 Knobel Lake 90 12 15 180.00 Jorgenson 62 42 20 840.00 Backstrora 98 135 * * * Gilmore 79 10 * * Julsrud 39 122 10 1,220.00 Julsrud 39 100 * •k
Douglas Banke Slough 10 29 12 348.00 Odens 35 90 8 720.00 Zickur 40 29 * * Grandokken-Sav. 43 75 2 150.00
Grant Uphoff 47 14 30 z.20.00 Bellevue 36 34 30 1,020.00 Historical Soc. 31 35 20 "00.00 Steinlicht 5 39 15 585.00 Cheney Trust 30 50 -k k X X Bah Lakes 28 55 10 550.00
Total 1,042 9, 197.00
Average:' $8.83/acre
* No payment required until 1987.
** Not farmed, too wet
Average lower because rent agreements don't require payment until second year. 26
C. Other Fanning
A total of 146 acres (G-28, OT-25 and G-15) were farmed under a cooperative farming agreement. The Mid-Continent Waterfowl Management Project is using these WPAs to conduct waterfowl nesting studies in no-till farming operations. The cooperators use a rotation of barley/winter wheat (2 years)/soybeans. G-15 and G-28 were planted to small grains, with limited success. OT-25 had soybeans approaching a yield of 40 bushels/acre. G-15 and G-28 will probably not continue in the no-till program.
D. Native Grass Seeding
The District seeded 434 acres in 1986. All areas were seeded with predominately locally harvested seed obtained from native prairies. Small amounts of commercially obtained northern origin grasses were added to the mix. All areas with the native mixture, with the exception of the Highway 59 right-of-way project, were seeded into last year's soybean stubble. Roundup was applied at 1.5 lbs. A.I. in 10 gallons water/acre approximately 1 week prior to seeding.
The Highway 59 seeding was a joint Mid-Continent and District project under an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
It was an extremely good year for native grass establishment with most seedings being rated good to excellent.
The seeding mixture and varieties that we've been using since 1983 are working out well. We have species growing and flowering throughout the growing season in the correct order for this area. Interspecific competition does not appear to be a problem and having the correct phenological order may have something to do with this. The slender wheatgrass and green needlegrass are largely dormant by the time the sideoats grama and switchgrass flower. Later on, the bluestem and then the Indiangrass flower. NDG-965-98 switchgrass is not choking out other components in a mixture like other varieties have been known to do. That is probably because it is a little shorter 'and flowers a month earlier than even South Dakota origin varieties. 27
1986 Seedings
Fall 1986 County Unit Name No. Field No. - Acres Condition
Otter Tail Mortenson 105 14 fair Knobel Lake 90 • 13 excellent Haugen 92 77 good Hwy. 59 74 good Scribner 68 _19 excellent 197
Douglas Rachel 5 20 good Zickur 40* 67 excellent Klimek 45 20 excellent Orange 50 8 excellent 115
Grant Uphoff 47 52 good Lillemoen 15 10 good Spink 13* 56 excellent Frikken 51 4 excellent 122
GRAND TOTAL 434
*PerTnittee applied Roundup
1986 Seed Mix
, Seeds/ft s Species" lbs. PLS/Acre (gerir. + dorm)
Big bluestem 3.8 13.8 Little bluestem .13 .8 Indiangrass .64 2.5 Switchgrass .025 .2 Prairie dropseed .78 4.9 Tall dropseed .35 4.0 Blazing star .032 Tall meadowrue .03 Purple prairie clover .03 Sideoats grama (Killdeer) 2. 8 Blue grama (SD origin wild type) 1.9 Green needlegrass (Lodorm) 1.0 4. 1 Slender wheatgrass (Probably .25 < 9 Primar) Switchgrass (NDG-965-98) .66 5.8 8.3 42.3
*Local native prairie origin except where noted. E. Other
Scaled down studies continued on the WMD native grass test plots. These were established in 1982 on Knollwood WPA (OT-101) in cooperation with the Soil Conservation Service. The plots contain 33 varieties of warm season natives with three replications of each. All but two varieties were developed by SCS Plant Material Centers and have origins ranging from Oklahoma to North Dakota. Species represented are big bluestem (8 varieties), sand bluestem (2 varieties), Indiangrass (5 varieties), prairie sandreed (2 varieties), switchgrass (8 varieties), little bluestem (4 varieties) and sideoats grama (4 varieties). An identical test plot exists near Upham, North Dakota, on J. Clark Salyer NWR.
The plots were burned on May 15. No Atrazine was applied in 1986; 2,4-D (LV-4) was applied at 1 lb. A.I. in mid-June.
Plant phenology was not monitored this year. Phenology was monitored from 1983 through 1985. A paper was prepared from the 1983 data for the Ninth North American Prairie Conference. (If interested in this paper, contact this office.)
5. Grassland
Native seed harvest is reported in Section F-l. Farming and seeding operations are reported in Section F-4. Haying, fire management and pest control are reported in the appropriate sections.
9. Fire Management
The burning season began late (April 24) and then only one 35-acre burning was accomplished. Only 982.5 acres were burned in 1986 for the poor showing. Wet weather was mostly responsible/ but often we were lacking a crew.
No wildfires occurred in 1986. 29
Summary of 1986 Prescribed Burns
Unit Native Intro. Non- Local Burn No. Name Prairie Natives Natives Marsh Natives Other Total Date
Otter Tail County
OT-68 Scribner 35.0 35.0 4/24 OT-95 Oscar 1.0 53.9 5.0 7.0 66.9 5/16 OT-99 Bakke 109.0 15.0 124.0 5/21 OT-101 Knollwood 4.0 4.0 5/15 0T-60 Agassiz B. 208.0 54.0 27.0 289.0 5/19 County Total 209.0 166.9 94.0 15.0 34.0 518.9
Grant County
G-51 Frikken 5.0 46.0 51.0 5/5 G-31 His. Soc. 10.5 56.0 10.0 77.0 ' ^3.5 5/22 County Total 10.5 56.0 15.0 123.0 204.5
Douglas County
D-48 Chippewa V. 17.5 21.2 38.4 30.0 107.1 5/20
Wilkin County
Roehl 40.0 40.0 5/28 Atherton WMA 112.0 112.0 5/29 County Total 152 152.0
GRAND TOTAL 389 188.1 188.4 60.0 123.0 34.0 982.5
10. Pest Control
No Atrazine was used in 1986. Use of Atrazine is now largely limited to switchgrass seedings and seeded areas that are intended to be used for seed harvest.
Force account spurge control began in mid-May, using Tordon 2K and a Tordon 22K/LV-4 mix. The areas that were treated with LV-4 in September 1985 seemed to be much reduced in 1986. Perhaps we should be doing more fall as well as spring treatment.
Most thistle spraying was again on an aerial contract. That was a mixed blessing. We could not have treated from the ground because of wet conditions, but the sprayer was extremely careless. No fewer than 10 drift complaints were received. One was more severe than drift. The pilot actually sprayed the wrong field, which just happened to be the neighbor's alfalfa. Another incident involved direct spraying one of our nest drag crews. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is pressing legal action in both of these incidents. We are certain not to hire that contractor again. 30
Due to budget restraints and stiff Minnesota noxious weed law, Range Conservationist Wendell Olson took the dilemma into his own hands and began an all out attack on some plumeless thistle near the headquarters.
-7/86 LR
Problems appear to result when an out-of-town contractor tries to get the job done too quickly. Local contractors sometimes come back to the same area four times over a period of 2 weeks. Less was sprayed force account than even the previous year 1985. Wet'conditions were mostly to blame. Even though it was a good thistle year, we had few complaints. It helps to have a lot of thistle on private land. Weed Control Summary
Leafy Spurge - Tordon 2K or 22K-LV4 (Force Account)
County Acres
Otter Tail 32.35 Grant 2.25 Douglas 11.5 Total 48.35
Leafy Spurge - Aerial LV-4 at 1 lb./Acre A.I.
County Acres Custom Applicator Cost
Otter Tail 34 West Central $221
Mowing Thistles (Force Account)
County Acres
Otter Tail 84 Grant 47 Douglas _74_ Total 205
Roundup Application at 1-1.5 lbs. A.I./Acre Prior to Seeding (Force Account)
County Acres
Douglas 28
Roundup Application at 1.5 lbs. A.I./Acre Prior to Seeding (Commercial Ground) Clinton Ag Service
County Acres Cost
Otter Tail 124 $ 744 Grant 86 516 Douglas 20 160 Hwy. 59 50 450 280 SI ,870
2,4-D (LV-4) at h lb. A.I./Acre on New Seedings (Force Account) August
County Acres
Douglas 20 2,4-D (LV-4) at ^ lb. A.I./Acre on New Seedings (Commercial Air) August
County Acres Cost Applicator
Otter Tail 127 $ 635 West Central Grant 122 610 Ricks Douglas 95 522 Ricks Total 344 $1,767
2,4-D (LV-4) at 1 lb. A.I./Acre on Established Seedings and Problem Thistle Areas (Force Account) June-July
County Acres
Otter Tail 99 Grant 23 Douglas 48^ Total 170
2,4-D (LV-4) at 1 lb. A.I./Acre on Established Seedings and Problem Thistle Areas (Commercial Air) June
County Acres Cost Applicator
Otter Tail 1,340 5 8,040.00 Bonanza Grant 642 3,531.00 Bonanza Douglas 558 3,794.40 Bonanza Wilkin 50 300.00 Bonanza Otter Tail 45 292.50 West Central Grant 75 431.25 Ricks Total 2,660 $16,388.75
Custom Applicator Herbicide Cost
Clinton Ag Service Ground Roundup $ 1,870.00 WTest Central Aerial Sprayers Aerial, 2,4-D 1, 148.50 Lowell Ricks Aviation Aerial, 2,4-D 1,563.50 Bonanza Valley Aviation Aerial, 2,4-D 15,665.40 Total $20,247.40
11. Water Rights
After two years of excessive precipitation, the District has unprecedented high water conditions on local lakes and marshes
During 1986, the District pumped 2,100-acre feet of water from the Nicholson marsh to the Pomme de Terre drainage bypassing Mineral Lake under a Department of Natural Resources appropriation permit (number 86-1137). The pumping was done as a temporary measure to lower Swan Lake (upstream) and divert the outflow of Nicholson marsh around Mineral Lake in an attempt to slow down the steady rise of Mineral Lake, as well as prohibiting the migration of carp into what is believed to be a carp-free fishery (Swan Lake). Plans are being drafted in cooperation with the Department of Natural Resources for the installation of a maintenance-free carp control structure and a "rock fill" Texas crossing. The project will eliminate the need for more costly pumping, as well as eliminate the threat of rough fish migrating through Nicholson WPA into Swan Lake.
12. Wilderness and Special Areas
There are no special or wilderness areas designated on WPAs in the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District. There are some historic sites that include Indian burial mounds on the Redhead Slough (G-26), Pomme de Terre (G-l) and Mondt (OT-63) WPAs. On Pelican Valley WPA (OT-42), one can still see the two separate railroad beds that were built as'a result of a race between the Great Northern Railroad and the Northern Pacific Railroad from Fergus Falls to Pelican Rapids during the I860ls.
The C&M WPA (OT-11) contains a small cemetery of early settlers where 12 persons were buried. The same WPA is bisected by the "St. Peter's Trail" which is a long, abandoned road that connected Fergus Falls with Dalton.
It was interesting to note that while excavating a ditch to facilitate the drawdown of Redhead Slough through cur new water control structure installed there, numerous bison bones (ribs, vertebrae, jaws, etc.) were dredged up from the bottom of the marsh.
13. WPA Easement Monitoring
The first week of November, a storm hit west central Minnesota dropping more than 6 inches of snow, scrubbing the fall easement surveillance flights. Flights were resumed in April of 1986 when seven new violations were documented. The fall flight completed on November 14, 1986, resulted in three new violations. The following old and recent cases are those which remain to be resolved and status of each:
Easement 217X, Otter Tail County—Conditions are too wet to remove rock and tree fill from Type 3 wetland. Compliance deadline has been deferred to 1987.
Easement 254X, Otter Tail County—Case brief will be submitted to the U.S. Attorney's Office sometime in January 1987.
Easement 306X, Otter Tail County—A rock fill and burn violation discovered fall of 1986. Compliance deadline will be set for spring 1987. Easement 96X-1, Grant County—Maintenance of a tile discovered November 14, 1986. Compliance deadline will be established spring 1987.
Easement 98X, Grant County—Draining and fill of two Type 1 wetlands. Case brief has been prepared and will be submitted to U.S. Attorney for prosecution sometime in January 1987.
Easement 83X, Douglas County—Operator has nearly completed restoration. One Type 3 wetland yet to be restored. Compliance deadline set for May 1987.
Easement 85X, Douglas County—Conditions were too wet to restore drained basin, has been deferred to Spring 1987.
Easement 115X, Douglas County—Maintenance of an old tile. Compliance deadline will be established Spring 1987.
* Easement 151X, Douglas County—Will be submitted to the U.S. Attorney for prosecution sometime in January 1987.
Easement 110X, Douglas County—Restoration of three drained basins, has been deferred to Spring 1987 due to wet conditions.
Easement 177X, Douglas County—Rock and tree debris fill in a wetland, has been deferred to Spring 1987 due to wet conditions.
Easement 51X, Douglas County—Again! As in past years, it must be reported that this case has still not been resolved. The violation, a huge ditch draining a Type 4, was detected in the fall of 1973 and a case report was submitted for prosecution in early 1977. In the intervening years, little or nothing was done. Reportedly, the file has been lost and found again. Then during 1985, the subject was forced to leave farming due to poor health and actually offered to sell the property to the Fish and Wildlife Service. We declined based on setting precedent of not wanting to buy all violations. Then we discovered that he was facing foreclosure. This gave us hope that we could restore the wetlands when the property was taken over by Federal Land Bank. But before that happened, the land was sold to another individual who, by all words and deeds, is a supporter of wildlife. However, he is very stubborn and negative about any government intervention or involvement. He is now pressing for water level manipulation which cannot be allowed, at present, under an Easement for Waterfowl Management Rights. A report was submitted to the Regional Office for a decision because it has wide ramification on the program.
Easement 47X, Douglas County—This is a ditching and fill violation first detected in 1980. The individual failed to comply and then it became complicated by divorce and a Federal Farm and Home Administration foreclosure. The property reverted to the subject's 35
father who originally signed the easement. We contacted him in the fall of 1986 and he agreed to take care of the compliance. We arranged for a contractor but due to logistical problems, the compliance did not get completed before freeze-up. We feel confident that compliance will be done in the spring of 1987.
Easement 167X, Douglas County—This is a ditching and filling violation which occurred in the fall of 1979. The case was complicated by the sale of the land from the original violator to another individual who has also violated. No compliance has been obtained from either individual. A case report has been submitted for prosecution.
Easement 160X, Douglas County—This is a filling violation which occurred in 1980. No compliance was ever obtained. A contact during 1986 revealed that the individuals involved are unwilling to take care of the violation. A case report is being prepared. Easement 27X, Grant County—This is a ditching and filling * violation which occurred in 1982. No compliance was accomplished so a case report was submitted in 1984. Nothing happened so another contact was made. The subjects said they were willing to do the work. But they didn't. We will now push for prosecution.
Easement 170X, Otter Tail County—This is a filling violation which occurred in 1983. The subject was told not to do a certain modification and did it anyway. He then ignored a compliance request when he had good conditions to do the work. Since then, we have had two very wet years and the fill is under 4 feet of water. A case report is being prepared to pursue prosecution anyway.
Easement 178X, Otter Tail County—This is an excavation and fill violation which occurred in 1982. The subject failed to comply when he had good conditions and was taken to court. He was found guilty and was ordered to comply as a condition of probation which gave him until November 1, 1986. Again, he did not comply because he felt it was too wet. He also contacted his Congressman believing that he would take care of it. His Congressman contacted Director Dunkle in Washington. The Service did not fold but it appears to have given the defendant false hope that he may not have to do anything.
Attempts were made at the District level to line up a contractor so this individual could comply before November 1, 1986, but it didn't work. Then, the U.S. Magistrate placed the individual on probation again until November 1, 1987. 36
Easement 262X, Otter Tail County—This is a filling violation which involves earthen travelways for center pivot irrigation. The first travelways were detected in the fall of 1978. The case is presently with the U.S. Attorney's Office and has progressed through the discovery phase. The next step is a pre-trial conference which had been scheduled but was postponed. The last word is that the pre-trial conference may take place in March of 1987.
The entire easement enforcement effort received a setback during the Calendar Year due to the transfer of Senior Resident Agent Kevin O'Brien and Special Agent John Decker. Both individuals were doing a good job. Several months elapsed before a new Senior Resident Agent, Kevin Adams, took over. At the same time, a new U.S. Attorney took office. Then Asst. Wetland Manager Will Steffen was temporary assigned to determine the status of each case for the entire complex and act as a liaison with the agents, the United States Attorney and Field Solicitor.
A meeting with the new United States Attorney was most encouraging. He assigned one of his assistants to handle all easement cases both criminal and civil. It is not known how much time this individual will give us. However, it is encouraging to know that he wants to help us and is interested in handling easement cases. We must refine the routing of cases to avoid having them sit on someone's desk who really has nothing to do with them.
The objective is to get the accumulated backlog cleared up. If this is accomplished, it is estimated that only 2-3 cases will go to court from each year's case load.
In addition to handling all easement violations, all easements were checked for ownership in the four counties of the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District. Certified letters with copies of the easement were sent to each landowner informing them that all or a portion of land which they purchased was encumbered by an Easement for Waterfowl Management Rights.
As in past years, vertical aerial black-and-white photographs were taken by the Regional Pilot with assistance from Assistant Managers Rauen and Frost. Approximately 20 percent of all easements in the District, as well as newly acquired easements District-wide, were photographed. 37
The fill material excavated from the circular pit and spread around the wetland basin in the lower left center of the photo is a violation of Easement 120X, Otter Tail County. These dry conditions prevailed when the violator declined to correct the situation. Three months...
4/84 WES
...later we were well into the wet cycle we are presently experiencing. Conditions for compliance on this easement have not improved. We will initiate court proceeding anyway. 7/84 WES 38
G. WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife Diversity
This year the staff recorded 174 species of birds during routine field activities. The WMD bird list contains 266 species that includes 24 casually observed species. There were no particularly unusual sightings this year,
2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species
The greater prairie chicken, Tympanuchus cupido, is a threatened species in Minnesota. The birds are low in number in the District but can be found with regularity on the following WPAs:
Bolding-Monson (W-4) Agassiz Beachline (OT-60) Horstman (OT-2) Hanneman (W-7) Brown (W-5)
Each year, in cooperation with the Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society, the FWS assists with the spring prairie chicken booming ground count. Following are the results of the 1986 census. Booming grounds that fall within the District but not censused by the District personnel are not included. This would include those grounds in Wilkin County near Rothsay lying north of Highway 26. This year no booming males were observed on traditional courtship grounds in Otter Tail County. Few birds were also noted on the grounds in Wilkin County. Following are the results of the census efforts:
Booming Location Males Remarks
Wilkin County
T. 134 N. , R. 45 W. , sec. 9, SW^z; 9 birds Total ground count
T. 134 N., R. 45 W., sec. 8, NEb; 12 birds Total ground count
T. 133 N., R. 45 W., sec. 12, SW^ 2 birds Flush count
Otter Tail County No birds observed
The greater sandhill crane is also considered threatened in the state. Ground sightings of these birds are rare, but migratory flocks can normally be observed during spring and fall migration periods. The fringed prairie orchid (Habenaria leucophea) is still being reviewed for federal listing as a threatened species. This species has not been found in the WMD as yet but is highly suspected to be here as plants have been collected immediately north of the District. The little white ladyslipper (Cypripedium candidum) is state-threatened but quite common throughout the entire WMD.
Peregrine falcons are known to migrate through the District. This year Vukonich observed a beautiful adult male near Fergus Falls on May 1, 1986.
3. Waterfowl
While there were a few hardy wood ducks and hooded mergansers in the District as early as March 9, the first real "entry" of waterfowl (mallards and Canada geese) came early this year—March 28. The next day, we were experiencing record highs so that by April 1, all species of waterfowl, including blue-winged teal, were on the prairie ptmds with open water. Divers, including scaup, ringneck, redheads and canvasbacks, were at peak numbers between April 12-15 but their numbers were thinning noticeably by April 20 as they moved northward.
The annual fall exodus of blue-winged teal came as usual—the last two weeks in September. By the state waterfowl opener (October 4), most teal and many wood ducks had left the District to the dismay of hunters. Late summer 1986 was extremely wet and much of Wilkin County, which is in the Red River Valley, had standing water in the yet unharvested crops. There were huge flocks of mallards totalling 25,000-50,000 or more using these wet areas. The first "general" movement of waterfowl came on the nights of October 8 and 9. This included mallards, scaup, ringnecks and canvasbacks. A generally quiet mid-October saw a decline to other early migrations from the District. The-major canvasback migration came around the 19th of October. Likewise, there were light movements of ringnecks, mallards, large mergansers and scaup at this time. Similarly, light movements of birds came on October 25 and a low pressure system on the 29th-31st caused many small wetlands to freeze and caused birds to leave. The first Tundra swans were observed on November 5 but a more magnificent display occurred on the 8th and 9th on the heels of an early November blizzard that pushed wind chills well below zero. Thus ended the occupation of waterfowl on or through the District.
In 1986, breeding pair data was collected on a format different from that in past years. In the past, data was collected on 25 randomly selected quarter sections containing WPAs. This year data was collected on 204 randomly selected wetlands falling within 27 randomly selected 4 square mile study blocks. Census work was conducted during the entire month of May and each wetland was visited twice—once during the first half of May and again during the second half. A total bird count was obtained as well as individual breeding pairs. 40
This pilot project in Minnesota was being conducted in cooperation with the Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. A total of 1,456 acres of wetlands on private, easement and federal WPAs were sampled. Each wetland was typed and percentage of water in the basin was recorded. When we compare the estimated waterfowl pairs of this method to the traditional quarter section sampling method, we see a considerable decrease in estimated breeding pairs. This raises some questions as to the accuracy of both methods. A far smaller percentage of the WMD is sampled under the new 4 square mile system as compared to the quarter section method. It was a recommendation of the WMD to increase the number of ponds on WPAs to insure better confidence limits on which to base waterfowl production reporting in the District. Following is a table of estimated breeding pairs of five species of waterfowl from data gathered on the 4 square mile sampling technique.
Hen blue-winged teal. Blue-winged teal are the most common ground nesting duck species in the District.
5/84 CV 41
Whereas data was collected on all species of waterfowl, only data on the following five species was able to have statistical regressions performed on them with acceptable validity. Due to the small percentage of WPA wetland acres sampled, it was impossible to predict with confidence breeding pair figures for all other species. These include wood ducks, green-winged teal, American wigeon, redhead, canvasback, ring-necked duck, scaup and ruddy ducks.
ESTIMATED BREEDING PAIRS 2 2 Pairs/Mi. * Pairs/Mi. ** Species of WPA of WPA
Mallard 8.5 16.5
Gadwall .4 2.7
Blue-winged teal 21.0 63.5
Pintail .3 1.6
Shoveler 0 2.4
*1986 4-square mile method **Quarter section method (7 year average)
It was more difficult for us to get an estimate of waterfowl production this year due to the nature of our breeding pair surveys as mentioned earlier. Our estimate of 13,329 (which includes easements) is based on last year's (1985) figure taking into account water conditions and information supplied to us by Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center personnel on the 4-square mile pair blocks sampled in the spring. The figure is based on a 16 percent nest success (Mayfield method), 15 percent hen success and 4.5.ducks to flight stage per successful nest. Easement production is an estimate based on figures received from the Mid-Continent Waterfowl Management staff (MCWMP) tri-county area of Douglas, Grant and Otter Tail Counties.
We again collected nest drag information on five WPAs using a 150-foot cable/chain drag pulled between two 4-wheel drive vehicles. A total of 404 acres were dragged three times each and the following number of nests were found:
Date Nests Found
June 3-6 41 June 16-20 36 June 30-July 7 31
We found considerable variability in the nest success in the fields searched. For example, on Wieger WPA (OT-16), 9 nests were found with a Mayfield of 100 percent. On the other hand, 14 nests were found in a field on Setran (G-20) with a Mayfield of 1 percent. It is difficult to 42
say with confidence which types of grass the birds preferred because they readily nested in all types of cover. It was interesting to note that in an 8-acre alfalfa field on Wieger (OT-16), only one nest was found in three dragging attempts.
The plant community consisting of predominately local origin ecotypes used since 1983 has been evaluated as nesting cover to only a very limited extent. Mid-Continent's nest drags on a 30-acre 1983 seeding on Stowe Lake WPA (D-6) had 16 blue wing teal nests and three mallard nests (1 abandoned). Nesting success was 51 percent Mayfield. The area had no official predator control. A 17.5-acre predator exclusion fence on the same unit had two teal nests with 100 percent Mayfield. Cover was dominated by meadow fescue. The only other local ecotype seeding evaluated was Alvstad WPA (G-49). This 1983 seeding of 23 acres had only one teal nest which hatched successfully.
A bright spot this year was the excellent water conditions throughout the nesting season which allowed for a high incidence of renestihg. This was also the second year that predator management was implemented in the District. In reviewing our data, it is apparent that our trapping efforts were beneficial because the overall Mayfield nest success was approximately 15 percent. This compares with a 10 percent (average nest success for years 1979-86) nest success in areas without predator management. For the control nest success figure, we used data collected by the Mid-Continent Waterfowl Management Unit staff. On the following page are the results of the 1986 nest dragging efforts. 1986 Nest Drag Results*
Destroyed % Nest % Nest Nests Nests by Success Success Exposure No. No. No. Area Searched Acres Found Hatched Predators Abandoned Observed Mayfield Days SWT Mai. Gadwal
Wieger (OT-16) (78-79) 93 7 7 0 0 100 100 117 6 1 0 Warm season seeding
Wieger (OT-16) (go-back 9 1 10 0100 100 13 1 0 0 of brome, quack & Kentucky bluegrass
Wieger (OT-16) alfalfa 8 1 10 0100 100 11 1 0 0
Germundson (G-22) (go- 21 4 12 125 30.5 56.6 310 back of brome, quack, forbs)
Germundson (G-22) (1980 51 24 11 10 1 45.8 33 331.4 23 0 1 warm season seeding)
Demaree (G-21) (1978 & 72 15 12 2 1 80 78 272 11 2 2 1980 warm season seeding)
Setran (G-20) (1980 warm 29 5 2 11 50 52 50.4 500 season seeding)
Setran (G-20) (go-back of 21 14 - 1 12 1 7 1 97.8 13 1 0 brome, forbs, Kentucky bluegrass)
Rush Lake (OT-56) (1978 72 21 9 12 0 42.8 29 329.6 17 3 1 warm season seeding)
Rush Lake (OT-56) (1980 12 6 0 6 0 0 0 30.2 5 1 0 warm season seeding)
Rush Lake (OT-56) (1981 16 7 15 0 14.2 1 39.6 610 warm season seeding)
Incidental nests 0 1 10 0100 100 62 2 0 1
Totals 404 108 49 50 5 1,410.6 93 10 5 44
A free-flying breeding population of giant Canada geese centered in Fergus Falls continues to thrive. They are very common nesters throughout the District. Previous breeding pair counts have shown nesting densities of between 6-7 pairs per square mile. Following is a graph showing the history of the mid-January Fergus Falls goose count:
January Goose Count^ Fergus Falls
8,000
7,500
7,000
6,500
6,000
5,500
5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86
-By Gordon Nielson, Area Game Manager (1969-1974, 1984-1987), U.S. FWS (1975-1981), Don Schultz, Univ. of MN & FWS (1982), Univ. of MN & FWS (1983). 45
This year due to the extremely wet fall field conditions, many farmers were unable to harvest much of their corn and soybean fields until after freeze-up. Consequently, there seems to be an unlimited supply of stubble fields to feed the birds through the mild winter we are now experiencing. At present time (mid-January), we virtually have no snow cover and approximately 5,500 Canada geese in the Fergus Falls area. Two other communities, Alexandria in Douglas County and Ashby in Grant County, are also establishing local free flying Canada goose flocks with good success.
Predator Trapping
Again this year in an effort to increase waterfowl production on selected WPAs, the District performed predator management. Predator trapping is an accepted, proven waterfowl management tool. Our trapping efforts were aimed at carrying out a management practice rather than conducting a study. This year both live traps and "soft catch" ^egholds were used.
To capture skunks, we used "Tomahawk" brand live traps (size 26"x9"x9"). For bait we used commercial cat food and fish oil. During the height of the nesting season, we switched to chicken eggs and shells of hatched or destroyed duck eggs. This seemed to draw in the "educated" skunks during a time when trapping was slow and warm temperatures were causing the other baits to go rancid.
To dispatch predators, a T-61 euthanasia solution was used. The drug works out very well and the animal is usually dead within seconds of the injection.
6/85 TS 46
All skunks were dispatched using a 4cc dose of T-61 euthanasia solution. Most animals were dead within seconds of removing the needle. All nontarget species except Franklin's ground squirrels were released. These include house cats, muskrats, woodchucks, painted turtles, etc. All traps were checked each day.
To capture raccoons, live traps (size 32MxlO"xI2") and legholds were used. For fox we used legholds exclusively. Trapping started March 26 and continued 90 consecutive days until the last traps were pulled on June 24. We used a total of 58 small live traps, 20 large traps and 60 leghold traps. Total trap nights were 6,474 for live traps and 781 for legholds. Following are the results of the 1986 trapping efforts:
Franklin's Mayfield House Ground Nest Unit Mink Fox Skunk Raccoon Cat Squirrel Success* Acres
Horstman,OT-2 2 8 21 5 4 4 305 Scott Grays,OT-23 5 2 2 64 Gravel Pit, OT-55 4 1 3 1 20 Rush Lake, OT-56 17 9 33 15.4 136 Preuss, OT-56 4 5 1 1 6 109 Setran, G-20 12 1 16 4.8 51 Demaree, G-21 2 2 2 20 78.0 104 Germundson, G-22 9 1 1 8 32.7 90 Foss, G-52 1 2 32 24 Totals ~1 L2 76 12 25 120 903
Incidental mammals: 17 (includes badger, muskrat, cottontail, fox squirrel, 13-lined ground squirrel, wood chucks)
Incidental birds: 4 (includes brown thrasher, meadowlark, brown headed cowbird)
*Not all WPAs were nest searched.
1986 Predator Management WPAs Orwell Township
Total Acres Upland Acres
1. Rush Lake (OT-56) 331 136 2. Scott Grays (OT-23) 100 64 3. Horstman (0T-2) 397 305 4. Gravel Pit (OT-55) 46 20 874 525 Stony Brook Township
1. Germundson (G-22) 182 90 2. Demaree (G-21) 192 104 3. Setran (G-20) 116 51 4. Preuss (G-19) 160 109 5. Foss (G-52) 52 24 702 378 Grand Total 1,576 903 47
1986 Trapping Supplies
Unit Total
I. 5 doz. I8"xh" steel stakes $12.00 $ 60.00 2. 2 dozen 24"x^" steel stakes 13.50 27.00 3. 2 dirt sifters 3.00 6.00 A. 15 pounds trap wax (plastiback) 3.00 45.00 5. 5 pounds black trap dye 3.00 15.00 6. 2 narrow shovels 6.00 12.00 7. 2 bags of cover hulls (trap bedding) 14.50 29.00 8. 1 gallons red fox urine 22.00 22.00 9. 3 pints big sky canine bait 5.00 15.00 10. 3 pints all canine bait 5.00 15.00 11. 2 pints long range bait 5.00 10.00 12. 6 1-oz. bottle miscellaneous lure 2.75 16.50 13. 6 9-oz. bottles of misc. bait 3.00 18^00 14. 12 6-oz. jars of mild fruit bait 3.00 36.00 15. 1 spool trap wire 4.00 4.00 16. 1 book fox trapping 8.00 8.00 17. 1 book raccoon trapping 8.00 8.00 18. 3 trappers-cap (model b) 5.50 10.50 Total $357.00
1986 Predator Trapping Costs
Unit Total
1. Six gallons fish oil $ 4.50 $ 27.00 z.o • Softcatch leghold traps (6 doz.. includes freight) 331.00 3. Tomahawk live traps (60-26x9x9) (20-32x10x12) 1,740.00 4. Rubber gloves 3.00 18.00 5. Canvas gloves 1.50 15.00 6. .22 caliber rifles 105,00 210.00 7. Baggies 1.50 3.00 8. Wood trap box 20. 70 20.70 9. Wood supply box 20. 70 20. 70 10. Canvas carrying bag 26.24 26.24 11. Chopping hammer 11. 20 11.20 12. Trap puller bar 4.00 4.00 13. Cat food (50 cases) 7.44 372.00 14. 1 brick .22 shells .90 9.00 15. Euthanasia solution, syringes, needles 258.85 16. Field cards (500 cards) 18.25 17. CaCl9 19. 95 19.95 18. Lewis lye 1.03 3.09 19. Gun cases 14.00 28.00 Totals $3,135.98
Salary: $5,208.00 48
Recognizing the fact that predators take a heavy toll on ground nesting waterfowl (especially mallards), the WMD participated in a project of installing nest baskets. A total of 296 cone-shaped baskets were placed in marshes on WPAs throughout the entire District. WPAs known to have high breeding populations of mallards and those with limited upland nesting habitat were targeted as places to put the baskets. Baskets were put out through the ice between November 20 and December 19, 1986.
During the month of December, 296 mallard nest baskets were put out on WPAs scattered throughout the District. A lack of snow cover allowed for easy access with 4-wheel drive pickups to most marshes.
12/86 CRV
This nest basket project was done in cooperation with Ducks Unlimited. DU paid about $35 for each basket and pipe on which the baskets were affixed. The WMD supplied the manpower, equipment and day-to-day items necessary to get the job done. Following is the distribution of baskets by county and estimated installation costs to the District: 49
No. WPAs Percent of WPAs No. of County With Baskets In County with Baskets Baskets
Douglas 29 57% 85 Grant 36 71% 90 Otter Tail 42 42% 109 Wilkin _4 66% 12 Totals 111 48% 296
Following are the estimated costs to install these baskets:
Salary fees (two 2-person crews most days) includes administrative and basket "stuffing" time $4,300 Driving caps 10 Augers, ice chisels 70 Post pounders 30 Fuel & oil 180 Misc. (pulling out stuck vehicles, sleeves for pipes with broken threads) 30 Total* $4,620
^Baskets and pipes were supplied at no cost to us by Ducks Unlimited; flax straw provided by Wetland Complex.
Estimated staff days (includes administrative time, basket stuffing, tag marking, picking up straw, basket installation). Does not include workshops attended: 62
Baskets and 10-foot mounting pipes were supplies by Ducks Unlimited. Baskets were strategically located and "stuffed" with flax straw because of its durable longer lasting qualities.
12/86 CRV 50
4. Marsh and Water Birds
There are at least 10 marsh and water birds common to the WMD. Most common are great blue herons, green-backed herons, great egrets, coots, sora and Virginia rails, black-crowned night herons, American bitterns and double-crested cormorants. Several bittern nests were found during waterfowl nest dragging efforts.
Pelican Island, which is a 15-acre island located in Pelican Lake near Ashby, Minnesota, serves as a rookery for hundreds of herons, egrets and cormorants. The island is owned by The Nature Conservancy. There are other nesting sites of water birds but none are as noteworthy as Pelican Island. The first herons arrived in the District on March 20 this year.
5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species
% The spring migration is an excellent time to observe shorebirds throughout the WMD. One place in particular, a sewage lagoon near Breckenridge, Minnesota, draws many birds in large numbers and is an excellent birding spot. For example, in one outing local birder Gary Otness and his wife Marion observed the following birds there on May 18: 5 marbled godwits, 24 least sandpipers, 2 semipalraated sandpipers, 16 spotted sandpipers, 1 ruff, 9 ruddy turnstones, 3 Baird's sandpiper, 20 Wilson's phalaropes, 21 red-necked phalaropes, 1 lesser yellowlegs, 1 greater yellowlegs, 1 long-billed dowitcher, 2 Hudsonian godwits, 2 willets, 2 sanderlings, 7 white-rumped sandpipers, and one western sandpiper.
Another good location for shorebirds is the gravelly shoreline of Orwell Reservoir located 5 miles southwest of Fergus Falls. There were two reported sightings of ruffs this year. Our most common residents include killdeer, greater yellowlegs, upland sandpipers, common and black terns, Wilson's snipe and some marbled godwits in Wilkin County.
6. Raptors
There are about 16 raptors common in the District with the red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, marsh hawk and great horned owl being the most commonly observed residents. This year a red-tailed hawk was observed as early as January 5 and a kestrel on January 9. Normally, however, migrant raptors don't begin to arrive until late February or early March. There was a vast migration of hawks on March 30 including red-tailed hawks, Cooper's hawks, sharp-shinned hawks and turkey vultures galore.
The annual fall migration usually begins in late September and extends through the first two weeks of October. This year on October 4-5 there was a heavy migration of high flying hawks "everywhere" in the sky. Noteworthy sightings Include a beautiful adult male peregrine falcon on May I and another on September 20. Two separate prairie falcons were sighted on September 7 and November 15 and 1 immature golden eagle and several snowy owls were sighted on September 29 . 51
7. Other Migratory Species
The arrivals of the first red-winged blackbirds and robins are always a sure sign of spring. This year they arrived on March 22 and 23, respectively. Some "general" noteworthy observations include: I) An unusually high number of horned larks migrating through the District in early March; 2) Amazingly, during fall there were "waves" of migrating ruby and golden crowned kinglets—not the normal circumstances of seeing these little birds.
The following miscellaneous observations were made by Biological Technician Chuck Vukonich and local birder Gary Otness:
March 25—Numerous small flocks of red-winged blackbirds and males of some are now on territory.
March 28—"Invaded" by hundreds of juncos, bluebirds are checking out birdhouses and first phoebe shows up.
April 15—Numerous flickers moving through District.
April 19—Vast migration (1,000 plus) of Lapland longspurs.
April 26—Yellow-rumped warblers show up.
May 10—First major warbler migration into District. Species include Tennessee, blackburnion, blackpole, orange-crowned, black and white, magnolia and chestnut-sided.
May 25—1 adult mockingbird hangs around for several days.
August 17—First late summer migration of nighthawks.
August 16-22—Many warbler waves with up to 12 species at a single count. Includes Wilson's chestnut-sided, blackburnion, Nashville, Tennessee, American redstart, bay-breasted, Canada, Parula, orange-crowned, black-throated, green and northern yellowthroat.
September 27-28--Woods are filled with migrating sparrows, kinglets, thrushes, flickers and Cooper's hawks.
October 9—First juncos show up
October 12—Snowed 1 inch this day and there was a large migration of thrushes including Verry's, Swainson's gray-cheeked and hermit.
November 2—First major tree sparrow wave.
November 24—Hundreds of snow buntings flying at high altitude. Flocks of 40 to 50 birds were passing every 5 minutes for about a half hour. 52
8. Game Mammals
White-tailed deer are without question the most abundant and sought after game animal in the District. The does came through another winter in excellent condition with a high incidence of twins and some triplets. The local population was again one of the highest number of deer on record prior to the season opener on November 8.
10. Other Resident Wildlife
For the third year. District personnel assisted the Minnesota DNR with their annual predator scent post survey. Three 2.7 mile segments were completed in Douglas, Grant and Otter Tail Counties. The survey was run between September 8 and 9. Rainy weather during the survey time period caused much difficulty as we could not complete all routes due to -the extremely wet conditions.
Following are the results of the two years' data compiled*
Skunk Raccoon Fox Housecat Dog
84 85 86 84 85 86 84 85 86 84 85 86 84 85 86
12 11 0 0 34 0 46 103 165 150 157 166 16 115 193
*Data received from Minnesota DNR, Forest Wildlife Populations and Research Group.
For reasons unknown, this year's data does not reflect the true number of skunks and raccoons "out there." Judging from our trapping program and from the incidence of road kills, these two species seemed to be everywhere abundant in the District. The figures do, however, indicate an increased red fox population which was also apparent from the trapping program.
11. Fisheries Resources
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fisheries crews used wetlands on three WPAs for walleye rearing ponds in 1986. They recovered 1,802 pounds of fingerlings equating to about 36,496 fish. Poundwise and numberwise, production was down from last year. All fingerlings trapped are transplanted immediately into area fish lakes.
No. of WPA Location Pounds Fingerlings
Mavis (OT-98) T. 132 N., R. 42 W 1,175 30,103 section 11
Bah Lakes (G-28) T. 130 N., R. 41 W. 377 3,393 sections 1 & 36
Bellview T. 128 N., R. 41 W., 250 3,000 section 5 1,802 36,496 53
14. Scientific Collections
There were no scientific collections made this year. However, specimens of aquatic insects of fresh water marshes that were taken in previous years are preserved in a solution and are used for display during talks to hunter education classes, sportsmen's clubs, etc,
15. Animal Control
A 155-square mile goose refuge was established in the Fergus Falls vicinity in 1963. Since then, a free-flying breeding population of giant Canada geese has become established (see section G-3). As a result, goose depredations have increased with the number of birds.
Most damage occurs by congregations of two or more goose broods usdng wetlands adjacent to agriculture fields. Most farmers have taken it upon themselves to control the birds via scare guns, scarecrows, plastic flagging, etc. For the fifth consecutive year, there has been a special goose season in the Fergus Falls goose refuge to keep the flock manageable. This year an estimated 2,566 geese (does not include crippling loss) were taken during the 28-day season. No doubt there will always be some damage. With a hunting season and better knowledge of how to control the birds, damage in the future should be minimal. No dollar estimates of damage were available for 1986.
Aerial view of the Kube predator fence boundary. This 22-acre enclosure will be, energized beginning with the year 1987 nesting season. The partial water boundary was used to minimize material, time and labor costs. 54
Kube Waterfowl Production Area (OT-51) was selected as the site for the first WMD electric predator exclosure. One hundred sixty-five rods of fence encompasses 22.0 acres of introduced Nebraska natives. The fence is designed to exclude predators down to and including Franklin's ground squirrels. All wood posts, H-braces for corners and gates, all fiberglass posts and 1-inch mesh wiring was buried before conditions became impossible at freeze-up. One side of the exclosure is open to the water on the big marsh.
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General
In cooperation with local scout groups, the Otter Chapter Izaak VJalton League, Fergus Falls Wild Rice Children's Home and Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club, several bluebird trails have been established on WPAs. Materials are purchased by the Ikes and sportsmen's club and distributed to interested people for construction, installation and maintenance.
6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations
The District headquarters office serves as the visitor contact station where walk-through inquiries are handled. Miniature "on refuge" displays and mounted specimens are located in the lobby area for viewing. We also have two System 70 displays called "Prairie Wetlands—for Wildlife—for People" and "Prairie Wetlands" which are set up at various local functions and businesses throughout the year. We target our efforts at county fairs. National Hunting and Fishing Day, National Wildlife Week, a local "Save the Wetlands Club" fund raiser and a host of other sportsmen's civic group functions and banks. We have tried to center around the theme—Take Pride in America.
We also put together a display called "Wetland Restoration" depicting restored wetlands by the FWS.and sportsmen's groups. The idea is to make people aware of wetland destruction and show the need for wetland restoration. Another portable display we have used is a Caramate sound/slide dissolve system for high quality visual presentations.
7. Other Interpretive Programs
All personnel participated in carrying out the monthly I&R program in the District. This Includes numerous talks and personal appearances, including tours for schools, service clubs, sportsmen's clubs and other civic organizations.
A mailing list is maintained yearly. Biannually, the WMD issues an information sheet covering the wetland program, management practices and ways neighbors can get involved. Periodically, news releases are submitted to local newspapers on items of current interest. 55
The District office sent out approximately 297 National Wildlife Week teacher packets to elementary, junior and senior high schools and junior colleges within the District. A library of 37 films is maintained and loaned to local schools and civic organizations for viewing.
Staff members maintain personal contacts with county commissioners, town board members and state representatives to keep them informed on the wetlands program. Close contact is also kept with SCS, ASCS and Department of Natural Resources and ideas are offered and assistance given whenever needed.
8. Hunting
All hunting on WPAs in the District is held in compliance with regulations and seasons set by the State of Minnesota.
Waterfowl
The 40-day waterfowl season opened at noon October 4 under partly cloudy skies. Success was generally very good. The duck season began under some of the wettest conditions ever on record. This, coupled with a prolonged breeding season and mild weather in September, provided more birds for hunters than normally would be available for such a late season opener. In the area west of Fergus Falls and into Wilkin County much of the terrain is flat and much of the cropland there was holding sheetwater. Consequently, there were numerous mallards (40,000-80,000) field feeding at the time of the opener which provided excellent hunting early.
Hunting pressure is usually high during the first two weekends while during the week the number of hunters drops off considerably. Mild stable weather conditions prevailed during the first two and a half weeks of the season and success was generally low. However, hunters who knew where the birds were concentrating could consistently take nice bags. Early November provided some good shooting on scaup, buffleheads, goldeneyes and redheads for those "die hard" duck hunters willing to brave the elements. An early winter blizzard on "November 8-9 caused lakes to freeze and all remaining birds to leave. By the close of the season (November 12) hunting opportunities were non-existent.
There were two separate special goose hunts held in the District with the following success:
Estimated Birds Harvested Season Length
Douglas County Goose Refuge 1,028* 5 Fergus Falls Goose Refuge 2,566* 28
*Does not include crippling loss. 56
Pheasant
The District is located on the northern edge of the prime pheasant range hence local populations fluctuate with the severity of our winters. The best pheasant range in the WMD lies in Grant, Douglas and southwestern Otter Tail Counties. This year hunters experienced a very poor hunting season. Pheasant numbers were down severely due mostly to extremely wet conditions during the nesting season. Even hunters with dogs were hard pressed to get two cocks.
Warm season native grass seedings seem to provide excellent winter cover for the birds and yield many birds to hunters with dogs. As usual, most WPAs in the best pheasant range of the WMD were hunted hard for most of the 44-day season that ended November 30. No car counts or bag checks were performed in 1986.
Ruffed Grouse t Ruffed grouse numbers were again very low this year. Consequently, few people took to the field after them. No doubt some were taken incidental to other hunting activities, but very few.
Deer
The firearms deer season opened November 8 for a 2-day bucks only/antlerless deer with permit only season. A second season under the same bucks only/anterless system was held on November 15-18. Again this year a high percentage of hunters were afield the first season even though the second season was twice as long. Hunter success seemed to be higher during the first season even though a major winter blizzard struck that weekend.
WPAs are hunted hard for deer with success mixed. Exact harvest figures are not yet available from the Minnesota DNR but preliminary reports are that near record numbers of white tails were harvested during the 1986 split season. Deer were abundant everywhere throughout the District prior to the season opener.
Archers enjoyed an 86-day season and took an estimated 45 deer off District WPAs. Nicholson WPA (OT-88) which is closed to duck hunting, receives heavy bow hunting pressure after the close of the waterfowl season. About 40 vehicles were parked in the two parking lots on that opening day. Other wooded WPAs receive heavy pressure as well.
Small Game Hunting
The small game season extends from September 13-February 28. While some hunters hunt specifically for rabbit, squirrel, rails or woodcock, the numbers are insignificant. A high proportion of small game is taken incidental to pheasant, deer or waterfowl hunting trips. Predator calling and coon hunting with dogs have been on the increase in recent years and we are finding moderate use of WPAs for this type of recreation. 57
9. Fishing
Fishing is allowed on all WPAs. However, fishing is insignificant and most units do not afford deep enough water to support sport fishing. A fair number of archers take carp in the spring from several of the WPAs infested with these pests.
10. Trapping
All trapping seasons, like hunting, are run in compliance with Minnesota State regulations. WPAs throughout the District are trapped heavily by area trappers. The raccoon season runs from October 24-December 31; fox from October 24-February 28; mink and muskrat from November 1-December 31; and beaver from November 1-April 30.
WPAs are obviously used heavily by waterfowl, small game and big game hunters. Trappers, coon and fox hunters utilize the abundant wealth to be found. 58
Muskrat populations remained high throughout the District and unseasonably mild weather allowed trappers to pursue their sport for the duration of the season. Freeze-up of most marshes came around November 8. A lack of snow cover afforded easy access to most marshes. Beaver remain high in number and caused continual flooding problems where they plug culverts and water control structures. Prices for beaver have come up some but remain relatively low. Following are the average prices paid for furs by a local furbuyer in Fergus Falls;
Beaver $14 Coyote $25 Female mink $22 Male mink $44 Muskrat $ 2.35 (carcass); $ 3 (stretched & dried) Raccoon $22 Red fox $23
11. Wildlife Observations
Local high school ornithology classes often use Nicholson WPA (OT-88) and Wieger WPA (OT-16) in their bird identification field trips. Other WPAs are no doubt used by schools and the public but most of this is done from the road in vehicles.
District personnel also lead groups to Wilkin County each spring to observe the state-threatened greater prairie chicken on their booming grounds. Casual observation is difficult to measure but probably totals about 7,500 activity hours a year. To date, we do not maintain any wildlife observation tour routes.
15. Off-road Vehicling
Motorized vehicles are prohibited.
16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation
Non-wildlife oriented berry picking, mushroom harvest, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog training and hiking for pleasure are enjoyed by a wide variety of outdoor enthusiasts. We also manage about 2,000 acres of scattered native prairie parcels that attract local plant buffs.
17. Law Enforcement
Law enforcement patrols were scheduled for the first weekend of waterfowl season. Two teams of two officers each patrolled Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District and no apprehensions were made. Random law enforcement patrols throughout the hunting season found hunters abiding by the regulations. No citations were written in 1986. The Fergus Falls District office received only one hunter complaint—that being illegal boating activity on the Ten Mile WPA. Refuge Officers contacted the resort owner about illegal activity. WPA 59
staff reposted the boundary and district officers field checked all parties hunting on the WPA opening day and found that the resort owner had warned everybody at the launch about illegal motor use on the WPA. That seems to have, so far, resolved, the problem. Periodic subsequent observations were made and no boat activity was found.
An illegal dumping had occurred in the fall of the year at the Mud Lake WPA. A borrow ditch within the road right-of-way was cleaned out and borrow material deposited on the WPA. This violation will be resolved in the spring of the year.
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
I. New Construction
As in past years, additional boundary fence was constructed on WPAs where neighbors are running cattle or where trespass is a perennial problem. This year only two short segments were constructed. In' addition, 5 miles of fence were repaired and 7.0 miles of interior fence removed.
1986 Boundary Fence Construction
WPA Location Length (Miles) Date
Hintermeister (OT-102) east side .12 5/2/86 Klein (D-18) northwest side .11 4/29/86
Heavy Equipment Projects
Various work was performed on numerous WPAs throughout the District. Wetland restoration, in the form of ditch plugs, is the major emphasis. Ditch plugs are made of borrowed earth usually adjacent to the plug site. In all cases, ditches were "cored out" to mineral soil prior to filling in the ditch. This was done with a dozer when the site was dry enough or with a backhoe where conditions were wet. To get good clay ditch plug fill material, all topsoil was strippe'd away. The plug itself was constructed by filling this clay soil to a height of 1 to 2 feet above a sod spillway which was left on one end of the plug. Stockpiled topsoil was then spread evenly over the plug and borrow site to speed up revegetation. Switchgrass is broadcast over many of these sites.
Other work performed included burying junkpiles, rockpiles, the remains of old building sites and concrete foundations. Cleanup of these sites renders them unusable to predators, which theoretically should increase duck production. Tile breaks consisted of first locating the drainage tile, unearthing 20-30 feet of the tile and then breaking up and digging out that tile. Clay fill was then packed back into the trench using the 60
bucket of the backhoe as a compactor. The following table summarizes the heavy equipment work performed in 1986:
Equipment Access Ditch Tile Field With Junk Bldg. No. Name Plugs Breaks Approaches Culverts Piles
G-6 Leverson 1 3 D-5 Rachel 3 1 1 D-12 Holder 1 D-50 Orange 1 G-26 Redhead Slough 1 D-6 Stowe Lake 1 D-l Millerville 1 2 2 D-45 Klimek 1 D-48 Chippewa Valley 1 OT-34 Swenson D-7 Wagner 1 OT-57 Dahler Slough 11 3 OT-88 Nicholson Totals 17 u
1986 Heavy Equipment Rental Summary
In most cases where heavy equipment was used, letters were sent out to prospective contractors to solicit bids for bulldozer and backhoe work. In emergency situations, contractors are personally contacted to do work for us. The following is a summary of heavy equipment rental for 1986:
Contractor Equipment Rented Hours Price Amount
Strom Construction D-6 Cat Hyd. Dozer 64V4 $52 $3,346.50
Tractor backhoe w/loader nh $37 647.50
Tractor crawler backhoe 8% $60 510.00
Karold Evavold Constr. D-6 Cat Hyd. Dozer 26 $55 1,430.00 Tractor backhoe w/loader 16 $45 720.00 Gravel (one load) $45 45.00
Walt Schultz Constr. 10 yard, self loading scraper 27 $50 1,350.00 Gravel 200.00
Golombiecki Excavating Bobcat backhoe with loader together with dump truck 1 job 200.00
Dick's Backhoe Tractor backhoe w/loader 4 3/4 190.00
Mark Sand & Gravel Gravel 836.00 Total $9,475.00 During the year, the YCC crew repaired .5 mile of fence on several WPAs. Approximately 7 miles of interior fence was removed from nine WPAs.
Since the WMD land base is expanded each year, heavy equipment projects are obtained also. When a new roundout or a new start is purchased, wetland restoration is planned the very first year land use is taken over. This year, a total of 17 ditch plugs, culvert installations, etc., were completed. (See previous section.)
As a follow-up to the 1985 reconstruction of the roof on the maintenance shop it can be reported that it turned out very well. All of the leaking through the ceiling has been stopped. Parking on the roof has now resumed. A couple of very hot days resulted in some concern because the asphalt was getting so soft that vehicles would leave tracks and indentations. To solve this, the YCC crew spread a layer of washed sand over the entire asphalt roof to keep it cool.
2. Rehabilitation
During the calendar year, the office building received a much needed face lift. The old worn, torn orange carpet was replaced with bright royal blue carpet. The YCC crew painted (color: eggshell) the entire inside of the office during the summer. The old government grey furniture in the reception area and some front offices was changed to a light tan. The desk tops were rejuvenated with light oak caps. Quite a change!
4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement
During the fall of 1985, bids for a 120-hp+ front-wheel assist tractor with front-end loader were issued. The new tractor, a 137 hp White, was received in May 1986. In addition, a backhoe attachment was purchased which should give us some flexibility in taking care of small backhoe jobs around the District. Two 4x4 Honda ATCs purchased during the year have increased field work efficiency. They are safer than 3-wheelers
A new mini-van was ordered in October 1985 to rfeplace the 1980 Ford Fairmont. As of this writing, the new van, a Chrysler product, should be received in March 1987. That would make it 1 year, 5 months from the time it was ordered until received.
A 3/4-ton 4x4 stakebed was received in July 1986, which was to replace the 1978 stakebed truck. The vehicle received is a Chevy 3/4-ton 4x4 with a metal stakebed rack and about the biggest V-8 engine one could ever want. It is a real energy hog. An extended cab was ordered but CGS took it upon themselves to change the order to a standard cab. It would have been more practical to change to a crew cab because of the youth programs and numerous other projects around the District which require transporting people. 62
Following is a summary of vehicle maintenance expenses during Fiscal Year 1986:
Maintenance License Vehicle Cost
1-114256 1974 CMC flatbed truck $ 483.46 1-123850 1978 CMC flatbed truck, 2-ton 940.95 1-129488 1980 Ford Fairmont, sedan 444.83 1-129409 1981 Chevy pickup, 1-ton 575.57 1-136448 1981 Dodge Sweptline, 4x2 794.51 1-136386 1981 Ford Fairmont, sedan-delivery 291.57 1-136403 1981 Jeep Scrambler 471.48 1-123853 1978 Dodge extended cab stakebed pickup 756.55 1-123858 1979 Chevy crew cab pickup 239.82 1-136560 1983 Chevy Fleetside pickup, 1-ton, 4x4 653.93 1-141433 1985 Chevy S-10, ^-ton, 4x4 597.26 1-141468 1985 Chevy Fleetside, S-10, ^-ton 680.90 1-141502 1986 Chevy stakebed, 4x4 246.72 Massey-Ferguson tractor 2,035.44 Total $9,213.00
5. Communications Systems
A base station, nine mobile radios, three portables, three hand-helds and a multi-frequency radio comprise the stations' communication system.
Following is a summary of vehicles and equipment with radio communications:
License Vehicle - Radio
-114256 1974 CMC flatbed truck Mobile -123850 1978 CMC flatbed truck, 2-ton Portable -129488 1980 Ford Fairmont, sedan Mobile -129409 1981 Chevy pickup, 1-ton Mobile -136448 1981 Dodge Sweptline, 4x2 None -136386 1981 Ford Fairmont sedan-delivery Mobile -136403 1981 Jeep Scrambler Mobile -123853 1978 Dodge extended cab stakebed pickup None -123858 1979 Chevy crew cap pickup None -136560 1983 Chevy Fleetside pickup, 1 ton,4x4 Mobile -141433 1985 Chevy S-10, ^-ton 4x4 Mobile/Multi-Freq -141468 1985 Chevy S-10, 4x4 Mobile -141502 1986 Chevy stakebed, 4x4 Mobile Ford tractor Portable Massey Ferguson tractor Portable Front-Wheel Assist White tractor None White tractor None
Total maintenance costs for the radios this year amounted to $277. 63
J. OTHER ITEMS
3. Items of Interest
This past year had more than the average change of personnel. The very beginning of January, former Wetland Manager Rollin Siegfried moved down the hall to become the new Division Supervisor. Will Steffen became the temporary Wetland Manager as the search went on for a new Manager. In April it was announced that Kevin Brennan would assume the new position beginning May 12. Kevin, a native of Hillsboro, ND, transferred from Crescent Lake NWR, Nebraska, where he was the Refuge Manager. Besides bringing his wife Gail and four children to the Fergus Falls area, Kevin brings enthusiasm, capability and expertise to the District.
Biological Technician Chuck Vukonich was fortunate to have spent the last 2 weeks of June near Cape Churchill assisting on the Canada goose nesting study going on there. On one of his treks across the tundra near the coastline of Hudson Bay, he discovered a bone sticking out of the mud. He pulled the bone and out came this huge walrus skull with ivory intact. Upon returning to the U.S., he took the skull to Winnepeg and donated it to the Museum of Man and Nature where it is on display. Finding the skull was just one of the many rewards he experienced on that temporary northern assignment. 64
In February 1986, Stephanie Fasko-Frost was assigned as a Refuge Manager Trainee. Stephanie was a great asset to the District, hard-working, friendly and enthusiastic. Unfortunately, Stephanie accepted a transfer to Horicon NWR, Wisconsin, in November. Although she was here less than a year, she will be remembered for doing a great job, always willing to pitch in.
Following is a list of training activities attended by District personnel:
Wildlife Statistics Video Course (correspondence), 9 hours, January 21-22, 1986. Attended by: Rauen, Steffen, Olson & Vukonich.
Employee Relations - Basic (OPM), 32 hours, February 11-14, Minneapolis, MN. Attended by Olson.
Law Enforcement Refresher, 32 hours, March 3-6, LaCrosse, WI, attended by Rauen & Steffen. *
First Aid Training (Red Cross), 8 hours, April 22-23, Fergus Falls, MN. Attended by: Melby, Olson, Vukonich, Wiziarde, Fasko-Frost, Siekaniec, Anderson, & Pabian.
Basic Fire Management Training, 40 hours, April 28-May 2, 1986, LaCrosse, WI. Attended by Fasko-Frost.
Refuge Academy - Basic, April 21- May 16, Blair, NE. Attended by Rauen.
Heavy Equipment Operator's Training, 16 hours, September 17-18, 1986, Morris WMD. Attended by: Melby & Vukonich.
The Secretarial Seminar (Padgett-Thompson, Overland Park, KS), 8 hours, December 11, 1986, Fargo, ND. Attended by Wiziarde
Pre-Retirement Seminar (Personal Benefit Services, Lakewood, CO), 16 hours, December 16-17, 1986, Fergus Falls; MN. Attended by: Melby, Olson, Rauen, Steffen, Brennan, Vukonich & Wiziarde. 65
4. Credits
The following personnel were responsible for the sections indicated for the 1986 Narrative:
Kevin Brennan: C-l, 2, 3; E-l, 7
Willard Steffen: D-l, 4; E-2, 3, 4, 8; F-l, 13; 1-1/ 4
Larry Rauen: F-ll, 13; H-17; 1-5
Wendell Olson: F-l, 4, 5, 9, 10
Chuck Vukonich; F-2, 3, 12; G-l-8, 10, 11, 14, 15; H-l, 6-11, 15, 16; 1-1; J-3
Pauline Wiziarde: E-5, 6; 1-2, 4; J-3, 4; typing and assembling of report «