Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat Rangewide Management and Monitoring Plan Photo by Moose Peterson March 2021 Prepared by Conservation Biology Institute for Bureau of Land Management and Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency CBI is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization that works collaboratively to conserve biological diversity in its natural state through applied research, education, planning, and community service. Preferred Citation: Spencer, W.D., D. DiPietro, H. Romsos, D. Shier, and R. Chock. 2021. Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat Rangewide Management and Monitoring Plan. Unpublished report prepared by the Conservation Biology Institute for Bureau of Land Management and Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency. March 2021. SKR Rangewide Management & Monitoring Plan Conservation Biology Institute, 2021 Table of Contents Foreword 5 Acknowledgments 7 Glossary 8 1. Introduction 12 1.1. Background and Context 14 1.2. Approach 16 1.2.1. Use of Habitat Models and Delineating Population Units 17 1.2.2. Biogeographic Mapping and Genetic Considerations 17 1.2.3. Threats Assessment 18 1.2.4. Management Strategy 18 1.2.5. Monitoring Strategy 18 1.2.6. Data Management Strategy 19 1.2.7. Coordination Structure 19 2. SKR Ecology 20 2.1. Distribution and Population Genetics 20 2.2. Habitat 21 2.3. Sociality and Burrow Use 22 2.4. Diet and Foraging 23 2.5. Space-use Patterns 23 2.6. Reproduction 23 2.7. Communication 24 2.8. Activity Patterns 24 2.9. Interspecific Relationships 25 3. SKR Habitat Model 27 3.1. Methods 28 3.2. Results and Discussion 29 4. Delineating SKR Habitat & Population Units 34 4.1. Methods 34 4.2. Results 35 5. Biogeographic Working Map 38 5.1. Known SKR Populations and Reserves 39 5.2. Metapopulation Structure 43 5.3. Population Genetic Considerations 43 Page 2 of 96 SKR Rangewide Management & Monitoring Plan Conservation Biology Institute, 2021 6. SKR Threats Assessment 45 6.1. Methods 45 6.2. Results and Management Implications 45 7. SKR Management Strategy 48 7.1. Deciding Where to Manage 48 7.1.1. Reserve Level 48 7.1.2. Regionally and Rangewide 50 7.2. Habitat Management 50 7.2.1. Desired Habitat Conditions 50 Vegetation Composition 50 Vegetation Structure 51 Soil Characteristics 51 Ecosystem Dynamics 52 7.2.2. Habitat Management Toolbox 52 Grazing 53 Fire 54 Herbicides 55 Mechanical Treatments 56 Soil Decompaction 57 Hydrological Improvements 57 7.2.3. Ecological (or Vegetation) Restoration 58 7.3. Population Management 59 7.3.1. Desired Population Conditions 59 Population Size and Trends 59 Occupancy Patterns 60 Population Connectivity 60 Genetics 60 7.3.2. Population Management Toolbox 61 Dispersal Improvements 61 Translocation and Reintroduction 61 Genetic Augmentation 62 7.4. Direct Threat Management 63 7.4.1. Desired Conditions 63 7.4.2. Threat Management Toolbox 64 8. SKR Monitoring Strategy 66 8.1. Overview of Monitoring Approach 67 Page 3 of 96 SKR Rangewide Management & Monitoring Plan Conservation Biology Institute, 2021 8.2. Habitat Monitoring 70 8.2.1. Modeled Habitat Evaluation 70 8.2.2. Field Evaluation of Habitat Quality 70 8.3. SKR Occupancy Monitoring 72 8.3.1. Steps for Creating the Sampling Scheme 72 8.3.2. Preliminary Power Analysis for Percent Area Occupied (PAO) 73 8.3.3. Field Sampling Protocols 76 8.3.4. Calculating Population Density Index 77 8.4. Genetic Monitoring 78 8.5. Calculating Population Status and Trends 78 8.6. Research Monitoring 78 8.6.1. BACI Design Research Questions 79 8.6.2. Population Genetic Structure 79 9. Data Management Strategy 80 9.1. Elements of a Rangewide SKR Data Management Strategy 81 9.1.1. Responsibilities and Oversight 81 9.1.2. Data Collection Protocols and Standards 82 9.1.3. Data Collection and Reporting Software Tools 82 10. Coordination Structure 83 11. Recommendations & Next Steps 86 11.1. SKR Reserve and Locality Information 86 11.2. SKR Habitat, Population, and Sampling Units 86 11.3. Monitoring Plan 87 11.4. Data Management 87 11.5. Streamlining Updates of SKR Habitat, Occupancy, and Population Status and Trends 88 11.6. Research Studies 88 Literature Cited 90 Appendices Appendix A: SKR Working Group and Subgroup Members Appendix B: 2019 Stephens’ Kangaroo Rat Habitat Suitability Model Final Report Appendix C: 2020 SKR Habitat Suitability Model Predictors Appendix D: SKR Threats Survey Summary Appendix E: Resources for the Land Manager Appendix F: Existing SKR Monitoring Efforts Appendix G: Design of Single Season Occupancy Studies Appendix H: SKR Genetic Monitoring Proposal Appendix I: Shier 2016 Translocation Model Appendix J: Existing SKR Plans Page 4 of 96 SKR Rangewide Management & Monitoring Plan Conservation Biology Institute, 2021 Foreword P. Hester, Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency The Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency (RCHCA) is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) composed of 10 cities and Riverside County. In 1988, Stephens' kangaroo rat (SKR) was listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The SKR Habitat Conservation Plan (SKR HCP) was drafted as a result of this listing, and the RCHCA was formed in 1996 to plan, design, and implement the SKR HCP. The RCHCA manages conserved and open space lands for SKR in Riverside County, which defines our conservation, coordination, education, and collaboration mission. In perspective, a single species HCP appears straightforward, involving efforts to adopt policies and procedures, protect habitat, and manage threats. However, it is much more complex and challenging, requiring concerted efforts to protect the ecosystem, monitor actions and their effects, demonstrate increased population numbers, and decrease environmental threats. It also entails implementing defensible scientific strategies to sustain populations and demonstrate success into the future. To further complicate this effort, SKR has a geographic range that crosses jurisdictional boundaries requiring federal, state, and local government; military establishments; and private landowners to agree, work together, and dedicate funding. Without this level of coordination, there is no way to recover SKR effectively. Various agencies operate under HCPs and other regulatory documents that require the protection and management of SKR populations. These agencies may have different objectives; however, they share the common goal of demonstrating species recovery, thereby reducing the regulatory burdens created by an ESA listing. The Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) provides national leadership to promote restoration and protection for fish and wildlife and their habitats. In fact, BLM manages more fish, wildlife, and plant habitat than any other federal or state agency in the United States. Like other agencies, BLM has a vested interest in SKR recovery, as it is a protected species under their management plans. In partnership with the Department of Defense (DOD), BLM awarded a grant to the RCHCA in 2019 using the Recovery and Sustainment Partnership Initiative. This initiative identifies listed species that occur on BLM-managed public lands and military regions. The partnership aims to develop and promote effective species conservation and recovery efforts and determine how BLM could assist by implementing various management actions. One of the species whose recovery would provide increased flexibility for military activities is SKR, since it impacts DOD's ability to use portions of their bases to complete training operations. Using these funds, the RCHCA subcontracted with Conservation Biology Institute (CBI) because of their scientific expertise in facilitating and planning projects that involve a wide diversity of partners. From this collaborative partnership, the Range Wide Species Management and Monitoring Plan (Plan) was developed. This Plan is unlike any other. It is a living document designed by real-world experts who outline their many years of experience and success in SKR management and monitoring. It is not intended to be prescriptive or to replace permitted planning documents; rather, its purpose is to offer Page 5 of 96 SKR Rangewide Management & Monitoring Plan Conservation Biology Institute, 2021 proven strategies to assist in SKR recovery efforts and standardize methodologies allowing for more precise management and consistent reporting. Our goal is for wildlife agencies, scientists, land managers, and anyone involved with SKR recovery to use it, refer to it, and recommend it to others. Please share your success with the methods demonstrated here and as we discover new technologies or information in the years to come, let us all continue to work together by updating this resourceful body of work. Page 6 of 96 SKR Rangewide Management & Monitoring Plan Conservation Biology Institute, 2021 Acknowledgments This project was funded by the California Desert District Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) via an agreement with the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency (RCHCA) from a Department of Defense and Department of Interior Recovery and Sustainment Partnership grant. A Core Project Team collaborated to guide Plan development: Princess Hester, Director of Administration, RCHCA (Chair); Bradd Baskerville-Bridges, Listing and Recovery Division Supervisor, USFWS; Brendan Himelright, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, USFWS; James Gannon, Fire and Fuels Specialist, CA Desert Interagency Fire Program, BLM; Russell Scofield, Senior Natural Resource Advisor, BLM; Brian Shomo, Director of Natural Resources, RCHCA; Riana Fisher, Staff Analyst, RCHCA; Deanne DiPietro, Senior