1. Preventing the Extinction of the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Through the Coastal Prairie Cooperative Recovery Initiative

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1. Preventing the Extinction of the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly through the Coastal Prairie Cooperative Recovery Initiative

Project Contact Information/Qualifications: Key partners: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – Refuges (Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Willapa NWR); USFWS Coastal Program; USFWS Recovery Program (Ecological Services – Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office (OFWO); Washington Fish and Wildlife Office (WFWO); Oregon Zoo; Woodland Park Zoo; Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE); Natural Resources Conservation Service Oregon Plant Materials Center (PMC); U.S. Forest Service (Siuslaw National Forest)

Refuges – In their recently completed Comprehensive Conservation Plans (USFWS 2011; USFWS 2013), Nestucca Bay and Willapa NWRs included goals for restoring high-quality native coastal prairie and establishing healthy Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) (OSB) populations on refuge lands. Nestucca Bay NWR staff has been controlling invasive plants and planting native prairie species since 2011 under the guidance of the IAE. Willapa NWR staff have been working with the IAE to determine successful site preparation techniques and identify appropriate seed sources. Contacts: Nestucca Bay – Deputy Project Leader Rebecca Chuck or Biologist Shawn Stephensen, 541-867-4550; Willapa NWR – Project Leader Jackie Ferrier or Biologist William Ritchie, 360-484-3482.

USFWS Coastal Program –The Coastal Program has successfully worked with other Service programs to help accomplish on-Refuge restoration and recovery of ESA-listed species. In the case of the OSB, the Coastal Program has supported butterfly conservation through funding for habitat restoration, planning, research, and native plant propagation. The Coastal Program has provided ~$60,000 since 2011 solely for OSB conservation in northwest (NW) Oregon and southwest (SW) Washington. Contact: OFWO Coastal Program and Newport Field Office Project Leader Laura Todd, 541-867-4550.

USFWS Recovery Program –The Recovery Program will continue to provide technical direction, planning assistance, and funding (contributed $100,000 in the last 4 years) to support the Refuges and other Service programs with OSB recovery efforts. The Recovery Program will continue to lead and support ongoing efforts to promote coastal prairie restoration as an integral part of OSB recovery. Contact: OFWO Biologist Anne Walker, 541-867-4558.

Oregon Zoo and Woodland Park Zoo – Facilities for collecting eggs from wild-caught female butterflies and raising larvae and pupae for release are located at two American Zoological Association (AZA) accredited institutions, the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA and the Oregon Zoo in Portland, OR. The Oregon Zoo began captive propagation of OSB larvae in 1999; the Woodland Park Zoo followed suit in 2001 to reduce the risk of a single event (e.g., disease, equipment failure) causing wholesale failure of a larvae cohort. Through close communication and joint coordination on husbandry methods and propagation, these zoos have substantially increased their success at rearing larvae to the pupal stage. Contacts: Oregon Zoo—David Sheperdson; Woodland Park Zoo—Erin Sullivan.

Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE) - is the primary non-Federal partner in the habitat restoration aspect of the project and has been working with Nestucca Bay NWR under a cooperative agreement for prairie restoration since 2010 (IAE 2013). Willapa NWR has contracted IAE to research successful land conversion and seeding methods. IAE’s Habitat Restoration Program works on prairie restoration and listed butterfly recovery projects with a wide variety of partners throughout the Pacific Northwest, including several partners and projects dedicated to OSB recovery. They have developed and implemented numerous prairie restoration plans to restore critical habitat, with an emphasis on listed butterfly species. IAE has worked with the Service toward recovering multiple prairie species through large- scale production of genetically diverse plant material, strategically restoring protected habitats, and engaging in butterfly restoration projects both on the Coast and in the Willamette Valley. IAE’s partnership with Natural Resource Conservation Service Plant Materials Center and their direction of the Willamette Valley Seed Cooperative allows for pooling of resources to reduce production cost for high quality, genetically diverse, certified native seed for prairie restoration projects, including this one. Contacts: Ian Silvernail, 541-753-3099 x122; Matt Bahm, 541-753-3099 x401.

Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Plant Materials Center (PMC)– NRCS’ Oregon PMC develops sources of appropriate native plants and innovative planting technology for restoration activities. For a decade, the PMC has been an invaluable partner in working towards the recovery of many threatened and endangered species in

the northern Pacific Coast Range, Willamette Valley, and Puget Sound, including the OSB, Fender’s blue butterfly, western lily, Kincaid’s lupine, Cook’s lomatium, golden paintbrush, Nelson’s checkermallow, Bradshaw’s lomatium, and Willamette daisy. Hundreds of pounds of native seed have been produced and stored at the Oregon PMC facility for habitat restoration in support of OSB populations. Contact: Amy Bartow, 541-757-4812.

U.S. Forest Service (USFS) –The USFS’ population of OSB on Mt. Hebo (on the Siuslaw National Forest) provides all the individuals used in captive propagation. The USFS provided funding for the initial restoration actions at Nestucca Bay NWR and is actively working with the IAE to identify appropriate habitat management actions to protect their OSB populations. Contact: Deanna Williams, 541-750-7013.

2. Statement of Need: There are only five remaining populations of OSB in existence - four in Oregon and one in northern California (Figure 2) -and each small population is at great risk of extirpation. Currently there are no OSB populations at either Nestucca Bay or Willapa NWR. The OSB 5-Year Review (USFWS 2012) concluded that the butterfly “is in danger of extinction throughout its range” and recommended an up listing to endangered status. The captive-reared butterflies utilized to augment three of the OSB sites come from just one population (Mt. Hebo), which represents a majority of the individuals of the species. In 2014, the Mt. Hebo population crashed, falling to less than 600 butterflies, the lowest count in 25 years. The 25-year average index count on Mt. Hebo is 1,871 butterflies with a high count of 4,983 in 1999 and a low count of 582 in 2014. In addition, the captive butterflies laid only one-third the expected numbers of eggs in August 2014, resulting in another drastic reduction to the number of OSB available for site augmentation in 2015. According to the Revised Recovery Plan for the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly (USFWS 2001), recovery requires 10 viable populations in 6 distinct Habitat Conservation Areas (HCA). Viability is defined as 200-500 butterflies per site for at least 10 years. Rangewide, recovery criteria have not been met for any of these parameters. In addition, while captive rearing of the butterfly at the Oregon and Woodland Zoos has successfully produced thousands of butterflies for release on the Oregon coast, available reintroduction sites have lacked the habitat quality to sustain these butterflies. With the only viable population (Mt. Hebo) currently in drastic decline, and the other four tenuous populations located in deteriorating habitat, the risk of extinction is real and immediate.

The primary limiting factor for the species is lack of suitable habitat. The butterfly requires coastal prairie habitat with large numbers of early blue violets to feed the caterpillars and an abundance of nectar plants to support breeding adult butterflies (USFWS 2001). Since 2011, Nestucca Bay NWR has been working with limited funding to incrementally restore native coastal prairie, with an emphasis on the species and structure required for the OSB and the goal of establishing a population on the refuge. Because prairie restoration is further along at Nestucca Bay NWR, this refuge is the core and immediate focus of this proposal. However, this project will also stimulate full-scale restoration of OSB habitat on Willapa NWR with the goal of reintroducing the population that was extirpated from the Long Beach Peninsula in 1991 due to lack of suitable habitat. Given the continued lack of suitable habitat throughout the OSB historic range, and the degradation of existing occupied habitat, it is prudent that we aggressively pursue restoration of suitable OSB habitat on permanently protected refuge lands and establish additional secure butterfly populations on the restored sites.

The OSB is danger of becoming extinct in the foreseeable future. With the infusion of CRI funding, the Service could significantly accelerate habitat restoration and butterfly introductions on two NWR’s, greatly reducing the species risk of extinction. Without funding, habitat restoration will be delayed and captive-reared butterflies may no longer be available for an introduction. Without immediate action, we stand to lose the opportunity to establish needed OSB populations, thereby further increasing the species risk of extinction.

The OSB is a priority species in the Pacific Region for numerous reasons. It has a heightened public profile, thanks to the involvement and outreach provided by the Oregon Coast Aquarium and our zoo partners. It is the only listed species endemic to Oregon coastal prairie. As a coastal prairie specialist, the OSB is an umbrella species for restoration of this rare and declining habitat. Historically present but now highly degraded, coastal prairie is a priority for restoration on both refuges. As an exceedingly rare and highly imperiled habitat type on the west coast, the restoration of native coastal prairie is an important objective in and of itself. It will directly benefit coastal pollinators such as Lasioglossum pavonotum and Bombus calignosus, which are 2 bee species that are essentially only along the west coast, as well as a range of coastal grassland-dependent species. However, the plant species that will be 2

incorporated into prairie restoration on both refuges are specifically targeted to provide the species and structure required for all life stages of the OSB.

There are currently no OSBs on refuge lands, and the declining condition of the habitat in currently occupied sites has compelled annual augmentation of butterflies in order to prevent extirpation. The lack of suitable OSB habitat and the insufficient size of the existing isolated, unstable populations will continue to threaten the species throughout its range, and lead to loss of existing populations. The threat of the butterfly's extinction continues to increase without the added protection of new, refuge-managed OSB populations, one of which will be established within 3 years of funding. This project will serve as a model that other land managers can emulate.

3. Project Goals and Objectives: The long-term goal of the project is to add enough numerical and genetic security to the total OSB population to prevent extinction of the OSB. This will be accomplished through the establishment of two secure, viable populations of OSB in suitable habitat that is robust and adaptively managed by the Refuge System (Nestucca Bay and Willapa NWRs) within the historic range of the species.

Objectives – Within the 3-year term of this project, the objectives are to restore suitable habitat at Nestucca Bay NWR; make significant progress on restoring habitat at Willapa NWR; and introduce a population to Nestucca Bay NWR. This new population will provide “insurance” against an extirpation or crash at any one site triggered by a local severe weather event, fire, habitat degradation, weed infestation, or other causal factor, and facilitates the extension of the species range north into its historic range to minimize potential effects of climate change.

Objectives (specific and measurable) – within 3-year project timeline. (1) Restore habitat at Nestucca Bay NWR with a conservation target of 25 acres restored to “suitable habitat” that meets the conditions delineated in the revised recovery plan for OSB population establishment. Suitable habitat includes specific and measurable attributes for percent cover and density of native prairie and introduced plant species, thatch buildup, bare ground component, and early blue violet plants. (2) Restore habitat at Willapa NWR with a conservation target of 5 acres restored to “suitable habitat” with similar attributes to that at Nestucca Bay NWR within the 3-year project timeline. An additional 12-17 acres will be in the initial stages of restoration by 2017. (3) Introduce OSB on Nestucca Bay NWR. Conservation target is an OSB population established at the end of year 3. A release of approximately 1,000 caterpillars should result in a total butterfly count of 250-300 butterflies the same year. The long-term goal is a sustainable population that is characterized by the following attributes: • Minimum viable population of 200 to 500 butterflies for at least 10 years. • Located in permanently protected habitat within an identified habitat conservation area that is managed to maintain approximately 3% early blue violet cover, multiple nectar sources flowering throughout the butterfly’s flight period, and minimal presence of invasive and competitive plants.

4. Relationship to Planning Documents: Proposed measures for determining the suitability of restored habitat for OSB population establishment are specifically identified in the Revised Recovery Plan for the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly (USFWS 2001). Tasks involved in establishing additional populations are specified in the Controlled Propagation and Reintroduction Plan (Van Buskirk 2010). Both refuges are within the historic range and nearby known butterfly sites, either current or historic, but there is no documentation for occurrence on either refuge. At the time of listing under the ESA, neither refuge had been established. Nestucca Bay NWR is not specifically identified as a population site in the 2001 Revised Recovery Plan. However, the 5-Year Review (USFWS 2011) recommends that the Cascade Head Conservation Area be enlarged to include additional habitat, and states that the Cannery Hill Unit of the Nestucca Bay NWR may make an acceptable site for a second population if habitat restoration proves successful. Establishing a population on restored suitable coastal prairie habitat on Nestucca Bay and Willapa NWRs (through proposal implementation) will not only prevent the extinction of the species, but move it one step further toward the goals in the Revised Recovery Plan (USFWS 2001).

This proposal has a direct link to the CCPs for both Nestucca Bay NWR (USFWS 2013) and Willapa NWR (USFWS 2011), where goals, objectives, and strategies are specific regarding coastal prairie restoration for the benefit and introduction of the OSB. This proposal reflects implementation of those associated strategies.

Nestucca Bay CCP—Goal 2 is to “restore, protect, and maintain upland prairie and grasslands characteristic of the North Pacific Coastal Ecosystem”. This goal prescribes restoration of up to 25 acres of upland coastal prairie on Nestucca Bay NWR, through a phased restoration project, for the benefit of the federally listed OSB. Goal 7 of the CCP, to promote the recovery of the OSB, lists strategies required for establishing a new OSB population.

Willapa CCP—The butterfly previously inhabited coastal habitat in southern Washington. It is now extirpated from the entire northern portion of its historic range, including northern Oregon and Washington, and is State-listed as endangered in Washington. The Willapa CCP commits the Service to restoring habitat and reestablishing one or more healthy sustainable populations of OSB, in accordance with recovery goals described in the Revised Recovery Plan (USFWS 2001). Willapa has recently initiated restoration efforts and expects to host a reintroduction by 2020 after the successful establishment of native prairie vegetation. This proposal will advance habitat restoration on Willapa NWR and consequently accelerate the timeline for reintroduction.

5. Project Activities, Methods and Timeline: To restore former coastal headland prairie to the desired condition articulated in the Revised Recovery Plan, prairie restoration activities will require seed collection, grow-out and planting, invasive plant control, removal of encroaching trees and shrubs, and monitoring. Butterfly introduction activities include collection from Mt. Hebo; controlled propagation at one or both zoo facilities; and releases of caterpillars and/or adult butterflies.

Project goals, objectives, activities, methods, and timelines are described in Table 1. Ongoing prairie restoration methodologies and timelines for Nestucca Bay NWR are described in the Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Cannery Hill Prairie Restoration: 2013 Report and Updated Restoration Plan (IAE 2013), which is updated each year based on monitoring results. Detailed methodologies for OSB introduction and monitoring protocols are available in the Controlled Propagation and Reintroduction Plan for the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly (Van Buskirk 2010).

The habitat restoration work for OSB at Nestucca Bay NWR will be completed in the first 2 years of the project (2015- 16). Introduction of captive-reared caterpillars to the Nestucca Bay site would take place in 2017. The majority of the habitat restoration work for OSB at Willapa NWR will be completed during the final 2 years of this project (2016-2017) and will be based on research results from an ongoing prairie restoration research project being conducted by the IAE at Willapa NWR. First year results of research will be implemented on 5 acres in 2015 and an adaptive management approach will be used to determine restoration activities on 12-17 additional acres beyond 2017 at the Willapa NWR.

Table 1: Project Goals, Objectives, Activities, Methods, and Timetable. The overarching project goal is to prevent the extinction of the Oregon silverspot butterfly.

Objective Activity Methods Timeline Restore Nestucca Bay Remove existing non- Broadcast spraying with herbicide 2015-2016 NWR coastal prairie native vegetation Spot treat and hand pull invasives 2015-2017 habitat to specified Mowing, thatch removal, potential burn if needed. 2015-2016 attributes needed by Increase native plant Scout and collect native seed 2015-2016 the butterfly diversity and availability Seed production/grow-out 2015-2016 Plant natives - container plants and seed 2015-2016 Restore Willapa NWR Remove existing non- Adaptive Management Strategies based on IAE research 2015-2017 coastal prairie habitat to native vegetation results specified attributes Increase native plant Scout and collect native seed 2015-2017 needed by the butterfly diversity and availability Seed production/grow-out 2015-2017 Plant natives - seedlings and seed 2015-2017 Monitor Nestucca Bay Monitor early blue Direct early blue violet counts within designated breeding April-May NWR habitat attributes violets habitat 2017-19 needed by the butterfly Monitor nectar species Monitor along established transects July-Sept.

2017-19 Monitor coastal prairie Monitor along established transects Fall 2017-19 plant diversity Monitor Willapa NWR Monitor early blue Direct early blue violet counts within designated breeding April-May habitat attributes violets habitat 2017-19 needed by the butterfly Monitor nectar species Monitor along established transects July-Sept. 2017-19 Monitor coastal prairie Monitor along established transects Fall 2017-19 plant diversity Establish a new Release butterflies into Capture females for egg production. August 2016 butterfly population at suitable habitat Raise caterpillars at zoos. May –July 2017, Nestucca Bay NWR 18 Captive-reared caterpillars will be released directly onto host June-July 2017, violet plants 18 Monitor released Conduct annual Qualified butterfly specialist will use a modified Pollard mid-July thru butterfly population butterfly surveys along method, to conduct weekly surveys along defined transects, mid-Sept. 2017-19 designated transects counting butterflies within a radius of 15m of the transect, at a walking pace of 20m/min., during butterfly flight season July-Sept.

6. Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC): This proposal was created with a SHC approach to be explicit about the desired outcomes and efficient in the use of limited resources. SHC is the conservation and business framework used by the Service to clearly and strategically focus our resources and expertise on where the Service can have the greatest positive impact on fish, wildlife, and plants for current and future generations. It starts by working at larger spatial and temporal scales, across programs and with our partners and stakeholders, in a focused way that links Service actions to outcomes, with learning as an explicit objective of our conservation actions.

Biological Planning: Habitat relationships, limiting factors, and expected response to habitat management have been well established for the OSB. Objectives come directly from the Revised Recovery Plan for the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly (2001) and the 5-Year Review (2012) which spell out the recovery strategies, provide explicit population objectives, and identify specific actions for achieving and maintaining those objectives. The Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Propagation and Reintroduction Plan (Van Buskirk 2010) and 5-Year Review Summary and Evaluation (USFWS 2012) identify potential introduction sites, including Nestucca Bay NWR and Willapa NWR.

Conservation design: The design of this proposal is based on spatial habitat and species distribution data. Spatially explicit models indicate suitable habitat, and additional analysis has identified potential introduction sites between core habitat areas to promote genetic interchange between core populations in the future. This proposal focuses on two sites identified in Figure 1 (OSB HCAs with refuge sites in context) and Figure 2 (OSB Distribution – Extant and Extirpated).

Conservation Delivery/Implementation: The bulk of this proposal delivers the on-the-ground actions needed to remove the OSB from the threat of extinction. Past habitat restoration activities conducted by the Service and its partners have yielded positive results. We anticipate our proposed actions will achieve more of the same beneficial outcomes.

Assumption-Driven Research: Mission-critical research has been, and continues to be, utilized in the biological planning, conservation design, and conservation delivery. For example, specific habitat characteristics are assumed to be necessary for successful transformation of caterpillars. Mowing, herbicides, and specific seeding rates are all tools that are used to provide these characteristics within each OSB site. Considerable research has been conducted to evaluate the direct effects of these techniques on both the target species and their habitat (USFWS 2012).

Outcome-Based Monitoring: Recovery plans require extensive monitoring to ensure that recovery criteria have been met. Habitat parameters will be monitored frequently for compliance with restoration timeline, using standard protocols. Following introduction, we will employ standardized butterfly survey methodology.

7. Anticipated Outcomes: The expected project outcomes are: (a) the restoration of diverse, stable coastal prairie habitat at Nestucca Bay NWR with the species and structure present to constitute suitable habitat for OSB; (b) establishment of an OSB population within 3 years of funding on a secure, Service-managed site (Nestucca Bay NWR) that can be closely monitored and adaptively managed; (c) the acceleration of OSB habitat restoration on Willapa NWR, which will facilitate OSB population reestablishment by 2020; and (d) the documentation of the project’s successful methodologies and partnerships, and their use to inform restoration on other OSB sites resulting in habitat and population stability.

Uncertainties exist concerning the habitat restoration process and results of restoration. Restoration plans are developed at the end of each calendar year and incorporate results of extensive monitoring and the latest restoration science. All restoration requires adaptive management, and the Nestucca Bay NWR site is especially challenging from a restoration perspective due to the weather, abundance of introduced pasture grasses, and the uniqueness of native coastal grassland ecosystems in Oregon. For these reasons, some restoration activities listed in the annual restoration plan are left intentionally vague and the details become more evident as restoration of the site progresses. Therefore, the outcome of the initial implementation steps will necessarily inform and guide subsequent restoration decisions. We will continuously adapt time and place-specific methods based on present conditions. These refinements in approach are not haphazard; rather, they are based on a depth of knowledge and understanding of prairie restoration techniques.

Uncertainties with regard to the butterfly introduction include the possibility that extreme weather conditions in any given year prior to establishment of additional populations could precipitate a significant decline in the Mt. Hebo butterfly population. Butterfly populations can fluctuate dramatically in response to local weather events. In 1993, cool wet spring weather is thought to be responsible for population crashes at all four known OSB populations in Oregon (Pickering 1994). Because the Mt. Hebo population is currently the only source for controlled propagation, and only up to 3% may be collected each year for captive propagation, a significant decline would result in fewer propagated caterpillars available for release. This uncertainty imparts additional urgency to this project. If it is decimated by an extreme weather event, there is no more stock for introductions, reintroductions, or augmentations.

8. Project Basis / Likelihood of Success: We expect to restore 25 acres of coastal prairie on Nestucca Bay NWR. The Mt. Hebo site has about 65 acres of meadow, not all of it suitable. 25 acres of restored prairie will constitute about 40% of available, suitable habitat and should support a self-sustaining OSB population of 250-1,250 butterflies. Based on survey data from 2000-2013, this new population has the potential to host 25%-40% of the total number of individuals in all OSB populations combined. Currently there are five small OSB populations, four of which are located in deteriorating habitat and not viable without continued augmentation. Our goal is to increase the number of known OSB populations from 5 to 6 populations by the third year of funding, with an additional population (Willapa NWR) expected to follow by 2020. This project will also provide a restoration and reintroduction template for partners to adapt for use across the historical range. Confidence in our success is based on a number of supporting factors:

1) We have a cadre of plans and manuals that reinforce our management actions and guide our path forward. As a result, the general habitat requirements of the species are well known. The Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Husbandry Manual (Anderson et.al 2010) details the methods developed through multiple years of captive-rearing that can be implemented consistently each year. The 2010 Propagation and Reintroduction Plan determined appropriate release numbers at future reintroduction sites while maximizing genetic diversity.

2) Monitoring will inform every aspect of project implementation and project success. Suitable habitat attributes, as detailed in the Nestucca Bay NWR CCP (USFWS 2013) and Willapa NWR CCP (USFWS 2012) will be measured annually and management adapted as necessary to maintain these attributes. The refuge populations would be monitored annually, consistent with the standard methods used at all occupied sites. The butterfly Index of Abundance Count generated by the monitoring effort would be used to measure project success and guide future management actions. Information from monitoring would help refine OSB-specific habitat restoration techniques.

3) We have superb partnerships and expert consultants in place. For instance, our likelihood of success will be increased due to collaboration with our primary habitat restoration partner, the Institute for Applied Ecology. The IAE

6 has extensively studied and repeatedly implemented the proposed prairie restoration methods to successfully achieve specific habitat objectives for listed species. The IAE has been working with Nestucca Bay NWR since 2010, helping to achieve invasive plant control and initial planting of forbs and violets on the first two restoration units and initial invasive plant control on the larger restoration unit. The IAE’s established relationships with additional partners ensure that the specific native plant materials are available as needed within the time frame necessary.

9. Project Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation: Coastal prairie restoration was initiated in the upland prairie at Nestucca Bay NWR in 2011 and at Willapa NWR on the Tarlatt Unit in 2009. Because of site-specific challenges in the restoration process, Willapa NWR chose to take a well-considered and calculated approach to further actions by conducting a multi-year research project to determine effective weed control and site preparation methods. The habitat restoration actions funded by this project will be initiated on both refuges as soon as funds are received in 2015. All funds will be obligated to cooperative agreements and contracts by the end of FY 2015. At Nestucca Bay NWR work will continue to control weeds, establish a diverse native prairie, and plant early blue violets throughout the first 2 years. Surveys, counting and mapping of Viola adunca will continue, and various seeding and planting treatments will be implemented. Specific conservation targets, such as violet and nectar plant establishment and number of butterflies supported, will be measured to determine project success. Project goals, objectives, activities, methods, and timelines are described in Table 1. A total of eight habitat parameters will be monitored, including relative cover of native prairie species, number and distribution of early blue violet plants, cover of non- native plants, invasive plants or noxious weeds, encroachment of woody species, and percentage of bare ground. Effectiveness of weed treatments will be monitored, and progress towards meeting OSB habitat goals will be measured against Revised Recovery Plan standards. Following butterfly introduction in 2017 and continuing through 2019, we will conduct 10 weekly transect surveys during the butterfly flight period to gauge success of caterpillar releases. Detailed monitoring (Attachment 2) will take place from 2017-19, and project evaluation will be completed by the end of 2019.

As project manager, the IAE will research and provide prescriptions for, and coordinate, invasive plant control through manual and chemical means, mowing, seeding, and plug planting. The IAE will also perform tasks needed to garner additional plant species diversity for Nestucca Bay NWR, including seed scouting and collection, contracting with PMC and another nursery for grow-out and seed increase, and scheduling and coordinating actual seeding and plug planting. The PMC will continue to maintain existing plant production beds for both refuges. The IAE will also establish a contract with the Oregon Department of Corrections in 2015 to grow Viola adunca and nectar plant plugs for both refuges. The IAE will produce annual restoration reports containing details on techniques used in restoration, and evaluation of treatment and their effectiveness along with recommendations for future treatments and techniques. These recommendations will allow for adaptive management and will refine the techniques for establishing additional populations of these plants. During the first year (2015), CRI funding will also be used to fund a partial salary for a seasonal Habitat Restoration technician at Nestucca Bay NWR in order to accomplish the heavy initial year workload of invasive plant control, mowing, seeding, planting, and monitoring of planting and weed treatments. Willapa NWR will also use CRI funding to partially fund a dedicated temporary position for prairie restoration in 2015. Staff from both refuges will be actively involved in all aspects of habitat restoration as well as review and approval of plans and participation in OSB working group.

10. Landscape Approach and Cross-programmatic Coordination, Partnership, and Benefits: According to the recovery criteria from the Revised Recovery Plan for the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly (USFWS 2001), one of the three criteria for meeting recovery goals is that at least two viable OSB populations exist in protected habitat in each of the following Habitat Conservation Areas (HCA) (Figure 1): Coastal Mountains, Cascade Head, and Central Coast in Oregon; and Del Norte County in California; and at least one viable OSB population exists in protected habitat in each of the following HCAs: Long Beach Peninsula, Washington, and Clatsop Plains, Oregon. This project will directly contribute to meeting the goals for the Cascade Head HCA (Nestucca Bay NWR), and the Long Beach HCA (Willapa NWR), from which the butterfly was extirpated in 1991.

Cross-programmatic coordination and Service program contributions – This project is both cross-programmatic and at a landscape scale within the historical distribution of the species. It will build upon long-standing intra-agency cooperation among Refuges, Coastal Program, and Ecological Services’ (ES) Recovery Program. The Recovery Program in Oregon and Washington, in conjunction with the Coastal Program and other Service programs, is cooperatively implemented to maximize the benefits of the funding sources available and most effectively deliver recovery conservation. The primary expertise for the listed butterfly actions through this project comes from the ES biologist Anne Walker, species lead for the OSB, who is stationed at the same office as the Nestucca Bay NWR staff and works with staff at Nestucca Bay and Willapa NWRs to design and implement recovery actions.

11. Long-Term Sustainability: The 2014 National Climate Assessment contains the most recent regional overview of Pacific Northwest climate change predictions. Regional changes expected in the Pacific Northwest by the year 2100 include warmer, wetter winters; hotter, drier summers; and an increased frequency of extreme precipitation events (Mote et al. 2014). Climate change has the potential to result in phenological shifts that will change the relationship between the timing of OSB flight and the blooming of nectar species, especially in montane ecosystems, thereby increasing the importance of providing stable habitat for the species in low-elevation sites such as Nestucca Bay and Willapa NWRs. Meadows may actually shrink in size under a warmer climate. http://uanews.org/story/lessons-from-a-meadow-could-impact-climate-change-models

The onset of increased average temperatures and decreased average precipitation, especially for summer months, will likely begin to result in changes to the habitat on Mt. Hebo, which supports the only viable OSB population and is the last stronghold of the species. The meadows on Mt. Hebo, which are 10 miles inland, may dry out earlier in the season, while the meadows on the coast at the Nestucca Bay NWR and Willapa NWR will continue to get moisture from fog and morning dew during the summer months. The predicted decrease in snowpack and more winter precipitation falling as rain vs. snow may result in the invasion of currently suitable OSB habitat on Mt Hebo by non- native plants similar to the current situation at the coastal sites, which do not have snow to inhibit the winter growth of some invasive, non-native plant species. Expected changes also include range shifts of native and invasive species. For example, the invasive non-native plant, reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) has recently been spreading into meadow areas at Mt. Hebo. If habitat at Mt. Hebo becomes unsuitable, butterflies will not be able to migrate up in elevation because they are already located at the highest elevation. The loss of the northern range of the species, from the Oregon central coast to the Washington central coast, is a considerable concern as well, since all OSB populations north of Mt. Hebo are extirpated.

This proposal helps to insure long-term species viability in the face of climate change through several pathways. Beyond preventing extinction, the establishment of the two additional populations will eventually increase representation throughout the butterfly’s historical range to maximize genetic diversity. In addition, the proposed increase in plant diversity, from the minimum plant species required for OSB survival to a more robust plant assemblage, is a critical component of this proposal. Restoring and managing the habitat to enhance ecological function and biological diversity will result in an increase in overall resilience to climate stress. Native plant species will be chosen for their utility in establishing a robust, diverse community that yields good suppressive capabilities in the face of aggressive, introduced vegetation, preventing reinfestation by invasive species. It is this additional diversity that will help to maintain a more resilient native ecosystem over time, as increased native diversity is directly related to lowered risk of reinfestation.

In summary, climate change has the potential to create asynchronies between OSB caterpillars and their host plant (violets) or nectar plant abundance and OSB flight. Based on current climate change predictions, it appears the meadows on Mt. Hebo are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than the coastal sites. The permanent protection provided by Nestucca Bay NWR and Willapa NWR would create coastal refugia to help mitigate this increased risk to the Mt. Hebo population. Adjacent forest acres added to Nestucca Bay NWR in 2014 will also provide important secondary habitat for the butterfly for sheltering and thermal regulation, increasing the likelihood of butterfly population persistence. Additionally, a more diverse native plant community will provide increased opportunities over a broader period of time for pollinators such as the OSB, thereby further increasing resilience to the potential impacts of climate change.

12. Literature Cited

Anderson, M.J., Arnold, M., Barclay, E., Myers, L., Shepherdson, D. and E. Sullivan. 2010. Oregon Silverspot Husbandry Manual. Oregon Zoo, Portland, OR. 36 pp. Institute for Applied Ecology, 2013. Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Cannery Hill Prairie Restoration: 2013 Report and Updated Restoration Plan. Mote, P., A. K. Snover, S. Capalbo, S. D. Eigenbrode, P. Glick, J. Littell, R. Raymondi, and S. Reeder, 2014: Ch. 21: Northwest. Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and G. W. Yohe, Eds., U.S. Global Change Research Program, 487-513. doi:10.7930/J04Q7RWX. On the Web: http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/regions/northwest Pickering, D. 1995. Population dynamics of the Oregon silverspot butterfly Speyeria zerene hippolyta (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae). Report prepared for United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Siuslaw National Forest, Corvallis, Oregon. 31 pp. Pollard, E. 1977. A method for assessing changes in the abundance of butterflies. Biological Conservation; 12:115- 134. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1980. Listing the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly as a threatened species with critical habitat. Federal Register 45(129):44935- 44939. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2000. Policy Regarding Controlled Propagation of Species Listed Under the Endangered Species Act. Federal Register 65(183):56916-56922. U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service. 2001. Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) revised recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon. 113 pp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2011. Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2012. Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta) 5-Year Review Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2013. Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. Van Buskirk, R. 2010. Controlled Propagation and Reintroduction Plan for the Oregon silverspot butterfly (Speyeria zerene hippolyta). Unpublished Report prepared for Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 33 pp.

13. Figure 1 - Map of Project Area – Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Habitat Conservation Areas

Figure 2: Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Distribution – Extant and Extirpated

Fy15 CRI - Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Extinction Prevention

Attachment 2 – Funding Request Form

2015 Cooperative Recovery Initiative: Endangered Species Recovery on or Near National Wildlife Refuges Funding Request Form

Project Title: Preventing the Extinction of the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly through the Coastal Prairie CRI

Showing Success (likely to delist or reclassify) Preventing Extinction (work for a species in great peril) X

Lead Region Priority:

Lead Region: 1 _X 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Other, Participating Regions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

National Wildlife Refuge/s Involved: Nestucca Bay NWR, Willapa NWR

Please list the Threatened or Endangered species that would benefit from this project (if there are multiple species, please add additional rows)

Species Species Latin *Recovery Species Range Common Priority # (by state) Oregon silverspot Speyeria zerene 3C OR, WA butterfly hippolyta

* If applicable: See Endangered Species Recovery Handbook and/or Recovery Plan for description of Recovery Priority #

Project Lead Contact: Rebecca Chuck, Oregon Coast NWRC 541-867-4550 Name/Office Phone Number

BUDGET REQUEST TABLE: (PROJECTS SHOULD RANGE FROM $100,000 TO $1 MILLION) (NOTE: PLEASE PROVIDE AS MUCH DETAIL AS POSSIBLE ON EXPECTED TASKS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE CONSERVATION ACTION. THIS INFORMATION IS REQUESTED TO ENSURE THAT A WELL-DOCUMENTED UNDERSTANDING OF THE STEPS AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE REQUESTED CONSERVATION ACTION HAS BEEN CONSIDERED.) 1

Fy15 CRI - Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Extinction Prevention

TABLE 1: FWS PROGRAMS FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING ITEM DESCRIPTION PROGRAM SUB-ITEM REQUESTED REQUESTED REQUESTED REQUESTED REQUESTED DESCRIPTION 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 MONITORING MONITORING MONITORING ONLY ONLY ONLY PERSONNEL Refuges partial funds - Temp Salary: Nestucca Bay $ 9,492 Habitat Restoration $ 15,492 Temp Salary: Willapa $ 6,000 techs MONITORING (TRANSFER TOTAL Recovery; Habitat; butterfly AMOUNT FROM MONITORING PLAN Refuges $ 28,398 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 BUDGET TABLE) CONTRACTS* Recovery; Contracts, $ 280,817 $ 192,083 Refuges agreements TOTAL $ 526,790 $ 296,309 $ 192,083 $ 28,398 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 ALL FUNDS TO BE OBLIGATED FY15 *TRANSFER TOTAL OF ITEMIZED CONTRACT COSTS FROM TABLE 2 BELOW

TABLE 2: NON FWS PROGRAM OR ITEMIZED CONTRACT* FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING FUNDING ITEM DESCRIPTION SUB-ITEM DESCRIPTION REQUESTED REQUESTED REQUESTED REQUESTED REQUESTED 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 MONITORING MONITORING MONITORING ONLY ONLY ONLY Institute for Cooperative agreement for prairie restoration guidance $ 124,665 $129,591 Applied Ecology and project management, science oversight. 3 year agreement to be obligated FY15. Cooperative agreement – habitat monitoring in 2017 $ 23,898 specific to OSB habitat attributes, to be obligated FY15. Plant nursery Growout of seed – violets, graminoids, forbs. Seed to be $ 152,000 grown out over 3 year period. OSU, ODA Seed testing and certification – may contract through $ 145 $ 290 laboratories USDA Plant Materials Center and/or other nursery Herbicide Application of herbicide to restoration sites – set up 2 $ 4,007 $ 2,202 applicator year contract in FY15 Butterfly expert Conduct weekly surveys along defined transects to $ 4,500 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 monitor OSB persistence and success Oregon/ Woodland Captive rearing of butterflies to be released into $ 60,000 Park Zoo restored prairie – 2 year contract, obligated FY15 TOTAL $280,817 $192,083 $ 28,398 $ 5,000 $ 5,000

Cooperative Recovery Initiative Monitoring the Effectiveness of our Conservation Delivery FY2015 Monitoring Plan

Project Title: Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Extinction Prevention

What is your Recovery Action (Anticipated Conservation Outcome) from CRI Proposal?

The Oregon silverspot butterfly is danger of becoming extinct in the foreseeable future, as all five remaining small populations are at great risk of extirpation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will accelerate restoration of suitable OSB habitat and establish butterfly populations on Nestucca Bay and Willapa NWRs, greatly reducing the species risk of extinction.

Specific Conservation Target(s):

(a) Restore habitat at Nestucca with a conservation target of 25 acres restored to “suitable habitat” that meets the conditions delineated in the recovery plan for OSB population establishment; (b) Restore habitat at Willapa with a conservation target of five acres restored to OSB suitable habitat condition; and (c) Introduce OSB population on Nestucca Bay NWR. Conservation target is a butterfly population at the end of year 3. A release of approximately 1,000 caterpillars should result in an index count of 250-300 butterflies the same year.

Describe any habitat parameters you would like to monitor that you believe are integral to the success of your Conservation Delivery action (just a list is fine):

We will monitor the following habitat parameters at Nestucca Bay NWR: (1) relative cover of native prairie species such as California oatgrass, red fescue Festuca rubra, pearly everlasting, yarrow, and California aster; (2) number and distribution of early blue violet Viola adunca plants; (3) buildup of thatch; (4) cover of introduced plant species (e.g., orchard grass, annual rye, white clover); (5) cover of other invasive plants or noxious weeds (i.e., bull thistle, tansy ragwort); (6) encroachment of woody species; (7) presence/absence of reed canarygrass; and (8) percentage of bare ground. At Willapa NWR the following habitat parameters will be monitored: (1) non-native grass cover; (2) total cover of thatch and bare ground percentage; (3) mean density of Viola adunca; (4) establishment of native prairie plant species, including coastal red fescue, at each site; (5) native shrub cover; (6) diversity and abundance of native nectar plants to at least 3 species (that in combination will provide nectar throughout the butterfly flight season); and (7) ratio of plant species at 60 percent native to 40 percent non-native.

Provide a monitoring timeline (can be same as the timeline used in the main CRI proposal):

Objective Activity Methods Timeline

Monitor Monitor early blue Direct violet counts within designated breeding April-May 2017-19 Nestucca violets habitat habitat attributes Monitor nectar species Monitor along established transects July-Sept. 2017-19 needed by Monitor coastal prairie Monitor along established transects Fall 2017-19 butterfly plant diversity

Monitor Monitor violets Direct violet counts within designated breeding April-May 2017-19

Willapa habitat habitat attributes needed by Monitor nectar species Monitor along established transects July-Sept. 2017-19 butterfly Monitor coastal prairie Monitor along established transects Fall 2017-19 plant diversity

Establish a Release butterflies into Capture females for egg production. August 2016 new butterfly suitable habitat population at Raise caterpillars at zoos. May –July 2017, 18 Nestucca Bay Captive-reared caterpillars will be released directly June-July 2017, 18 NWR onto host violet plants

Conduct annual Qualified butterfly specialist will use a modified mid-July thru butterfly surveys along Pollard method, to conduct weekly surveys along mid-Sept. 2017-19 Monitor designated transects defined transects, counting butterflies within a released radius of 15m of the transect, at a walking pace of butterfly 20m/min., during butterfly flight season July-Sept. population

Please attach relevant monitoring protocols: Attachments: Butterfly Survey Method.docx; IAE- Plant monitoring protocol.doc

Data Management:

Data will be stored at the Oregon Coast NWR Complex Office in Newport, Oregon Data will be analyzed annually by IAE, Refuge and ES Staff Data will be analyzed by IAE, Refuge and ES Staff by expertise

Service Monitoring Resources: Service Manual 701 FW 2: Inventory and Monitoring in the National Wildlife Refuge System http://www.fws.gov/policy/701fw2.html Exhibit 1: Guidance for Developing an Inventory and Monitoring Plan http://www.fws.gov/policy/e1701fw2.pdf Survey Protocol Handbook: How to Develop Survey Protocols http://www.fws.gov/policy/SurveyProtocalsHB.pdf Budget: (Transfer your total monitoring costs to the CRI proposal budget):

TABLE 1: MONITORING BUDGET TABLE 2: MONITORING BUDGET Item Funding Funding Funding Funding Funding Description Sub-Item Requested Requested Requested Requested Requested Description 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Monitoring Monitoring Monitoring only only only IAE Project Monitoring site $ 23,898 staff visits through Cooperative Agm. Contractsa Butterfly surveyor $ 4,500 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 TOTALb, c $ 28,398 $ 5,000 $ 5,000 a Insert total amount if monitoring will be done under external contract b Transfer total amount of monitoring for each year to Main Proposal Budget Table c The combined monitoring budget for all years requested cannot exceed $150,000 2

Preventing the Extinction of the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly through the Coastal Prairie Cooperative Recovery Initiative

Vegetation Monitoring Protocol

The Nestucca Bay and Willapa NWR CCPs (USFWS, 2012 and 2013) provide goals and monitoring suggestions for upland prairie vegetation. The vegetation goals presented in the CCP are in accordance with those outlined in the Revised Recovery Plan for the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly (USFWS, 2001).

Vegetation monitoring will be done in accordance with the following objectives: • Track population trends of target species, including native and invasive species • Detect changes in habitat quality (plant community composition and species cover) over time • Measure success of restoration activities (i.e., mowing, seeding, herbicide application, etc.) • Detect woody plant encroachment and thatch/litter build up • Provide feedback for adaptive management consideration

Vegetation monitoring will include the following: quantitative assessment of the overall plant community, Viola adunca census and mapping, photo points, and seasonal qualitative surveys.

Quantitative assessments: In each restoration unit, the vegetation community will be assessed by establishing 30 1m2 plots. Plots will be placed randomly in each restoration area by superimposing a grid on a digital image of a restoration unit and randomly choosing pairs of coordinates. When located on the ground, plots will be permanently marked and GPS data recorded. Each plot will be visited annually. In each plot, the following data will be recorded: • Plant species present and percent cover of each • Number of flowering stems of all known native nectar species, including Achillea millefolium, • Anaphalis margaritacea, Cirsium edule, Solidago canadensis, Symphotrichum chilensis, and others • Number of Viola adunca individuals • Depth and cover of thatch/litter • Presence/absence of any invasive plants of management concern • Percent bare ground

Viola adunca census and mapping: A complete census of Viola adunca individuals will be performed annually. All patches of violets will be mapped and the number of individual plants in each recorded. This activity was initiated at Nestucca Bay NWR in 2012.

Photo points: Photo points were established on Nestucca Bay NWR at Cannery Hill in 2011 in each restoration unit. At each point, a photograph is taken annually in all four cardinal directions. This activity will be continued. Willapa NWR will establish photo points at Tarlatt using the same protocol as Nestucca Bay NWR.

Seasonal qualitative assessments: Finally, qualitative monitoring of all restoration units will occur in the spring, summer, and fall. Each restoration area will be assessed using the intuitive controlled survey method, where focal areas are identified based on habitat and plant community characteristics. Focal areas will be visually assessed to determine if any planned management activities need to occur. Interannual comparison of data will allow for increased understanding of plant community trends in relation to management activities. Management activities will be adapted based on the results of vegetation monitoring.

Preventing the Extinction of the Oregon Silverspot Butterfly through the Coastal Prairie Cooperative Recovery Initiative

Butterfly Sampling Protocol

Butterfly species composition and relative abundances are sampled using transect counts, modified from Pollard (1977). Transect routes are established as appropriate for each site, typically including distinct segments near the base of a sloped habitat, mid-slope, and along ridge tops. Observers record butterflies observed within a 15 meter band on both sides of a transect while walking at a slow and steady pace, 20 meters/minute. Species identifications are made visually, using binoculars when needed. Transects are walked during midday hours (1000−1500) on at least one day during each 10- day sampling period. Sampling is restricted to relatively calm conditions and times when air temperature exceeds 13°C in sunny weather or 17°C in cloudy weather. Recording • Record all butterflies seen w/in bounds of route (15 meter width received) and w/in 15 meter ahead. • Helpful to imagine recorder w/in moving 15 meter box − record all butterflies seen w/in box. • Walk at steady slow pace of 20 meters/minute. • No special effort to record butterflies settled out of sight in dense vegetation. • Record each individual once only. • Record at least once per week. • Restrict recording to middle of day (e.g. 1000 to 1500 PST, or 1100 to 1600 PDT) • Temperature: shade temperature ≥ 17.0 °C o (or lower, e.g., 11.0 °C at northern sites where butterflies adapted to cooler temperatures) • Wind speed estimated using Beaufort scale.

References

nd New, TR 1997. Butterfly Conservation, 2 Edition. Oxford Univ. Press, Melbourne, Australia. Pollard, E. 1977. A method for assessing changes in the abundance of butterflies. Biological Conservation; 12:115-134. Pollard, E, and TJ Yates. 1993. Monitoring Butterflies for Ecology and Conservation. Chapman & Hall, London, UK. *Pyle, RM 2002. The Butterflies of Cascadia : A Field Guide to All the Species of Washington, Oregon, and Surrounding Territories. Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle, WA. BUTTERFLY TRANSECT DATA FORM

Site Name ______Site ID No. ______Date ______Observer ______Transect Location ______Transect UTMs: Start: N ______E ______End: N ______E ______Elevation ______Aspect ______Slope (%) ______Start Time ______End Time ______Weather: Start Temp °C ______End Temp °C ______% Sun ______Wind ______

BUTTERFLIES OBSERVED

Sections Species 1 2 3 4 5 Total Notes