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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Leadbetter Coastal Dune Habitat Restoration Leadbetter Point State Park August 2016

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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Leadbetter Coastal Dune Habitat Restoration Leadbetter Point State Park August 2016 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Leadbetter Coastal Dune Habitat Restoration Leadbetter Point State Park August 2016 I. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION Proposed Action: The purpose of the Leadbetter Coastal Dune Habitat Restoration project is to restore 3 miles of coastal dune habitat on the western shoreline of the Leadbetter Point State Park (State Park) and the Seashore Conservation Area (SCA) shown in Figure 1. Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action: Leadbetter Point is one of the northernmost breeding sites and is the largest and most significant western snowy plover (WSPL) nesting area in Washington. The proposed action site contains critical habitat for both WSPL and streaked horned lark (STHL) shown in Figure 2. Leadbetter Point is part of a network of ocean beach habitat along the Pacific Coast from southern Washington to Baja, California. These ocean beaches were once characterized by large sparsely vegetated areas of open sand that constantly changed as dunes shifted, stabilized or eroded away as shown in Photo 1. WSPL and STHL rely heavily on these coastal dune habitat areas for food, shelter, and raising their young. Substantial loss of habitat from industrial, urban, and recreational development has resulted in population declines of these two species. Development of these areas has also contributed to the encroachment of exotic vegetation. In 1896 efforts began to stabilize the sand along the coast by planting nonnative European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria) on areas extending from northern California to southern Washington. In the late 1930’s and early 1940’s nonnative American beachgrass (A. breviligulata) was planted on the Clatsop peninsula in Oregon. The mild climate allowed these two nonnative beach grasses to establish easily and spread rapidly. Over the next three decades, American beachgrass had spread up to the southwest Washington coast including within Leadbetter Point. Once American and European beachgrass became established and naturalized it changed the dune morphology, filling in the dunes behind the sand spit. Consequently the vegetation line has moved westward and the vegetation-to-water distance has decreased resulting in a narrower beach. European and American beachgrass spreads through strong vertical and horizontal rhizomes creating a wall of vegetation that traps blowing sand (Photo 2). This has resulted in an artificially high foredune with steep slopes as well as displacement of native plants and invertebrates. Fire suppression has accelerated succession from herbaceous beachgrass, to shrub, to pioneer lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) or climax Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) forest. The shrub species are often comprised of nonnative Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) and common gorse (Ulex europaeus). 1 The Leadbetter Point Unit of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) lies adjacent to the 1,698-acre State Park, forming a contiguous landscape-level conservation area that allows for large-scale beach restoration. These lands will create a high quality, functional landscape on the northern end of the Long Beach Peninsula totaling approximately 4,100 acres of beach and dune habitats, wetlands, and forestland that dramatically increase long term ecological integrity and connectivity within the area. Restoration of coastal dune and beach habitats will both increase the suitability of existing WSPL and STHL habitats (decrease fragmentation, edge effects, and nest predation) and dramatically increase the total amount of available nesting habitat over time (USFWS 2011). Restoring the natural coastal dune habitat will prevent the displacement of pink sandverbena (Abronia umbellata) and other rare native dune plants like yellow sandverbena (Abronia latifolia), gray beach pea (Lathyrus japonicas), and beach morning glory (Ipomoea pes-caprae) that are found along the sparsely vegetated dunes. In 2002, the Refuge began restoration of the beach habitat to aid recovery of WSPL and STHL populations. The target of this restoration work was to remove nonnative beachgrass; invasive or undesirable plants that out-compete native vegetation, alter the dune ecosystem, and form dense stands that reduce the amount and quality habitat essential for native plants and wildlife. In 2012, State Park partnered with the Refuge to restore beach habitat on the western portion of Leadbetter State Park and SCA to expand restoration efforts outside of the Refuge boundary. The same restoration activities successfully used on Refuge lands are being conducted on the State Park and SCA. By 2015, 25.6 acres of beach dune habitat had been restored on State Park and SCA lands. During the 2015 summer nest monitoring and surveys effort, WSPL and STHL were observed within the Park restoration area. Upon completion of this project, approximately 60 acres of State Park and SCA coastal dune habitat will have been restored. WSPL population counts, breeding surveys, nest searches and monitoring activities on State Park and SCA are conducted by Federal and Washington State personnel and trained volunteers following approved protocols (USFWS 2007). STHL surveys are completed following Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) protocols (WDFW 2016). Surveys and monitoring efforts will provide comprehensive information on the primary threats that limit a more healthy WSPL population and how the species responds to management efforts to increase population size and distribution. The location of WSPL and STHL nest found in 2015 are shown in Figure 3. Decisions to be Made: Refuge will use the Environmental Assessment (EA) as a basis for determining whether the Proposed Action constitutes a major Federal or State action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, or would result in a finding of No Significant Impact. Issue Identification: The Refuge previously consulted the public to complete the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental 2 Impact Statement (USFWS 2011), which vetted the following objectives with respect to the Proposed Action: 1) Restore historic coastal dune habitats. 2) Remove nonnative invasive plants. 3) Promote the recovery of federally threatened and as well as Federal candidate and State- listed species. 4) Partner with private landowners, state agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. II. ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION No Action: Under the No Action alternative, the State Park would maintain current management of dune habitat. This would result in continued decline of existing coastal dune habitat, change in dune morphology and filling-in of the dunes behind the sand spit south of the Refuge. As a result, previously restored areas will become reinfested; the vegetation-to- water line will continue to decrease; native plants will be displaced; foredunes will remain artificially high; and there will be accelerated succession from herbaceous beachgrass, to shrub, to pioneer lodgepole pine or climax Sitka spruce forest. The invasive nonnative beachgrasses will continue to spread, eliminating food, shelter and nesting habitat for SNPL and STHL and would outcompete and eventually displace native plant species. This alternative does not meet the management goals, objectives and/or responsibilities outlined in the management plans of the State Park or the Refuge Management Plans, the Recovery Plan for the Pacific Coast Population of the Western Snowy Plover, or the Streaked Horned Lark Action Plan. Proposed Action: The Proposed Action would use integrated pest management (e.g., aerial herbicide application) to treat and remove invasive nonnative plants on 3 miles of State Park and SCA coastal dune habitat. The area to be sprayed with approved herbicides will be marked with flagging tape and mapped using a Global Positioning System (GPS) to ensure that only the target plant species and area are treated. The coordinates of the mapped spray area will be given to the contractor to upload into the onboard computer system. Refuge staff will be located at the staging area and treatment site to monitor aerial application and to ensure that the area is temporarily closed to public access. Dozers will be used to remove dead vegetation and redistribute material from the artificially high dunes. This will be followed by disking or rototilling newly cleared areas, as well as areas with resprouting grasses. If available, heat-cleaned oyster shell hash may be used to help stabilize open areas of sand and provide camouflage for nesting WSPL. Areas where oystershell was previously spread will be harrowed to bring the shell to the surface and preserve sand stabilization and camouflage. Restoration of the natural processes of the coastal sand dunes will help maintain the sparsely vegetated system that provides essential breeding, foraging and nesting habitat for WSPL and STHL. These efforts will help to increase and maintain a wider vegetation-to-water distance, protect rare native plants from displacement, and eliminate invasive nonnative plants. This will also reduce the rate of succession from herbaceous beachgrass to shrub, to pioneer or climax Sitka spruce forest. The WSPL Recovery Plan (USFWS 2007) and the Streaked 3 Horned Lark Action Plan (USFWS 2015) has identified habitat restoration, enhancement and protection as essential in the recovery of this federally threatened species. The Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan and State Park Long Beach Area Parks Management Plan (Washington 2009) have identified the importance
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