Wetland Profile and Condition Assessment of the Laramie Plains Wetland Complex, Wyoming
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Wetland Profile and Condition Assessment of the Laramie Plains Wetland Complex, Wyoming FINAL REPORT January 22, 2016 Teresa M. Tibbets1, Lindsey Washkoviak1,2, Steve Tessmann3, George Jones2 and Holly E. Copeland1 1The Nature Conservancy, Wyoming Chapter, 258 Main Street, Lander, WY 82520 2Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, 1000 East University Avenue, Department 3381, Laramie, WY 82071 3Wyoming Game and Fish Department, 5400 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82006 Wetland Profile and Condition Assessment of the Laramie Plains Wetland Complex, Wyoming Prepared for: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8 1595 Wynkoop Street Denver, CO 80202 EPA Assistance ID No. CD-96813601-0 Prepared by: Teresa M. Tibbets, Lindsey Washkoviak and Holly E. Copeland The Nature Conservancy – Wyoming Chapter 258 Main Street, Suite 200 Lander, WY 82520 Steve Tessmann Wyoming Game and Fish Department 5400 Bishop Blvd. Cheyenne, WY 82006 George Jones Wyoming Natural Diversity Database University of Wyoming Department 3381, 1000 East University Avenue Laramie, WY 82071 This document should be cited as follows: Tibbets, T. M., L. Washkoviak, S.A. Tessmann, G. Jones and H.E. Copeland. 2016. Wetland Profile and Condition Assessment of the Laramie Plains Wetland Complex, Wyoming. Report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Nature Conservancy – Wyoming Chapter, Lander, Wyoming. 46 pp. plus appendices. Cover photographs: Lindsey Washkoviak and Teresa Tibbets TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................................... ii LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................................... iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 4 1.1 Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 5 2.0 STUDY AREA ...................................................................................................................................... 5 3.0 METHODS ............................................................................................................................................ 7 3.1. Landscape Profile and Condition Assessment Framework ..................................................... 7 3.1.1 Ecological Integrity Assessment Framework ....................................................................... 7 3.1.2 Wildlife Habitat Assessment ................................................................................................... 8 3.2 Landscape Profile for Laramie Plains Wetland Complex .......................................................... 8 3.3 Survey Design and Site Selection for Wetland Condition Assessment .................................. 9 3.3.1 Target Population ..................................................................................................................... 9 3.3.2 Sample Frame .......................................................................................................................... 9 3.4.1 Wetland Assessment Area (AA) .......................................................................................... 12 3.4.2 Ecological Integrity Assessment (EIA) ................................................................................ 12 3.4.3 Plant Community .................................................................................................................... 13 3.4.4 Soils .......................................................................................................................................... 13 3.4.5 Water Quality .......................................................................................................................... 14 3.4.6 Avian Richness Evaluation Method ..................................................................................... 14 3.4.7 Bird Surveys ............................................................................................................................ 14 3.5 Data Management ......................................................................................................................... 14 3.6 Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................. 14 3.6.1. Ecological Integrity Assessment ......................................................................................... 14 3.6.2. Landscape Hydrology Metric (LHM) ................................................................................... 15 3.6.3. Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) ................................................................................... 17 3.6.3. Ecological Integrity Assessment Scores ............................................................................ 18 3.6.4. Assessment of Wildlife Habitat ............................................................................................ 18 4.0 RESULTS ........................................................................................................................................... 19 4.1 Landscape Profile for Laramie Plains Wetland Complex ........................................................ 19 4.2 Description of Sampled Wetlands ............................................................................................... 25 i 4.2.1 Implementation of the Sample Design ................................................................................ 25 4.2.2 Description of Sampled Wetland Subgroups ..................................................................... 25 4.3 Wetland Soil Profiles and Water Chemistry........................................................................... 26 4.4 Landscape Hydrology Metric ....................................................................................................... 28 4.5 Wetland Vegetation ....................................................................................................................... 29 4.5.1 Species Diversity .................................................................................................................... 29 4.5.2 Floristic Quality Assessment ................................................................................................ 30 4.6 Wetland Condition Assessment .................................................................................................. 32 4.6.1 Ecological Integrity Assessment of Sampled Wetlands ................................................... 32 4.6.2 Estimate of Wetland Condition for the Wetland Population in LPWC ............................ 34 4.6.3 Indicators of disturbance ....................................................................................................... 35 4.6.5 Correlations between EIA Attribute Scores and Level 3 Floristic Metrics ..................... 36 4.6.6 Evaluation of Avian Habitat ................................................................................................... 36 5.0 DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................................................... 38 5.1 Wetland Priorities for Conservation and Restoration ........................................................... 40 6.0 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................... 41 LITERATURE CITED ............................................................................................................................... 43 APPENDICES ……………………………………………………………………………….…..47 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Wetland subgroups classified by Cowardin, Hydrogeomorphic (HGM), and Ecological Systems used in the Laramie Plains Wetland Complex. ........................................................................................... 10 Table 2. EIA attributes and field metrics used for wetland assessments in the Laramie Plains Wetland Complex. ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 Table 3. Landscape Hydrology Metric scoring criteria. ........................................................................... 17 Table 4. Surface areas of wetlands based on NWI classifications in the LPWC. ....................................... 21 Table 5. Surface areas of wetlands and waterbodies classified according to NWI water regime codes in the LPWC.................................................................................................................................................... 21 Table 6. Surface area of wetland and waterbodies classified according to NWI modifiers in the LPWC. 22 Table 7. Surface areas of irrigated wetlands and water bodies based on NWI classifications in the LPWC. .................................................................................................................................................................... 22 ii Table 8. Land ownership/management of irrigated lands, all wetlands, and target wetlands in the LPWC. ...................................................................................................................................................................