REVIEW AND APPROVALS

WHEELER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUG E

Decatur, Alabama

ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT

Decatur, Alabam a

S Refuge Manager Date efuga Supervisor Date

ional Chief, NWRS Dat e

• • Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Annual Narrative

Decatur, Alabama • Calendar Year 199 9

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• INTRODUCTION • Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge was established by Executive Order of President Frankli n D . Roosevelt on July 7, 1938. Overlaid on the middle third of the Tennessee Valley Authority' s (TVA) Wheeler Reservoir, it was placed on land purchased in 1934 and 1935 by TVA as a be d for and buffer strip around the reservoir . The reservoir was impounded in 1936.

The Refuge is located in the Tennessee River Valley of Northern Alabama in Morgan , Limestone and Madison Counties . Its western end lies within the city limits of Decatur, population approximately 50,000 ; its eastern end touches the city limits of Huntsville, population about 170,000. Several cities, smaller towns and communities are nearby . Nashville is approximately 100 miles north, and Birmingham is 85 miles to the south . The Refuge's topography is flat to rolling . Temperatures range from -5° F to 110° F, although winters seldo m reach 0° F and summer temperatures rarely exceed I00° F . Humidity is normally 90% or abov e in summer. Rainfall is approximately 57 inches per year, and there is seldom extende d • accumulations of snow or ice.

The Refuge consists of approximately 34,500 acres including 19,000 acres of land and 15,50 0 acres of water. However, TVA, the agency that purchased the area, considers that more tha n 40,000 acres lie inside the refuge boundary . The land acreage consists of some 10,000 acres o f forested wetlands and upland hardwoods, 3,000 acres of pine plantations, and 5,000 acres o f farmland, with the remainder including open shelves, rocket test ranges, and other areas . About 4,085 acres lie inside the Redstone Arsenal boundary, while about 1,500 acres of this ar e partially administered by the Marshall Space Flight Center, National Aeronautics and Spac e Administration . Interstate 65 crosses the Refuge while U .S. Highway 31 is part of its western boundary and State Highways 20 and 67 cross parts of the Refuge and closely parallel th e remainder.

Considered the eastern most national wildlife refuge of the lower Mississippi Flyway, Wheele r • NWR supports the southern most and Alabama's only significant concentration of wintering Canada geese. It also serves as winter habitat for the State's largest duck population . It was the first national wildlife refuge placed on a multipurpose reservoir and has supported up to 60,00 0 geese and near 100,000 ducks, although modern peaks until 1990 are nearer 30,000 geese and 60,000 ducks. Since 1990, winter goose populations have dropped significantly ; below 15,000 from 1990-1995 and near 5,000 since 1995 . Snow geese are now the most prominent component of the winter goose population, peaking near 4,000 . It includes interesting flora, a bird list of 288 species, mammals ranging from shrews to deer, and a wide variety of reptiles , amphibians and fishes.

The Refuge is well developed with more than 100 miles of graveled roads, 2,500 acres o f managed wetlands, a modern Headquarters Complex and a large Visitor Center and Waterfow l Observation Building. Public use is heavy and visits of all types normally total approximatel y O 700,000 annually. The address is Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, 2700 Refuge Headquarters Road, Decatur , . The telephone number for the Headquarters Office is (256) 353-7243, for th e • Alabama 35603 Visitor Center (256) 350-6639 . The Headquarters Office is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 3 :30 p.m. The Visitor Center and Observation Building are open 9 :00 a.m. until 4:00 p .m .Tuesday through Saturday from March through September, and seven days each wee k October through February from 9 :00 am to 5 :00 pm .

The Refuge also administers four satellite refuges, all established to protect endangered species . These are: Sauta Cave (formerly Blowing Wind Cave) National Wildlife Refuge, near Scottsboro, Alabama ; Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge, near Paint Rock, Alabama; Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge located in Bessemer, Alabama ; and Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge near Florence, Alabama . Four Farm Service Agency tracts are also under Refuge administration.

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• Thomas Z. Atkeson 1912-1999 •

The world lost a great conservationist and the National Wildlife Refuge System a true friend an d supporter with the quiet passing of Thomas Z . Atkeson on July 12, 1999 in Dothan, Alabama . Tom had retired to the family farm near Columbia, Alabama in 1987 after 48+ years o f government service. While he moved some 200 miles south upon retirement, his heart remaine d at his beloved Wheeler NWR where he spent almost his entire career, the last 25 years as Refuge Manager .

Tom began his career with the U .S. Fish Service in 1939 when he came to Wheeler NWR as a junior biologist . In 1941 when the United States entered World War II, he left the refuge an d enlisted in the Army. One year later at Fort Hood Texas, he was seriously injured when an antitank mine exploded practically in his face. The exploding mine severed both hands and parts of both arms, blew away the lower part of his face, and blinded him . He spent the next few • years in Army hospitals recovering from his injuries. In 1945, at the rank of captain, he was honorably discharged from the Army .

Perhaps as a tribute to his character, inner strength, and tenacity, Tom returned to Wheele r NWR as refuge biologist where he served until 1962, when he was named Manager . Before accepting the job as Manager he promised his superiors that if he couldn't perform the duties he would resign . He remained as Refuge Manager for 25 years .

During his tenure as Refuge Manager, Wheeler NWR grew to be one of the flagship refuges i n Region 4 . His dedication to the refuge and wildlife was recognized numerous times during hi s career. He was twice recognized as Alabama Conservationist of the Year and named America n Motors National Conservationist of the Year . The City of Birmingham proclaimed a To m Atkeson Day and presented him with a key to the city . He was named Federal Handicappe d • Employee of the Year in 1983, though he despised the word "handicapped" . Honors continue d until his retirement.

Thomas Zephaniah Atkeson leaves an enduring legacy . He is remembered at Wheeler NW R with a simple marker at the Tom Atkeson Oak near the Visitor Center and at the Nationa l Conservation Training Center in the Hall of Conservation Heroes. He is survived by hi s daughter, Mary Cordelia Atkeson Gibson and his son, Dr . Tom Atkeson.

An account of his life and accomplishments prior to his retirement from the U .S . Fish and Wildlife Service can be found in the September 1986 edition of Audubon Magazine .

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Highlights • • After three years of controversy, Regional Director Sam Hamilton signed a right-of-wa y permit on January 15 for Southern Natural Gas (SNG) to cross the refuge along the I-65 corridor. Following several lawsuits, appeals, and temporary injunctions, SNG bega n construction on March 24.

• Randy Crocker from Fairhope, Alabama, won Best of Show honors for this year' s Alabama Junior Duck Stamp contest with a painting of a pair of northern pintails .

• A Refuge Trash Bash was conducted May 15 . An estimated three tons of trash was removed from public use areas by 55 volunteers and staff .

• Tom Atkeson, who retired as Refuge Manager in 1987, died July 12, 1999 . He served as Refuge Manager at Wheeler Refuge for over 25 years. • • A new artifact exhibit "Window to the Past" was installed in the Refuge Visitor Center . The exhibit depicts Native American life and how they interacted with wildlife an d plants in this area form 10,000 B.C. to 1500 A.D.

• Wheeler NWR was designated a Continentally Important Bird Area under the America n Bird Conservancy's U.S . Important Bird Areas Program.

• The refuge received a $23,200 challenge grant to develop grassed waterways and restore degraded upland habitat at Key Cave NWR . Partners include the Nature Conservancy , National Tree Trust, University of North Alabama, and the Shoals Audubon Society .

• For the second year in a row, Dr. Paul Gray donated $5,000 to the refuge through th e Refuge Association. • • A 183-acre wetland mitigation site for the North Alabama Pipeline Project was donate d to the refuge by SNG. This adjacent parcel will be managed as part of Wheeler Refuge .

• SNG completed construction of that part of the North Alabama Pipeline Project whic h crossed Refuge lands on September 22 .

• Wheeler Refuge was delegated supervisory responsibility during the planning and land s transfer process of Ft. McClellan, part of which is proposed to become Mountai n Longleaf NWR.

• Wheeler Refuge celebrated National Wildlife Week with the 6th Annual Wet and Wil d Festival. O Climatological Review - 1999 • The new year started out dry with a 6.5" rainfall deficit in 1998 . However, above average rainfall in January helped to bring things back to a reasonable level for the waterfowl still in th e area. Below average levels continued throughout the year with the exception of May and June . New maximum and minimum temperature records were set in several months (May, August, September, October and November) . Overall, the year ended with 11 .60" rainfall deficit.

The hot and dry weather allowed the refuge staff to mow, disk, bulldoze and burn areas in som e of our dewatering units. Dry conditions, also resulted in more than usual beaverdam removals .

Water levels in impoundments and moist soil units were again extremely low for the arrival o f 'fall waterfowl.

Table 1 . Climatological dat a • Temperatures Average Departure Maximum Minimum Rainfall Rainfall from Normal January 72 12 9.30 5 .17 +4.1 3 February 71 22 2.69 4.87 -2.1 8

March 72 27 5 .14 6.62 -1 .48 April 88 38 3 .53 4.93 -1 .40 May 87 45 * 6.49 5 .08 +1 .4 1 June 94 56 5 .61 4.13 +1 .48 • July 97 66 2.53 4 .85 -2.3 2 August 102** 59* 0.66 3 .47 -2.8 1 September 101** 42* 0.92 4 .08 -3.1 6 October 86* * 30* 1 .24 3 .25 -2.0 1 November 80* * 28 4.07 4 .86 - .79 December 69 20 3.40 5 .87 -2 .4 7

TOTALS I 45 .58 52 .18 -11 .60

*record minimum temperature • **record maximum temperature TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction • Highlights Climate Data

Monitoring and Studies la. Surveys and Censuses 1 1 b. Studies and Investigations 3

Habitat Restoration 2a. Wetland restoration: On-refuge 4 2b. Upland restoration : On-refuge 4 2c. Wetland restoration: Off-refuge 4 2d. Upland restoration : Off-refuge 4

Habitat Managemen t • 3a. Manage water levels 5 3b. Manage moist soil units 5 3c. Graze/mow/hay 6 3d. Farming 6 3e. Forest cutting 8 3f. Prescribed burning 8 3g. Control pest plants 9

Fish and Wildlife Management 4a. Bird banding 1 0 4b. Disease monitoring and treatment 1 0 4c. Reintroductions 1 0 4d. Provide nest structures 1 1 4e. Predator and exotic control 1 1 • Coordination Activities 5a. Interagency coordination 1 2 5b. Tribal coordination 1 2 5c. Private land activities 1 2 5d. Oil & gas activities 1 3 5e. Cooperative/Friend Organizations 1 3

Resource Protection 6a. Law Enforcement 1 5 6b. Wildfire preparedness 1 7 6c. Manage permits and economic uses 1 7 6d. Contaminant investigation cleanup 22 6e. Manage water rights 22 • 6f. Manage cultural resources 22 6g. Federal Facility Compliance Act 23 6h. Land acquisition 23 6i. Wilderness and natural areas 24 24 • 6j. Threats and conflicts Alaska Only 28

Public Education and Recreation 8a. Provide visitor services 29 8b. Outreach 3 1

Planning and Administration 9a. Comprehensive management planning 34 9b. General administration 34

Feedback Appendix •

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• Monitoring and Studie s

la. Surveys and Censuses

Aerial Surveys

Only two aerial surveys were flown during 1999 . Lack of OAS certified vendors and weather caused the decrease in the number of flights . Fortunately, toward the end of the year USFWS Division of Law Enforcement assisted and hopefully will in the future . •

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Figure 1 . A first on Flint Creek — aerial surveys made easy . (FB 12/99)

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Table 2. (A)erial and (G)round count surveys .

Survey Canada Snow Date Type Ducks Geese Geese • (January 1-15 G 43,797 1,550 2,800 January 16-31 G 41,971 2,020 1,000 February 1-15 G 8,385 425 500 February 16-28 G 6,536 0 0 October 1-15 G 3,465 200 100 October 16-31 G 18,570 325 25 0 November 5 A 4,658 205 0 November 16-30 G 31,267 600 1,800 • December 1-15 G 27,930 850 2,800 December 28 A 22,920 1,210 2,800

The annual Wheeler NWR Christmas Bird Count was conducted December 18 . Deputy Refuge Manager Cooley served as compiler of the count. Thirty-seven participants recorded 119 species, breaking the old record of 117 .

Collar Observation s

Table 3 . Canada goose neck collar observations.

1998-1999 Orange I Blue White Green Total • I October 0 0 0 0 0 November 7 0 0 0 7 December 16 0 0 1 1 7 January 120 1 0 1 122 February 4 0 0 0 4 . March 0 0 0 0 0

Total 147 1 0 2 I 150

Blue = Banded along Mississippi Flyway • Green = Banded in MI Orange = Banded on breeding grounds White = Resident birds banded by locally

2 7 neck collars were read in November. • 17 neck collars were read in December.

American Alligator

No American alligator reproduction was noted this year . Refuge-wide population estimate s are 45-65 .

Gray Bat

On February 27, 230 hibernating bats (primarily Indiana bats and a few gray bats) were counted in Blowing Wind Cave . Those entering the cave included Keith Hudson (Non-gam e biologist, Alabama Game and Fish Division), Dr . Troy Best and four students from Aubur n University, Assistant Refuge Manager Seibert. • On June 10, 1,620 young and 4,000 adult gray bats were counted at Cave Springs Cave b y Alabama Game and Fish Non-game Biologist Keith Hudson. The total number of 5,620 gray bats is way down from recent years . Historically the cave averaged about 40,000-60,000 .

Canada Geese

The first migrant Canada geese were seen on September 22.

1 b . Studies and Investigation s

Semi-annual water quality samples were taken on April 20 and October 10 by Biologica l • Technician Blankenship .

• 3 • 2 Habitat Restoration

2a. Wetland restoration : On-refuge

Installation of a fixed pump station in Dinsmore Slough, scheduled for 1999, was no t accomplished due to funding and contracting problems . Hopefully, the pump station will be constructed in 2000 .

Refuge staff met with representatives from Ducks Unlimited to view the site of the propose d pump station at Dinsmore Slough and identify additional sites in the White Springs area fo r • potential pump stations. This is a cooperative project among Ducks Unlimited, TVA , Monsanto Company, U .S . Army Reserves, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association, and th e Refuge.

The Penny Bottoms Unit was reconditioned by mowing, discing, dozer work, and herbicid e application. Sections of Penny Bottoms and Crabtree Slough were sprayed with Rodeo t o control the encroachment of American lotus.

2b. Upland restoration : On-refuge

There were no on-refuge upland restoration activities in 1999 .

S 2c. Wetland restoration : Off-refuge There were no off-refuge wetland restoration activities in 1999 .

2d. Upland restoration : Off-refuge

There were no off-refuge upland restoration activities in 1999 .

• 4 • 3 Habitat Management

3a. Manage water level s

The 1999 Annual Water Management Plan was completed, submitted, and approved i n January.

White Springs dewatering activities were initiated in late January . Dewatering in the other units was initiated in mid-February . Dewatering efforts were intense until mid-May with levels averaging 8 to 10 inches above target .

The 1999 drought began in earnest in June . There were still problems with beavers • damming ditches, but not at the usual level . Impounded water levels fell to almos t nonexistent, allowing a tremendous amount of rehabilitation work . Unfortunately, rehabilitation and little or no rainfall does not produce moist soil plant foods . Areas that were traditionally beaver ponds or semi-permanent water evaporated by September .

Historically, water levels are raised in September. Although Wheeler received 8 .71 inches of rain from October through December, impoundments never reached target levels in 1999 . Most were at least 10 inches deficient .

3b. Manage moist soil unit s

Dewatering of the White Springs Unit started in late January with the exception of Whit e Springs #3 . Dewatering activities in the other units began in mid-February . Late • winter/early spring rains hindered the dewatering efforts, raising water levels above target . Again, a tremendous effort was put forth this year to dewater during and after the rains . White Springs #1A, #2, #4, and #5 were not manipulated . White Springs #1B and #6 were farmed. Water levels were held high in White Springs #3 as an experiment late into the yea r to allow moist soil vegetation to out compete alligatorweed . Drought conditions throughou t the summer and fall permitted completion of ditch line clearing and cleaning in Whit e Springs. Additionally, slash burning along the ditch line is 90 percent complete . The Penny Bottoms Unit was rehabilitated in late August and will hopefully be a good moist soil plan t producer in 2000. Rockhouse, most of Buckeye, and Thorson Arm units were farmed . Despite all efforts, a drought from June to October did not allow much production of mois t soil foods or agricultural grains. Vegetation transects were monitored in late October . Farming most of the impounded areas until proper water control can be achieved is the best option for now. •

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Figure 2. The Penney Bottoms Moist Soil Unit was completely rehabilitated in August . (DC 8/99)

3c. Graze/mow/hay

No grazing was permitted on the Refuge in 1999 . A special use permit was issued to hay approximately 43 acres of Refuge property behind Lurleen Wallace Development Center .

Mowing activities benefit our public use programs, moist soil management, water leve l management and fish and wildlife management . With so many benefits, a significant amoun t • of mowing was conducted throughout the year . 3d. Farming

Wheeler NWR had approximately 3,927 acres under active cropland management durin g 1999 . There were five farmers in Limestone and Madison counties and four farmers i n Morgan County during the 1999 farming season. Twenty years ago, the Refuge had more than 60 farmers and one full-time staff member assigned to administer the farming program .

The goal of the cooperative farming program is to produce adequate food and cover fo r migratory birds and resident wildlife . It supplements natural foods with hot grain foods, such as corn, milo, small seeded millets, buck wheat, and green browse. In 1994, the Refuge share was reduced from 25% to 20% in response to the restriction on the use of the herbicid e atrazine . In 1996, justification was made for the use of atrazine and the Refuge shar e

6 remained at 20%. The Refuge's share was increased to 22 .5% in 1997 and 25% in 1998 . This increase to 25% was justified because Refuge farmers had the 80/20 share ratio for thre e • years, two of which they could use atrazine.

Reported corn production in 1999 was excellent and averaged 125 bushels/acre . Yields ranged from a high of 207 bushels/acre to 75 bushels/acre . Soybean yields averaged 2 5 bushels/acre. Soybean production was significantly lower than in the recent past due to th e extended drought conditions throughout the growing season . Wheat yields appeared to match the 30 bushels/acre of last year. However, these figures are based on only a fe w farmers reporting. Problems were experienced this season with the farmers coordinatin g their work with Refuge staff and providing required information when asked to do so .

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Figure 3 . Corn production on Beaverdam Peninsula exceeded 200 bushels/acre . (DC 6/99)

Refuge cooperative farmers planted 3,927 acres in 1999 . Of the total acres of crops plante d by the farmers, there were 1,712 acres of corn, 1,752 acres of soybeans, 373 acres of wheat , 189 acres of milo and 174 acres of millet . Refuge personnel planted an additional 100 acre s of wheat over harvested soybeans and corn for winter/green browse for geese .

The Refuge share of crops was 365 acres of corn, 189 acres of milo, 159 acres of millet, and 74 acres of wheat. Twenty-four acres of Refuge corn were harvested and stored in Refuge grain bins. The remaining shares were left in the fields for feeding waterfowl and othe r wildlife. Fifteen acres of Refuge wheat were harvested for fall planting of green browse o n • selected fields for geese.

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Figure 4. Milo production can be excellent with the right weather . (DC 5/99) • 3e. Forest cutting

No logging operations took place in 1999 .

3f. Prescribed burning

The Wheeler staff was able to bum for the first time in five years . With the Fire Management Plan approved and the Fire Team certified, four prescribed bums were executed. Bums averaged three acres in size and totaled 12 acres .

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Figure 5 . Approximately 30 slash piles were burned throughout July and August . (FB 8/99)

8 3g Control pest plants

In 1999 water levels were held above normal in White Springs Unit #3 until late April an d then slowly dewatered as discussed with WHM Don Orr and USGS Biologist Murr y Laubhan to attempt to control alligatorweed . The experiment yielded poor results. Alligatorweed almost covered the entire unit . However, with dry weather conditions water could not be regulated at the proper levels late in the season . The same drawdown schedule will be implemented in 2000.

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Figure 6. The "Alligatorweed Explosion" in White Springs #3 . (FB 6/99)

Rodeo was used on American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) in October on Crabtree Slough . Application by airboat seems to be the most efficient method .

• 9 • 4 Fish and Wildlife Management

4a. Bird banding

MAPS

The MAPS ( Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship) station was set up and staffe d for the second year starting on May 10 . Banding continued every ten days through the summer. The final banding day for the MAPS station was July 29 . Twenty-three birds were banded, four were recaptures, and two were unbanded escapes for a total of 29 birds . • Wood Duck Bandin g

A total of 307 wood ducks were banded, exceeding the quota of 175 .

Table 4. Wood ducks banded in 1999.

AGE/SEX Class Number Banded Banding Quota HY-F 84 80 HY-M 86 25 AHY-F 73 50 • AHY-M 64 20 TOTAL 307 175

4b. Disease monitoring and treatmen t

Disease monitoring consisted of scheduled visual checks throughout the refuge . No incidents were reported.

4c. Reintroductions

No reintroductions took place in 1999 . • 1 0 4d. Provide nest structure s • Providing nest structures for wood ducks is always a year long project . With approximately 250 boxes to check and refurbish, dry weather prolonged the task . Checks were initiated in September and completed the first part of November . The refuge maintenance staff constructed about 100 wood duck box units for future use .

The following table summarizes the last five years of nest monitoring :

Table 5 . Wood duck nest box data comparison .

1999 1998 1997* 1996 1995

Total boxes up 246' 246' 231' 239' 258 '

Total useable boxes 246 246 231 239 258 • Boxes used b y 210 (85%) 206(84%) 212(92%) 227 (95%) 224 (87%) wood ducks

Successful boxes 163 (78%) 171 (83%) 176 (83%) 264 (70%)`' 179 (80%)

Used by other ducks 23 36 9 12 7

Period checked August, September May March September September, September September October

Use by other wildlife 4 (2%) 4 (2%) 3(1%) 12(5%) 4 (2%)

Total 1,455 1551 1586 1859 111 3 wood ducks hatched (# of membranes)

Wood duck brood s 163 171 181 185 179 produced • Wood ducks survivin g 728 725 874 930 557 to flight stage

'includes 24 special DDT study boxes on Redstone Arsena l glower success rates are caused by the spring check . Birds were not using many boxes yet . If the fall check only was used, success rates would be 90+ percent . *only May analysis results were liste d

4e. Predator and exotic contro l

Beaver control efforts were limited this year. Dry weather conditions evaporated most of the problem areas that were not previously dewatered . Preceding control efforts have paid off by reducing the number and frequency of dams to be removed. • Frank Boyd of the USDA's Wildlife Services offered assistance by providing contrac t trappers to be utilized in problem beaver areas . Hopefully, the trappers will be on-site by spring 2000.

1 1 • 5 Coordination Activitie s

5a. Interagency coordinatio n

Refuge staff attended the State Hunt Coordination meeting at Fort McClellan and toured th e proposed Mountain Longleaf NWR.

Refuge staff attended several Huntsville-Madison County Port Development Study - Technical Review Committee meetings . The Wall-Triana site appears to be the preferred site, even in light of the Service's stance that the project will not be compatible with refug e • purposes; therefore, a right-of-way permit can not be issued . Refuge and regional office staff met with officials from Alabama A&M Universit y concerning the MOU the Service recently signed with Historical Black Colleges an d Universities. Wheeler NWR staff will be involved with development of a wildlife curriculum at Alabama A&M and develop on-refuge projects with A&M students an d faculty .

Refuge and regional office staff met at Fort McClellan concerning the draft MOA with th e Army on setting up the proposed Mountain Longleaf NWR .

Daphne Ecological Services and refuge staff represented the Service in an issue update and tour of Wheeler NWR for Alabama Congressional Delegation staffers. The Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association Board of Directors met with the group over lunch provided b y • the Association. 5b. Tribal coordination

There were no tribal coordination activities in 1999 .

5c. Private land activitie s

In cooperation with the Tennessee Valley Rural Conservation & Development Council an d the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, the refuge purchased a Truax FLXII-88 No-till grass drill . The drill will be used to establish native warm season grasses on Key Cave NW R and private lands throughout the Tennessee Valley of north Alabama . • 12 •

Figure 7. Truax grass drill . (DC 5/99) • Three private lands visits were made to evaluate potential Partners for Fish and Wildlife projects, two in Morgan County and one in Limestone County .

5d. Oil & gas activities

There were no oil or gas exploration activities in 1999 .

5e. Cooperative/Friends Organization

Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association

• The Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association (WWRA) became official with the signing of th e agreement with the USFWS on July 28, 1998 . The purpose of the WWRA is "to promot e conservation, awareness, and appreciation of the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and t o provide assistance to Refuge environmental education programs and other conservatio n efforts on the Refuge" .

The Board of Directors for 1999 consisted of Sid Smith, President ; Vic Daily, Vice - President; Don Collier, Secretary; Jim White, Treasurer; Brad Bole, Donnie Williams, Mary Ratliff, and Tim Jones . Board meetings were held monthly on the first Tuesday . By the end of December, the membership had grown to 105 members, an increase from 55 members in 1998. The Wheeler Wildlife Watch quarterly newsletter was published seasonally durin g the year. Refuge volunteer Sue Marine compiled the newsletter from articles she wa s provided.

• 13 The first annual all members meeting was held as required in May . Although the meetin g • was heavily advertised, only two people came. It is unknown why the turnout was so low. One of the highlights of the year was the official opening of the Visitor Center sales outlet . A sales tax number was assigned by the State of Alabama in August, and sales began i n September. Field guides, nature books for adults and children, birding CD's, bird calls, caps , T-shirts, sweatshirts, bluebird houses, bat houses, and squirrel feeders were some of the first items offered for sale . By the end of December, a total of $4,129 .00 of merchandise ha d been sold. Sales tax reports were filed monthly with 3% going to Morgan County and 4% being forwarded to the State of Alabama .

In November, the first members-only field trip was held . "Hayride, Hotdogs, and Hoot Owls" was attended by 45 members . The event consisted of a hayride from Vic Daily' s property off Bethel Road eastward to Mussel Camp Road, a hike to Cave Springs Cave wit h a short presentation on cave ecosystems and gray bats, smoked hotdogs back at Vic' s • property, and an owl program conducted by WWRA President Sid Smith . Many discussions were held during board meetings the early part of the year regarding th e Southern Natural Gas pipeline which eventually crossed the refuge uneventfully . Later in the year, concerns were elevated as the result of another pipeline - liquid petroleum - expected to be proposed to cross the refuge for access to a tank farm near the Huntsvill e International Airport . The Board strongly opposed the pipeline and planned to send a lette r in early 2000 to the FWS Regional Director stating their views .

Dr. Paul W. Gray from Huntsville donated another $5,000 ($10,000 total to date) to WWR A to be used as needed . Also, the Birmingham Chapter of the Isaac Walton League donate d $2,000 to be used on the Dinsmore Slough restoration project . Total proceeds for 199 9 including sales, membership fees, and donations were $14,783 .00 Dispersments, includin g items purchased for resale, equaled $6,184.00 • Other highlights from 1999 included :

• the purchase of six cellular phones for refuge staff use • $300 allocated toward the purchase of native plants for landscaping at the Visitor Center • membership with the Alabama Mountain Lakes Association to provide an avenue fo r brochure distribution throughout north Alabama • sponsoring the youth fishing rodeo by purchasing trophie s • purchasing lunch for 35 participants at the refuge trash bash • funding several environmental education projects including purchasing Junior Range r Program badges, puppets for interpretation programs, wood and materials to buil d a touch table, and lumber for an Eagle Scout candidate to replace the small bridge o n the Atkeson Trail

14 Resource Protection

6a. Law enforcement

Law enforcement activities occur throughout the year on the Refuge. There are several managed hunts in the fall and winter, and during the spring and summer, the Refuge is hos t to a wide range of recreational activities. In addition to natural resource cases, cases wer e made concerning drug use/possession, firearms possession, trespassing, and the illegal search and removal of archeological resources .

Search for and removal of archeological resources from a NWR 9 • Unauthorized take of animal life (turtles) on a NWR 8 Trespass on a NWR (For possession of alcoholic beverages) 7 Taking/Hunting waterfowl on a NWR 4 Trespass on a NWR (Riding horses behind locked gates) 4 Hunting in violation of refuge permit(Hunting on Sunday) on a NWR 3 Possession of a firearm on a NWR 3 Fishing without a license 2 Hunting deer by aid of bait on a NWR 2 Possessing lead shot while hunting on a NWR 2 Trespass on a NWR (For being in a closed area) 2 Fishing in violation of sate law (Possession of undersized crappie) 1 Trespass on a NWR (For possession of marijuana) 1 Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (off road use) 1 Unlawful entry and use on a NWR 1 • Total 50

Refuge Cases by State Conservation Officers in 199 9

Fishing without a license 11 7 Illegal possession of prohibited liquor 23 Criminal littering 1 1 Failure to wear hunter orange 7 Possession of gun on a NWR without a permit 7 Operating vessel with insufficient Personal Flotation Devices 6 Operating a vessel without the required fire extinguisher 5 Possession of marijuana 5 Possession of undersized crappie 4 • 15 Refuge hunting permit violation 4 Hunting in closed season (Ducks on Wheeler Refuge) • 4 Illegal trespass on Wheeler Refuge 3 Operating vessel without running lights 3 Driving under the influence (DUI) 2 Hunting without a permit 2 Hunting without a license 2 Illegal camping 2 Operating a vehicle off road 2 Operating vessel not registered for current year 2 Possession of drug paraphernalia 2 Assault (on an Officer) 1 Driving without a license 1 Fishing with a borrowed license 1 Hunting deer by the aid of bait 1 Operating an overloaded vessel • 1 Reckless operation of a vessel 1 Resisting Arrest 1 Theft of Government property (removing rock from a NWR) 1

Total 223

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Figure 8. Possible explosive device found by a fisherman on the Refuge detonated by • Alabama Bureau of Investigation Explosives Officer. It was a dud. (DC 2/99)

16 6b . Wildfire preparednes s • Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Fire Team personnel continued to participate in bi-weekl y physical conditioning in preparation for taking the field test . On 15 September, the Refuge was notified that a large brush fire was in progress north of the White Springs Fish Camp o n private land . Five Wheeler Fire Team personnel responded to that call-out and subsequen t calls throughout the evening . Approximately 60 acres of private land was burned and refug e was untouched by fire . Eleven wildland fires burned approximately 100 acres of refuge lands.

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• Figure 9. Wildfire in wheat stubble . (DC 6/99)

6c . Manage permits and economic use s

Special Use Permits

Requests for permits remained high throughout the year . Fourteen special use permits were issued in 1999. A total of $300 .00 in fees were collected on six of the special use permits. Prior to 1999, down wood permits were not logged . In 1999, a permit logging system was initiated and 18 down wood permits were issued.

Right-of-Way Permits

For the third year, right-of-way permit activities center around Southern Natural Gas' s • (SNG) permit request for the North Alabama Pipeline Project.

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Regional Director, Sam Hamilton, signed a ROW permit on January 15 for SNG t o cross the refuge along the I-65 corridor . The permit requires directional drilling • under the Tennessee river adjacent back water area, with open trench constructio n permitted along the remains of the two-mile crossing .

• Citizens Opposing North Alabama Pipeline Project (CONAP) and Wild Alabam a filed a lawsuit against the U.S . Fish and Wildlife Service that they did not compl y with NEPA requirements and is allowing a use that is not compatible .

GASP coalition, CONAP, and the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association (WWRA ) filed a Notice of Appeal and Petition for stay of the Regional Director's decision to issue a ROW permit to SNG to cross the refuge to Department of Interior Office o f Hearing and Appeals (OHA) on February 3 .

A hearing was held on February 4 in the U .S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on GASP and CONAP's request for a temporary injunction to stop Nort h • Alabama Pipeline Project construction . The Court was not compelled by the plaintiff argument that the Service has acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner in issuing a ROW permit to SNG . The Judge recognized an administrative appeal had bee n filed.

The OHA dismissed the February 3 appeal and denied the stay on February 18 o n grounds that the appeal must first be reviewed by the Director .

GASP Coalition, CONAP, and WWRA filed an appeal with the Director on February 18 and requested a stay .

The Director denied the appeal on February 19 based on Service ROW regulation s in which non-applicants (i.e ., third parties) do not have administrative standing. • Special Agent Gary Phillips came to Wheeler March 1-4, to assist with threats of an illegal public demonstration to be made by people opposing the SNG pipeline . Pipeline construction started without incident on March 3 .

SNG was ordered to stop work on March 5 as a result of a stay order issued by OHA .

• 01-IA lifted the March 3 stay order on March 24 while they continued to review th e case .

The pilot hole for the Southern Natural Gas directional drill under the Tennessee River and Garth Slough was successfully completed on April 27 .

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1 8 •

• Figure 10. Directional drilling rig and operation center set up on north bank of Tennessee River . (DC 4/99)

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Figure 11 . Directional drill bit for the pilot hole coming out of the ground on th e south side of the Refuge . Total distance of the drill was 4,000 feet wit h a maximum depth of 80 feet below the Tennessee River . (DC 4/99)

• 19

• The final ream of the directional drill to a 24-inch hole under the Tennessee Rive r and Garth Slough was completed on May 15 . The directional drill was 4,000 feet i n length and a maximum depth of 80 feet below the Tennessee .

On May 20, a 16-inch pipeline was successfully pulled through the drill hole beneat h the Tennessee River and Garth Slough.

By the end of August, the open trench work north of the river was 80 percen t complete and the contractor had laid the 16 inch pipe and started welding sections together.

•

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Figure 12 . 16-inch pipeline was placed by open trench construction on the nort h side of the Tennessee River adjacent to Interstate 65 . (TS 8/99)

• SNG completed construction of that part of the North Alabama Pipeline Projec t which crossed refuge lands on September 28 .

• 20 •

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Figure 13 . Completed Pipeline Project (TS 11199)

Other ROW permit activities for the year consisted of the following :

• The Huntsville Port Development Study Technical Review committee approached the refuge about developing a new port on or through refuge lands . The port would support a proposed industrial park and a container transportation operation adjacen t to the Huntsville Airport.

• The group was informed that a port would not be a compatible use of the refuge an d that there were federally listed mussel species occurring in the stretch of the river they were looking at developing. The committee is still looking into the feasibilit y of such a project. A similar ROW permit request for a port was turned down in 198 7 by the Service .

• The cities of Huntsville and Madison have both made application for ROW permit s to cross refuge lands for sewer outfall lines to the Tennessee River. A survey fo r federally listed mussels in the Tennessee River was conducted and no listed mussel s were found in the project area. Potential impact to forested wetlands on refuge land s are also being evaluated. Both requests are still in the environmental review process .

Colonial Gas Company of Atlanta made an inquiry about crossing the refuge with a petroleum pipeline. Their initial plans are to avoid the refuge . • 21 6d. Contaminant investigation and cleanu p • ARM Seibert attended the 7th National Contaminants Meeting in Ridgedale, Missouri i n April .

On July 29, the DDT Review Panel signed Decision Document #12, which extends the tim e to attain the performance standards for channel catfish an additional 5 years and for smallmouth buffalo for an additional 10 years. Channel catfish reached attainment for th e first year in Reach C and for the second year in Reach A .

In an effort to determine if there are additional pathways that DDT might be entering the ecosystem, forage fish were collected from nine sites in the remediation area as well as fiv e sites in White Springs as a contract area . Analytical results have not been received to date .

DDT monitoring pathway species were changed from wood duck eggs to forage fish an d • great blue herons. An aerial flight was made in August to locate a heron rookery .

The refuge underwent an Environmental Compliance/Safety Inspection in September . No major violations were found and all minor problems were corrected by the end of the month .

6e. Manage water rights

There were no water rights activities in 1999.

6f. Manage cultural resources

About 100 pieces from the collection of Native American artifacts donated to the Refuge in • 1996 by James Ratliff of Daphne, Alabama, were selected to be used in a new display title d "Window to the Past". Wilderness Graphics designed and installed the exhibit with input from refuge personnel . Dr. Paul W . Gray from Huntsville handcrafted an atlatl from an antler found on the refuge that is on display in the exhibit . Covering the time period 13000 BC to 1550 AD, the information and artifacts presented represent tools and pottery that wer e used in the north Alabama area. Archaeological consultant Van D . King donated his tim e and talents to the project to ensure accurate pieces were selected for display . The total cost for the project was $7,500 .00.

• 22 •

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Figure 14. Window to the Past display developed from material donate d to the Refuge . (DC 7/99)

Illegal hunting for and collecting artifacts in Refuge areas along the Tennessee Rive r continued to be an issue for law enforcement officials, especially during fall and winte r months when river levels were low. Patrols were made on land and by boat to watch fo r violators.

6g. Federal Facility Compliance Ac t

S There were no compliance act activities in 1999 .

6h. Land acquisition

SNG purchased a 183-acre drained wetland area (Devaney Tract) adjacent to the refuge as wetland mitigation for the North Alabama Pipeline Project . The tract was donated to th e U.S . Fish and Wildlife Service to be managed as part of Wheeler NWR as required in th e approved mitigation plan for the project.

As a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Act, about 12,000 acres of unique upland habitat at Fort McClellan, Alabama is being proposed for a new refuge . The refuge woul d be called Mountain Longleaf NWR. The area contains a large unfragmented block of mountain longleaf pine forest that is important to many species of neotropical migratory • 23 birds and several species of rare or endangered plants and animals, as well as a wide variet y • of other endemic wildlife. The proposed refuge would be jointly managed by the Service and the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. It would protect and preserve a diverse mountai n longleaf/hardwood forest community complex that occurs throughout the higher elevation s of Fort McClellan . This area covers part of the Choccolocco Mountain range adjacent to the Talladega National Forest. It is characterized by a rugged topography with steep slopes and ridges occasionally exceeding 2,000 feet. These slopes and ridges contain relic trees up t o 250 years old and isolated old-growth stands of mountain longleaf pines that average 18 0 years in age.

Administrative duties of this proposed refuge will be under the Wheeler NWR comple x during the land transfer and planning period . • 6i. Wilderness and natural areas

There were no wilderness or natural area activities in 1999 .

6j. Threats and conflicts

A variety of completed, in progress, and/or proposed projects in or near Wheeler potentiall y threaten the biological and aesthetic values of the Refuge . Most of these detrimental activities are the direct result of an increasing human population, many of whom are draw n here by employment opportunities in the steel and chemical industries of Decatur and th e high technology industries of Huntsville. Because the Refuge stretches along both sides o f the Tennessee River from Decatur to Huntsville, pressures will continue to increase . While the impacts of individual developments and projects may seem small, the cumulative impact • of all of these activities is significant . These projects are: Residential Developmen t

The demand for residential housing in the area remains high due to an increasing human population. Two major residential developments directly adjacent to the Refuge were initiated in 1998 with construction continuing through 1999 . Rockhouse Estates is a good example of the type of development being planned . This upscale development lies along the Refuge boundary just north of JTT Road and is divided into 5-10 acre lots . The developer conspicuously advertises that the development is adjacent to the Refuge, ideal for hors e lovers, and has river access through the Refuge . The developer unsuccessfully approached the Refuge with a plan to develop a marina on the Refuge .

While concentrated residential developments are impacting the Refuge and its resources , O development of individual properties adjacent to the Refuge may be more insidious becaus e 24 they usually occur in =zoned areas and their development is not regulated or publicized . Unfortunately, most of the residents of these individual properties want direct vehicula r • access to Refuge roads and feel they deserve them because they live on the boundary and ar e "good" neighbors . When they are denied direct access, many usually find a way to acces s the Refuge illegally .

Transportation Corridors

The Refuge is presently bisected by several major transportation corridors, many of whic h did not exist when the Refuge was established . Two additional corridors are under consideration which may potentially impact the Refuge. The Memphis to Atlanta Highway will be a controlled access highway stretching between the two cities . Present plans call for the corridor to run just two miles north, then west of the Refuge . However, the location for the corridor has changed significantly in the past few years and the proximity to the Refug e is cause for concern . • The City of Decatur is planning a controlled access Outer Beltline to ease congestion in th e city. Project planning has been placed on a "fast track" by transportation officials and ha s the support of the Alabama Congressional Delegation . Preliminary plans depicted the beltline crossing the southern portion of the Refuge, but more recent plans show the roa d south of the Refuge. This is due, in large part, to the efforts of Refuge Manager Stone who sits on the corridor committee .

Development along I-565 is expected to increase dramatically in the next 10 years . This corridor runs from I-65 east to Huntsville and lies just north of the Refuge boundary, crossin g the Refuge at Upper Beaverdam . Commercial and residential development along this corridor west of Madison has been slow due to the lack of sewer facilities .

However, construction of sewer lift stations and stream crossings initiated in 1998 wa s • completed in 1999. As we anticipated, once sewer, water and electric service were in place , development along I-565 adjacent to the Refuge blossomed . Development is also projected to increase dramatically along Alabama Highway 20 extending from the intersection of I-6 5 and I-565 west to Decatur . Collectively, this corridor will lock in the Refuges northern boundary and result in residential and commercial development to the Refuge boundary .

Rights-of-Wa y

There are approximately 40 right-of-ways (ROW) crossing Refuge lands, includin g approximately 60 ROW easements . Current Regional policy for ROW requests pertainin g to the Refuge is not to consider granting any new ROW permits except for requests usin g existing ROW corridors, when no other alternative exists . Given the critical location of the Refuge between two cities expanding toward each other, ROW requests are increasing . Refuge staff participated in several preliminary meetings with various potential applicant s • 25 dealing with access across the Refuge . The City of Huntsville has made a preliminary • request for a ROW permit to construct an additional outfall line from their existing sewag e treatment plant through Refuge lands to the Tennessee River, increasing their capacity fro m 15 million gallons per day (MGD) to 20 MGD . The City of Madison has made a preliminary request for a ROW permit to construct an outfall line from a yet-to-be constructed sewag e treatment plant through Refuge lands to the Tennessee River . The City of Decatur i s continually upgrading existing water lines and/or planning new ones that require RO W permits. There are many potential ROW requests on the horizon (i .e., Colonial Pipeline Company, Huntsville-Madison County Port Authority, discussed below) . While individual project impacts may be relatively small, the cumulative impact of all of these projects i s significant. Should there come a time when we say enough is enough ?

Huntsville-Madison County Jetpor t

The Huntsville-Madison County Jetport was constructed on approximately 2,000 acre s • immediately north of the Refuge and Blackwell Swamp . An industrial park has bee n developed surrounding the jetport. The Jetport Authority has recently acquire d approximately 3,000 acres west of the jetport and immediately east of the Upper Beaverda m area of the Refuge . The Huntsville-Madison County Port Authority is planning the development of port facilities to serve the industrial park and jetport . The port authority has made a preliminary request for a ROW permit to construct a port channel across the Refug e from the Tennessee River to the port facilities. The authority plans to develop a new industrial park along with the port near the river . The port authority made a similar reques t 12 years ago which was denied .

Cellular Towers

There has been a dramatic increase in cellular telephone and other towers near the Refug e in the past two years . There are three cellular towers within one-fourth mile of the Refuge , • two within one-half mile of the Refuge and an additional two within five miles of th e Refuge. The effect on Refuge wildlife, especially migratory birds, is not known. With the increasing development of the area, improvements in cellular technology, and an increasin g use of cellular service, potential impacts from additional towers are likely .

Water Issues

Activities impacting both water quality and quantity are appearing with increasing frequency . Water quality is a major human and wildlife concern because of the number of people in th e area who depend on drinking water from the Tennessee River or its tributaries, and th e number of fish and wildlife species that are directly dependant on high water quality. In the late 1980's and early 1990's, the Tennessee River was considered one of the ten most pollute d rivers in the country. Its status was related to point source pollution from industries and non- point source pollution from residential development and agricultural practices . • 26 The introduction of irrigation into a once dryland farming system in the Tennessee Rive r • valley has increased significantly . Ten years ago, large scale irrigation of cotton wa s virtually nonexistent . Over the past five years, there have been four requests from are a farmers for permission to place irrigation systems within Refuge waters to irrigate thei r adjacent crops. While there may seem to be enough water within the Tennessee River an d its tributaries to sustain irrigation, localized problems will occur . Limestone Bay, a significant resource within the Refuge is dependent on water inflow from three creeks . Land use within these three watersheds is almost entirely farm land, much of which lends itself t o irrigation . During normal years, flow in these creeks is reduced during summer droughts a t a time when the need for irrigation may be substantial . We can expect severe water quality problems in Limestone Bay if this scenario plays itself out .

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• 27 • 7 Alaska Only

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• • 8 Public Education and Recreatio n

8a. Provide Visitor Service s

An estimated 550,000 persons visited the Refuge in 1999 . Of those, 26,300 toured the Givens Visitor Center and an estimated 65,750 used the Wildlife Observation Building . A large percentage of the visits were for fishing (257,125), interpretation and nature observation (195,800), hunting (62,250), and environmental education (16,400). An estimated 56,600 persons hiked on one of the Refuges four hiking trails this year .

One-hundred ninety-four groups for a total of 7,617 persons toured the Visitor Center by pre- • arranged visits. Seventy meetings were held at the Center by various groups including 1 6 boaters safety classes with 1,580 attendees and a hunter safety course with 100 participants . The Tennessee Valley Audubon Society, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association, local Sierra Club, local 4-H Club, and several scout troops used the Center on a regular basis for thei r monthly meetings.

After taking daily counts at the Visitor Center for one year and reviewing visitor use patterns , the Visitor Center schedule was changed this year beginning in July . The new days and hours were October-February, open daily 9-5; March-September, Tuesday-Saturday, 9-4 ; and closed on Sunday and Monday . Visitor counts continue to be taken daily and the ne w schedule will be monitored and evaluated through 2000 .

During the 1999-2000 season, hunting for squirrels, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, and quai l was allowed on approximately 18,000 acres in accordance with State seasons and • regulations . Hunting for either sex, any age deer was allowed during archery season (October 15-January 31) and flintlock season (January 18-31 .) An estimated 12,000 Refuge Hunt Permits were provided to interested parties during the season . Hunting was also allowed on 4,085 acres of Refuge land within the boundary of the Redstone Arsenal and was administered by personnel from the Redstone Recreation Center .

Work continued on the new three-acre special events fishing pond located near the Visito r Center. The pond excavation and dike work was completed, a stand pipe to allow fo r draining and overflow was installed, the inside levee areas were seeded and covered wit h straw, and preparations were started for a wheelchair accessible pavilion and fishing area . Much of the work was completed by the U.S. Army Reserves during their weekend duty . • 29 •

•

Figure 15 . The special events fishing pond should be completed in 2000 . (DC 6199)

Many public use facilities received updates and new additions were made including the following :

• a new amplifier and wiring to the microphone was installed for the audio system a t the Wildlife Observation Building which allows visitors to hear waterfowl using th e display pool. A wind sock was placed on the microphone to reduce wind nois e • a new receptionist counter and display shelves for sales items were added to the • Visitor Center • new wallpaper was installed in the auditorium • the 20 year old Atkeson Trail boardwalk was replaced by contractor Harold Johnso n for a total price of $18,50 0 • the foot bridge on the Atkeson Trail was replaced and the dilapidated shelter wa s removed by an Eagle Scout candidate • the bleachers and spotting scope steps in the Observation Building were refinishe d • a new couch was placed in the Visitor Cente r • a new aquarium was purchased for the exhibit area • a new artifact exhibit was installed in the Visitor Cente r • an alligator and a new cottonmouth were added to the wetlands exhibit . Also, the outdated McKenzie was replaced with a digital message repeate r

• 30 •

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Figure 16 . The shade canopy should provide some relief from hig h summer heat. (KH 6/99)

a wooden shade canopy was added to cover a portion of the handicapped accessibl e fishing pier • non-native Asian holly trees were removed from the front of the Visitor Center an d native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers were plante d • a Refuge Fishing Information brochure was developed and printe d • about 100 native wildflowers were transplanted to the trail leading to the Wildlife Observation Building • Volunteer Bob Archibald constructed an oak "touch table" for the Visitor Center t o provide items from nature for visitors to look at and handl e new track lighting was installed in the main display room at the Visitor Cente r

8b. Outreach

Outreach and Environmental Education continued to be a top priority for the Public Us e Program with an emphasis this year on providing off-site programs . An estimated 14,500 students received on-site programs and another 2,500 students were contacted off-site . In addition, 6,000 people were contacted through off-site visits and special events during th e year.

The Huntsville City School System, which has four full-time environmental educatio n teachers, brought more than 2,300 third and fourth grade students to the Visitor Center fo r • 31 one-half day of environmental education and wildlife observation during fall and winte r months. They also took 800 students to the Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk for on-sit e • programs during September and October.

Wheeler Refuge was the state receiving site for the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest . Only 166 entries were received this year, down from over 400 in 1998 . The winning entry, a pair of pintails titled "Pretty Pinnies" was drawn by 17 year old Randy Crocker fro m Fairhope, Alabama .

During the Wheeler Refuge Summer Day Camps, 240 local children ages 8-10 enjoyed a ful l day on the refuge that included many indoor and outdoor hands-on activities to teach the m about wildlife and conservation . Twenty youths were scheduled per day on 12 dates in Jun e through early August . The number of camps was increased from eight in 1998 to 12 in 199 9 due to the popularity of the programs.

The annual Wet-n-Wild Festival / National Wildlife Refuge Week Celebration was held in • October. Over 1,000 local fifth graders attended the event on Wednesday through Friday , and an estimated 800 people attended on Saturday . The focus for the multi-agency event was to foster awareness of wetlands, clean water, and habitat preservation .

In cooperation with BP Amoco and the Morgan County Master Gardeners, a Backyar d Habitat Festival was held at the Visitor Center in October. Programs were presented o n native plants, hummingbirds, and butterflies, and tours of the Backyard Wildlife Habita t Area were given . Approximately 400 people attended the event .

To encourage more local student field trips to the Refuge, Refuge personnel met with Winni e Tipper, Director of Elementary Education for Morgan County . Ms. Tipper was very receptive to our offerings of on or off-site programs and allowed Refuge staff to speak at th e mandatory grade-level teachers meetings in September. Decatur City Schools were also • contacted and a short presentation was made at their meeting . In efforts to increase awareness of the existence of the Visitor Center just two miles off o f I-65, several boxes of general refuge brochures were taken throughout the year to th e Alabama Welcome Center located on I-65 just south of the Tennessee state line . Boxes of brochures were also taken to the Huntsville Airport for distribution at their information desk .

Other Highlights :

• the Morgan County spelling bee with 120 contestants was held at the Visitor Cente r in February • Refuge Volunteer Sid Smith presented two bird identification programs for the publi c during winter months with a total of 60 persons in attendanc e

32 •

Figure 17. The Youth Fishing Rodeo was a success again this year . (KW 6/99)

• The annual Youth Fishing Rodeo in May attracted a total of 375 youths and parent s • Over 600 sixth grade students from Morgan County attended the annual Forestry Awareness Week Now (FAWN) workshop held at the Refuge in May . An additional 250 students were contacted during the FAWN workshop held in Lauderdale Count y • The Refuge hosted the United Way's Day of Caring fishing day for 40 mentall y challenged persons in Augus t Refuge Rangers participated in career shadowing for several local high school students l • Refuge personnel and volunteers staffed a booth at the Southern Wildlife Festiva held at Calhoun Community College in October . An estimated 2,000 persons were contacted during the weekend even t 250 students were contacted at Walter Jackson Elementary during their Animal Da y program For Earth Day, a program was presented to 200 students at the Pathway to Natur e boardwalk on the Redstone Arsenal • 100 students were provided a program at the Goose Farms Home School Cam p • 200 students at Woodmead Elementary School and 200 at students at Brookhave n Middle School were given presentations on refuge wildlife and habitat s

• 33 • 9 Planning and Administratio n

9a. Comprehensive management plannin g

Refuge personnel continue to work with the Planning Departments of the cities of Decatur and Huntsville, as well as the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, on issues that might impact refuge lands (i .e. road development, port development, zoning, bike trails, etc .) .

Manager Stone has been working throughout the year with the National Wildlife Refug e Uses Policy Team. The team has been directed to develop draft national policy fo r management activities and uses on refuges consistent with the National Wildlife Refuge • System Improvement Act of 1997 . 9b. General administration

Funding - Fiscal Year 1999

Account Amount

Refuge Operations 1261 $746,700.00 Ecosystem-97 1261 $6,400.00 Ecosystem-98 1261 $32,500 .00 Co-op Program 1261 $9,200 .00 • Volunteer Support 1261 $1,100.00 Maintenance Management 1262 $150,700.00 Law Enforcement 1220 $3,000.00 Migratory Bird Funding 1231 $3,000.00 Private Lands 1121 $6,000.00 Exp/Sales Initial Funding 6860 $2,000.00 Maintenance (Equipment) 9251 $2,000 .00 Total $962,600 .00 • 34 Personnel

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3, 14, 5,11, 15, 8, 12, 2, 16, 9, 4, 1, 10, 6

1. Tuck Stone Refuge Manager, GS-14, PFT, EOD 8/3/8 7 2. Dwight Cooley Refuge Manager, GS-13, PFT, EOD 1 1 /9/9 7 3. Steve Seibert Fish and Wildlife Biologist, GS-11, PFT, EOD 1/5/9 7 4. Darrin P. Speegle Wildlife Biologist, GS-9, PFT, EOD 6/23/9 4 5. Kathy Whaley Supervisory Park Ranger, GS-11, PFT, EOD 5/10/9 8 6. Kevin Hamrick Park Ranger, GS-9, PFT, EOD 8/6/9 5 7 . Kelly J. Smith Refuge LE Officer, GS-7, PFT, EOD 4/21/91 - not pictured • 8. Daphne Moland Park Ranger, GS-5, PFT, EOD 5/16/94 9. Roberta F. Blankenship Range Technician, GS-7, PFT, EOD 6/28/8 2 10.Elizabeth C . Gilbert Office Assistant, GS-7, PFT, EOD 6/3/90 1 . Rhonda Lee Office Automation Assistant, GS-5, PPT, EOD 3/1/9 8 12.James D . Ammons Maintenance Worker, WG-8, PFT, EOD 12/17/79 13 . David L. McCaghren Engineering Equipment Operator, WG-1 0 PFT, EOD 9/10/89 - not pictured 14. Jerry Merchant Engineering Equipment Operator, WG- 8 PFT, EOD 4/28/96 5 . Walter E. Buckner Tractor Operator, WG-6, PFT, EOD 9/27/8 6 16. Dale J. Payne Maintenance Worker, WG-6, PFT, EOD 6/20/9 9 17. Kim Speegle Student Trainee, GS-4, EOD, 1/5/97, resigned 8/14/99 - not pictured 18. Bernard W . Garland Fish & Wildlife Biologist, GS-11, PFT, EOD 12/6/98 , assigned to Ft. McClellan - not picture d •

35

O The following personnel actions occurred during 1999. Kevin Hamrick was awarded a Quality Increase effective January 3 .

Dale Payne entered on duty as a Maintenance Worker WG-6 on June 21 .

Dwight Cooley was promoted to Deputy Refuge Manager GS-13 on August 1 .

Kim Speegle resigned as Student Trainee (Wildlife Biology) on August 14 .

The following employees were presented an On-The-Spot Award on September — Faye Blankenship, Ed Buckner, David McCaghren, Jerry Merchant, Steve Seibert , Darrin Speegle, and Kathy Whaley .

• Table 6. Staffing pattern for previous 5 years .

Permanent Total Full-Time Part-Time Temporary FTEs FY 98 16 0.5 0 16. 5 FY 97 15 0.5 0 15.5 FY 96 15 0 0 1 5 FY 95 15 0 0 1 5 FY 94 14 0 0 1 4 • Safety

Monthly safety meetings were held throughout the year . Collateral Duty Safety Officer Fay e Blankenship assigned each employee a month to conduct his/her safety program . A variety of work related topics were selected along with videos to show and discuss among the group .

There were only two lost time accidents during the year . Park Ranger Kevin Hamrick injured his knee in a fire fighters training exercise in May that resulted in surgery to repair th e damage. Maintenance Worker Jim Ammons was injured in November when he tripped an d fell in the refuge shop with damages to his elbow and ankle . O

36 Volunteer Program • A total of approximately 4,000 hours of volunteer time was donated to the Refuge this yea r including 2,500 hours donated by 35 official Refuge volunteers . Visitor Center operations, trail maintenance, litter removal, staffing off-site exhibits, conducting interpretive programs , and providing assistance with the Wheeler Day Camps accounted for many of the hours .

A volunteer appreciation dinner held at the Visitor Center in May was attended by 7 0 persons including volunteers, refuge staff members, and family members of both . Volunteers were recognized for their valuable contributions and were presented wit h volunteer jackets and mugs. Nancy Armistead received special recognition for having bee n a refuge volunteer for 10 years . In December, 80 people attended a combination volunteer/staff Christmas dinner held at the Visitor Center.

Refuge Volunteer and Master Gardener Betty Garmon donated 150 hours to the Backyar d • Wildlife Habitat Area. She was assisted by Nina Mae Blackburn and a small core group wh o donated an additional 60 hours . Local Webelo Pack 260 assisted the Master Gardeners wit h the Backyard area by purchasing plants and mulch with money from a grant they receive d from the Flint Creek Watershed Project . They also built and erected butterfly houses . During the past two years, a wide variety of butterflies in fairly large numbers have been frequenting the area during summer months .

A Refuge Trash Bash was held in May . Fifty-five volunteers from the community and thre e staff members removed approximately 6,000 pounds of trash from heavily used areas . Trash bags and gloves were provided by the local chapter of Keep America Beautiful and lunc h was provided to all participants by the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association .

The Morgan County 4-H Club performed several work projects on the Refuge this yea r including removing privet and planting wildflowers along the Wildlife Observation Buildin g • trail, assisting with the Refuge Trash Bash, serving drinks at the Youth Fishing Rodeo i n May, serving hotdogs and drinks at the Wet'n'Wild Festival in October, assisting with various aspects of the Backyard Habitat Festival, and decorating a Christmas tree for wildlife in the Backyard Wildlife Habitat Area in December . The group donated approximately 300 hours during the year.

Approximately 50 students from Tracy Knight's fifth grade class at Gordon-Bibb Elementar y School donated 150 hours to remove downed trees, limbs, and sticks from areas adjacent to the Wildlife Observation Building trail .

Scout groups replaced the foot bridge on the Atkeson Trail, refurbished the bleachers an d stepping stools in the Observation Building, placed corrected phone number stickers o n general leaflet brochures, and performed other service projects.

• The local U.S . Army Reserves unit donated several hundred hours of labor on project s including the construction of a special use fishing pond .

37 Feedback S Appendi x

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38 • Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge Annual Narrative

Lauderdale County, Alabama Calendar Year 1999

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• INTRODUCTION • Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge, located in northwest Alabama approximately five mile s southwest of Florence in Lauderdale County, was established January 3, 1997 to ensure th e biological integrity of Key Cave, Collier Cave, and the aquifer common to both . Key Cave has bee n designated as critical habitat for the endangered Alabama cavefish and as a priority one maternit y cave for the endangered gray bat . Collier Cave is important to both species as potential habitat . Both caves are on Tennessee Valley Authority lands on the northern shore of Pickwick Lake in a limestone karst area that contains numerous sinkholes and several underground cave systems . The area's sinkholes are an integral component of groundwater recharge to the caves . The area directly north of Key Cave was identified as a potential high hazard risk area for groundwater recharge an d this is where the Refuge was established.

Key Cave NWR is a 1,060 acre tract of rolling hills and crop land, including a 38-acre sinkhole lake . Past farming practices have led to severe soil erosion problems. Initial management efforts are to • control the erosion problem, thus enhancing the water quality for the endangered species inhabitin g Key Cave. Currently, approximately 600 acres are in row crop production under a Cooperative Far m Agreement, 84 acres are in early successional fields or native warm season grass fields, 50 acres o f former crop land have been planted to hardwoods, 30 acres of erosion drainages are being restore d to hedgerow habitat and the remaining 258 acres is forested land dominated by mixed hardwoods . Much of the crop land will eventually be planted to native warm season grasses or reforested with mixed hardwoods.

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• 1 Monitoring and Studies

la. Surveys and Censuses

A gray bat emergence count was conducted at Key Cave on June 8 . An estimated 30,61 6 bats, 25,916 adults and 4,700 juveniles, were using this cave as a maternity colony . Juveniles were counted in the cave after the adults had emerged .

A northern bobwhite call-count survey was conducted in July in a continuing effort t o determine a baseline population index that can be used to determine success of the uplan d • habitat restoration activities . Dr. Paul Kittle of the University of North Alabama is continuing the process of compilin g a bird checklist for Key Cave NWR . To date, 154 species of birds have been observed o n the Refuge .

Dr. Kittle monitored 16 bluebird boxes on the refuge and reported 23 nests with 85 egg s produced and 44 young fledged . Four chickadee nests fledged 14 young . Dr. Kittle noted that predators, probably raccoons, were a serious problem this year and plans to instal l predator guards before the next nesting season.

1 b . Studies and Investigation s

The refuge initiated work on a Native Warm Season Grass Demonstration Area (NWSGDA ) • in the northwest corner of the refuge along Lauderdale County Road 215 (Rock Churc h Road). This 37-acre tract was chosen because it can be readily observed by the public . The Demonstration Area is a cooperative effort between the NRCS, American Cyanamid Company, Lauderdale County Cattleman's Association and the Service and was designed t o show several species of native grasses with different planting rates and various herbicid e treatments. As part of this effort, the refuge purchased a Truax no-till native grass drill i n cooperation with the Tennessee Valley RC&D (see Wheeler NWR Section 5c .).

Refuge staff conducted a successful prescribed burn on May 20 'h for site preparation of th e Demonstration Area . Following the bum, NRCS and refuge personnel measured and delineated the 37-acre tract into 17 plots. The plots were oriented perpendicular to Roc k Church Road and could be viewed by the public as they drove by the refuge . After green-up, plots within the NWSGDA were sprayed with various tank mixtures of Plateau, Roundup , and a methylated seed oil surfactant. Planting began on June 23 `d and was completed on Jul y • 6'h. Species planted included big bluestem, Indian grass, little bluestem, sideoats gramma , switchgrass, and various combinations of these species .

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• Figure 1 . Native Warm Season Grass Demonstration Area prior to site preparation. (SS 5/99)

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Figure 2. Prescribed fire was used as a site preparation technique on the Native Warm Season Grass Demonstration Area. (SS 5/99) • 2 •

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Figure 3 . Native Warm Season Grass Demonstration Area 28 days post-bum . (SS 6/99)

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• Figure 4 . The Native Warm Season Grass Demonstration Area was sprayed wit h Rodeo after prescribed tire and green-up in preparation for planting . (SS 6/99)

3 Refuge staff monitored the NWSGDA monthly. At planting time there was good soi l moisture, however little rainfall was received after planting as drought conditions prevaile d through December . Overall the NWSGDA was a failure due to the drought but we did notic e by October that a few big bluestem plants had developed seed heads and measured up to 0 .8 m. Refuge staff expanded the NWSGDA in early December by planting an additional 1 5 acres with seed left over from last summer. Refuge staff will evaluate this technique fo r establishing these grasses .

The Alabama Game and Fish Division, Wildlife Section, conducted the initial phase of a reproduction study of white-tailed deer on Key Cave NWR and the adjoining Seven-Mile - Island WMA . From late March through May, one barren and 8 pregnant doe were taken from the study area. Average date of conception and fetal production for adult doe (2 .5 years and older) was 1/19/99 and 1 .57 fawns per doe . • 2 Habitat Restoration

2a. Wetland restoration : On-refuge

Refuge staff constructed two shallow water areas at the head of two grassed waterways in a n effort to help with erosion control and provide temporary wetland habitat . Funding was provided in part by a Ducks Unlimited MARSH grant .

2b. Upland restoration: On-refuge

During January, February and March, 70 volunteers, including UNA students and faculty , Shoals Audubon Society, TVA, and NRCS, and Refuge staff planted 4,500 white and Shumard oak, 1,100 dogwood, 1,000 Chickasaw plum, 500 persimmon, 400 black gum, 30 0 pine and 70 cypress trees on the Refuge . Pines, plum, dogwood, and persimmon were planted in reclaimed grassed waterways to develop hedgerow habitat . The oaks and some of the other hardwoods reforested about 25 acres of former crop land . The bald cypress trees were planted along the sinkhole lake . Trees were donated by the National Tree Trust, Alabama Forestry Commission, and TVA .

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Figure 5. Volunteers and staff planting trees on Key Cave NWR . Reforestation efforts continue to be supported by the community . (SS 3/99 )

Erosion control work continued at the refuge during October and November . In late October the U .S. Army Reserves from Florence placed 450 straw bales in waterways to create check dams fo r erosion control . An additional 550 straw bales were staked across waterways by refuge staff durin g November to act as check dams and slow water down and leave sediments in the waterways befor e it flows into sinkholes in an effort to improve water quality in the Key Cave recharge area .

• 2c. Wetland restoration : Off-refuge

There were no off-refuge wetland restoration activities in 1999 .

2d. Upland restoration : Off-refuge

There were no off-refuge upland restoration activities in 1999 .

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5 • 3 Habitat Management

3a. Manage water levels

There were no water level management activities in 1999.

3b. Manage moist soil units

There were no moist soil management activities in 1999 . • 3c. Graze/mow/hay There were no grazing or haying activities in 1999 .

3d. Farming

The cooperative farmer for Key Cave NWR planted 542 acres in soybeans during 1999 . Crop yield was severely impacted by drought conditions and averaged 7 .6 bushels per acre . During November 449 acres were planted with wheat.

3e. Forest cutting

There were no forest cutting activities in 1999.

• 3f. Prescribed burning

See section lb.

3g. Control pest plants

There were no pest plant control activities in 1999 .

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6 • 4 Fish and Wildlife Management

4a. Bird banding

There were no bird banding activities in 1999.

4b. Disease monitoring and treatmen t

There were no disease monitoring or treatment activities in 1999 . • 4c. Reintroduction s There were no reintroductions in 1999 .

4d. Provide nest structures

There were no nest structures erected in 1999 .

5 Coordination Activitie s

S 5a. Interagency coordinatio n

During August the Refuge received approval for a $23,200 challenge grant to continu e development of grassed waterways and restore degraded upland habitat at Key Cave NWR . Partners include The Nature Conservancy, National Tree Trust, University of Nort h Alabama, The Shoals Audubon Society, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation .

See section 1 b . for interagency coordination concerning the Key Cave NWR Native War m Season Grass Demonstration Area .

7 • 6 Resource Protection

6f. Manage cultural resources

Key Cave NWR has one known cultural site, Key Cemetery, an apparent slave cemetery .

6h . Land acquisition

Refuge Manager Stone met with City of Florence Mayor Frost about the possibility of the refuge acquiring 70 acres of city lands within the Key Cave NWR acquisition boundary . The • Mayor expressed interest in getting an offer for the land .

ALASKA Onl y 8 Public Education and Recreatio n • 8a. Provide visitor services

There were no visitor services provided in 1999 .

8b. Outreach

No outreach activities were conducted during 1999 .

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8 • 9 Planning and Administratio n

9a. Comprehensive management plannin g

There were no comprehensive management planning activities in 1999 .

9b. General Administratio n

The Key Cave NWR Advisory Group (consisting of representatives from Alabama Game an d Fish Division (AGFD), TVA, NRCS, UNA, The Shoals Audubon Society, Oakland Gi n • Company, and Refuge staff) met on several occasions during the year to discuss issues suc h as the proposed habitat management plan, public use opportunities, the cooperative farmin g program, and opportunities for development of a GIS for the Refuge .

A revenue sharing check was given to Lauderdale County for Key Cave NWR in the amoun t of $2,568.

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• • Blowing Wind Cave National Wildlife Refuge Annual Narrative

Jackson County, Alabama Calendar Year 199 9

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• Blowing Wind Cave NWR • Blowing Wind Cave NWR lies just above the Sauty Creek embayment of TVA's Guntersvill e Reservoir, seven miles west of Scottsboro, Jackson County, Alabama . The Refuge consists of 264 acres of hardwoods with a double entrance cave in the hillside . The land was acquired by the Service in 1978 to provide protection for endangered gray and Indiana bats and their critical habitat . The cave serves as a minor hibernation cave and a major maternity cave .

On February 27, wintering bats were surveyed in Blowing Wind Cave by Dr . Troy Best of Auburn University and Keith Hudson, Alabama Nongame Wildlife Program. Two hundred thirty bats were counted. Most were Indiana bats; a few gray bats were also observed this year.

State Biologist Hudson conducted a summer emergence counts for gray bats on June 25 and tallie d 235,500 .

• As a result of a formal request by Mr. Bill Varnedoe, the Service officially changed the name of Blowing Wind Cave NWR to Sauta Cave NWR on December 10, 1999 . Sauta Cave is the historica l name used by local cavers . The name change will help eliminate misunderstanding and confusio n when referring to the name of this cave .

Jackson County received a $654 revenue sharing check for Blowing Wind Cave NWR .

• • Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge Annual Narrative

Jackson County, Alabama Calendar Year 199 9

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• Fern Cave NWR • Fern Cave NWR, acquired in 1981 to provide protection for gray and Indiana bats, is located 2 0 miles west of Scottsboro and two miles north of Paint Rock in Jackson County, Alabama . It consists of 199 acres of forested hillside underlain by a massive cave with many stalactite and stalagmite- filled rooms. It has five hidden entrances . Over one million gray bats hibernate in Fern Cave, a s do several hundred endangered Indiana bats . Fern Cave also has the threatened American hart's - tongue fern at one of its entrances .

For the 12th year, John Van Swearingen of the Huntsville Grotto, National Speleological Society , served as the Fern Cave Access Coordinator by Special Use Permit . Steve Pitts is also serving as a Fern Cave Access Coordinator . Their organization handled all permits to enter the cave an d monitored the cave's condition . Fifteen access permits were issued to 119 persons on 23 trips entering the cave. Utilization of the cave increased slightly from the previous year. An increase in caving has been noted in the Surprise Pit area of the cave (off Refuge) . This is due to the • Southeastern Cave Conservancy leasing this entrance and the surrounding 80 acres from privat e landowners . No unauthorized entries into the cave and no vandalism was reported.

During January, State Conservation Officer Johnson of Jackson County notified the refuge that th e north-south refuge boundary line had been illegally moved by an adjoining landowner . The landowner agreed to move a "shooting house" structure that he built on refuge land and received a Violation Notice for Destruction of Government Property. Refuge staff corrected the illegally marked boundary line during April .

The propagation project for the American hart's tongue fern in the Morgue Sink section of Fern Cav e was suspended when Jay Hudson, a Ph.D. candidate at Auburn University, notified the refuge tha t he was discontinuing his study. The Service is seeking someone to continue this study .

Jackson County received a $280 revenue sharing check for Fern Cave . •

• • Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge Annual Narrative

Jefferson County, Alabam a Calendar Year 199 9

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• • Watercress Darter NWR

Watercress Darter NWR, near Bessemer, Jefferson County, Alabama, was acquired by the Servic e in 1980 to provide protection for the endangered watercress darter . Although the Refuge is onl y seven acres of bushy vegetation, it contains a quarter acre pond, Thomas Spring, which is vita l habitat for the darter . A second pond was built on the Refuge in 1983 to provide additional darter habitat.

There are seven sites in the Birmingham area where the darter is known to occur or has been introduced. Two of these are part of the Refuge .

The watercress darter population on the Refuge was not monitored during 1999 due to a shift i n O priorities by the Alabama Game and Fish Division. The Refuge is seeking a replacement for monitoring this population .

The Collier House disposal took place during January . The house removal was coordinated by th e Birmingham Audubon Society (BAS) through a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant for help in cleaning up this refuge .

Refuge staff marked the boundary at Watercress Darter NWR during March .

The refuge contracted with Williams Bobcat Service to clear and remove debris and brush from a section of Watercress Darter NWR. Removal of the invading kudzu may allow reforestation on a section of the refuge .

As part of the BAS's Audubon Refuge Keepers (ARK) program, a workday was held durin g • October to pick up trash, cut Chinese privet, and work on the refuge bird and plant list .

Refuge staff and BAS met with Jefferson County Commissioner Mary Buckelew about the failin g septic tank at the volunteer's house on Watercress Darter NWR and the possibility of connecting thi s house to the existing sewer line crossing the refuge . The water quality in Thomas Spring is being adversely affected by the failing septic tank and installation of a sewer line is the only permanen t solution. Commissioner Buckelew agreed to help with the process ofconnecting the volunteer hous e to the existing sewer line and the possibility of reducing the proposed construction costs .

Information was sent to the Regional Office in November regarding a potential expansion in the siz e of Watercress Darter NWR . An apparent willing seller, Mr. Henry McAdory, is interested in selling 18 acres of land that borders the current refuge . • Jefferson County received a $649 revenue sharing check for Watercress Darter NWR . Credits • Tuck Stone - Highlights, 6h, 9 a Dwight Cooley - Introduction ; 3c; 3d; 6c; 6e; 6g; 6j Steve Seibert -2a; 2b ; 2c ; 2d; 5a; 5b; 5c; 5d; Key Cave NWR, Blowing Wind NWR ; Fern Cave NWR; Watercress Darter NW R Darrin Speegle - la; lb; 3a; 3b; 3e; 3f; 3g; 4a; 4b; 4c; 4e ; 6a; 6b; 6d; 6i Kathy Whaley - 5e; 6f; 8a; 8b; 9b (Volunteer Program ) Faye Blankenship - Climatic data, 9b (Safety ) Liz Gilbert - 9b (Funding & Personnel)

Photos

Tuck Stone Dwight Cooley • Kevin Hamrick Faye Blankenship Kathy Whaley Steve Seibert

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• Birds

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

SP S F W Loon s Eurasian Wigeon v v _ Red-throated Loon American Wigeon c a a Common Loon Canvasback f c c Grebes _ Redhead f c u _ Pied-billed Grebe' c u c a Ring-necked Duck c c c Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, located in th e _ Horned Grebe f f c Greater Scaup r r r Tennessee River Valley between the cities o f c c c Decatur and Huntsville, Alabama . was established Pelicans and their Allies Lesser Scaup in 1938, as a wintering area for ducks, geese an d American White Pelican v _ Harlequin Duck v other migratory birds and continues this role today . Oldsquaw v v v The refuge's great diversity of habitat include s _ Double-crested Cormorant c u c c deep river channels, tributary creeks, swamps , Anhinga h h h _ Black Scoter v v backwater embaymets, bottomland hardwoods , Herons, Egrets and Allies Surf Scoter v pine uplands and agricultural fields . This diversity White-winged Scoter v v v makes the refuge fertile grounds for enjoying th e American Bittern u u c c great activity of bird watching . _ Least Bittern r r r Common Goldeneye c How to use urur checklis t Great Blue Heron c u a a Bufflehead c c c r The bird checklist was designed to be informativ e _ Great Egret f u f r Hooded Merganser' f c c and simple to use . The list is arranged in the order Common Merganser r r r established by the American Ornithological Union . Snowy Egret r r r This list was developed with the assistance o f Little Blue Heron f f u _ Red-breasted Merganser f f u Tennessee Valley Audubon members R . B . "Willie " Tricolored Heron r r _ Ruddy Duck c c c Williams and the late Mark Brown . Symbols which appear in this checklist represent the following : Cattle Egret c c f Vultures, Hawks and Allies r r r r ser umal appearance Green-backed Heron' c c f _ Black Vulture Sp - Spring March - May _ Black-crowned Night-Heron u u f u _ Turkey Vulture u u u u S - Summer June - August _ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron ` f f u _ Osprey u r u u F - Fall September - Novembe r Ibises, Spoonbill, Stork Mississippi Kite v r r W - Winter December - February Glossy be v Bald Eagle u u u seasorral abundance White Ibis v r u Northern Harrier + u f c a - abundant a common species which i s Wood Stork h h h Sharp-shinned Hawk' f r f f very numerous Waterfowl _ Cooper' s Hawk' u r u u c - common certain to be seen in suitabl e _ Red-shouldered Hawk' f u f u habita t _ Tundra Swan r r Broad-winged Hawk' f c f - fairly common occurs annually _ Greater White-fronted Goose u u _ Snow Goose u c a Red-tailed Hawk' c u c a u - uncommon present but not certain to b e seen _ Ross' Goose v v Rough-legged Hawk v v v - vagrant less than ten valid records i n _ Brant h h Golden Eagle v v last decad e _ Barnacle Goose h h American Kestrel' f r c c r - rare seen at intervals of 2 to 5 years _ Canada Goose' f u a a Merlin r r v h - historical species occurring formerly _ Wood Duck' c c c c _ Peregrine Falcon r u that no longer occur on Gallinaceous birds (Quail, Turkey and Allies ) refug e _ Green-winged Teal c c c r r r r - nests on the refuge . American Black Duck' f u c c Wild Turkey' This checklist includes 285 species of birds and is Mallard' c f a a _ Northern Bobwhite' f f f f based on observations by refuge personnel an d Northern Pintail u v c c Rails, Ca/hurtles, Coots and Crane s visiting ornithologists . If you should find an unlisted Blue-winged Teal c r c r _ Yellow Rail v species, please let us know at Refuge King Rail v v v h Headquarters . We appreciate your help i n Northern Shoveler c v c c updating our records . Gadwall c v c a _ Virginia Rail r r S P S F W SP S F W Sara u u Ring-billed Gull a u a a _ Purple Gallinule v v Herring Gull f r c c Common Moorhen V V V Caspian Tern U r u American Coot* a u a a _ Common Tern u u _ Sandhill Crane v Forster's Tern c r c u Shorebirds _ Least Tern r r Black-bellied Plover r u _ Black Tern f u c _ Lesser Golden-Plover f u Pic cogs, Dories _ Semipalmated Plover Passenger Pigeon Extinct c c .6 Piping Plover v v Mourning Dove* a a a a Killdeer* a c a a _ Common Ground-Dove v v v v Black-necked Stilt V v Cuckoos American Avocet r Carolina Parakeet Extinct _ Greater Yellowleg s c u c f _ Black-billed Cuckoo u u Lesser Yellowlegs c u c u _ Yellow-billed Cuckoo' c c c Solitary Sandpiper f u f Owls Barn Owl* r r r r Willet v v Eastern Screech-Owl' c c c c Spotted Sandpiper` c u c V Great Horned Owl' f f f f Upland Sandpiper r r _ Barred Owl* u u u u Whimbrel v v Short-eared Owl v v r Hudsonian Godwit v v Nightjars Marbled Godwit v Common Nighthawk* c c c _ Ruddy Tumstone r r Chuck-will's-widow' c c u Red Knot V Whip-poor-will u u _ Sanderling r u Swills, l iirumrririgbirds Semipalmated Sandpiper c u c _Chimney Swift" c c a _ Western Sandpiper f c r Ruby-throated Hummingbird c c c r _ Least Sandpipe c u c c Kiligt tiers _ White-rumped Sandpiper u r v Belted Kingfisher* f u c c _ Baird's Sandpiper r r Woodpeckers Pectoral Sandpiper c r c Red-headed Woodpecker* u u u u Dunlin f f u Red-bellied Woodpecker* c c c c Stilt Sandpiper u u _ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker f c c Buff-breasted Sandpiper r u _ Downy Woodpecker* c c c c Short-billed Dowitcher f f _ Hairy Woodpecker` f f f f Long-billed Dowitcher u u Northern Flicker* c c c c Common Snipe c r c c Pileated Woodpecker* f f f f American Woodcock* u u u u Flycatchers Wilson's Phalarope r u Olive-sided Flycatcher v r Laughing Gull r r r r Eastern Wood-Pewee" c f c Franklin's Gull V V V V Yellow-bellied Flycatcher v v Bonaparte's Gull c f c Acadian Flycatcher* u r u

SP S F W SP S F W Alder Flycatcher v v Swainson's Thrush f u Willow Flycatcher v v _ Wood Thrush' c c c _ Least Flycatcher r r American Robin' a c c a Eastern Phoebe' u c f Thrashers _ Ash-throated Flycatcher v _ Gray Catbird' c c c v _ Great Crested Flycatcher c c u _ Northern Mockingbird' c c c c _ Eastern Kingbird' c c c Brown Thrasher' c c c c Larks Pipits Horned Lark' c f c a _ American Pipit f c c Martins a11d 5MT/1ouMS Waxwings Purple Martin' c c v _ Cedar Waxwing c v c a _ Tree Swallow c v c Shrike Northern Rough-winged c f c Loggerhead Shrike' f f f f _ Bank Swallow c c Vireos _ White-eyed Vireo' c f c Cliff Swallow' f f u _ Solitary Vireo u u v . Barn Swallow' c c c Yellow-throated Vireo" f u f jails and Cr n's Blue Jay' c c c c Warbling Vireo v v American Crow' f u f a Philadelphia Vireo u u _ Red-eyed Vireo' c f c Chickadees mid Titmice Carolina Chickadee" c c c c Warblers Tufted Titmouse' c c c c _ Blue-winged Warbler u f Golden-winged Warbler u u 1Vutliatc hc. Red-breasted Nuthatch u u u Tennessee Warbler c c White-breasted Nuthatch' u r u u Orange-crowned Warbler f f v Brown-headed Nuthatch v v Nashville Warbler r u Crew rers Northern Parula' c u c own Creeper u f c _ Yellow Warbler c r c Wrens _ Chestnut-sided Warbler f f _ Carolina Wren' c c c c Magnolia Warbler f c Bewick's Wren v v v v Cape May Warbler f u _ House Wren r c r Black-throated Blue Warbler v v Winter Wren u u f _ Yellow-rumped Warbler a a a Sedge Wren v r Black-throated Green Warbler f f _ Marsh Wren v v v Blackbumian Warbler u u KI11 'if't. am/ .,1n~1tct1tClie1"*( Yellow-throated Warbler u r u _ ` Iden-crowned Kinglet f c c Pine Warbler" c c c c Ruby-crowned Kinglet c c c Prairie Warbler' u r u _ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher' c u c v Palm Warbler c c v Bluebirds, Thrushes and Robin Bay-breasted Warbler c c Eastern Bluebird' c c c c _ Blackpoll Warbler c v _ Veery f u _ Gray-cheeked Thrush u u Sl' S F W SP S F W Cerulean Warbler r r r Swamp Sparrow c c a _ Black-and-white Warbler f r c _ White-throated Sparrow a a a American Redstart c u c White-crowned Sparrow u f f _ Prothonotary Warbler' c c c Dark-eyed Junco f c c _ Worm-eating Warbler u r u _ Lapland Longspur r _ Swainson's Warbler r r Blackbirds, Grackles, Cowbirds and Orioles _ Ovenbird f c _ Bobolink c u _ Northern Waterthrush f u v _ Red-winged Blackbird' c c a a _ Louisiana Waterthrush u r u Eastern Meadowlark" c c c c Kentucky Warbler' f c Western Meadowlark v v Connecticut Warbler V V _ Yellow-headed Blackbird v v v Mourning Warbler V V Rusty Blackbird u c c _ Common Yellowthroat a r c r _ Brewer's Blackbird u u r _ Hooded Warbler' f f c Common Grackle` c c a a Wilson's Warbler r u Brown-headed Cowbird" c c a a Canada Warbler u u _ Orchard Oriole' c c u Yellow-breasted Chat' c c c Northern Oriole` f u f Tanagers Old World Fiirclies Summer Tanager" C C C Purple Finch u f f Scarlet Tanager C f _ Red Crossbill v f New World Fii1ches _ Pine Siskin u u _ Northern Cardinal' a a a a _ American Goldfinch f u c c Rose-breasted Grosbeak c c Evening Grosbeak r r r Blue Grosbeak' c c c Introduced non-native species Indigo Bunting' a c a Rock Dove" a a a a Dickcissel' c c u v European Finch* a a a a a Sparrows House Finch* a a a _ Rufous-sided Towhee` c c c c House Sparrow" a a a a _ Bachman's Sparrow v v Mute Swan v v American Tree Sparrow v Chipping Sparrow" c u c u Notes _ Field Sparrow" c c c a Vesper Sparrow f f r Lark Sparrow v v v Savannah Sparrow c c c Grasshopper Sparrow' u u u Henslow's Sparrow h h h Le Conte's Sparrow v Sharp-tailed Sparrow V Fox Sparrow f f c _ Song Sparrow` c f c a _ Lincoln's Sparrow u u

%If Recycled paper Wildlife

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

Norway rat commo n Mammals House mouse commo n This class of animals is numerous, with various body %\Tildlife adaptations and characteristics . However, all Canines mammals feed their young with milk from th e Coyote commo n Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is Alabama' s female's mammary glands, and all mammals Red fox commo n oldest and largest national refuge . Although its possess hair during some stage of their Grayfox commo n management has been aimed primarily a t development . providing winter habitat for waterfowl, it does Racoolis Raccoon commo n support an interesting variety of native Marsupial s mammals, reptiles, and amphibians . The 34,500 Opossum common Weasels acre refuge includes a wide variety of habitats: Longtail weasel rar Shrews e backwater sloughs and embayments, riparian , Mink commo n bottomland hardwoods, pine plantations , Shorttail shrew common Spotted skunk rare Least shrew uncommo cultivated fields, caves, brush, and hedge rows . n Striped skunk commo n The wide variety of habitat on the Refug e River otter uncommon increases wildlife diversity and wildlif e Moles observation opportunities . Please remember to Eastern mole common Felines watch and study wildlife without causin g Bats Bobcat uncommon disturbance . Little brown bat fairly commo n Hoofed Mammal s n "Gray bat commo White-tailed deer commo n occurrence : Keens bat rare Indiana bat common common : certain to be seen in suitabl e Reptiles habita t Silver-haired bat uncommo n Eastern pipstrel fairly commo n Reptiles differ from amphibians in that they do fairly common : occurs occasionally i n Red bat commo n not have slime on their bodies and mus t suitable habitat and Seminole bat rare breathe air . However, some species do live i n conditions Hoary bat uncommo n water. Big brown bat fairly commo n Turtles uncommon : present but not certain to be Evening bat fairly commo n see n Big-eared bat rare Common snapping turtle commo n Common musk turtle commo n rare : seen at intervals of 2 to 5 Rabbit s Eastern mud turtle commo n years Eastern cottontail common Eastern box turtle commo n Swamp rabbit fairly commo n Map turtle commo n Ouachita map turtle commo n federal listing> : Rodents * Southern painted turtle commo n federally endangere d Eastern gray squirrel commo n Eastern fox squirrel fairly commo n Lisnake s us know at the Refuge Visitor Center. We Rice rat fairly commo n appreciate your help in updating our records . Cotton rat commo n Eastern smooth earth snake fairly commo n fairly commo n Northern red-bellied snake commo n Eastern woodrat Midland brown snake Prairie vole commo n commo n Pine vole uncommon Midland water snake commo n Yellow-bellied water snake common

Queen snak e common '\' rwt and Sar1arrrmuler s Eastern garter snak e common Hellbender or Waterdog rare Eastern ribbon snak e common Mudpuppy common Western mud snak e uncommon Red-spotted newt fairly common Hognose snake common Spotted salamander common Northern ringneck snake common Marbled salamande r common Mississippi ringneck snak e fairly commo n Small-mouthed salamande r rare Eastern worm snake common Eastern tiger salamande r fairly common Black racer common Dusky salamande r common Rough green snak e fairly commo n Zigzag salamander common Rat snake fairly commo n A Slimy salamande r fairly commo n Corn snake common Northern red salamander fairly commo n Scarlet snake rare Long-tailed salamande r fairly commo n Scarlet kingsnake rare Two-lined salamander fairly commo n Red milk snake uncommon Cave salamander uncommon Mole snake rare Black kingsnake fairly commo n Notes Crowned snake fairly common Date No. of Species f 'oisortctirs stirtkes or Pit-i'ipers Northern copperhead uncommon Time Afield Eastern cottonmouth uncommon moccasin Observers Timber or southern rare rattlesnake Weather Pigmy or ground rattlesnake rar e Remarks 5il r'1RYIti #American alligator uncommon Amphibian Amphibians are creatures with moist skins . The majority are able, at least during certai n phases of their life cycle, to breathe both on land and under water .

1 r t, ids n i l Treetro..;s Spadeoot toad common American toad common Fowlers toad common Northern cricket frog common Eastern gray treefrog common If /formation Upland chorus frog common Additional information may be obtained by writing : Mountain chorus frog common Refuge Manager Eastern narrow-mouthed common Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge toad 2700 Refuge Headquarters Road True frogs Decatur, Alabama 35603 Bullfrog fairly commo n Green frog common Southern leopard frog fairly commo n U .S . Fish and Wildlife Servic e I )cp,irtment ni the Interio r Lu . li 19 )7 recycled paper U .S . Fish & Wildlife Servic e Wheeler National Wildlife Refug e 2700 Refuge Headquarters Roa d Decatur, AL 35603 256/350 6639 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Servic e 1 800/344 WILD http:llwww.fws .gov/--r4eao November 1997 Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 as a wintering area for ducks, geese and other migratory birds.

Migrating Waterfow l This 34,500 acre refuge attract s thousands of wintering waterfowl each year . The refuge hosts 11 5 species of fish, 74 species of reptile s This blue goose, and amphibians, 47 species of designed by Ding mammals, and 285 different species Darling, ha s of songbirds. The refuge als o become a symbo l manages and protects habitat for 1 0 of the Refuge federally listed endangered or System.. threatened species that reside on th e refuge.

Today the refuge is one Wheele r National Wildlife of over 500 refuges in the Refuge i s comprised of a great diversity o f National Wildlife habitat type s such as Refuge System hottomland hardwoods, .S. wetlands, pin e administered by the U uplands, shoreline o r Fish and Wildlife riparia n woodlands, Service. agricultural fields, and back wate r embayments . These habitats provid e excellent feeding, loafing an d roosting sites for winterin g waterfowl, as well as nesting sites fo r seasonally migrating songbirds.

cover photo . David McEwrn :O

Management technique s each year in an effort to maintai n on the refuge include : current information on nesting Waterfowl Food Approximately 3500 acres of crop- success, harvest numbers, migratio n Production land are cultivated by local farmers routes, and the general condition of on a share agreement . During populations . harvest a portio n of the crop is left in the field as a food source for ducks, geese, and other wildlife . Each fall the refuge provides green browse for wintering gees e by planting wheat.

Water Contro l Water control structures ar e used in wet areas to change water levels in a controlled manner. This type of management provides food for waterfowl by encouraging th e R growth of nativ e plants in moist Use by the Publi c The public is encouraged to visit th e areas. refuge and participate in the many activities designed and offered fo r Providing outdoor enjoyment. Wildlife Habitat observation, fishing, hiking, natur e Diversity study, and hunting of small game an d Wheele r deer are just a few of th e Refuge's wid e opportunities available. variety of habitat types are The Visitor Center located o n managed to Highway 67, two miles west of I-65 , produce as much should be the first stop for all visitor s quality food and planning a trip to the refuge. At the cover as feasibly Visitor Center, visitors can obtain possible for information about the refuge, enjoy wildlife. the exhibits, watch the orientation video, use the observation buildin g Banding and trails, and find out about other Ducks and other interesting activities that might b e birds are banded available.

Arro e Lan e

Decatur Blackwell Rockhous e Swamp Unit Hicko r Hills Upper River Rd . Bluff City Cave 3 CaRn's Springs `Landing Priceville . ~•son Ra a 67' ~ kRd -~ ~ ` o

Refuge Lands Withi n Redstone Arsena l National Wildlife Refuc e Highways Road s Refuge Boundary Wheeler Redstone Arsenal Visitor Cente r National Wildlife Refug e D 0 Wildlife Observatio n • Boating o Mies , o Kilo I Flint Creek Environmenta l N • Area & Disabled Person s Fishing Pier

Enjoy Your Visit Visitor October 1-February 2 8 Center Hours Daily 10:00 am-5 :00 pm

March 1-September 30 Wednesday-Sunday 10 :00 am-5 :00 pm

Wildlife Permitted year-round . Observation An observation building and platform is provided for your enjoyment.

Fishing Open to fishing subject and Hunting to State regulations ; managed hunts are held for small game an d deer. Permit required .

Boating Permitted. Six improved boat- launching ramp s available. Water skiin g restricted and personal watercraft prohibited .

Bicycles Permitted on gravele d roads only.

Horses and Permitted on ope n Mule Riding graveled roads . Not permitted on refuge hunts.

Vehicles Only licensed vehicle s permitted. No unlicensed ATV 's. Access is limited t o graveled roads and a portion of these ar e closed at certain times .

Firearms Prohibited, except o n managed hunts.

Camping Not permitted. Artifact Surface and subsurfac e Collecting collecting is prohibited. Calendar of Wildlife Events of the migrant songbirds are movin g This calendar is meant to serve as a through the refuge . guide to general wildlife events fo r visitors. Weather and fluctuatin g June With migration at an end, only water levels may cause variations in resident birds and mammals are these events . seen. Fishing for bluegill and bass i s fairly good . Jan co t?/ Waterfowl numbers are at their peak during the first half of the month . July Waterfowl activity is at its lowest eb b Canada and snow geese are abundan t for the year. Songbird young ar e along with many species of ducks ; common in the woods and fields . mallards are the most abundant . Waterfowl begin moving north by the .$ August The fall migration of songbird s end of the month . begins with purple martins bunching for their southward move. Large February Waterfowl numbers begin to declin e numbers of swallows move through rapidly. Wood duck nesting begins . and some early shorebird migratio n Depending on the weather, fishing begins. A few blue-winged teal begi n can be good by the end of the month . arriving. Fishing for catfish is good .

Septembe r Blue-winged teal migration is at its peak. Shorebirds and large numbers of swallows begin moving through . The first incoming geese arrive during the latter part of the month .

Octobe r Sport fishing is good . Waterfowl continue to arrive with goo d concentrations present by the end of the month . The mass of southward hound fall songbird migration is at it s peak.

November Although songbird migratio n March Waterfowl numbers are low; but a is at a n variety of species can still be seen . end, Blue-winged teal and shorebird s waterfowl begin migrating. Turtles are presen t numbers on sunny days. Crappie fishing is at continue to its best. increase. Large April Teal migration is at its peak . numbers of great blue heron can b e Warblers, vireos, and other small seen congregating . Red-tailed an d passerine birds are migrating . Migrant marsh hawks, along with other songbird nesting is in full progress. raptors, are common . Wild flowers are at their peak. Decentbe y Waterfowl numbers reach their peak May Broods of wood ducks, mallards, an d during the latter part of the month . black ducks appear. Young songbird s Bald and golden eagles, although no t and rabbits begin to appear. The last common, may be present.