SALT RIVER WETLAND COMPLEX Regional Wetland Conservation Plan Salt River Riparian Habitat – Photo by Mark Gocke January 6, 2017 Final Joe Bohne, Susan Patla, and Lara Gertsch A regional step-down plan of the Wyoming Wetlands Conservation Strategy Prepared for the Wyoming Bird Habitat Conservation Partnership Table of Contents INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................ 1 General Description ....................................................................................................................... 1 History............................................................................................................................................ 1 Climate ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Land Ownership ............................................................................................................................. 4 Land Uses....................................................................................................................................... 4 WETLAND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SALT RIVER DRAINAGE ............................... 4 Hydrology ...................................................................................................................................... 6 River Classification ........................................................................................................................ 8 Potential Issues Adversely Affecting Water Quality in the Salt River Drainage .......................... 9 Agriculture................................................................................................................................ 9 Economics ................................................................................................................................. 9 Industry ................................................................................................................................... 10 Recreation ............................................................................................................................... 10 Rural Subdivisions ................................................................................................................. 10 Urban Growth ........................................................................................................................ 11 LINKAGES TO OTHER CONSERVATION PLANS AND PROGRAMS ............................ 12 POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CONSERVATION OF WATERFOWL HABITAT ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Bird Conservation Regions and Priority Bird Species ................................................................. 13 WILDLIFE IN THE SALT RIVER DRAINAGE ...................................................................... 15 Migratory Game Birds ................................................................................................................. 15 Ducks ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Bird Species ............................................................................................................................ 16 Mammal Species..................................................................................................................... 16 Canada Geese ......................................................................................................................... 16 Trumpeter Swans ................................................................................................................... 17 Rocky Mountain Population of Sandhill Cranes ................................................................ 18 Aquatic Species....................................................................................................................... 18 PRIORITIZATION OF WETLAND AREAS IN THE SALT RIVER DRAINAGE ............. 22 RELATIONSHIP OF THE SALT RIVER PLAN TO OTHER CONSERVATION INITIATIVES ................................................................................................................................ 24 i Ducks Unlimited .......................................................................................................................... 24 USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program ......................................................................... 25 Intermountain West Joint Venture (IWJV): Coordinated Implementation Plan for Bird Conservation in Central and Western Wyoming (BCRs 10, 16, 18) ........................................... 25 Wyoming Partners in Flight (PIF): Wyoming Bird Conservation Plan: Version 2.0 .................. 25 Wyoming 2010 State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) .................................................................. 26 The Nature Conservancy (TNC) .................................................................................................. 27 Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust......................................................................... 28 Wyoming Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan .................................................. 28 Other Plans and Initiatives ........................................................................................................... 28 THREATS TO WETLANDS ........................................................................................................ 29 Climate Change/Drought ............................................................................................................. 29 Water Supplies ............................................................................................................................. 29 Compromised Regulatory Protections ......................................................................................... 29 Loss of Ranch Acreage to Subdivision/Changes in Agricultural Water Rights or Uses ............. 30 Rural Residential Development ................................................................................................... 31 Water Development Projects ....................................................................................................... 31 Channel Alterations, Structures or Modifications in Floodplains ............................................... 31 Transportation Infrastructure ....................................................................................................... 32 Wind Energy Development.......................................................................................................... 32 Mining .......................................................................................................................................... 33 Agricultural Operations ............................................................................................................... 33 Livestock Grazing Practices ........................................................................................................ 33 Invasive Plant Species.................................................................................................................. 34 Management/Maintenance of Existing Wetland Projects ............................................................ 34 Recreational Use of Wetlands ...................................................................................................... 35 Irrigation Conveyance Improvements .......................................................................................... 35 Public Awareness and Support .................................................................................................... 35 Funding Availability .................................................................................................................... 35 WETLAND CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES ......................................................................... 36 WETLAND CONSERVATION STRATEGIES ......................................................................... 37 General ......................................................................................................................................... 37 Local Partnerships and Traditional Uses ..................................................................................... 38 Invasive Plant Species and Grazing Management ....................................................................... 39 Funding to support conservation and restoration efforts ............................................................. 40 ii Best Management Practices ......................................................................................................... 40 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................... 43 TABLES: Table 1. Composition of wetlands within the Salt River Complex (from Copeland et al. 2010). ..... 6 Table 2. Priority waterfowl species and season of use. .................................................................. 13 Table 3. Priority non-waterfowl bird species and season of use. .................................................... 14 Table 4. SGCN that use wetlands and riparian habitats in the Salt River drainage. ....................... 16 Table 5. Aquatic species documented in