Prepared in cooperation with the Trinity River Restoration Program Herpetological Monitoring and Assessment on the Trinity River, Trinity County, California—Final Report Open-File Report 2016–1089 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover: Photographs of adult Foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) (top left); basking adult western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata) (top right); juvenile western pond turtle (bottom left); and Foothill yellow-legged frog egg mass with embryo mortality (bottom right). Photographs by Don Ashton, U.S. Geological Survey, June 2014. Herpetological Monitoring and Assessment on the Trinity River, Trinity County, California—Final Report By Melissa L. Snover and Michael J. Adams Prepared in cooperation with the Trinity River Restoration Program Open-File Report 2016–1089 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2016 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit http://www.usgs.gov/ or call 1–888–ASK–USGS (1–888–275–8747). For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: Snover, M.L., and Adams, M.J., 2016, Herpetological monitoring and assessment on the Trinity River, Trinity County, California—Final report: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016-1089, 93 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161089. ISSN 2331-1258 (online) Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Methods ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Study Area .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 Study Design ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 Foothill Yellow-legged Frogs ............................................................................................................................... 4 Western Pond Turtles .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Field Surveys .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Foothill Yellow-legged Frogs ............................................................................................................................... 4 Western Pond Turtles .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Probability of Occupancy, Colonization, and Local Extinction ................................................................................. 5 Foothill Yellow-legged Frogs ............................................................................................................................... 6 Western PondTurtles ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Abundance .............................................................................................................................................................. 7 Western Pond Turtles .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Results ........................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Foothill Yellow-legged Frogs ................................................................................................................................... 8 Occupancy .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Western Pond Turtles ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Occupancy .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Abundance .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Discussion ................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Decision Support Tools ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................... 12 Monitoring Protocols ................................................................................................................................................. 12 Protocol Narrative ................................................................................................................................................. 12 Background and Objectives ............................................................................................................................... 12 Specific Monitoring Questions ........................................................................................................................... 13 Sampling Design ................................................................................................................................................... 13 Spatial Design ................................................................................................................................................... 14 Frequency and Timing of Sampling ................................................................................................................... 15 Field Methods and Rationale ................................................................................................................................ 16 Field Season Preparations and Equipment Setup ............................................................................................. 16 Sequence of Events During the Field Season ................................................................................................... 16 Details of Making Observations ......................................................................................................................... 16 Post-Collection Datasheet Processing .............................................................................................................. 17 End-of-Season Procedures ............................................................................................................................... 17 Data Handling, Analysis and Reporting ................................................................................................................. 18 Data Management ............................................................................................................................................. 18 Analysis and Reporting ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Personnel Requirements and Training .............................................................................................................. 18 Operational Requirements ................................................................................................................................. 19 Protocol Revision .............................................................................................................................................. 19 iii Standard Operation Procedures for Monitoring Herpetological Species ............................................................... 20 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 1: Field Preparation and Equipment Set-up .......................................... 20 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 2: Personnel and Training ..................................................................... 23