STATE: Michigan GRANT TITLE: Endangered Species Program – Hall’s Bulrush Project FEDERAL IDENTIFIER: E-11 SEGMENT: 2 REPORT TYPE: Annual Performance Report, Amendment 1 REPORTING PERIOD: 9/16/2005 – 3/31/2007 Summary: This Annual Performance Report covers the final year of funding this multi-year grant. This funding was expended during the Segment period of 9 September 2005 through 31 March 2007. The purpose of this amendment is to add the final report of activities and findings completed by the vendor contracted to conduct this study. The overall goal of this grant was to conduct population surveys to determine the status and characterize habitat requirements for Hall’s bulrush (Schoenoplectus hallii) in Michigan. This goal was addressed through objectives detailed in the grant proposal. The amount of each objective to be achieved was established in the grant agreement for this segment. A summary of the accomplishments completed by objective is given below. Accomplishments: The accomplishments by each project statement objective are summarized in the following table. Reporting units given are those established in the grant proposal. Objectives and Activities Progress 1. Continue monitoring of Allegan SGA population. Continue long-term monitoring Completed of the exemplary Allegan State Game Area population; add several additional parameters to allow comparison to other sites. 2. Conduct surveys of selected coastal plain marshes for de novo (new) Completed occurrences of Hall’s bulrush in Michigan. Continue and expands surveys to identify additional sites with Hall’s bulrush in Allegan, Muskegon and Van Buren Counties. Presence will be assessed either by the observation of aerial shoots or through the detection of achenes. 3. Characterize habitat at all newly identified sites where Hall’s bulrush is present. Completed Characterize the habitat of all additional populations discovered in #2. 4. Conduct qualitative monitoring, including identification of threats, on all known Completed and newly identified sites during 2003-2006. Conduct standardized qualitative monitoring (including identification of specific threats) on all known and newly identified sites, during 2005-2006. STATE OF MICHIGAN – E-11 Endangered Species Program – Hall’s Bulrush Project Amended Annual Performance Report Segment 2 – 4/1/2005-3/31/2007 Page 1 of 2 5. Compare habitat characterization across all documented Michigan sites and Completed analyze differences between germination and non-germination years. Conduct a comparative analysis of habitat characterization across all documented Michigan sites and between germination and non-germination years within sites. Reported Expenses: The expenses reported below are the total reported for activities reimbursable under this grant agreement, but were not necessarily charged to these federal assistance funds1. Labor and expenses were queried using activity codes rather than the funding and appropriation codes as are typically used to verify federal aid expenses. No travel or Motor Transport Division (MTD) costs were charged to this grant. Planned Actual Objectives Expenditures Expenditures 1. Continue monitoring of Allegan SGA population $2,264 $2,264 2. Conduct surveys of selected coastal plain marshes for de $9,264 $9,264 novo (new) occurrences of Hall’s bulrush in Michigan 3. Characterize habitat at all newly identified sites where $4,378 $4,378 Hall’s bulrush is present 4. Conduct qualitative monitoring, including identification of $6,860 $6,860 threats, on all known and newly identified sites during 2003-2006 5. Compare habitat characterization across all documented $14,144 $14,144 Michigan sites and analyze differences between germination and non-germination years Project Totals $36,910 $36,910 1The expenses provided are for grant evaluation purposes only and may include expenses that were eligible for reimbursement but were not actually charged to the grant. These values are not necessarily included in Financial Status Reports nor are they subject to financial audits. Actual grant expenditure tracking with supporting documentation necessary for audit purposes is not maintained by MDNR at the objective level. All financial tracking and reporting for the purposes of audits is at the grant level only. Slippages/Discussion of Accomplishments and Expenditures: All of the monitoring, surveys, modeling and results planned for in Segment 2 of this grant have been completed. The report of these activities including a final report on the project findings are attached to this document. This is the final report for this grant, no further work or expenditures will occur. STATE OF MICHIGAN – E-11 Endangered Species Program – Hall’s Bulrush Project Amended Annual Performance Report Segment 2 – 4/1/2005-3/31/2007 Page 2 of 2 Hall’s Bulrush Habitat Characterization and Monitoring Project 2004-2006 Final Report Prepared by: Michael R. Penskar and Phyllis J. Higman Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 Lansing, MI 48909-7944 For: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 Office Minneapolis, MN March 20, 2008 Report Number 2007-14 Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 1 Study Site ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 Methods ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 Population and Vegetation Monitoring ................................................................................................... 3 Floristic Characterization ....................................................................................................................... 3 Well Monitoring ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Seed Bank Characterization .................................................................................................................... 4 Photo Monitoring .................................................................................................................................... 4 Status Surveys ............................................................................................................................................. 5 De novo Surveys .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Results and Discussion ............................................................................................................................... 6 Population and Vegetation Monitoring ................................................................................................... 6 Floristic Characterization ..................................................................................................................... 10 Well Monitoring ..................................................................................................................................... 10 Seed Bank Characterization .................................................................................................................. 14 Photo Monitoring .................................................................................................................................. 15 Status Surveys ........................................................................................................................................... 15 Carr Lake............................................................................................................................................... 20 Pine Island Marsh RNA ......................................................................................................................... 20 Pine Island Lake .................................................................................................................................... 21 36th Street Marsh .................................................................................................................................. 22 De Novo Surveys ....................................................................................................................................... 22 Summary and Future Work .................................................................................................................... 23 Acknowledgments..................................................................................................................................... 25 Literature Cited ........................................................................................................................................ 27 List of Figures Figure 1. Study Site .................................................................................................................................... 2 Figure 2. Average percent cover of dominant vascular plants from 1999-2006 ......................................... 9 Figures 3-10. Chronological series of photos from NW corner of macroplot ..................................... 16-19 List of Tables Table 1. Percentage average cover and frequency of species identified in sampling quadrats from 1999- 2006....................................................................................................................................................