A Synopsis of Threatened & Endangered Species Experience Of New Century Environmental – a qualified Great Plains/Rocky Mountain environmental consulting firm New Century Environmental LLC 678 S Red Fox Lane Columbus Nebraska 68601 402-562-9155 [email protected] New Century Environmental (NCE) ecologists have conducted siting, baseline and impact assessment studies, inventory and monitoring studies for numerous regional threatened and endangered (T&E) species. We have incorporated Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP), stream corridor inventory, and wetland investigation methods into many of our wildlife assessments. We have been part of the Nebraska Department of Roads On-call wetland program since 2012. We have expanded distributions (wood frog, SD), found new habitats (Dakota skipper, SD) and discovered a plant in the Nebraska sand hills yet to be identified (Lehr property, Merrick County, UNL Herbarium, 2005). We have hundreds of new flora distribution records. We pride ourselves in being one of the best regional “on the ground” firms in the Midwest and elsewhere. NCE is often called upon to assess and inventory riparian habitat for restoration and monitoring programs. We use state-of-the-art methods for evaluating wetlands and riparian areas, and sensitive and rare flora and fauna associated with these habitats. We have also conducted range and upland studies to assess vegetation species composition, distribution and density as it relates to rare fauna and distribution. Our staff has worked with threatened and endangered species, small mammals, upland game birds, waterfowl, shore birds, carnivores, big game animals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. NCE uses a broad range of impact assessment tools to evaluate effects of projects on wildlife populations and terrestrial/aquatic ecosystems. We have evaluated effects using impact matrixes, narratives, and qualitative and quantitative habitat and population models. We also employ Geographic Information Systems (GIS) methods when assessing wildlife and terrestrial habitat. 1 A recent, brief synopsis of our staff’s T&E and rare and sensitive species experience: • T&E surveys for GGS rail spur project (Nebraska Public Power District, NPPD) for American burying beetle, prairie fringed orchid and blowout penstemon (1992-1993) • Sicklefin chub documentation in the Cheyenne River for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, South Dakota (1995 and 2006) • Pallid sturgeon, sturgeon chub and forage fish surveys for NPPD FERC relicensing effort (1990-2002) in Nebraska • Developed an eco-assets model with emphasis on T&E presence for the Union Pacific Railroad for their entire service territory (2008-2010) • Amphibian surveys for the northern leopard frog (proposed for listing in 2009) on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, South Dakota (2010-2012; expanded wood frog distribution maps) • Rare small mammal surveys for Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate (SWO) on Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, South Dakota (2010-2012) • Topeka shiner surveys and habitat evaluations for SWO (2010-2013) • Topeka shiner surveys in Spring Creek, Nebraska (2013) • BIA habitat improvement project for SWO; introduction of Topeka shiner in the Little Minnesota and Big Sioux Rivers (on-going through summer 2014) • Madison industrial tract scheduled for 2014: Topeka shiner surveys in Union and Taylor Creeks, Nebraska • Dakota skipper and Poweshiek skipperling surveys for wind farm assessments in Roberts County, South Dakota (2012; TWG grant for 2014-2016 if approved by USFWS) • Unique and rare flora surveys for the Winnebago Indian Tribe, Nebraska (2012- 2014) • Discovery of the black footed ferret on Standing Rock Indian Reservation, South Dakota (fall 2012; we are the verge of formal documentation in North Dakota, tentatively 2014) • Inventory and monitoring; black footed ferret management and recovery plan development (2013-2015) for Standing Rock Indian Reservation • Rare and sensitive flora and fauna studies for the Strawberry Ranch, Wasatch County, Utah (2008 – 2012) • Rare and sensitive flora and fauna assessment for the Black Buttes area, Crook County, Wyoming (2005 – 2009) • Wetland evaluation and threatened, endangered and sensitive species assessment of the Kobus Lake project site, Butler County, Nebraska (2000) • Sensitive riparian wildlife and related habitat investigations along the Virgin Creek drainage, South Dakota. (1999 – 2001) • Threatened, endangered and sensitive flora assessment for the Dry Creek Corporate Center, Arapahoe County, Colorado (1999 – 2000) 2 • Threatened, endangered and sensitive wildlife assessment for the Dry Creek Corporate Center, Arapahoe County, Colorado (1999 – 2000) • Fish studies on the Middle Rio Grande River, New Mexico (1995 – 2000) • Status of the Colorado River cutthroat trout in the vicinity of the proposed Adam’s Rib Recreation Area, Colorado (1992) • Survey of the threatened lesser prairie chicken on the historic Dunne Valley Ranch, Clark County, Kansas: considerations of habitat suitability, restoration and species management (2012 – 2013) T&E Species Experience Descriptions Whooping crane NCE principal, Mike Gutzmer has worked with the avian interaction program dealing with power lines while at NPPD. During a 13 year period, Gutzmer documented sand hill crane electrocutions on transmission lines; however, no whooping cranes were impacted. Junior staff was involved in whooping crane sightings with research data collected for the Platte River Ecology Study during the early 1980s. This was a three year project headed by Dr. Gary Krapu, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota. NCE is currently writing a grant for whooping crane use and distribution on Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Least tern & piping plovers Members of our staff inventoried, helped build predator fences, collected pertinent nesting data, recorded fledging success, population and breeding pair data and documented observations over many river reaches and sandpits within the Central Platte River. Junior staff has conducted surveys regarding piping plovers and interior least terns on the Big Bend region of the Platte River in Nebraska while employed by the USFWS in the late 1970s. Bald and golden eagle NCE biologists have conducted eagle nest compilations and sightings for several Native American tribes in the Great Plains over the past 10 years. Even with delisting for these important species, raptor populations are critical components in wind farm sighting projects. NCE biologists have conducted rare bird and raptor studies for wind farm development in Nebraska and South Dakota. Seasonal assessment of bird diversity and abundance occurred on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation at five different locations. NCE staff has also conducted raptor surveys including observations involving bald eagles while employed by the USFWS in the late 1970s along the Platte River in central Nebraska. Food pellets collection and analysis was part of the effort. 3 Black footed ferret (major documentation discoveries in two states) On October 30 through November 1, 2012 the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe with support of NCE biologists officially documented three black footed ferrets south of the Grand River, South Dakota. This appeared to be the first documentation of this species on the reservation ever recorded. A total of over 120 hours of nocturnal surveying has been conducted over a 14 month period. Based on significant size difference we believed two to be juveniles and one to be an adult female. Nocturnal surveying with spotlights has been our primary survey method. We believed there may be more effective and useful techniques such as the use of camera surveillance to document presence. NCE biologists have documented ferret eye shine near Selfridge, North Dakota and this is the first scientific documentation of ferrets in North Dakota as well. These newly found populations may provide a valuable contribution to the understanding and science of the black footed ferret in North America. The possibility these ferrets are from re-introduced animals on the Cheyenne Sioux Indian Reservation is real; however, trapping and DNA testing will be required to determine if indeed these are relic populations. The Selfridge sighting is almost 100 miles from the nearest re-introduction site on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. Efforts for the tribe will be to continue to work with the US Fish & Wildlife Service in trying to ascertain population status and distribution of the black footed ferret on the reservation and seek funding from other interested organizations concerned with this species. NCE is perfectly suited to support any nocturnal or daytime surveys relative to black-footed ferret presence in Nebraska on suspect prairie dog towns near highway projects. Our assessment abilities and project experience with these animals are second to none. http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121109/NEWS/711099916 Permit status: Survival enhancement permit under review (USFWS, Denver CO) River otter NCE is currently writing a Tribal Wildlife Grant for the Winnebago Tribe through the USFWS to develop a river otter management program. In 2013 a river otter was documented on reservation land in the Missouri River bottom and an established population appears evident. Permit Status: permit applied for when grant received. Flying squirrel 4 NCE has submitted a BIA grant for climate change benchmarking studies on the Sac & Fox Indian Reservation near Reserve, Kansas. Part of this effort