Terrestrial Wildlife and Habitat Assessment on Bonneville Power Administration-Funded Wildlife Areas in Washington: Monitoring and Evaluation Activities Michael A. Schroeder, Paul R. Ashley, and Matt Vander Haegen Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife May 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS.......................................................................................................2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................5 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................8 VISION............................................................................................................................8 WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE .....................................8 NORTHWEST POWER PLANNING COUNCIL........................................................11 Purpose.....................................................................................................................11 The Importance of Monitoring and Evaluation .......................................................15 Adaptive Management.............................................................................................17 MONITORING AND EVALUATION ...............................................................................18 FOCAL SPECIES AND HABITATS ...........................................................................18 Justification..............................................................................................................18 Description of Focal Habitats ..................................................................................19 Description of Focal Species ...................................................................................20 HABITAT EVALUATION PROCEDURES................................................................34 General Description .................................................................................................34 Methods for Open Habitats......................................................................................37 Methods for Forest and Riparian Habitats...............................................................44 Application of HEP Data to Wildlife.......................................................................46 MODIFIED HABITAT ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES............................................49 Justification for Modification ..................................................................................49 Habitat Methods.......................................................................................................51 WILDLIFE MONITORING AND EVALUATION .....................................................53 Pygmy Rabbit...........................................................................................................54 Beaver ......................................................................................................................54 Western Gray Squirrel .............................................................................................55 Big Game .................................................................................................................55 Prairie Grouse ..........................................................................................................56 Great Blue Heron .....................................................................................................56 Mallard.....................................................................................................................56 Owls and Woodpeckers ...........................................................................................57 Songbirds .................................................................................................................57 Miscellaneous Surveys.............................................................................................60 SAGEBRUSH FLAT WILDLIFE AREA...........................................................................62 DESCRIPTION..............................................................................................................62 UPPER MIDDLE MAINSTEM SUBBASIN ...............................................................65 MONITORING AND EVALUATION .........................................................................66 Habitat......................................................................................................................66 Mule Deer ................................................................................................................68 Prairie Grouse ..........................................................................................................69 General Bird Surveys...............................................................................................70 Miscellaneous Surveys.............................................................................................75 SCOTCH CREEK WILDLIFE AREA................................................................................77 DESCRIPTION..............................................................................................................77 2 UPPER MIDDLE MAINSTEM AND UPPER COLUMBIA SUBBASINS................80 MONITORING AND EVALUATION .........................................................................82 Habitat......................................................................................................................82 Mule Deer and White-tailed Deer............................................................................84 Prairie Grouse ..........................................................................................................84 General Bird Surveys...............................................................................................86 BIRD SPECIES .............................................................................................................88 SWANSON LAKES WILDLIFE AREA ............................................................................93 DESCRIPTION..............................................................................................................93 CRAB CREEK SUBBASIN..........................................................................................97 MONITORING AND EVALUATION .........................................................................97 Habitat......................................................................................................................97 Mule Deer ................................................................................................................98 Prairie Grouse ..........................................................................................................98 General Bird Surveys.............................................................................................100 Miscellaneous Surveys...........................................................................................104 SUNNYSIDE WILDLIFE AREA .....................................................................................105 DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................105 YAKIMA SUBBASIN ................................................................................................106 MONITORING AND EVALUATION .......................................................................107 Elk..........................................................................................................................107 Mule Deer ..............................................................................................................108 Miscellaneous Surveys...........................................................................................108 WENAS WILDLIFE AREA..............................................................................................109 DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................109 YAKIMA SUBBASIN ................................................................................................111 FOCAL ........................................................................................................................111 MONITORING AND EVALUATION .......................................................................112 Habitat....................................................................................................................112 Elk..........................................................................................................................113 Mule Deer ..............................................................................................................114 Bighorn Sheep........................................................................................................115 Prairie Grouse ........................................................................................................115 General Bird Surveys.............................................................................................116 ASOTIN CREEK WILDLIFE AREA...............................................................................119 DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................119 ASOTIN SUBBASIN ..................................................................................................121