KIRWIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Kirwin, Kansas ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1999 Refuge Manager ate Associate Manager Date Regional Office Approval Date INTRODUCTION The KirwinNational Wildlife Refoge, authorized under a General Plan approved by the Secretary of the Interior on June 17, 1954, was established to provide habitat for and facilitate the management of the Nation's migratory bird resource. Basic authority for the existence of the refuge stems from the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, which authorized the establishment of wildlife areas on Federal water projects. The refuge is an overlay on the Bureau of Reclamation's Kirwin Reservoir project, fed by the North Fork of the Solomon River and Bow Creek. Fee title to the land is held for the United States by the Bureau of Reclamation. Water level control of the reservoir rests with the Kirwin Irrigation District and the Bureau of Reclamation. The watershed of the two water sources extends into western Kansas and covers approximately 800,000 acres. The 10,778 acre refuge is located west of the town of Kirwin in Phillips County in north-central Kansas. The primary purpose of the reservoir is to provide for flood control and provide irrigation water for the Kirwin Irrigation District. The Kirwin Irrigation District irrigates up to 11,500 acres of cropland downstream of the reservoir. When the dam was completed in 1955, the reservoir completely filled in just a few years. The reservoir remained full, with seasonal fluctuations, until 1970 when a series of events caused a lowering of the lake level. From 1970 on, the combined effects of irrigationreleases andreduced stream flow, resulting fromunderground water pumping, conservation farming practices and the building ofhundreds of stock water ponds causedasteady decrease in the average lake level. Studies were done that stated that watershed runoff would not return to normal and that it was unlikely the reservoir would ever stabilize at full pool. In 1992- 93 well above normal precipitation was recorded in the watershed and the reservoir refilled, reaching a record high level of 5.8 feet above conservation pool elevation. The reservoir remained full through 1995, and reached a new record high level of 7.8' above conservation level in June of 1995. The reservoir continued to rise into flood pool in each ensuing year, including 1999. The refuge mission is to manage for the conservation, maintenance and management of wildlife, resources thereof, and its habitat thereon, encourage wildlife and wildland oriented public use that is compatible with refuge purposes and enhance public understanding of natural resources management and ecological concepts. This mission is supported by objectives for endangered species, migratory birds, indigenous species, fisheries and interpretation and recreation. The topography of the refuge is rolling with grass-covered hilltops nearly 200 feet higher than the wooded creek bottoms. The lake covers about 5,000 acres at conservation, pool level. Land above the conservation pool is cropland and grassland with shelter belts of cedar and deciduous trees. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page A, HIGHLIGHTS 1 B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 1 C. LAND ACQUISITION 1. Fee Title , NTR 2. Easements ,...., Nothing to report NTR 3. Other , NTR D. PLANNING 1. Master Plan , NTR 2. Management Plan , 2 3. Public Participation 2 4. Compliance with Environmental Mandates < 2 5. Research and Investigations 2 6. Other NTR E. ADMINISTRATION 1. Personnel 3 2. Youth Programs 5-6 3. Other Manpower Programs 6 4. Volunteer Programs 6-7 5. Funding '7 6. Safety , 7-8 7. Technical Assistance 8 8. Other 10 F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT 1. General 11 2. Wetlands 12 3. Forests 12 4. Croplands 12 5. Grasslands , 12 6. Other Habitat 12 7. Grazing 13 8. Haying NTR 9. Fire Management 13-16 10. Pest Control , 16 11. Water Rights NTR F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT cont'd 12. Wilderness and Special Areas , NTR 13. WPA Easement Monitoring NTR 14. Partner's for Wildlife 17 G. WILDLIFE 1. Wildlife Diversity 18 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species , 18 3. Waterfowl 18 4. Marsh and Water Birds 18 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, & Allied Species 18 6. Raptors 19 7. Other Migratory Birds 19 8. Game Mammals ,. NTR 9. Marine Mammals NTR 10. Other Resident Wildlife NTR 11. Fisheries Resource 19 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking NTR 13. Surplus Animal Disposal NTR 14. Scientific Collections , NTR 15. Animal Control NTR 16. Marking and Banding NTR 17. Disease Prevention and Control NTR H. PUBLIC USE 1. General 19 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students , 20 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers NTR 4. Interpretive Foot Trails 20 5. Interpretive Tour Routes NTR 6. Interpretive Exbibits/Demonstrations 20-25 7. Other Interpretive Programs 25 8. Hunting 26 9. Fishing 26 10. Trapping NTR 11. Wildlife Observation NTR 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation 27 13. Camping ,. 27 14. Picnicking , NTR 15. Off-Road Vehicleing NTR 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation NTR 17. Law Enforcement , 27-28 18. Cooperating Associations NTR 19. Concessions NTR I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 1. New Construction 29-31 2. Rehabilitation 31 3. Major Maintenance , , 31 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 32 5. Communications Systems 32 6. Computer Systems 32 7. Energy Conservation 32 8. Other NTR J. OTHER ITEMS 1. Cooperative Programs 33 2. Other Economic Uses 33 3. Items of Interest , NTR 4. Credits ,.. 33 K. FEEDBACK NTR L. INFORMATION PACKET - - - (inside back cover) A. HIGHLIGHTS Charlie Pelizza from Lake Andes NWR headed a wetland team that evaluated the Refuge's wetland habitat in a visit on July 26th. Due to the very dry and warm weather and the fact that northwest Kansas is rated in the very high to extreme fire danger a emergency pre-suppression account was opened and used several weekends to provide for refuge resource safety, B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS Month High Temp Low Temp Avg Temp Snow Precip 1955-99 Avg Precip January 68° -4° 30° 1.5" .03" .54" February 73° 15° 39° .80" .65" March 74° 13° 42° 4.5" .42" 1.71" April 80° 26° 53° 3.00" 2.08" May 86° 33° 58° 5.18" 4.07" June 93° 42° 69° 4.72" 3.30" July 104° 37° 80° 2.20" 3.14" August 97° 52° 74° 5.80" 2.84" September 95° 34° 64° 1.07" 2.45" October 86° 25° 54° .10" 1.58" November 80° 18° 46° .46" .94" December 67° 8° 34° .18" .48" TOTAL 6.0" 23.96" 23.81" We continued to be dry...dry...as only .03" of moisture was recorded during the month of January and .80" during February. Finally some much needed moisture was received in March with 4 Yz" of rain and snow. April, May, June, July and August surprised everyone by a total accumulated rainfall of 20.9", September brought adequate rainfall, however, the weather in October was extremely hot and dry resulting in several wildfires in the local area (see fire management). Precipitation for the month was only .10". November and December finished out the year as dry months also. Precipitation for those two months only totalled .64" of moisture. Pagel C. LAND ACQUISITION D. PLANNING 1. Management Plan RM Schaffand ROS Gilbert met with Eric Depperschmit of Congressional Representative Jerry Moran's office. Items discussed included NWR's promise document, refuge mandates and regulations, KirwinNWR history, the Refuge CMP, local controversy, and goals and objectives. 3. Public Participation RM Schaff and ROS Gilbert met with Dee Blubaugh, Jack Dunn, and Dan Blubaugh of the Friends of Kirwin Lake to discuss happenings at the Refuge. Items discussed included the refuge fire program, several law enforcement issues, and the Friends of Kirwin Lake donation of five loads of sand/gravel for road improvement. RM Schaffand PL Specialist Ifland attended the Kansas Water Office monthly meeting in Stockton, KS on November 9th to discuss how the USFWS Private Lands program can assist with the Solomon Valley Basin's advisory committees objectives. 4. Compliance with Environmental & Cultural Resource Mandates Water samples from the Refuge drinking well were taken to Continental Labs in Salina, KS for the required every 6 year test. 5. Research and Investigations Brad Logan, Professor of Anthropology, from the University of Kansas conducted archaeological surveys of the islands in Kirwin Reservoir during the month of July. He and his team of graduate students used our FEMA trailer house for their office/quarters during the month. This will be a continuing study for the next three years. Page 2 E. ADMINISTRATION 1. Personnel Headquart Kirwin National 1. Bill Schaff, Refuge Manager, GS-12, PFT, EOD 2. Erich Gilbert, Refuge Operations Specialist, GS-09, PFT, EOD 08/10/98 3. Diane Stockman, Administrative Support Assistant, GS-07, PFT, EOD 04/21/91 4. Steve Knowles, Maintenance Worker, WG-08, PFT, EOD 10/28/90 5. Shannon Rothchild, Outdoor Recreation Planner, GS-07, PPT, EOD 12/03/98 6. Deon Steinle, Range Technician(FF), GS-04, Temporary, EOD 05/27/97 7. Chris Flores-Schaff, Range Technician(FF), GS-02,1040 Appt, EOD 03/08/98 8. Robin Balaban, Range Technician(FF), GS-02, 1040 Appt., EOD 03/15/99 ORP Shannon Rothchild returned to the real world after successfully completing the 12 week basic school from January 1st thru April 9th at FLETC, Shannon is now a certified law enforcement officer. He was immediately involved working with Melvie Uhland, RO, on the interpretive area for the office and presenting programs for scout and school groups. ASA Stockman attended fire timekeeper's training at Salt Lake City, UT during the week of February 22-25th. ROS Gilbert attended the Kansas GIS Expo held in Topeka, KS on February 9th and GIS training in Bismarck, ND on April 20th thru 22nd.