United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Management Indicator Species Southern Region Population and Habitat Trends Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests Revised and Updated May 2003 i CONTENTS Page Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1 Documentation of Management Indicator Species Selection ......................................... 1 Management Indicator Species Habitat Relationships............................................. 8 Forestwide Management Indicator Species Habitat Monitoring and Evaluation ............. 10 Forestwide Management Indicator Species Population Trend Monitoring and Evaluation ....................................................................................................................... 13 White-tailed Deer.......................................................................................................... 15 Black Bear..................................................................................................................... 19 Eastern Wild Turkey..................................................................................................... 23 Ruffed Grouse............................................................................................................... 27 Bobwhite Quail ............................................................................................................. 31 Gray Squirrel................................................................................................................. 34 Bog Turtle ..................................................................................................................... 37 Yellow Lady’s Slipper .................................................................................................. 40 Mountain Pitcher Plant ................................................................................................. 41 Dusky Salamander ........................................................................................................ 43 Acadian Flycatcher ....................................................................................................... 45 Fish................................................................................................................................ 47 Rainbow Trout........................................................................................................ 53 Brown Trout ........................................................................................................... 54 Brook Trout............................................................................................................ 56 Redeye Bass ........................................................................................................... 62 Yellowfin Shiner and Turquoise Darter................................................................. 65 Coosa Darter........................................................................................................... 68 Indigo Bunting .............................................................................................................. 69 Pileated Woodpecker .................................................................................................... 71 Red-cockaded Woodpecker .......................................................................................... 74 Summary/Conclusion........................................................................................................ 77 References......................................................................................................................... 78 TABLES Table 1 - Management Indicator Species Groupings.......................................................... 8 Table 2 - Management Indicator Species by Successional Stages ..................................... 9 Table 3 - Percentage of Forested Acres by Forest Wildlife Habitat Communities on Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.................................................................. 10 Table 4 - Management Indicator Species Monitoring Plan .............................................. 14 Table 5 - Estimated Deer Densities per Square Mile for Mountain Wildlife Management Areas, Chattahoochee National Forest...................................................................... 18 Table 6 - Estimated Deer Densities for Piedmont and Ridge and Valley Wildlife Management Areas ................................................................................................... 18 Table 7 - Trends for Deer Populations, Chattahoochee National Forest, 1970 & 1995 ..................................................................................................................... 19 Table 8 - 1999 North Georgia Bear Harvest Summary .................................................... 22 Table 9 - Trends for Bear Population Densities, Chattahoochee National Forest, 1970 & ii 1995........................................................................................................................... 22 Table 10 - Summary of Turkey Hunt Data, 1985–2001 ................................................... 25 Table 11 - Wild Turkey Production Index (Number of Poults/Observer), 1985–2000... 26 Table 12 - Trends in Wild Turkey Densities, Chattahoochee National Forest, 1970 & 1995........................................................................................................................... 26 Table 13 - Ruffed Grouse Observational Surveys, 1989–99 ............................................ 29 Table 14 - Trends in Ruffed Grouse Densities, Chattahoochee National Forest, 1970 & 1995........................................................................................................................... 30 Table 15 - Bobwhite Quail Heard, Chattahoochee National Forest, 1989–90 ................. 32 Table 16 - Bobwhite Quail Heard, Oconee National Forest, 1989–90............................. 32 Table 17 - Trends in Bobwhite Quail Densities, Chattahoochee National Forest, 1970 & 1995........................................................................................................................... 34 Table 18 - Hunting Pressure and Harvest Levels for Squirrels in Georgia by Licensed, Resident Hunters, 1984–99....................................................................................... 36 Table 19 - Trends for Gray Squirrel, Chattahoochee National Forest, 1970 & 1995.......................................................................................................................... 37 Table 20– Summary of Bog Turtle Captures at ......................................................... 38 Table 21 - Population Trends for Mountain Pitcher Plants, 1980–99 ............................. 42 Table 22 - Number of Known Populations of Dusky Salamander On or Near National Forest Lands.............................................................................................................. 44 Table 23- Average Density of Young-of-Year and Adult Trout, Georgia Rainbow Trout Streams, 1991-2002 .................................................................................................. 49 Table 24 - Average Density of Young-of-Year and Adult Trout, Georgia Brown Trout Streams, 1991-2002 .................................................................................................. 50 Table 25 - Average Density of Young-of-Year and Adult Trout, Georgia Brook Trout Streams, 1991-2002 .................................................................................................. 51 Table 26 - Average Density of Young-of-Year and Adult Trout, Georgia Sympatric Trout Streams, 1991-2002 .................................................................................................. 52 Table 27 – Density (#/Hectare)of Brown Trout Collected from Chattooga River, 1986– 98............................................................................................................................... 55 Table 28 - Brook Trout Streams on Chattahoochee National Forest ................... 58 Table 29 – Number of Trout Collected and Biological Assessment Scores for Headwater Streams of the Hiwassee River Watershed, Chattahoochee National Forest, 1995. 61 Table 30 - Number of Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, and Redeye Bass Collected on Jacks and Conasauga Rivers*, 1995 - 2001.............................................................. 63 Table 31 – Number of Redeye Bass, Brown Trout, and Rainbow Trout Collected on Mountaintown Creek, 1988–98 ................................................................................ 63 Table 32 – Number of Redeye Bass Collected in Oostanaula Drainage, 1969–92 ......... 64 Table 33 – Number of Turquoise Darters and Yellowfin Shiners Collected on West Fork Chattooga*, 1989–92 ................................................................................................ 66 Table 34 – Number of Yellowfin Shiner Collected in Stekoa Creek, 1994 .................... 66 Table 35 – Number Yellowfin Shiner and Turquoise Darter Collected in the Chattooga Drainage, 1986–88.................................................................................................... 67 Table 36 – Number of Yellowfin Shiner and Turquoise Darter Collected in Middle Broad Stream, 1986–88 ............................................................................................ 67 Table 37– Number of Yellowfin Shiner and Turquoise Darter