FY07-09 proposal 199404400

Jump to Reviews and Recommendations

Section 1. Administrative

Proposal titleEnhance, protect and maintain shrub-steppe habitat on the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area (SFWA)
Proposal ID199404400
OrganizationWashington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW)
Short descriptionProtect and enhance habitat to expand and protect pygmy rabbit, sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse and other shrub-steppe obligate species populations as mitigation for habitat loss associated with the construction of Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph Dams.
Information transferAll data, reports, techniques, and methods resulting from monitoring and research will be made available in accordance with WDFW policies regulating the release of sensitive fish and wildlife information.
Proposal contact person or principal investigator
Contacts
ContactOrganizationEmail
Form submitter
Dan Peterson WA Department of Fish and Wildlife peterdjp@dfw.wa.gov
All assigned contacts
Paul Dahmer WDFW dahmepad@dfw.wa.gov
Marc Hallet WA Department of Fish and Wildlife hallemh@dfw.wa.gov
Dan Peterson WA Department of Fish and Wildlife peterdjp@dfw.wa.gov

Section 2. Locations

Province / subbasin: Columbia Cascade / Columbia Upper Middle

LatitudeLongitudeWaterbodyDescription
47 43.088 119 32.600 Point within the Chester Butte Unit of SFWA. Approximately 5 miles southeast of Mansfield, Washington
47 40.632 119 34.272 Point within the Dormaier Unit of SFWA. Approximately 8 miles southeast of Mansfield, Washington.
47 28.357 119 40.805 Point within the Sagebrush Flat Unit of SFWA. Approximately 15 miles northwest of Ephrata, Washington.
47 58.719 119 40.410 Point within the Bridgeport Unit (north) of SFWA. Approximately 2 miles south of Bridgeport, Washington
[none] Point within the Chester Butte Unit of SFWA. Approximately 5 miles southeast of Mansfield, Washington
[none] Point within the Dormaier Unit of SFWA. Approximately 8 miles southeast of Mansfield, Washington.
[none] Point within the Sagebrush Flat Unit of SFWA. Approximately 15 miles northwest of Ephrata, Washington.
[none] Point within the Bridgeport Unit (north) of SFWA. Approximately 2 miles south of Bridgeport, Washington
West Foster Creek Point within the Bridgeport Unit (north) of SFWA. Approximately 2 miles south of Bridgeport, Washington
47 56.552 119 39.670 West Foster Creek Point within the Bridgeport Unit (north) of SFWA. Approximately 2 miles south of Bridgeport, Washington

Section 3. Focal species

primary: All Wildlife
secondary: All Wildlife
Additional: Pygmy rabbit, greater sage-grouse, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, Washington ground squirrel

Section 4. Past accomplishments

YearAccomplishments
2005 Began restoration of 100ac field. Interseeded 20ac in field planted last fall. Continued weed control on all units, released more bioagents. Built deer exclosures around riparian sites. Translocated 20 sharp-tailed grouse from Idaho to the Bridgeport Unit
2004 Planted 45ac to native/shrubs/forbs. Irrigated shrub plot & 8ac grass site. Continued weed control on all unit, released 3,500 toadflax bioagents. Built rock weirs in West Foster Creek. Prepared grant proposal and presentation to secure money for habitat
2003 Planted 68ac with native plants, began rehab of 45ac field. Weed control included 10 miles of roads & 60ac of shrubsteppe & release of toadflax bioagent. Planted trees and shrubs, installed irrigation system for tree/shrub plot, built deer fence.
2002 Began restoration of 60 acre field. Built 8 mi. of fence. Weed control on all units included 10 miles of roads, 30 acres of shrubsteppe and release of toadflax biogent. Planted trees and shrubs. Acquired 1,100ac with state funds.
2001 Treated weeds along roadsides, 10 miles, and in 50 acres of old fields and shrubsteppe. WDFW spent much time working on pygmy rabbit /grazing issues. USFWS declared the WA pygmy rabbit endangered (emergency ruling). WDFW ended grazing on the SFWA.
2000 Constructed 15 miles of firebreaks in the Sagebrush Flat Unit to protect pygmy rabbit habitat. Acquired 360 ac of habitat with state funds to protect sharp-tailed grouse nesting and wintering habitat. Treated weeds along 7.5 mile of roads and 25 ac.
1999 Controlled weeds along 3.5 miles of roads and 18 ac. Removed an 8 ac apple orchard from the Bridgeport Unit.Completed baseline HEP surveys on the Chester Butte and Bridgeport Units.Estimated number of active burrows to be 92.Monitored grazing use.
1998 Acquired 4,180 ac to protect shrubsteppe habitat with BPA funds. Seeded 401 ac of agricultural land to native-like cover to increase and protect pygmy rabbit and sage grouse habitat. Controlled weeds along 3.5 miles of road. Monitored grazing lease.
1997 Acquired 3,500 ac of Department of Natural Resources land with WDFW funds in the "core" pygmy rabbit area in the state. Conducted pygmy rabbit burrow surveys on Sagebrush Flat. Estimated number of active burrows to be 184. Monitored grazing use.
1996 Conducted baseline HEP surveys on Dormaier Unit, DFW land and 3,500 ac of adjacent DNR property. Conducted pygmy rabbit burrow surveys. Estimated number of active burrows at Sagebrush Flat to be 182.
1995 Purchased 360 ac of shrubsteppe habitat occupied by pygmy rabbits (Dormaier Unit). Conducted pygmy rabbit burrow surveys. Estimated number of active burrows at Sagebrush Flat to be 229. Counted 10 active burrows on the Dormaier Unit.
1994 Seeded 40 ha (100 ac) of old cropland to native-like perennial grasses and shrubs and constructed low berms to increase suitable burrowing habitat for pygmy rabbits as well as nesting habitat for sage grouse.
1993 Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission classifies the pygmy rabbit as an endangered species in the state of Washington.
1992 [Accomplishment field left blank]
1991 WDFW acquires 97 ha (240 ac) of shrubsteppe habitat and cropland.
1990 Douglas County Pygmy Rabbit project approved by BPA

Section 5. Relationships to other projects

Funding sourceRelated IDRelated titleRelationship
BPA 199106100 Swanson Lake Wildlife Area Mitigation Project Complements the shrubsteppe protection and restoration efforts of this project as well as WDFW sharp-tailed and sage grouse population protection and enhancement efforts.
BPA 199609401 Scotch Creek Wildlife Area Mitigation Project Complements the shrubsteppe protection and restoration efforts of this project as well as WDFW sharp-tailed grouse population protection and enhancement efforts.
BPA 200600400 Wenas Wildlife Area O&M Complements the shrubsteppe protection and restoration efforts of this project as well as WDFW sage grouse population protection and enhancement efforts.
BPA 200103000 Sharp Tailed Grouse Habitat This project is administered by the Colville Confederated Tribes. The project complements WDFW projects on the Swanson Lake WA, Scotch Creek WA and Sagebrush Flat WA to protect and enhance sharp-tailed grouse populations in North Central Washington. These projects have worked cooperatively to enhance and protect habitat. Additionally, they have initiated population augmentation efforts by translocating sharp-tailed grouse from source populations in Idaho and British Columbia to their respective project locations.
Other: Douglas County PUD No. 1 [no entry] Wells Wildlife Mitigation Project Complements the shrubsteppe protection and restoration efforts of this project as well as WDFW sharp-tailed and sage grouse population protection and enhancement efforts.
Other: Federal [no entry] WDFW Shrubsteppe Restoration Research This research project evaluates the ability of restored agricultural fields to support native wildlife. The results of this research will help guide restoration and enhancement efforts on the Sagebrush Flat W.A. Several research plots are located on the W.A. The research is conducted by WDFW biologists and scientists.
Other: Federal [no entry] BLM - Shrubsteppe restoration and management/Wildlife monitoring and evalution BLM acquires, restores and manages shrubsteppe habitat within the Upper Middle Mainstem (UMM) for shrubsteppe wildlife species. BLM owns lands are adjacent to the SFWA. BLM's work complements the shrubsteppe protection and restoration efforts of this project as well as WDFW sharp-tailed and sage grouse population protection and enhancement efforts.
Other: The Nature Conservancy [no entry] Moses Coulee/Beezley Hills Shrubsteppe Preserve The Nature Conservancy has acquired more than 25,000 acres of shrubsteppe habitat within the UMM. Their goal is to protect and restore large blocks of this habitat. Their work complements the shrubsteppe protection and restoration efforts of this project as well as our pygmy rabbit and sage grouse population protection and enhancement efforts.
Other: County, State and Federal [no entry] Foster Creek Conservation District Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) The HCP will offer potential coverage to privately owned or operated agricultural lands in Douglas County. The Plan will include management recommendations for specific wildlife species and habitats including those identified as focal indicators within the UMM. Complements the shrubsteppe protection and restoration efforts of this project as well as WDFW sharp-tailed and sage grouse population protection and enhancement efforts.
BPA 199800300 Spokane Tribe of Indians (STOI) Wildlife Mitigation Potential sharp-tailed habitat/restoration. The STOI plans to restore a population of sharp-tailed grouse to its lands. Supports this project and WDFW goals and objectives.
BPA 200201400 Sunnyside Wildlife Mitigation Shrubsteppe habitat restoration providing habitat for sage grouse. Supports this project and WDFW goals and objectives.
BPA 200310100 Colville Confederated Tribe Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Complements the shrubsteppe protection and restoration efforts of this project as well as WDFW sharp-tailed and sage grouse population protection and enhancement efforts.
Other: Federal, Provincial [no entry] Okanogan-Similkameen Conservation Corridor Program This project advances the protection and restoration of shrubsteppe habitat and sharp-tailed grouse within the Okanogan River valley. It will provide a critical habitat and population link between the SFWA, Scotch Creek WA and British Columbia.
Other: Federal [no entry] Sharp-tailed grouse translocation This project funds the capture and transportation of sharp-tailed grouse from Idaho, British Columbia and or Utah to Washington. Birds are released on the Swanson Lake W.A. the Sagebrush Flat W.A. and lands owned by the Colville Confederated Tribes. This project is essential to maintaining and expanding the population of sharp-tailed grouse in North-Central Washington.
Other: Federal: US Army Corps of Engineers [no entry] Chief Joseph Dam Wildlife Mitigation Project Complements the shrubsteppe protection as well as the riparian enhancement and protection efforts of this project. The Corps project is located in the vicinity of the SFWA.
Other: Federal and State [no entry] Sage Grouse Translocation Project This project funds the capture and transportation of sage grouse from Oregon and or Nevada to Central and North Central Washington. In the last two years birds have been released on the US Army's Yakima Training Center located in Kittitas County. Radio marked birds have been observed on nearby WDFW Wildlife Areas within Kittitas County. Additional translocation efforts are planned to take place in Douglas County by 2008. Units of the SFWA have been identified as release sites. This project is essential to maintaining and expanding the population of sage grouse in Washington.
BPA 200600500 Asotin Creek Wildlife Area O&M Complements the shrubsteppe protection and restoration efforts of this project. Potential for sharp-tailed grouse population protection and enhancement efforts.
[Funding Source left blank] [no entry] [Relationship field left blank]
Other: Federal [no entry] NRCS - Conservation Reserve Program This Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) program resulted in the restoration of thousands of acres of farm ground to shrubsteppe habitat in the vicinity of the SFWA.

Section 6. Biological objectives

Biological objectivesFull descriptionAssociated subbasin planStrategy
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population. Enhance and protect existing habitat necessary for grouse life requirements. Establish seasonal closures to entry on critical areas of the SFWA. Continue translocation efforts begun in 2005. Secure birds from Idaho, Utah and or British Columbia. Upper Middle Columbia Shrubsteppe/Biological Objective 2: Implement existing management plans including but not limited to SFWA Management Plan, Sage Grouse Management Plan, WDFW Priority Habitat and Species recommendations.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population. Enhance and protect existing habitat necessary for sage grouse life requirements. Establish seasonal closures to entry on critical areas of the SFWA. Initiate translocation efforts of sage grouse to Douglas county and the SFWA. Upper Middle Columbia Shrubsteppe/Biological Objective 2: Implement existing management plans including but not limited to SFWA Management Plan, Sage Grouse Management Plan, WDFW Priority Habitat and Species recommendations.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat Riparian protection includes, but is not limited to: acquisition; reducing or eliminating weed encroachment and disturbance factors; maintenance of boundary fences to prevent trespass cattle; construction of deer exclusion fence. Enhancement measures include, but are not limited to: weed control; planting native grasses, forbs, and riparian adapted shrubs and trees; construction of irrigation systems. Upper Middle Columbia Riparian Wetlands/ Habitat Objective 2: Protect and conserve riparian habitat through government programs, acquisitions, easements and agreements. Emphasize connectivity of large blocks of existing habitat. Habitat Objective 3: Implement existing plans.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat Riparian protection includes, but is not limited to: acquisition; reducing or eliminating weed encroachment and disturbance factors; maintenance of boundary fences to prevent trespass cattle; construction of deer exclusion fence. Enhancement measures include, but are not limited to: weed control; planting native grasses, forbs, and riparian adapted shrubs and trees; construction of irrigation systems. Upper Middle Columbia Riparian Wetlands/ Biological Objective 2: Implement existing management plans. Manage habitat to reach recommended future conditions.
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat Habitat protection includes, but is not limited to; acquisition, reducing or eliminating weed encroachment and disturbance factors, construction and maintenance of firebreaks, maintenance of boundary fences to prevent trespass cattle. Enhancement measures include, but are not limited to: weed control; planting native grasses, forbs and shrubs. Upper Middle Columbia Manage habitat to reach recommended future conditions.
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat Habitat protection includes, but is not limited to; acquisition, reducing or eliminating weed encroachment and disturbance factors, construction and maintenance of firebreaks, maintenance of boundary fences to prevent trespass cattle. Enhancement measures include, but are not limited to: weed control; planting native grasses, forbs and shrubs. Upper Middle Columbia Shrubsteppe/Habitat Objective 2: Protect and conserve shrubsteppe through government programs, acquisitions, easements and agreements. Emphasize connectivity of large blocks of existing habitat. Habitat Objective 3: Implement existing plans.
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA Release pygmy rabbits that have been bred and raised in captivity. The Sagebrush Flat unit has the greatest amount of suitable habitat for this effort. Upper Middle Columbia Shrubsteppe/Biological Objective 3: Implement existing management plans including but not limited to SFWA Management Plan, Pygmy Rabbit Management Plan, WDFW Priority Habitat and Species recommendations.

Section 7. Work elements (coming back to this)

Work element nameWork element titleDescriptionStart dateEnd dateEst budget
Plant Vegetation Smith field restoration Plant native grass/forb/shrub mix on up to 50 acres old cropland on the Smith portion of Bridgeport Unit. 10/1/2006 12/31/2008 $12,800
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Metrics
* # of acres of planted: 40 acres planted to native grass/forb/shrub mix
Plant Vegetation Dormaier Unit field restoration Restore approximately 125 acres of abandoned agricultural fields to shrubsteppe habitat. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $44,600
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
* # of acres of planted: Plant 125 ac of shrubsteppe in abandoned fields
Plant Vegetation Sagebrush Flat Unit - restore 100 ac field to native grasses, forbs and shrubs Restore 100 acre field using a mixture of native grasses, forbs and shrubs. This will expand and enhance the available habitat for pygmy rabbits, sage grouse, Washington ground squirrels and other shrubsteppe obligate wildlife. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $36,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
* # of acres of planted: Approximately 100 acres planted
Plant Vegetation Chester Butte fields Begin restoration of 250 acres currently in crested wheat grass to expand suitable habitat for sage grouse, pygmy rabbits and other shrubsteppe obligate species. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $96,600
Biological objectives
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
Plant Vegetation Enhance riparian habitat - Bridgeport Unit Plant trees and shrubs on the Bridgeport Unit to enhance and expand riparian habitat. Remove Russian olive trees. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $32,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Metrics
* # of riparian miles treated: Plant approximately 1.75 miles
Maintain Vegetation Weed control on all units of SFWA Annually treat up to 150 acres infested with annual and perennial noxious weeds. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $59,184
Biological objectives
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Metrics
Maintain Vegetation Maintain grouse habitat Maintain restored fields. Maintenance will include mowing, re-seeding, irrigation and herbicide applications as needed. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $20,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Metrics
Maintain Vegetation Maintain grouse habitat - Bridgeport Unit Maintain and protect shrubs and tree planted since 2000 and existing native riparian habitat with weed control, fencing and replacement of shrubs and trees lost to mortality. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $20,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Metrics
Maintain Vegetation Maintain habitat at Sagebrush Flat Unit Maintain firebreaks at Sagebrush Flat to protect the unit from fire. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $34,100
Biological objectives
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
Remove Debris Remove fence and other debris Remove old dilapidated interior fences from all units, old corrals from the Chester Butte and Sagebrush Flat units and misc. debris form the SFWA. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $32,000
Biological objectives
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Metrics
Provide Public Access/Information Maintain roads, culverts, parking areas and related informational signs. Maintain roads, parking areas, buildings and other physical improvements. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $50,400
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
Operate and Maintain Habitat/Passage Maintain fence Maintain and repair boundary fences and gates on all wildlife area units. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $32,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Monitor sage and sharp-tailed grouse leks Conduct sage and sharp-tailed grouse surveys including lek counts. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $12,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Search for new or satellite leks on or adjacent to wildlife area Search for prairie grouse and for new lek sites and/or satellite leks. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $12,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Metrics
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Search for pygmy rabbits and identify suitable areas for release of captive reared pygmy rabbits Conduct pygmy rabbit surveys and searches for pygmy rabbits on the Sagebrush, Dormaier and Chester Butte units. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $10,000
Biological objectives
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Assessed sites suitable for pygmy rabbit release
Collect/Generate/Validate Field and Lab Data Monitor public use of area Survey recreational use of wildlife area 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $10,000
Biological objectives
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Metrics
Other Translocate sharp-tailed grouse to the Bridgeport Unit Travel to Idaho, Utah and or British Columbia and trap and release sharp-tailed grouse for translocation to the Bridgeport Unit. Assist in radio telemetry. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $20,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Metrics
Other Translocate sage grouse to the SFWA Trap and translocate to SFWA sage grouse from Oregon, Utah, Nevada or other sources. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $12,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Metrics
Other Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA Assist with the release and monitoring of captive bred pygmy rabbits on the SFWA 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $8,000
Biological objectives
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects General project administration Project administration including producing reports, monitoring budgets, writing and implementing plans, supervising personnel etc. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $80,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
Manage and Administer Projects Produce PISCES status report Produce quarterly PISCES reports 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $5,200
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
Outreach and Education Attend CAG and public meetings as needed Prepare for and conduct meetings of Widlife Areas Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) and public meetings as needed. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $12,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
Produce Plan Produce annual project report Produce annual project report 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $5,200
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
Plant Vegetation Equipment purchases Purchase heavy duty one ton truck to haul equipment and crew to habitat improvement sites. Secondarily, diesel fueled to allow off road travel and weed spraying, etc. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $40,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
Plant Vegetation Equipment purchases Purchase/replace field equipment as needed (Disc harrow, seeding drill, cultivators, tine harrow, roller packer etc) 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $120,000
Biological objectives
Expand and protect sharp-tailed grouse population.
Expand and protect the sage grouse population.
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Reestablish pygmy rabbits onto the SFWA
Metrics
Analyze/Interpret Data Assess wildlife and habitat conditions Continue to assess wildlife and vegetation trends and management results by conducting HEP and other surveys. 10/1/2006 9/30/2009 $32,000
Biological objectives
Protect and enhance riparian habitat
Protect and enhance shrubsteppe habitat
Metrics
Primary R, M, and E Type: Monitored and evaluated habitat and wildlife

Section 8. Budgets

Itemized estimated budget
ItemNoteFY07FY08FY09
Personnel 2.8 FTE: Manager .16 FTE; Assistant Manager .91 FTE; Natural Resource Technician 2 1 FTE; Laborer .75 FTE. 3.5 annual inflation factor used. $104,200 $107,847 $111,622
Fringe Benefits Annual 3.5% inflation factor used. $26,050 $26,962 $27,905
Supplies Vehicles, office and field supplies/equipment, rent, utilities, fire control contracts and leases. Annual 3.5% inflation factor used. $39,749 $41,140 $42,580
Travel Inflation factor 3.5%/year used. $2,000 $2,070 $2,142
Capital Equipment Replace 3/4-ton pickup truck. $40,000 $0 $0
Capital Equipment Purchase habitat restoration equipment $120,000 $0 $0
Overhead Current rate of 28.79% applied. Not applied to capital equipment. $50,480 $47,958 $55,379
Totals $382,479 $225,977 $239,628
Total estimated FY 2007-2009 budgets
Total itemized budget: $848,084
Total work element budget: $848,084
Cost sharing
Funding source/orgItem or service providedFY 07 est value ($)FY 08 est value ($)FY 09 est value ($)Cash or in-kind?Status
Totals $0 $0 $0

Section 9. Project future

FY 2010 estimated budget: $250,000
FY 2011 estimated budget: $250,000
Comments: [Outyear comment field left blank]

Future O&M costs: Continuing investments are essential in protecting, maintaining and enhancing wildlife habitat on the project site, protecting the associated habitat units and ensuring the continuing success of this mitigation project.

Termination date: Unknown
Comments: The SFWA was established as a long term wildlife mitigation project.

Final deliverables: Protected and enhanced wildlife habitat. Additional habitat units and as a result, an increase in wildlife population.

Section 10. Narrative and other documents


Reviews and recommendations

FY07 budget FY08 budget FY09 budget Total budget Type Category Recommendation
NPCC FINAL FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Oct 23, 2006) [full Council recs]
$100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $300,000 Expense ProvinceExpense Fund
NPCC DRAFT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS (Sep 15, 2006) [full Council recs]
$100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $0 ProvinceExpense

ISRP PRELIMINARY REVIEW (Jun 2, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable

NPCC comments: This is continuing project is tied to protection and restoration of pygmy rabbits, sage grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse. These activities are related to a number of regional programs. However, the priority of this project does not appear urgent. The proposal includes a good description of project history and tasks accomplished. Some small descriptions of biological benefits achieved are described, but authors should better develop this description, particularly given the amount of time and work that has transpired over the project history. Data have been collected from all four units of the SFWA. In many instances, these dataset represent more than a decade of work. A consistent ISRP recommendation for a number of years has been the need to relate HEP survey data to actual on-the-ground wildlife responses. It is a disappointment and a serious concern that those results are not yet available for this project. They should receive much higher priority. Given the large, ongoing investment in this project, the ISRP believes it is important to know whether wildlife (particularly ESA-listed species) are responding to the habitat work. The project sponsors seem on track to providing this evaluation, and this type of reporting should be included in annual reports and subsequent proposals. Technical and scientific background: The rationale for this project is tied to protection and restoration of pygmy rabbits, sage grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse. Similar to previous ISRP reviews of this long-standing project, the proposal provides much detail for monitoring and evaluation indicating awareness of issues missing from many proposals. Additionally, the ISRP recommends that terrestrial sampling on Fish and Wildlife Program lands follow common sampling methods and some common data collection protocols across the four States involved to enhance monitoring and evaluation of terrestrial systems on subbasin and basin scales. Perhaps the recent PNAMP and CSMEP efforts and the National Resources Inventory sampling procedures and data collection protocols could serve the region. The proposal included extensive description of budget items, with individual items seemingly having appropriate costs, but the overall project cost still seems high compared to other projects. Rationale and significance to subbasin plans and regional programs: The proposed work fits in well with wildlife objectives of the subbasins plan, the Fish and Wildlife Program, and ESA mandated concerns on pygmy rabbits, sharp-tail and sage grouse. Relationships to other projects are well described in the proposal. Project history: The proposal includes a good description of project history and tasks accomplished. Some small descriptions are provide of biological benefits achieved - more emphasis needs to be placed here, particularly given the amount of time and work that has transpired over the project history. For example, the following is from page 15 of the proposal under Monitoring: "Baseline HEP work has been conducted on all 4 units of the SFWA, including the Sagebrush Flat, Dormaier, Chester Butte, and Bridgeport units. Although the HEP results have been examined in relation to standard Habitat Suitability Indices for focal species, the habitat data has as yet not been linked directly to the results of wildlife surveys. These surveys include, but are not limited to, aerial surveys of mule deer populations, surveys of greater sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse display sites (leks), pellet surveys of deer, grouse, and jackrabbits, breeding surveys of songbirds, searches for songbird nests, winter surveys of birds, trapping surveys of small mammals, and standardized searches for reptiles and amphibians (Schroeder and Almack 2006). Some of these data sets have been collected every year since at least 1994 and some have been stratified by management history and focal habitat."


ISRP FINAL REVIEW (Aug 31, 2006)

Recommendation: Fundable

NPCC comments: This is continuing project is tied to protection and restoration of pygmy rabbits, sage grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse. These activities are related to a number of regional programs. However, the priority of this project does not appear urgent. The proposal includes a good description of project history and tasks accomplished. Some small descriptions of biological benefits achieved are described, but authors should better develop this description, particularly given the amount of time and work that has transpired over the project history. Data have been collected from all four units of the SFWA. In many instances, these dataset represent more than a decade of work. A consistent ISRP recommendation for a number of years has been the need to relate HEP survey data to actual on-the-ground wildlife responses. It is a disappointment and a serious concern that those results are not yet available for this project. They should receive much higher priority. Given the large, ongoing investment in this project, the ISRP believes it is important to know whether wildlife (particularly ESA-listed species) are responding to the habitat work. The project sponsors seem on track to providing this evaluation, and this type of reporting should be included in annual reports and subsequent proposals. Technical and scientific background: The rationale for this project is tied to protection and restoration of pygmy rabbits, sage grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse. Similar to previous ISRP reviews of this long-standing project, the proposal provides much detail for monitoring and evaluation indicating awareness of issues missing from many proposals. Additionally, the ISRP recommends that terrestrial sampling on Fish and Wildlife Program lands follow common sampling methods and some common data collection protocols across the four States involved to enhance monitoring and evaluation of terrestrial systems on subbasin and basin scales. Perhaps the recent PNAMP and CSMEP efforts and the National Resources Inventory sampling procedures and data collection protocols could serve the region. The proposal included extensive description of budget items, with individual items seemingly having appropriate costs, but the overall project cost still seems high compared to other projects. Rationale and significance to subbasin plans and regional programs: The proposed work fits in well with wildlife objectives of the subbasins plan, the Fish and Wildlife Program, and ESA mandated concerns on pygmy rabbits, sharp-tail and sage grouse. Relationships to other projects are well described in the proposal. Project history: The proposal includes a good description of project history and tasks accomplished. Some small descriptions are provide of biological benefits achieved - more emphasis needs to be placed here, particularly given the amount of time and work that has transpired over the project history. For example, the following is from page 15 of the proposal under Monitoring: "Baseline HEP work has been conducted on all 4 units of the SFWA, including the Sagebrush Flat, Dormaier, Chester Butte, and Bridgeport units. Although the HEP results have been examined in relation to standard Habitat Suitability Indices for focal species, the habitat data has as yet not been linked directly to the results of wildlife surveys. These surveys include, but are not limited to, aerial surveys of mule deer populations, surveys of greater sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse display sites (leks), pellet surveys of deer, grouse, and jackrabbits, breeding surveys of songbirds, searches for songbird nests, winter surveys of birds, trapping surveys of small mammals, and standardized searches for reptiles and amphibians (Schroeder and Almack 2006). Some of these data sets have been collected every year since at least 1994 and some have been stratified by management history and focal habitat."