1 MONTANA STATE LIBRARY S 333.95 E29klac. 2 Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study 3 0864 00047776 3 15" KOOTENAI FALLS WILDLIFE MONITORING STUDY Fourth Annual Report for the period September 1, 1982 - September 1, 1983 STATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION JUL 151985 MONTANA ZJ^Tr. li'iTiM^'i 1515 E. '.t'n AVe HELENA, MONTANA 5V620 MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION ENERGY DIVISION 32 So. Ewing Helena, MT 59620 December 1983 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study was funded by Northern Lights, Inc. of Sandpoint, Idaho. Inventory data were gathered by Pat Nichols and Larry Thompson of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation [DNRC], and Stacy Kiser, under contract to DNRC. Larry Thompson, Biological Sciences Coordinator in the Facility Siting Bureeu, DNRC, prepared this report. Graphics were prepared by June Virag. William Phippen, DNRC, edited the report. The text was processed by Joanne Brown. u ■ . 0 \ n TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES iv LIST OF TABLES v LIST OF APPENDICES vi INTRODUCTION 1 METHODS 2 Species List Update 3 Project Area Wildlife Census 4 Bald Eagle Survey 4 Harlequin Duck Special Studies 5 Bighorn Sheep Studies 5 Amphibian and Reptile Search 6 WEATHER 6 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 7 Species List Update 7 Project Area Wildlife Census 19 Bald Eagle Survey 27 Harlequin Duck S^jecial Studies 28 Bighorn Sheep Studies 29 Amphibian and Reptile Search 33 ERRATUM 34 LITERATURE CITED 35 APPENDICES 36 m LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Seasonal variation in tota L numbers of species encountered during project area censuses.... 22 Figure 2. Seasonal variation in average numbers of species encountered during area censuses 23 Figure 3. Seasonal variation in average numbers of dippers encountered during project area wildlife censuses 24 Figure 4. Seasonal variation in average number of Canada goose, mallard, common goldeneye, and common merganser encountered during project area wildlife censuses 25 Figure 5. Seasonal variation in duck use of the project area 26 Figure 6. Observations of bighorn sheep during roadside surveys, September 1 982-Saptember 1 983 30 Figure 7. Seasonal variation in average number of bighorn sheep observed during roadside surveys 32 TV LIST OF TABLES Table 1. ScheduLe of September 1 982-September 1983 field work, Kootenai FaLLs wildlife monitoring study 3 Table 2. Summary of weather parameters at Libby, September 1982-July 1983 7 Table 3. Summary of data collected on amphibian, reptile, and bird species observed on the Kootenai Falls study area, Janua ry 1 978-Augu8t 1 983 8 Table 4. Summary of data collected on mammals observed on the Kootenei Fells study area, January 1978-August 1983 16 Table 5. Results of project area wildlife censuses, September 1982-August 1983 19 Table 6. Bald eagle observations made during the monitoring study in the Kootenai Falls area, September 1 982-September 1983 27 Table 7. Harlequin duck observations in the Kootenai Falls area, September 1 982-August 1 983 28 Table 8. Results of bighorn sheep roadside surveys, Kootenai Falls study area, 1983 33 LIST OF APPENDICES A. Habitat Categories 36 B. Codes Used for Recording Wildlife Observations 37 vi INTRODUCTION Northern Lights, Inc. (NLI], a rural eLectric cooperative based in Sandpoint, Idaho, submitted an application to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (ONRC) in 1980 to bui Id a hydroelectric dam and generating plant, known 88 the Kootenai River Hydroelectric Project, in the Kootenai Falls area of Lincoln County, Montana. In 1978, NLI contracted with ONRC to conduct a baseline wildlife investigation in the project erea. The results of that study, completed in September 1979, were published later that year (DNRC 1979). To keep the wildlife data base current and to determine the nature of year-to-year variations in wildlife use of the project area, NLI contracted with DNRC in October 1979 to monitor wildlife in the study area (see ONRC 1979 for a study plan]. This study was designed to provide e data base for documenting project-related impacts and for determining the success of mitigation and compensation programs, should the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation issue a certificate for the project at the Kootenai Falls site. The first annual report (DNRC 1981a] documented results from the first year of the Kootenai Fells wildlife monitoring study (September 2, 1979, through September 1, 1980]. The area monitored in that study was the same as the area inventoried during the original baseline study (DNRC 1979, pp. 2-3], although some surveys also were conducted along U.S. Highway 2 between Libby and Troy. The second annual report (DNRC 1981d] highLighted results from the second year of the Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study [September 1, 1980, through August 31, 1981). The area investigated during that monitoring period was basically the same as studied during the first monitoring period. Some modifications in monitoring study design, as suggested in the first annual report [DNRC 1981a), were employed in the second year of monitoring. The third annual report [DNRC 1982) presented the results from the third year of the wildlife monitoring study [September 1, 1981, through August 31, 1982). The study area was the same as in the past two years of monitoring with some modifications in study design, as suggested in the second annual report. This study presents the results of the fourth year of the wildlife monitoring study [September 1, 1982, through September 1, 1983). METHODS Field techniques and analytical methods used in this study were as described in the baseline studies report (DNRC 1979, pp. 109-112) and the first annual report [DNRC 1981a). A brief summary of methods employed for individual study segments follows [see also table 1). Table 1. Schedule of September 1982 - September 1983 field work, Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study. Dates Observer'' Type of Field Work December 30, 1983- January 3, 1983 PN Project census, bald eagle survey, bighorn sheep counts. April 11-14, 1983 May 27-30, 1983 PN, LT SK July 29-August 1, 1983 SK Riparian wildlife census, bighorn sheep count, am- phibian and reptile search Project area census, harlequin duck survey, big- horn sheep count, amphibian and reptile search. Project area census, harlequin duck survey, big- horn sheep counts, amphi- bian and reptile search. 1 PN = Pat Nichols SK = Stacy Kiser LT - Larry Thompson Species List Update The species Lists presented in the baseline report [DNRC 1979) were updated. Project Area Wildlife Census This census was designed to collect data that would allow comparison of wildlife use of the project area between months and between years. The methods used were patterned after the standard winter bird study (Kolb 1965] and breeding bird census techniques (Hall 1964, Van Velzen 1972] used in the original inventory, but were expanded to include all vertebrate species. The area censused included: the entire Kootenai River and its shorelines from 50 m (164 ft] below the proposed dam outlet to the upper end of the proposed reservoir; the lend that would be inundated by the dam at a forebay elevation of 610 m (2,000 ft]; the land that would be affected by railroad relocation; and all remaining lend between U.S. Highway 2 and the Kootenai River (see appendix B) . The entire area was censused for three consecutive days during each of four study periods, following the instructions outlined in the baseline report (DNRC 1979, appendix F] . Bald Eagle Survey The Kootenai River between Libby and Troy was surveyed for bald eagles on December 30, 1982, end January 1, 1983 (1 count each day], following the methods of Meyer (1979]. Observations were made from U.S. Highway 2. Bald eagles seen during project area wildlife censuses and other monitoring field work also were recorded. Harlequin Duck Special Studies In addition to surveys made during project area wildlife censuses, special searches of the Kootenai Falls area for harlequin ducks were conducted in May and July-August. In May, emphasis was placed on determining the total harlequin duck population and the number of pairs present in the project area; in July-August, emphasis was placed on locating broods. Bighorn Sheep Studies During the study period, several different methods were used to gather information on bighorn sheep. These methods are described below. Bighorn sheep were observed from strategic viewpoints along U.S. Highway 2 during each of the four survey field trips (table 1). The cliffs north of the Kootenai River within the project area and within 1 mile (upstream) of the project area were surveyed with a spotting scope. The researchers followed a controlled observation schedule. During eech survey, the north bank of the river was searched for 10 minutes from each of 10 observation points along U.S. Highway 2. Two such surveys were conducted in January, six in April, three in May, and three in July. Observations of bighorn sheep made during these surveys, as well as those made in conjunction with other field work, were recorded on meps and standard data sheets. Observations of deer also were recorded. In April, the Sheppard Meadows (DNRC 1981b) were searched for tracks or other evidence of bighorn sheep use. Amphibian and Reptile Search During April, May, and July-August, at least four hours each month were spent searching likely habitat in the project area for amphibians and reptiles. WEATHER Table 2 summarizes weather data collected at the NOAA Libby recording station (Libby 1 NE Ranger Station) for the period August 1982 through August 1983. The data show that the winter of 1982-83 was much warmer and drier than normal. Average monthly temperatures ranged from 0.7 to 7.6 Fahrenheit degrees [averaging 4.2 degrees) above normal from December through March. Monthly precipitation was near normal throughout this period. Snowfall, which totalled 39 inches, occurred during the period November through April. Although data on average snowfall at this recording station are not available, snowfall during the same period the previous winter, November 1981 through April 1982, totalled 46.9 inches. Snow depths in 1981-82 were relatively low; the greatest depth (15 inches) was recorded in December 1982. During the winter of 1981-82, the maximum snow depth (26.7 inches) occurred in January. Table 2. Summary of weather parameters at Libby, August 1982-JuLy 1983 Maximum Snow Month Temperature'' Precipi tation^ SnowfaLL Depth on Ground [degrees F.] (inches) (inches) (inches) August 1982 65.8(+0.5) 0.9(-0.2) 0 0 September 1982 56.3(-0.5) 1.2(-0.1) 0 0 October 1982 44.4(-1.1) 1.3(-0.6) 0 0 November 1982 31 .6(-1 .6) 2.5(+0.1) 8.3 2 December 1982 26.4(+0.7) 2.8(+0.4) 24.9 15 January 1983 30.3(+7.6) 2.4(-0.2) 4.3 12 February 1983 34.8(+3.8) 1.1 (-0.4) « 6 March 1983 40.7(+4.5) 2.0(+0.8) 0 0 April 1983 45 .6 (+0.6) 1.1 (-0.1) 1.5 0 May 1983 54.6(+0.93 0.5(-1.0) 0 0 June 1983 60.B(-0.1) 1.7(+0.2) 0 0 July 1983 63.7(-3.0) 2.0(+1 .2) 0 0 August 1983 69.2(+3.8) 0.6(-0.5) 0 0 '^ Monthly average (departure from normal) 2 Total (departure from normal) * Data unavai lable RESULTS AND DISCUSSION During this monitoring period, 77 species of vertebrates were observed — 1 amphibian, 1 reptile, 68 birds, and 7 mammals. 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(continued) Footnotes: ' Habitat category abbreviations as in appendix A. 2 See appendix B for Location codes of river stretches (Letters) and upland areas (numbers) . 3 Status: W - Overwinters in area (at Least one record each during January and February) . w - Transient in winter, sm - Spring migrant, fm - Fall migrant. B - Breeds on area (nest or dependent young located) . b - Probably breeds on area (territorial males or pairs Located) . s - Summers on area in small numbers but no evidence of breeding . t - Occurs but no evidence of breeding. Abundance: A - Abundant; found in Large numbers in appropriete habitats. C - Common; found in moderate numbers in appropriate habitats; 15 to 50 registrations. U - Uncommon; small numbers in appropriate habitats; 2 to 15 regi strations. R - Rare; few sightings; 1 or 2 registrations. ^ Indicates status of species in Lati Long No. 1, as reported by Skaar (1980). ^ Months when seen are indicated by Letter abbreviations in sequence, January through December (Note: Very little field work was carried out in September and November.) 15 B JZ cu cu o 09 8 CO in < - oi »j - - CD m cvj tu o 3 00 o C CM O GO C» o a « D •r- < A I O CO ■c r» en a c o e U (0 o a o ^^ >- » ^^ ■n 3 » o t^ "E «»- o o «> a o o o o o fc— ? 6 • L. • c 1. o C. —J cn -- » ^ o -• c — en 10 u O CD o » W Q a. -a f- o Z 1- CJ £ O — u O Q. Q IS w c o — 10 X X y (D m CD (D CO t. o - 3 3 w c cn o o ■o o a: CO C9 *^ ■*- 4J X •*- » o GC cr O JC a c a o (D m C 09 ^TlS u m 4-> DC oc L- 4J c ■*- •• 4-1 4J c O 01 « *» 3 CD OD C o cc o O L. o o — = :: 0) '-I ■Q o s "D O — ' c- oc "O O CD > C3 _. to 0 CO « >• c c a a ^' >^ >. 13 c <■- I. o OC o cc t~ CL 1- o o a Gl o -> *J w* p ^ •- U~ s B Q. 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U3 3 O o c o u I— *j o coo — o o K m C_ Ik- ^ o c o *j -.- I u O 4J o S -O £ J3 O 33 £ > ' +J c- u O •^ O > S 03 -o O .DOC ■D O O CB a <- *J o -< » O ID -<- -— •r- ^ ffl » U O t- o o CD 4-> ^ cc ID 3 ID GC O i3 4-* * o cn O CO -.- - v> 3 jo Q ll- C O Q. o jQ j: — 4J U U a. 3 o u o o «-• o CO — o z C CD O o -> - o o ■a o. > 3 ■-.DC O -^ O 00 o ■DO-" o -D a C ID TS o -< o 4J _. O ^ ■«- — > O j: !•- X O Q ■- — ™ o <>- cc U 13 o o ■o o a c o o o — ' ■o o o - > u — cc cc — o c Q.--- >. o c «J c o c > *J o -.- O 4J C- 4-> — CO n a jz ■c o C I*, c ^ O ui -£ I ID ** a u- L. O I*- O '^ i3j_. In 3 XI to - o Ji a o o - c u a.u -- o tt — 13 • >> o c tn — ' o o Q — CD c- CD CO Z O o <»- o E «- - — -a — o u c -- cc Q. O O — o 3 U m r 3 a ■a 3 a > u ID C a c c 01 a a □t c C( o o ot o c 5[ ^-» o c 4 it 1 I i o a ■r- -a a. 0 E -' a. a a E E o u > — o K *> o I "O OS CD 3 17 Table 4. [continued) Footnotes: '' Habitat category abbreviations as in appendix A. 2 See appendix B for Locetion codes of river (Letters) and upland (numbers) portions of the study area. 18 Project Area WiLdLife Census Results of the wiLdLife censuses conducted in the project area during the study period are summarized in table 5. Table 5. Results of project area wildlife censuses, September 1982-Augu6t 1983. Average number known present per trip Dec.- July- Species Jan. Apr. May Aug. Unidentified Garter Snake - - 0.3 0.7 BIRDS Great Blue Heron Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Harlequin Duck Common GoLdeneye Common Merganser Unidentified Duck Osprey Bald Eagle Red-tai led Hawk American Kestrel Ruffed Grouse KilLdeer Spotted Sandpiper California Gull Unidentified Gull Mourning Dove BLeck Swift Unidentified Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Hai ry Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pi leated Woodpecker Unidentified Woodpecker Empidonax Flycatcher Eastern Kingbi rd Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swal low Barn Swallow Steller's Jay Common Crow Common Raven Black-capped Chickadee 19 0.3 1.3 1.0 1.3 2.7 4.0 6.3 - - 0.3 0.6 - 13.7 45.7 20.7 5.3 - 1.0 2.3 - 31.0 7.7 0.3 - 5.0 8.0 2.3 9.0 3.3 - 2.0 - - - 0.7 3.0 1.3 - - - - - - 0.7 - - 0.3 1.7 - - - 0.3 - 2.3 1 .7 0.3 - - 11.0 3.3 - 0.3 - 1.0 - - 0.3 0.7 - - 1.3 1.0 - - - 0.7 - - 0.3 1.3 - 0.7 0.7 0.3 - - - 0.3 - 3.7 1.7 2.0 - - 0.3 - - - 0.3 0.3 - - 0.7 0.3 - - - 0.7 — 22.0 * 5.3 _ _ * 3.0 - - 5.3 5.3 0.3 18.3 0.3 - 7.0 30.3 13.0 22.0 0.3 1 .3 1.7 2.7 3.7 6.7 8.3 14.7 Table 5. [continued) AvBraae number known present per trip Sped es Dec- Jul-y- Jan. April May Aug. Mountain Chickadee 1 .0 - Chestnut-backed Chickadee - 1.0 Red-breasted Nuthatch 0.3 4.7 1.3 0.7 Winter Wren 0.7 0.3 Dipper Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 0.3 Townsend's Solitaire - " 0*7 4.7 3.0 1.7 0.7 26.7 13.0 7.7 Swainson's Thrush MAMMALS Unidentified Chipmunk Columbian Ground Squirrel Red Squirrel Unidentified Vole White-tai Led Deer Mule Deer Bighorn Sheep 3.3 1.3 American Robin - 29.7 16.3 3.7 Varied Thrush - 18.0 9.7 0.3 Unidentified Thrush - ~ ~_ °*^ Cedar Waxwing ~ ~ Red-eyed Vi reo Nashvi lie Warbler - ~ ' -^ 2.3 9.7 3.0 2.3 11.7 2.3 0.3 0.7 Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler - - Townsend's Warbler - ~ ~ "'^ American Redstart - ~ 0.3 MacGillivray's Warbler 4.0 0.3 1.7 4.3 0.3 1.7 1.0 1.7 0.7 30.0 25.3 15.7 15.3 2.7 2.7 3.3 2.0 Unidentified Warbler Western Tanager Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Brown-headed Cowbi rd Pine Grosbeak - ~ ^'^ ~ Red Crossbill - 6.3 - Pine Siskin - 31.7 12^ 23^3 Evening Grosbeak ~ 1.0 Unidentified Passerine 7.3 - 37.3 21^3 Unidentified Bird - 0.3 6.7 3.0 3.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 2.0 0.3 14.7 - 0.3 1.7 1.3 0.7 1.3 0.3 - - 1-0 20 Table 5. (continued] Species Total number known present during census period Dec- July- Jan. April Mey Aug. NMrtitDer of Species Water Bi rds 7 11 13 9 Other Bi rds B 18 33 33 AIL Birds 15 29 46 42 Mammals 2 3 4 7 Total Bi rds & Mammals 17 32 50 49 Present in Large numbers but no count made. Seasonal variation in numbers of species encountered during project erea censuses each month is shown in figures 1 and 2. Study data show that the number of water-releted bird species (waterfowl, shorebirds, herons, gulls, ospreys, bald eagles, dippers, belted kingfishers) remains relatively constant year round, with a slight increase during the breeding seeson. The number of species of other birds, although relatively high throughout the year, increases considerably during the breeding season. Census results for the dipper are shown in figure 3, and variations in average monthly abundance of the most common waterfowl species, as determined by the censuses, are portrayed in figure 4. Seesonal variations in duck numbers are shown in figure 5. This figure shows that river sections M and N (see appendix B) are the most heavily used by waterfowl, especially in April. 21 onv J-i nnr m o 1) wnr O AVM M UdV D tnn 6C 83d N»P 3 330 T3 AON 13 0) 130 d3S •u 9n» 3 TflC o Nnr <71 C 0) AVM w «dV •H MVW o (1) SJd uwr c en en -* I iH ON ra r-- C ON o ^ en nj - 0) en CO 0) en 3 • CO t-H c 0) 0) o •H Pi- K> (\J (\J OJ PJ S3i33dS dO uignnN 22 r- 330 - AON - 100 9n» Q) nnr *o O » ;-i Nnr C AVN r. MdV •H Mvm 3 83i T3 Nvr 030 P AON 100 c 3 d3S O snv c (11 nnr CO Nnr o; CD (1) AVW U UdV 0) D MW CO e3i u- Nwr 0 030 AON a; 100 E d3S C onv Q) Nnr 91 u (U AVH > re UdT UVM a3d Nvr 030 AON 100 d3S onv Tnr g Nnr - Avn MdV MVM e3j N»r 030 AON 100 d3S? 9> Bn* - fa C o en cfl 0) C/2 CM CO 00 0-. .— ( I CT^ 3 ra to 01 •H U t^ re S3l03dS JO M38WnN 39*«3A» 23 CO l-i o o' u p C •H IJ -a 4-l o 05 Vj •i c CO c • o en •H 00 J-i C7N CO f— 1 •H 1 Vj C5^ CO r~- > a^ 1— 1 CO ^ C m O 0) tn tn CO 3 0) CO M C OJ CJ • fn cu 14-1 0) •H (J i-H 3 13 bCiH ■g i.N3S3Md NmONX M39«nN 30VM3A* 24 Sim W3AIH U3d iN3S3Hd ION 3f)VH3AV z o o o ' I ' ! 1 I ■ i □ iN3S3Md NMON)* «38MnN 30»a3AV 25 UJ .o i^ S 0) s- u 0) •I — ; O u a. 0) m c o •H CO c o en cfl *si:r:.4r'fc.;;s?s;:sej«5^ 0) CO ,Q o P C •H C o •H 4-1 nj •H > a) > rt D C W o en l U3aNnN 35V83AV 32 Table 8. Results of bighorn sheep roadside surveys, Kootenai Falls study area, 1982-83 Starting St arting No. Obs. Min. No. Sh eep Known Present Date Ob server'' Time Station No. Recorded^ Rams Ewes Other^ Total Dec. 31, 1982 PN 1245 1 4 2 1 1 4 Jan. 1, 1983 PN 1417 1 0 0 0 0 0 Jan. Average 2.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 2.0 April 11 PN 1710 1 29 12 3 10 25 Apri I 12 PN 0712 10 38 10 5 17 32 April 12 PN 1208 10 9 4 5 0 9 April 12 PN 1644 10 38 8 2 13 23 April 13 PN 0600 1 40 18 4 5 27 April 13 PN 1430 1 13 6 0 3 9 Appi I Average 27.8 9.7 3.2 8.0 20.8 May 27 SK 0530 1 35 4 16 15 35 May 28 SK 1354 1 26 1 7 18 26 May 29 SK 1840 1 12 0 6 2 8 Late May Average 24.3 1 .7 9.7 11 .7 23.0 July 29 SK 0800 1 20 2 6 12 20 July 30 SK 1830 1 30 0 8 22 30 July 31 SK 1430 10 1 0 0 1 1 Late July Average 17.0 0.7 4.7 11 .7 17.0 1 PN=Pat Nichols, SK=Stacy Kiser 2 Includes multiple observations of the same individuals ^ Includes Lambs and unclassified sheep Amphibian and Reptile Search During the 1982 monitoring period, one Coeur d'Alene salamander was found on April 11, 1983, and unidentified garter snakes were seen on May 28 and July 30, 1983. 33 ErtRATUM In table 5, p. 20, DNRC 1982, 46.3 should be entered for the March-April census of the Pine Siskin; zero (-) should be entered for the March-April census of the Dark-Eyed Junco. 34 LITERATURE CITED American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Auk, Vol. 99, Special Supplement, pp. 1-16. Brown, G. 1983. Letter to L. Thompson, July 15. DeSimone, R. 1980. Wildlife study of the proposed Libby reregulation dam area with special emphasis on borrow sites. Montana Depertment of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Helena, MT. DNRC. 1979. Kootenai Falls wildlife inventory and impact analysis. Final report. Helena, MT. DNRC. 1981a. Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study. First annual report. Helena, MT. DNRC. 1981b. Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study. Second annual report. Helena, MT. DNRC. 1982. Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study. Third annual report. Helena, MT. Hall, G.A. 1964. Breeding bird censuses — why and how? Audubon Field Notes 18:413-416. Kolb, H. 1965. The Audubon winter bird population study. Audubon Field Notes 19:432-434. Meyer, J.R. 1979. Northwest Montana/North Idaho transmission corridor bald eagle study. Bonneville Power Administration. Portland, OR. Skaar, P.O. 1980. Montana bird distribution. P.O. Skaar, 501 South Third, Bozeman, MT. Van Velzen, W.T. 'a/2. Breeding-bird census instructions. Amer. Birds 26(6) : 929-931 . 35 a — ' C OJ TD IB U - — u 3 3 ji ^ o « :i ^ — ' o O -< O Q JZ o « o OJ 0] — • -- s c -_ . K ? 0) lA OJ 4-1 to O JI in £ t_ 4-) s (_ D a CD 3 01 U) LO ■^ — • f- > Q. — 1 o ID (□ 0) OJ tn (□ X 3 u u- CD c- u- c - T) 01 O JJ SI U} U- U3 .0 Ul 3 Ul in 1) 3) S o :} — • 01 (0 u ■o ■o X -o ■a O T3 (U T3 3 3 o 3 c D 33 3 3 J] U- J a U 0) U 0) U 3 O _^ O c c in c c- c K c o c 1 i 1 1 T3 C 1 I <-> 03 G. 1 O 3 T X Ifl F lA 3 H QJl Q LT] (- V £0[ L- r-l e o al T3 — ' * CD 03 — ' o *j e (U CO oj j3 rs ^ in Ul Jl M 1) (- ■n J3 3 C3 C) O U} 0] Ul -i c u. IJ n U) f il Q a Til < ^ i_. ■/I 0) (3 (D .Tl «-> ro C — fli ■□ > C) 13. u CL a I o Ul 3 .Tl U : ) U tB > ra Ul •T! 3 £ Cl 3 0)1 -J — 3 a.1 a.! ¥ u _, w ~ m o C 3 JJ >■ CO s Q LL 1— en C2 < ■—3 3 3 31 -< *^ c a ::J CO 0) — ' Q O c/:) C2 a c_ cn C 3 z C 03 C3 (D o < 13 t*- 0) 03 (S >s a t_ >* 3 > lU J)£ z (0 a U 3 c_ a 3 a X U) c_ 0 0 0) CD en cr 01 < CL X u_ XI n ^ . JD C\j »- ___ — t-QLJ OQC-J^OT^IU XXX< LD CD I — • < Q a "3 *j < — ' O I— CO 33 Q ^ t_ *J < -• u , X X ■•-» X ■ 3 cni 3) <1 0 t— 1 en < iB X _, ^— < :;) UJ rr > ) u_ ^ Q CO ^ LI- I 3n - u — . '*- I O i3 jO 03 Jl 3 W c: 3 i) "-J 3 10 Oi jz ~ :o (- i: *-j c a: 2 S B 3) -Z — X X ; *^ — :ji = a 3 to U - ■3 >■:] — X 0 XI X J) — , CD u 0 CO C3 3 c_ J) 3 33 -> Ji ;- a IT) TD Cl 31 cn 3) 03 _j ■3. :: 3 3 3 a X 3 3 0 0 a c 0 B oiu::.ciaQ0TxcLCOO Ol 03 J3 ji U yj 03 a 03 0 y 3 0 U VI y 3 2; 3 in 3 >s ifi «- OJ (73 ^ 36 wWwff M^<^^^^/■ /,:V|f|/'^^'':./'^^^>%§ o CO X •H -O c p. < i 4 '^' " ■ ■ Kt! u KOOTENAI FALLS WILDLIFE MONITORING STUDY Third Annual Report for the period September 2, 1981 - September 1, 1982 STATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION JULl OiJDD MONTANA '■^l.^-'^ li^;- '.;,• 1515 r. o::i A\S. HELENA, MOi-^TAf-'A iViOO MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION ENERGY DIVISION 32 So. Ewing Helena, MT 59620 December 1982 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study was funded by Northern Lights, Inc. of Sandpoint, Idaho. Inventory data were gathered by Pat Nichols, of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Larry Thompson, Biological Sciences Coordinator in the Facility Siting Bureau, DNRC, reviewed this report. Graphics were prepared by June Vi rag . William Phippen, DNRC, edited the report. The text was processed by Rose Ann Montgomery. '\ 4i TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES i i LIST OF TABLES i i i APPENDICES i V INTRODUCTION 1 METHODS 2 Species List Update 3 Project Area Wildlife Census 4 Bald Eagle Survey 4 Harlequin Duck Special Studies 5 Bighorn Sheep Studies 5 Amphibian and Reptile Search 6 Sma I L Mamma L Trappi ng 6 WEATHER 6 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 7 Species List Update 7 Project Area Wildlife Census 19 Bald Eagle Survey 24 Harlequin Duck Special Studies 25 Bighorn Sheep Studies 26 Amphibian and Reptile Search 3D Small Mammal Trapping 30 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE MONITORING 31 LITERATURE CITED 32 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. SeaBonaL variation in total (top) and average (bottom) numbers of species encountered during project area censuses 21 Figure 2. Seasonal variation in average numbers of dippers encountered during project area wildlife censuses 22 Figure 3. Seasonal variation in average number of Canada goose, mallard, common goldeneye, and common merganser encountered during project area wildlife censuses 23 Figure 4. Observations of bighorn sheep during roadside surveys, September 1981 - September 1982 27 1 1 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Schedule of September 19B1-September 1982 field work, Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study 3 Table 2. Summary of weather parameters at Libby, September 1981-July 1982 7 Table 3. Summary of data collected on amphibian, reptile, and bird species observed on the Kootenai Falls study area, January 1978-August 1982 8 Table 4. Summary of data collected on general habitat use and local distribution of mammals observed on the Kootenai Falls study area, January 197B-August 1982 16 Table 5. Results of project area wildlife censuses, September 1981-August 1982 19 Table 6. Bald eagle observations made during the monitoring study in the Kootenai Falls area, September 1981-September 1982 24 Table 7. Harlequin duck observations in the Kootenai Falls area, September 1981-August 1982 25 Table 8. Results of bighorn sheep roadside surveys, Kootenai Falls study area, 1982 29 Table 9. Kootenai Falls small mammal trapping results, August 1982 30 1 1 1 APPENDICES A. Habitat Categories , 33 B. Codes Used for Recording Wildlife Observations 34 1 V INTRODUCTION Northern Lights, Inc. (NLI), a rural electric cooperative based in Sandpoint, Idaho, submitted an application to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) in 1980 to build a hydroelectric dam and generating plant, known as the Kootenai River Hydroelectric Project, in the Kootenai Falls area of Lincoln County, Montana. In 1978, NLI contracted with DNRC to conduct a baseline wildlife investigation in the project area. The results of that study, completed in September 1979, were published Later that year (DNRC 1979). To keep the wildlife data base current and to determine the nature of year-to-year variations in wildlife use of the project area, NLI contracted with DNRC in October 1979 to monitor wildlife in the study area [see DNRC 1979 for a study plan). This study would provide a data base for documenting project-related impacts and for determining the success of mitigation and compensation programs, should the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation issue a certificate for the project at the Kootenai Falls site. The first annual report IDNRC 1981a) documented results from the first year of the Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study (September 2, 1979, through September 1, 1980). The area monitored in that study was the same as the area inventoried during the original baseline study (DNRC 1979, pp. 2-3), although some surveys also were conducted along U.S. Highway 2 between Libby and Troy. - 1 - The second annual report (DNRC 1981b) highlighted results from the second year of the Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study (September 1, 1980, through August 31, 1981). The area investigated during that monitoring period was basically the same as studied during the first monitoring period. Some modifications in monitoring study design, as suggested in the first annual report (DNRC 1981a) were employed in the second year of monitoring. This third annual report presents the results from the third year of the wildlife monitoring study (September 1, 1982, through August 31, 1982). The study area was the same as in the past two years of monitoring with some modifications in study design, as suggested in the second annual report. METHODS Field techniques and analytical methods used in this study were as described in the baseline studies report (DNRC 1979, pp. 109-112) and the first annual report (DNRC 1981a). A brief summary of methods employed for individual study segments follows (see table 1). 2 - Table 1. ScheduLe of September 1981 - September 1982 fieLd work, Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study. Dates Observer .1 Type of Field Work January 6-9, 1982 PN Riparian wildlife census, bald eagle survey, bighorn sheep counts. March 4-B , 1982 PN Bighorn sheep counts, meadow observation March 29-31 , Apri I PN 1-3, 1982 Riparian wildlife census, bighorn sheep tracking, bighorn sheep count, am- phibian and reptile search June 12-17, 1982 PN Riparian wildlife census, harlequin duck survey, big- horn sheep count, amphibian and reptile search. August 2-5, 1982 PN Riparian wildlife census, harlequin duck survey, big- horn sheep counts, amphi- bian and reptile search, small mammal trapping. PN = Pat Nichols Species List Update The species lists presented in the baseline report (DNRC 1979) were updated, Project Area Wildlife Census This census was designed to collect data that would allow comparison of wildlife use of the project area between months and between years. The methods used were patterned after the standard winter bird study (KoLb 1965] and breeding bird census techniques (Hall 1964, Van Velzen 1972) used in the original inventory, but were expanded to include all vertebrate species. The area censused included: the entire Kootenai River and its shorelines from 50 m (164 ft) below the proposed dam outlet to the upper end of the proposed reservoir; the land that would be inundated by the dam at a forebay elevation of 610 m (2,000 ft); the land that would be affected by railroad relocation; and all remaining Land between U.S. Highway 2 and the Kootenai River (see appendix B) . The entire area was censused for three consecutive days during each month of January, April, June, and August 1982, following the instructions outlined in the baseline report (DNRC 1979, appendix F) . Bald Eagle Survev The Kootenai River between Libby and Troy was surveyed for bald eagles on January 6 and 8, 1982 (1 count each day), following the methods of Meyer (1979). Observations were made from U.S. Highway 2. Bald eagles seen during project area wildlife censuses and other monitoring field work also were recorded. - 4 HarLeguin Duck Special Studies In addition to surveys made during project area wildlife censuses, special searches of the Kootenai Falls area for harlequin ducks were conducted in June and August. In June, emphasis was placed on determining the total harlequin duck population and the number of pairs present in the project area; in August, emphasis was placed on locating broods. Bighorn Sheep Studies During the study period, several different methods were used to gather information on bighorn sheep. These methods are described below. Bighorn sheep were observed from strategic viewpoints along U.S. Highway 2 during each of the five survey field trips (table 1). The cliffs north of the Kootenai River within the project area and within 1 mile (upstream] of the project area were surveyed with a spotting scope. The researchers followed a controlled observation schedule. During each survey, the north bank of the river was searched for 10 minutes from each of 10 observation points along U.S. Highway 2. Three such surveys were conducted in January, six in early March, five in Late March-early April, three in June, and three in August. Observations of bighorn sheep made during these surveys, as well as those made in conjunction with other field work, were recorded on maps and standard data sheets. Observations of deer also were recorded. In April, the Sheppard Meadows (DNRC 1981a) were searched for tracks or other evidence of bighorn sheep use. - 5 Amphibian and Reptile Search During April, June, and August, at least four hours each month were spent searching likely habitat in the project area for amphibians and reptiles. Small Mammal Trapping _^ Two snap-trap lines (each consisting of 25 stations with two traps per station] were run for three consecutive nights (August 2-4, 1982), one in riparian cottonwoods at the head of Kootenai Falls, and the other in adjacent riparian grassland. Capture data were recorded on standard data sheets. WEATHER Table 2 summarizes weather data collected at the NOAA Libby recording station (Libby 1 NE Ranger Station) for the period September 1981 to August 1982. The data show that the winter of 1981-82 was warmer and wetter than normal. Average monthly temperatures ranged from -2.7 to +3.5 degrees Fahrenheit (averaging +1.7 degrees) of normal from November through March, and monthly precipitation averaged 0.8 inches above normal. Snowfall, which totalled 46.9 inches, occurred during the period November through April. Although data on average snowfall at this recording station are not available, snowfall during the same period the previous year, November 1980 through April 1981, totalled 21.5 inches. Snow depths in 1981-82 were relatively high; the greatest depth (26.7 inches) was recorded in January 1982. During the winter of 1980-81, the maximum snow depth (10 inches) occurred in December. - 6 - Table 2. Summary of waather parameters at Libby, September 1981-July 1982 Maximum Snow Month Temperature'' Precipitation'^ SnowfaLL Depth on Ground (degrees F.) (inches) (inches) (inches) September 1981 57.1(+0.3) 0.8(-0.5) 0 0 October 1981 43.4(-2.1) 0.7(-1.3) 0 0 November 1981 35.4(+2.2) 2.B(+0.3) 1.0 1 December 1981 28.0 (+2 .3) 2.6(+0.3) 12.7 7 January 1982 25.4(+3.0) 2.5(+0.1) 26.7 18 February 1982 27.4(-2.7) 3.1 (+1.6) 5.1 15 March 1982 39.2(+3.5) 2.3(+1 .0) « 7 Apri L 1982 42.5(-2.8) 2.6(+1.5) 1.4 0 May 1982 52.0(-2.0) 1.7(+0.2) 0 0 June 1982 63.9(+3,6) 2.9(+1.1) 0 0 July 1982 64.5(-2.5) 1.3(+0.6) 0 0 61.> -^-^J ^ i;q ,, rcT {_ u ^ Monthly average (departure from normal) 2 Total (departure from normal) * Data unavai lable RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Species List Update During this monitoring period, 52 species of vertebrates were observed or trapped — 47 birds and 5 mammals. These included two new species — the boreal chickadee and the pine grosbeak. These new species bring the total number of species observed since the studies began in 1978 to 118 (1 amphibian, 1 reptile, 88 birds, and 28 mammals). 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E O 3 L. -o l c S <33 O O aj o (D JC c □ CD 0} — ' c (A (0 T3 o CD CD QC J= a C o o 4-1 o CD cn Q CO TD CD _j 0} ID Z C 1- c 3 L. 4-> a> w c CD C 4-1 c c 3 (D m CD CO -r- CD — ' a. - 13 - Q LU CJ Z O > O CJ t— LO uj a < 3 CO -3 :i3 z < Q. CC 2: < cr u_ Lu m "3 < Z < Q o s Q (A c —1 03 ji: 3 to XJ c_ CD CD CJ ■□ Ifl 0 LD (U :3 C ■a CO u 0 IS CJ X (D C m j= Ol Q c a c~ «-l 4-3 d 0 3 (U 03 a - 1A - Table 3. (continued] Footnotes : ' Habitat categories abbreviations as in appendix A. 2 See appendix B for Location codes of river stretches (Letters) and upLand areas (numbers) . ^ Status: W - Overwinters in area (at Least one record each during January and February) . w - Transient in winter, sm - Spring migrant, fm - Fa L I migrant. B - Breeds on area (nest or dependent young Located) . b - Probably breeds on area (territorial males or pairs located) . s - Summers on area in small numbers but no evidence of breeding . t - Occurs but no evidence of breeding. Abundance: A - Abundant; found in Large numbers in appropriate habitats. C - Common; found in moderate numbers in appropriate habitats; 15 to 50 registrations. U - Uncommon; small numbers in appropriate habitats; 2 to 15 regi strati ons . R - Rare; few sightings; 1 or E registrations. ^ Indicates status of species in lati Long No. 1, as reported by Skaar (1980) . Months when seen are indicated by Letter abbreviations in sequence, January through December (Note: Very Little field work was carried out in September and November; none was carried out in December). New entries are Listed in italics. - 15 C OJ CD OD CO CL — '— —• — cr. cc 3 to — — lU CD CD *J -o iL [fi 0) CD U3 u i (D C- ■a c S cn CD - Q £_ ■ — 1 ^ "O CO c 01 4-3 C_ Q. tfl t_ a: Q. CD to (D i:- a U) U O 03 a. Q "O CL ^ U I — • ■- cc c CO CE o ^ (X — U OJ en f 1 Q CO c_ CJ o ^^ CD Jl *j c 0) ri CE :3 -o ■« a £- o CD — ' o -■- j«: CD +j — 3 • CO cr C- nr *J □ ~ "C "D — CJ t- iX X (D CD - o > Q. CD O — CE s ^ X — CD < tc — ' ^ CD 0} u: c 4-3 3 ^ o S} c^ en >,0 w CD o (D > 4-3 O CO (D -• 3 cn 3 4-* 3 O 0) o m o CT T3 > 3 CD en ffi a XJ u (- ij) JC CD > 5: c o cr >v (0 cu — "^ JD TD s" CO 4J t: c c c a C£l (S (D JX D cr US T3 t- Ci. O LU 4J 0) (D CD o m O. C-;. < t. ^ 3 CD O o to O s: 0) as" u- t_ -a en - ^ i- C^ "D JC >s O — ' — •^ C 03 C- 1 ^ -Q C3) («- u- ^ o x; u (_ ^ E C m J>: 4-> 0) c a L. t- .c o 4-> 1 t. 4^ i- CD o C- u- CD 4-» — L. "O ■D (- XI o S T3 J= -5 a. 3 a; cu ■r- (D cn o U u a (<- j= ^ > lU U 1 to 4-> L. f~ V *j o c ■3 (0 (*- :_ 0} s. u C CD c»- o — c (0 ■C t3 o z C 3 C 1— ^ CO E^ to o u: 3) Cfi -a o O ^ o J*: c 3 X3 (0 - 3} c- CD Q u O -^ Q 4J o —' ■c CL (D CD 3 ■c i- Q. CD m CD 4-1 C- (D E - a X > 3 3. C 4-> Q. CD U Q c- C t- n C CD cc o o u- O -3 • to - C LO ID o o O >> U c cn tc 3 J3 CC -C ID o CD ^ CD ^ 4-J o ■a c 4J t— . — , -^ C3 a t/^ s s (- tc X Z C X *J Q c to ■a u X a s- O (U u; CD — ' o c >. E u- ■U 3 li o" 4~) o Q} > CJ ■o — O »^ u CD CL u- c a: c_ c ^ d: o ^ x: — O ^ u- o CL Q. D U — ' a 5i to CO 3 3 4-> 4-3 o O 1- t- CJ u E E i 17 '' Habitat category abbreviations as in appendix A. 2 See appendix B for location codes of nver (Letters) and upland (numbers] portions of the study area. Italics indicate new observations. 18 - Project Area WilQlife Census Results of the wiLdLife censuses conducted in the project area during the study period are summarized in table 5. Table 5. Results of project area wildlife censuses, September 19ai-August 1982. Average number known present per trip Mar.- Species Jan. Apr. June Aug. BIRDS Great Blue Heron - 0.3 0.3 — Canada Goose 4.3 6.7 - 0.7 Mallard 0.3 29.0 10.7 18.3 Common Goldeneye 21 .0 23.3 0.3 - Harlequin Duck - - 0.7 0.7 Common Merganser 3.7 7.3 32.7 15.0 Unidentified Duck - — 0.3 — Red-tai led Hawk - - - 0.3 Bald Eagle 0.7 0.3 — - Osprey - - 2,3 2.0 American Kestrel — — 0.3 — Ki lldeer — — 1.3 — Spotted Sandpiper - - 3.3 1 .3 California Gull - — — 0.7 Unidentified Gull - - — 3.7 Mourning Dove - - 1 .0 4.0 Belted Kingfisher - — — 0.7 Common Flicker - - — 0.7 Pi leated Woodpecker - 0.3 — — Downy Woodpecker 0.3 - - — Wi How Flycatcher - — 1 .0 — Empidonax Flycatcher - — 1 .3 0.7 Violet-green Swallow - 5.0 19.3 2.0 Barn Swallow - — 0.3 2.3 Stellar's Jay - 0.3 — - Common Raven 1 .3 1 .3 - 0.3 Common Crow 1.3 13.7 16.0 14.7 Black-capped Chickadee - 3.0 1.3 1 .7 Boreal Chickadee - 0.7 — — Chestnut-backed Chickadee - 0.7 — — Unidentified Chickadee - 2.0 — - Dipper 4.3 4.7 4.7 1.7 Gray Catbird - - 1 .7 — American Robin - 11 .7 11 .0 1 .7 Varied Thrush - 9.3 0.3 — - 19 - Table 5. (continued) Average number known present per trip Mar .- Species Jan. Apr. June Aug. Swainson's Thrush - 0.3 5.7 - Veery - - - 1 .0 Mountain Bluebird - Townsend's Solitaire - Cedar Waxwing - Red-eyed Vi reo - Yellow Warbler - Yel low-rumped Warbler - MacGi I li vray ' s Warbler - American Redstart - Unidentified Warbler - Brown-headed Cowbird - Pine Grosbeak - Pine Siskin Dark-eyed Junco - Song Sparrow - Unidentified Sparrow Unidentified Passerine 0.7 MAMMALS Unidentified Chipmunk Tree Squi rrel 1 .7 Bighorn Sheep - Unidentified small mammal - White-tailed Deer - - 1.0 0.3 - - 0.3 - 0.7 - 1 .3 1 .7 - 2.3 - - 5.7 0.7 - 6.0 2.0 - 1 .7 - - 1 ./ - - 1 .3 - - 1.3 - - - 2.7 - - 0.3 46.3 9.0 6.7 15.3 12.7 5.0 0.3 - - 5.0 0.7 16.0 _ 2.3 4.3 - 2.0 5.7 2.0 - 2,7 - - 0.3 Seasonal variation in numbers of species encountered during project area censuses each month is shown in figure 1. Study data show that the number of water-related bi r species (waterfowl, shorebirds, herons, gulls, ospreys, bald eagles, dippers, belted kingfishers) remains relatively constant year round, with a slight increase during the breeding season. The number of species of other birds, although relatively high throughout the year, increases considerably during the breeding season. Census results for the dipper are shown in figure 2, and variations in average monthly abundance of the most common waterfowl species, as determined by the censuses, are portrayed in figure 3. - 20 - 3R 36—1 34 3? 50 - PB - ^ 26 S ^^ Si 22H o 20 a 18 — UJ i 16- i 1^- 12 - 10 - 8 6 4 — 2 - 0 I I I I I I I I I I I i I I 11 11 I i"n "I I I I I I I I I D UJ O O < CO o ? u Z CD CC en < UJ < O. u 5 o 7 m or cr >- TT. 1 o a i~ > O T CD fX. (T V 7" J O n > <> 7 m or fr V r to 1 n hi o o UJ III a -) -) hi (> o < Q. < -> < in O z Q -~> u. 3 < 3- ^ -3 •I in o 7 a '"5 li 3- < i < to o z Q u. 2 > < 1979 1982 Figure 1. Seasonal variation in total (top) and average (bottom) numbers of species encountered during project &vq& censuses. 21 r h- CO o re c a o c o X —I > 3 .— I n: re o CO Cv] CI. 3im )J3AIU U3d INBSlUd NMON>« )J3eNnN 30V»3AV - UJ z z UJ < _j Q: o o z o Z o o z o z s o 11 Q O T" T T" T o o o Figure common wi Idli o o o o o IT) ^ to csi — lN3S3ad NMONX a38WnN 30Va3AV variation in average number of Canada goose. 3. Seasonal variation in average number of Canada goose, mallard, goldeneye, and common mergansers encountered during project area fe censuses. - 23 Bald Eagle Survey During the monitoring study, bald eagles were observed in January and March 1982 (table 6] . Table 6. Bald eagle observations made during the monitoring study in the Kootenai Falls area, September IGBI-September 1982. Date January 6 January 7 January 8 March 4 March 5 March 3D Observer^ PN PN PN PN PN PN Location Minimum Number (River Section)^ Known Present N L,N,T P P R N 1 adult^ 3 (2 adults, 1 sub-adult] 2 adults 1 adult 1 adult 1 adult '' PN=Pat Nichols ^ Location codes as in appendix B ^ Observation made during bald eagle surveys 24 Harlequin Duck Special Studies Information on harlequin ducks observed during the monitoring period is presented in table 7. Harlequin ducks were observed in November 1981, and May, June, July, and August 1982. An active nest was discovered in a logjam at the head of the falls and observations of at least two young were made (Wolfe 1982). During August 1982, DNRC searches for broods were unsuccessful. Table 7. Harlequin duck observations in the Kootenai Falls area, September 1981-August 1982. Date Minimum number known present Males Feme les Pai rs Total November 29, 198l2 Apri I 17, 19825 1 Apri I 24, 1982^ 1 Apri I 28, 19825 2 May 7, 19823 1 May 15, 1982^ 1 May 19, 1982^ 2 May 20, 1982^ 2 May 25, 19823 1 June 1, 19823 -| June 4, 19823 2 June 12, 1982"^ 1 June 13, 1982^ 2 June 14, 1982^ 2 June 15, 1982^ 1 June 17, 1982'* 1 June 20-30, 1982^ 1 July 18, 19825 0 August 2, 1982"* 2 1 0 T 2 3 4 5 « 1 2 2 3 2 2 3 4 2 2 3 2 3 3 1 1 4* 3* 2 Abbreviations as defined in appendix B Shot by hunter - John Jeresek Observed by Paul Hamlin Observed by Pat Nichols, DNRC Observed by Carl Wolfe, Kootenai National Forest Two downy young observed (Wolfe 1982) Location (River Section)'' P L L L Q S L P M S J L L L M L L L M - 25 Bighorn Sheep Studies Locations of bighorn sheep observations recorded during the roadside surveys are shown in figure 4, During censuses of bighorn sheep from U.S. Highway 2 (see table 8), the greatest number of sheep observed on any one census was 51 on April 2, 1982. From early March, the numbers of sheep observed increased through early April. June observations showed lower numbers than in April. A notable census was that of August 5, 1982, when 25 sheep were observed. Prior to 1982, only extremely low numbers of sheep had been observed in the area in August. On April 2, 1982, a ground search on the Sheppard Meadows was conducted. Eight bighorn rams in two groups were observed on rocks 20 ft. above and 100 ft. to the east of the upstream meadow. Pellet groups {not identified to species) were observed in all meadows; the heaviest concentrations were in the downstream meadow in and around the orchard. Sheep tracks were observed all along the road that runs through the meadow. 26 - CN o- ^ ^ 1) /^, F — 1 OJ ^^ ■ — * ^j • u - Q. O Cl O N < 1 ■J) >, Q- v_ a 3 rz cr O u: _H u '~ 1 iC u s: L- •— u o CJ ^ i_ r^ *_■ ■ ^ ^ f^ S —J 0- u >^. ■A *J .— *-« o a; D Q. ■D u- .-J ^ SL D c ^ T 3 3 W — ■ UJ J — < II II II oc> 27 - Table 8. Results of bighorn sheep roadside surveys, Kootenai Falls study area, 1982. Date Starting Starting No. Obs. Min. No. Sheep Known Present Observer'' Time Station No. Recorded^ Rams Ewes Other^ Total Jan. 6 PN 0920 1 Jan. 6 PN 1350 1 Jan. 8 PN 1530 1 Jan. Average Mar. 4 PN 0830 1 Mar. 4 PN 1225 10 Mar. 4 PN 1526 1 Mar. 5 PN 0850 10 Mar. 5 PN 1225 1 Mar. 5 PN 1550 10 Early Mar. Average Mar. 29 PN 1645 10 Mar. 30 PN 1420 10 Apr. 1 PN 1315 1 Apr. 2 PN 0624 10 Apr, 2 PN 1707 1 Late Mar. -Apr. Averac 36 June 12 PN 1909 10 June 13 PN 0730 1 June 13 PN 1240 1 June Average Aug. 2 PN 1313 10 Aug. 4 PN 1753 1 Aug. 5 PN 0634 10 Aug. Average 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 D.D 4 1 0 3 4 4 0 0 4 4 1 0 0 1 1 6 6 0 0 6 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 D 0 0 2.7 1.2 0.0 1.5 2.7 13 3 7 3 13 24 2 9 9 20 20 5 4 4 13 56 2 26 23 51 11 3 1 6 10 24.8 3.0 9.4 9.0 21 .4 19 4 0 15 19 12 10 0 1 11 8 0 4 4 8 13.0 4.7 1 .3 6.7 12.7 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 25 17 3 5 25 9.0 5.7 1.3 2.0 9.0 '1 PN^Pat Nichols ^ Includes multiple observations of the same individuals Includes lambs and unclassified sheep - 29 - Amphibian and Reptile Search During the 1982 monitoring period, no reptiles or amphibians were observed, Small Mammal Trapping Table 9 presents the results of 1982 small mammal trapping. Table 9. Kootenai Falls small mammal trapping results, August 1982, FLoodplain Riparian Trees Grassland and Shrubs Total Total number of captures Total number of species Total biomass (grams) Captures per species: Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus] Deer Mouse (Peromyscus mani cu latus) Long-tai led Vole (Mi crotus longi caudus) Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps] Flying Squi rrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) 11 3 255.3 7 3 208.9 18 5 464.2 11 30 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE MONITORING The monitoring study should be continued, and work should continue toward selection of a suitable control area on the Kootenai River. - 31 LITERATURE CITED DNRC. 1979. Kootenai FaLLs wildlife inventory and impact analysis. Final report, Helena, MT. DNRC. 1981a. Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study. First annual report. Helena, MT. DNRC. 1981b. Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study. Second annual report. Helena, MT. Hall, G.A. 1964. Breeding bird censuses — why and how? Audubon Field Notes 18:413-416. Kolb, H. 1965. The Audubon winter bird population study. Audubon Field Notes 19:432-434. Meyer, J.R. 1979, Northwest Montana/North Idaho transmission corridor bald eagle study. Bonneville Power Administration. Portland, OR. Skaar, P.D. 1980. Montana bird distribution. P.D. Skaar, 501 South Third, Bozeman, MT, Van Velzen, W.T. 1972. Breeding-bird census instructions. Amer, Birds 26 (6 ) :929-931 . Wolfe, C. 1982. Telephone conversation with Pat Nichols, DNRC biologist, December 15, 1982. 32 - 3 33. "IS- mo -'if KOOTENAI FALLS WILDLIFE MONITORING STUDY PLEASE RETURN Second Annual Report for the period September 2, 1980 - September 1, 1981 STATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION JUL15i965 HELENA, MOiJTAf.'A 5?t520 MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION ENERGY DIVISION 32 South Ewing Helena, MT 59620 December 1981 1) y y- a TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ii LIST OF TABLES iii INTRODUCTION 1 METHODS 2 Species List Update 2 Project Area Wildlife Census 2 Bald Eagle Survey 3 Harlequin Duck Special Studies 3 Bighorn Sheep Studies 3 Amphibian and Reptile Search 3 Small Mammal Trapping h Census of Yaak Falls 4 WEATHER 5 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 6 Species List Update 6 Project Area Wildlife Census 6 Bald Eagle Survey 18 Harlequin Duck Special Studies 22 Bighorn Sheep Studies 22 Amphibian and Reptile Search 26 Small Mammal Trapping 26 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE MONITORING 27 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 28 LITERATURE CITED 29 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Seasonal variation in total (top) and average (bottom) numbers of species encountered during project area censuses ... .19 Figure 2. Seasonal variation in average numbers of dippers encountered during project area wildlife censuses 20 Figure 3. Seasonal variation in average number of Canada goose, mallard, common goldeneye, and common merganser encountered during project area wildlife censuses 21 Figure 4. Observations of bighorn sheep during roadside surveys, September 1980 - September 1981 24 11 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Schedule of September 1980-September 1981 field work, Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study 2 Table 2. Summary of weather parameters at Libby, September 1980-1981 5 Table 3. Summary of data collected on amphibian, reptile, and bird species observed on the Kootenai Falls study area, January 1978-August 1981 7 Table 4. Summary of data collected on general habitat use and local distribution of mammals observed on the Kootenai Falls study area, January 1978-August 1981 15 Table 5. Results of project area wildlife censuses, September 1980-August 1981 17 Table 6. Bald eagle observations made during the monitoring study in the Kootenai Falls area, September 1980-September 1981.. ..18 Table 7. Harlequin duck observations in the Kootenai Falls area, September 1980-August 1981 22 Table 8. Results of bighorn sheep roadside surveys, Kootenai Falls study area, 1981. 23 Table 9. Kootenai Falls small mammal trapping results, August 1981 26 111 APPENDICES A. Habitat Categories 30 B. Area Codes Used for Describing Wildlife Distribution 31 IV INTRODUCTION Northern Lights, Inc. (NLI), a rural electric cooperative based in Sandpoint, Idaho, submitted an application to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) in 1980 to build a hydroelectric dam and generating plant, known as the Kootenai River Hydroelectric Project, in the Kootenai Falls area of Lincoln County, Montana. In 1978, NLI contracted with DNRC to conduct a baseline wildlife investigation in the project area. The results of that study, completed in September 1979, were published later that year (DNRC 1979). To keep the wildlife data base current and to determine the nature of year-to-year variations in wildlife use of the project area, NLI contracted with DNRC in October 1979 to monitor wildlife in the study area (see DNRC 1979 for a study plan) . This study would provide a data base for documenting project-related impacts and determining the success of mitigation and compensation programs, should the Board of Natural Resources and Conservation issue a certificate for the project at the Kootenai Falls site. The first annual report (DNRC 1981) documented results from the first year of the Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study (September 2, 1979, through September 1, 1980). The area monitored in that study was the same as the area inventoried during the original baseline study (DNRC 1979, pp. 2-3), although some surveys were also conducted along U.S. Highway 2 between libby and Troy. This second annual report highlights results from the second year of the Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study (September 1, 1980 through August 31, 1981). The area investigated during this monitoring period was basically the same as that studied during the last monitoring period. Some modifications in monitoring study design, as suggested in the first annual report (DNRC 1981) were employed this year. METHODS Field techniques and analytical methods used in this study were as described in the baseline studies report (DNRC 1979, pp. 109-112) and the first monitoring report (DNRC 1981). Three biologists worked in the study area during the study period (see table 1). A brief summary of methods employed for individual study segments follows. Table 1. Schedule of September 1980 - September 1981 field work, Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study. Dates Observer (s) ( 1 ) Type of Field Work October 14-19, 1980 PN Riparian wildlife census, bighorn sheep count . January 7-9, 1981 PN Riparian wildlife census, bald eagle survey, bighorn sheep counts. April 3-7, 24, 1981 LT. SK Riparian wildlife census, bighorn sheep tracking, bighorn sheep count, amphibian and reptile search, census of Yaak Falls. June 2, 12-16, 1981 LT, SK Riparian wildlife census, harlequin duck survey, bighorn sheep count, amphibian and reptile search. July 31 & August 2-5, 1981 PN Riparian wildlife census, harlequin duck survey, bighorn sheep counts, amphibian and reptile search, small mammal trapping. (1) PN LT SK Pat Nichols Larry Thompson Stacy Kiser Species List Update The species lists presented in the baseline report (DNRC 1979) were updated. Project Area Wildlife Census This census was designed to collect data that would allow comparing wildlife use of the project area between months and between years. The methods used were patterned after the standard winter bird study (Kolb 1965) and breeding bird census techniques (Hall 1964, Van Velzen 1972) used in the original inventory, but were expanded to include all vertebrate species. The area censused included: the entire Kootenai River and its shorelines from 50 ra (164 ft) below the proposed dam outlet to the upper end of the proposed reservoir; the land that would be inundated by the dam at a forebay elevation of 610m (2,000 ft); the land that would be affected by railroad relocation; and all remaining land between U.S. Highway 2 and the Kootenai River (see Appendix B) . The entire area was censused for three consecutive days during each month of October 1980, and January, April, June, and August 1981, following the instructions outlined in the baseline report ( DNRC 1979, appendix F) . Bald Eagle Survey The Kootenai River between Libby and Troy was surveyed for bald eagles on January 7, 8, and 9, 1981 (1 count each day) following the methods of Meyer (1979). Surveys were made from U.S. Highway 2. Bald eagles seen during project area wildlife censuses and other monitoring field work also were recorded . Harlequin Duck Special Studies In addition to surveys made during project area wildlife censuses, special searches of the Kootenai Falls area for harlequin ducks were conducted each study day in June and August. In June, emphasis was placed on determining the total harlequin duck population and the number of pairs present in the project area; in August, emphasis was placed on locating broods . Bighorn Sheep Studies During the study period, several different methods were used to gather information on bighorn sheep, as described below. Bighorn sheep were observed from strategic viewpoints along U.S. Highway 2 during each of the five survey field trips (table 1). In October and January, the cliffs north of the Kootenai River between Libby and Troy were surveyed with a spotting scope. Beginning in April, this method was modified to include only the project area and the area within one mile (upstream) of the project area. Researchers also followed a more controlled observation schedule. These changes were suggested in the first annual report (DNRC 1981). During each survey, the north bank of the river was searched for 10 minutes from each of 10 observation points along U.S. Highway 2. Six such surveys were performed in April, three in June, and three in August. Observations of bighorn sheep made during these surveys, as well as those made in conjunction with other field work, were recorded on maps and standard data sheets. Observations of deer were also recorded. In April, the Sheppard Meadows (DNRC 1981) were searched for tracks or other evidence of bighorn sheep use. Amphibian and Reptile Search During April, June, and August, at least four hours each month were spent searching likely habitat in the project area for amphibians and reptiles. Small Mammal Trapping Two snap-trap lines (each consisting of 25 stations with two traps per station) were run for three consecutive nights (August 2-4, 1981), one in riparian cottonwoods at the head of Kootenai Falls, and the other in adjacent riparian grassland. Capture data were recorded on standard data sheets. Census of Yaak Falls The census of Yaak Falls (DNRC 1981) was discontinued because prior observations indicated that the site is unsuitable as a control or compensation area. WEATHER Table 2 summarizes weather data collected at the NOAA Libby recording station (Libby 1 NE Ranger Station) for the period September 1980 to July 1981. The data show that the winter of 1980-81 was exceptionally mild. Average monthly temperatures were 2.3 to 9.6 degrees Fahrenheit (averaging 4.9 degrees) above normal from November through .March, and precipitation averaged 1 inch below normal. Snowfall, which totalled only 21.5 inches over the winter, occurred only during the period November through February. Although data on average snowfall at this recording station are not available, snowfall during the same period the previous year, November 1979 through February 1980, totalled 39.6 inches. Snow depths in 1980-81 were relativ'ely low; the greatest depth, 10 inches, was recorded in December 1980. During the winter of 1979-80, the maximum snow depth of 13 inches occurred in January. Table 2. Summary of weather parameters at Libby, September 1980- July 1981. Maximum Snow Month Temperature ( 1 ■) Precipitation( 1) Snowfall Depth on Ground (degrees Fahrenheit) (inches) (inches) (inches) September 1980 56.9(+0.1) October 1980 45. 7 (+0.21 November 1980 35. 5 (+2. 3) December 1980 30.3(+4.6) January 1981 32.0(+9.6) February 1981 33.1 (+3.0) March 1981 40.9(+5.2) April 1981 46.3(+1.0j May 1981 54. 4 (+0.4) June 1981 56.6(-3.7) July 1981 65.5(-1.5) _ Monthly average (departure from normal 1 .9(+0.6) 0 0 0.7 (-1.3) 0 0 1.9(-0.5) 1 .5 1 4.1(+1.8) 15 .9 10 1.0(-1.4) 0 .8 1 1.7(+0.1) 3 .3 3 0.3(-1.0) 0 0 1.7(+0.6) 0 0 3.5(+1.9) 0 0 3.4(+1.5) 0 0 1.2(+0.5) 0 0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Species List Update During this monitoring period, 56 species of vertebrates were observed or trapped--45 birds, 10 mammals, and one amphibian. These included 2 new species--the canyon wren and veery. These new species bring the total number of species observed since the studies began in 1978 to 116 (1 amphibian, 1 reptile, 86 birds, and 28 mammals). Data on these species are summarized in tables 3 and 4. Project Area Wildlife Census Results of the wildlife censuses conducted in the project area during the study period are summarized in table 5. O UJ <_) z o > 0 C_3 t— CO UJ Q. ■1 = 0 -3 =1 . -5 = Z 1 «t >- •X a. a 3E < q: Li_ LlJ CQ -:; < z ) 1- o » TS 00 : «3 a^ ^ I I I m s 3 Q. 3 O -zi 3 C3 3 O CO *t) ..- e a; •O -:>£ ■— >i • fO -o Q. C t/1 OO c O. O *C «D i/i t_ — OJ > QJ -O c 01 tA 3: o QJ C .^ (- — O 13 JZ Oi OJ < -o C o. 3 ^ - O oo to o O ^ LU c en (o *J 1 t. E QJ C- QJ 0) TJ tn ■t-J "O 3 .— ►— 4-> f Q TJ »- (u a. 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C £i O ■o c o ■o o >> a> tA ■*-> -^ (^ ■^ 'c t- f- 2 uX (/I T3 L. irt C cc a. « fD Irt 3 C to (/> 3 TS c C */ll U lA trt O "W 3 CT t/l -C yi a» 1/1 C (. E c <=ii t_ c c W» fU OJ £ -o J3 u c trt •o *o TS c \A c M u > c -«-> i 3 3 to l- *D (O a; a> u TJ a (O U *T» C- U) 4-> to o "oi •D iA tn o o 3 m 3 ■4~> 4-> t- 3 u o > ■o Q o wo +J c Wl o o L. c: 'O O" 3 3 to 1- ■o TD OJ O r^ z E — 1 tj ID O o o a. o o »-, ^ o — 16 Table 5. Results of project area wildlife censuses, September 1980-August 1981, Average number known p resent per trip Species Oct. Jan. Apr. June Aug. BIRDS Great Blue Heron 1.0 0.7 - - 1.3 Canada Goose 1.7 - 3.3 2.0 - Mallard 1.7 - 27.0 10.3 1.3 Common Goldeneye 0.3 47.3 20.0 - - Harlequin Duck - - - 3.7 - Common Merganser 1.7 1.7 9.3 6.7 5.0 Unidentified Duck - 0.3 - - - Bald Eagle 0.3 1.7 - - - Osprey - - 0.3 1.7 1.0 Killdeer - - 1.3 1.0 - Spotted Sandpiper - - - 12.3 0.7 California Gull - - - - 2.7 Mourning Dove - - - 1.3 0.3 Black Swift - - - - 1.3 Unidentified Hummingbird - - - 0.3 - Belted Kingfisher - - 0.3 0.3 1.0 Common Flicker 1.0 - 3.0 1.0 1.0 Downy Woodpecker 0.3 - - - - Violet-green Swallow - - 7.3 N . E . ( 1 - Rough-winged Swallow - - - N.E.d - Common Raven 1.7 0.7 2.0 3.3 0.3 Common Crow 1.0 1.7 14.7 16.3 7.0 Black-capped Chickadee 5.3 2.7 7.3 1.3 1.3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 4.0 0.7 13.0 2.0 0.3 Gray Catbird - - - - 0.3 Dipper 1.0 3.0 3.0 1.7 1.7 Winter Wren - - 0.3 - - Canyon Wren - - - 1.0 - American Robin - - 16.3 12.3 - Varied Thrush - - 1.7 2.3 - Swainson's Thrush - - - 5.3 - Veery - - - - 0.3 Townsend's Solitaire - - 1.0 0.7 - Golden-crowned Kinglet - 0.7 15.7 - - Cedar Waxwing - - - 13.7 - Red-eyed Vireo - - - 0.3 0.3 Unknown Vireo - - - 5.7 - Yellow Warbler - - - 1.3 0.3 Nashville Warbler - - - 0.3 - Yellow-rumped Warbler - - - - 1.0 MacGillivray 's Warbler - - - - 0.3 Unidentified Warbler - - - - 1.3 Brown-headed Cowbird - - - 2.3 - Pine Siskin 16.7 3.0 90.2 8.0 3.7 Red Crossbill - - 5.7 - - Dark-eyed Junco - - 5.3 - - Song Sparrow 4.0 - 16.7 15.7 2.3 Unidentified Sparrow - - - - - 17 Unidentified Passerine MAMMALS Unidentified Chipmunk Tree Squirrel Bighorn Sheep Unidentified small mammal 0.3 6.7 0.3 - 4.7 1.7 0.3 3.0 - 2.3 - 0.3 25.0 0.3 21.7 2.3 6.3 1 NE=no estimate made because of large numbers and constant movement Seasonal variation in numbers of species encountered during project area censuses each month is shown in figure 1. Study data show that the number of water-related bird species (waterfowl, shorebirds, herons, gulls, ospreys, bald eagles, dippers, belted kingfishers) remains relatively constant year- round, with a slight increase during the breeding season. The number of species of other birds is relatively high throughout the year, but increases considerably during the breeding season. Census results for the dipper are shown in figure 2, and variations in average monthly abundance of the most common waterfowl species, as determined by the censuses, is portrayed in figure 3. Bald Eagle Survey During the monitoring study, bald eagles were observed in October 1980, and in January 1981 (table 6). One adult bald eagle was seen during the January 7 bald eagle survey, and two adults were seen during each of the following two surveys (January 8 and 9). This indicates that the degree of use in 1981 was the same as that reported for 1980 (DNRC 1981). Table 6. Bald eagle observations made during the monitoring study in the Kootenai Falls area, September 1980-September 1981 Date Observer ( 1 ) Location (River Section) (2) Minimum Number Known Present 10-17-80 1-7-81(3) 1-8-81(3) 1-9-81(3) PN PN PN PN L T Q,T T 1 adult 1 adult 2 adults 2 adults (1) PN=Pat Nichols (2) Location codes as in Appendix B (3) Observations made during bald eagle surveys 18 AO- 38- 36 — 34 — 32- 30- 28- ^ 26- iJ 2"- Si 22- fe 20- £ 18- i 16- i i"- 12- 10- 8- 6- 4- 2- 0- MAMMALS UOOO'lOO lOliJOOOOOOOOO' o o o 5 .T>oo o o o t> r OOOOOOO' 30000 } '>0000')OOOOOOOC I I I I I I I I I I OQ-K>oz(ntt:o:>- 3ijJUOliJ< o Z 1 o UJ Q 1 z •a -5 1 00 UJ u. 1980 1981 28-1 981 Figure 1. Seasonal variation in total (top) and average (bottom) numbers of species encountered during project area censuses. 19 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ZDQCcQ:>-2_iOQ.i->oza3Q:Q:>-z_ioQ.t->oz < < 1981 Figure 2. Seasonal variation in average numbers of dippers encountered during project area wildlife censuses. 20 CANADA GOCSE MALLARD COMMON GOLDENEYE COMMON MERGANSER 19 18 17 16 h 15 - 14 111 U 13 "= ' *^ I.I - 12 > < - 4 3 2 h I z CD cc ir > < UI < Q. < -> u. 2 < 5 1979 1980 Figure 3. Seasonal variation in average number of Canada goose, mallard, com- mon goldeneye, and common mergansers encountered during proiect area w'ldlife censuses. 21 Harlequin Duck Special Studies Information on harlequin ducks observed during the monitoring period is presented in table 7. Harlequin ducks were observed only in May and June of 1981. A minimum of 8 ducks (including at least two pairs, 3 possibly unpaired males, and one possibly unpaired female) was known to be present during the study period. During August 1981, searches were made for broods but none were observed. Flows in the river were very high, 20,000 cfs or greater, which might account for the lack of broods in the area. Comparing these data with those obtained in 1980 (DNRC 1981), it appears that use of the falls area by adult harlequins increased considerably in 1981. Table 7. Harlequin duck observations in the Kootenai Falls area, September 1980-August 1981. Date Minimum number known present Males Females Pairs Total Location (River Section) (1) May 23, May 31, June 13 June 14 June 15 June 16 1981(2) 1981(2) 1981(3) 1981(3) 1981(3) 1981(3) 3 3 2 2 2 2 8 6 4 5 4 4 J,L L L L L L (1) Abbreviations as defined in Appendix B (2) Observations by L. Schelvan (USFS) (3) Observations by S. Riser Bighorn Sheep Studies Locations of bighorn sheep observations recorded during the roadside surveys are shown in figure 4. In October 1980, two groups of sheep were observed on cliffs above the Kilpatrick property. One group consisted of 6 lambs and 7 ewes; the other contained 3 ewes. In January 1981, a group of 6 ewes was observed at the salt lick on the Sheppard property. Table 8 summarizes results of the roadside surveys conducted in April, June, and August, for which different methods than those used for the October and January surveys were employed. In April, at least 40 different sheep were observed. The average number of individual sheep known present during the six April surveys was 26.2; the average number of observations recorded was 35.5. In June, only 6 different sheep were observed, and in August, only 3 were sighted. This decrease in sheep sightings is thought to be due to (1) decreased observability due to leaf -out and use of dense cover by sheep, and (2) summer movement of sheep to somewhat higher elevations, as indicated by other data obtained during the study period. During April visits to the Sheppard meadows, no known bighorn sheep sign was observed. 22 Table 8. Results of bighorn sheep roadside surveys, Kootenai Falls study area, 1981. Date Observer Starting Time Starting Station No. No. Obs. Recorded Min. Rams No. Sheep Known Present Ewes Other3 Total April 4 LT 1702 10 85 18 22 0 40 April 5 LT 1715 1 34 5 17 6 28 April 7 SK 0618 1 18 7 6 4 17 April 7 SK 1155 1 25 6 8 10 24 April 24 SK 0545 10 28 20 7 1 28 April 24 SK 1210 10 23 5 10 5 20 April Aver age 35. 5 10. 2 11. 7 4.3 26.2 June 12 SK 0545 1 6 1 0 5 6 June 13 SK 1200 1 2 0 1 1 O June 13 SK 1945 1 4 0 2 2 4 June Average 4. 0 0. 3 1. 0 2.7 4.0 August 2 PN 0750 1 3 0 2 1 3 August 2 PN 1925 10 0 0 0 0 0 August 4 PN 1421 10 0 0 0 0 0 August Ave rage 1. 0 0. 0 0. 7 0.3 1.0 lSK=Stacy Kiser, PN=Pat Nichols, LT=Larry Thompson Includes multiple observations of the same individuals -"Includes lambs and unclassified sheep 23 .4'V^ \fe Ar.A \', •-^\> ^^^' iia // £?o :r^>.^ nV-— . V/.: •.LiBf •'II \ mm^'^^ ^i'i^ MW feS^.f- ^/ll ^ :'/''' II'* B:'i Huh III • ///// mmm^^ -^:rS>^; .\~i^^ V)! 1 <] it ' ^y^Lc^ ) i^vn; •^N^vc ' ' ' 1 i M/ ■'. // 7 '^mf m. mm u i:t ^v y^ ,;*/'t.^:- ^:^^^,v ^ "^im^ i:;m^'^ /K--: VVVV : g M ec D. u O. u 01 O O (U 0) »H CO x: 00 4J x: CO X 60 On Cfl M to O iH •-< O ^ •r4 II II n Vi -o A U-i (U c O ^ -H \ K ± B 1 m U] ~ (fl V4 (A (1) >. C 0) 01 •'-' Vl XI > £ 01 o n <-• X iH 3 -H o •H 0) > CO ^ 4-1 )>■ C "li o a. 3 3 sr u CO o < <-) -3 •o u 0) 1-1 0) It R n H H (0 X 3 T3 E r^< y^ ^/^ 60 « 3 w v^ ^ Xy •^ o z ^ ^^ v^ tl< M ^ /','^f 1/ X f ,ZJ -ao.- 'T / //y n \i /'//////■/, //, //.//////y-'/v I III lti ix: i:- ^^ fA\ °o^c^ w^ v\ Amphibian and Reptile Search On April 3 and 5, 1981, five different Coeur d'Alene salamanders were observed at two sites in the vicinity of 1980 sightings- -under moss on cliffs near the U.S. Highway 2 retaining wall above the proposed tail tunnel outlet. Two specimens, collected in 1980, were deposited with Montana State University in Bozeman. Small Mammal Trapping Table 9 presents a summary of the results of 1981 small mammal trapping. Table 9. Kootenai Falls small mammal trapping results, August 1981. Floodplain Grass land Riparian Trees Total and Shrubs 1981 Total number of captures Total number of species Total biomass (grams) Captures per species: Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus) Yellow pine Chipmunk (Eutamias amoenus) Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) Long-tailed Vole (Microtus longicaudus) Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps) Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) 577 21 15 4 ill 12 40 6 888 33 26 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE MONITORING The monitoring study should be continued as modified (DNRC 1981), and work should continue toward selection of a suitable control area. Preliminary study indicates that the section of the Kootenai River below Troy, as well as that part of the river between Libby and the proposed Libby Reregulation Project site, may be the best potential control areas, although they are by no means ideal. During the winter and spring 1982 monitoring studies, an effort should be made to investigate bighorn sheep use of the Sheppard property. This will be especially important if the winter of 1981- 82 is more severe than 1980-81. The monitoring contract should be amended to include a late February-early March field trip to further investigate the use of the Sheppard property by bighorn sheep. 27 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study was funded by Northern Lights, Inc. of Sandpoint , Idaho. Inventory data were gathered by Pat Nichols. Stacy Kiser, and Larry Thompson of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Graphics were executed by June Virag. William Phippen, DNRC , edited the report. Typing was done by Joanne Brown. 28 LITERATURE CITED DNRC . 1979. Kootenai Falls wildlife inventory and impact analysis. Final Report. Helena, MT. DNRC. 1981. Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study. First annual report. Helena, MT. Hall, G.A. 1964. Breeding bird censuses--why and how? Audubon Field Notes 18:413-416. Kolb, H. 1965. The Audubon winter bird population study. Audubon Field Notes 19:432-434. Meyer, J.R. 1979. Northwest Montana/North Idaho transmission corridor bald eagle study. Bonneville Power Administration. Portland, OR. Skaar, P.D. 1980. Montana bird distribution. P.D. Skaar, 501 South Third, Bozeman , MT. Van Velzen, W.T. 1972. Breoding-bird census instructions. Amer . Birds 26(6) :929-931. 29 e o o O O O ^ — « U ^^ li 0) 0) ^ O fO v- •-< U -r-* cr (0 O •H (T] fflJ-O W nj « 3 3 m *-» u tfi in rH tti (0 D u-> u~. U-. m W 3 (L tv o •o ■c ^ ^ 3 u .-H O O U3 (C (13 I- C 3 U_. 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'^fy y^^ 'J'j :<^ ^I'li m n <.ii CM -^ \\ ^X 60 c •H .o t U m CO ■V 0) c •o 3 O u m o K-l 01 3 m 0) (U • c •a c (U o o u a -H U (0 rt 3 0) /• Mi :^^^ 30 copies of this publication were published at an estimated cost of $2.98 per copy, for a total cost of $89.40, which includes $89.40 for printing and $.00 for distribution. B 33. ir KOOTENAI FALLS WILDLIFE MONITORING STUDY 0 First Annual Report for the period September 2, 1979 - September 1, 1980 fifji COCUMt'NYo COLlELTittJ JUL 1 5 1985 'VvC ■,;■■::.■.■-:;.. ':.ta- l~: [.rj'il.'-.\X', i5!o v.. •;; : AV=?. Hft |>'tA, MCi ;'T-* I'A 5?6:o MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION FACILITY SITING DIVISION 32 South Ewing Helena, MT 59620 June 1981 i H V TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ^i LIST OF TABLES ^^^ INTRODUCTION, 1 METHODS 2 Species List Update ^ Project Area Wildlife Census ^ Bald Eagle Survey ^ Harlequin Duck Special Studies ^ B ighorn Sheep Survey ^ Amphibian and Reptile Search 5 Small Mammal Trapping 5 Census of Yaak Falls 5 Vegetation Analysis--Riparian Tree/Shrub Habitats 6 Vegetation Analysis--Sheppard Meadows 6 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 9 Species List Update 9 Project Area Wildlife Census 9 Bald Eagle Survey 14 Harlequin Duck Special Studies 14 B igliorn Sheep Survey 17 Amphibian and Reptile Search t 21 Small Mammal Trapping 21 Census of Yaak Falls 21 Vegetation Analysis--Riparian Tree/Shrub Habitats 23 Vegetation Analysis--Sheppard Meadows 23 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE MONITORING 33 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 37 LITERATirRE CITED 38 APPENDIX 39 i LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Locations of riparian tree and shrub sampling plots 7 Figure 2. Seasonal variation in average numbers of vertebrate species encountered during project area wildlife censuses 13 Figure 3. Seasonal variation in average numbers of dippers encountered during project area wildlife censuses 13 Figure 4. Seasonal variation in average numbers of Canada goose, mallard, common goldeneye, and common merganser encountered during project area wildlife censuses 15 Figure 5. Locations of bighorn sheep observations, September 1979- September 1980 18 Figure 6. Dominant vegetation of the downstream Sheppard meadow 25 Figure 7. Dominant vegetation of the middle Sheppard meadow 26 Figure 8. Dominant vegetation of the upper Sheppard meadow 28 Figure 9. Bighorn sheep observation stations 35 11 » LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Schedule of September 1979 - September 1980 field work, Kootenai Falls Wildlife Study 3 Table 2. Summary of data collected on new species encountered during the first monitoring period (September 1979 - September 1980) 10 Table 3. Results of project area wildlife censuses, October 1979 - August 1980 12 Table 4. Harlequin duck observations in the Kootenai Falls area, September 1979 - October 1980 16 Table 5. Summary of Kootenai Falls small mammal trapping program, October 1979 and August 1980 22 Table 6. Number of woody stems less than 3 inches d.b.h. inter- cepted in two transects (74 feet long and an arm's length wide) through each of ten riparian vegetation study plots 24 Table 7. Percent canopy coverage of nine plant communities in three grassy meadows upstream from Kootenai Falls 27 ^1 INTRODUCTION Northern Lights, Inc. (NLI), a rural electric cooperative based in Sandpomt, Idaho, submitted an application to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) in 1980 to build a hydroelectric dam and generating plant, known as the Kootenai River Project, in the Kootenai Falls area of Lincoln County, Montana. In 1978, NLI contracted DNRC to conduct a baseline wildlife investigation in the project area. The results of that study, completed in September 1979, were published later that year (DNRC 1979). To keep the wildlife data base current and to determine the nature of year-to-year variation in wildlife use of the project area, NLI contracted with DNRC in October 1979 to continue pre-certification wildlife monitoring (see DNRC 1979 for a study plan) . This study would provide a data base for documenting project-related impacts and determining the success of mitigation and compensation programs, if the Board of Natural Resources issues a certificate for the site. This First Annual Report documents results from the first year of the Kootenai Falls wildlife monitoring study (September 2, 1979, through September 1, 1980). The area monitored in this study was the same as that inventoried during the original baseline study (DNRC 1979, pp. 2-3), although some surveys also were conducted along U.S. Highway 2 between Libby and Troy. METHODS Field techniques and analytical methods used in this study were as described in the baseline studies report (DNRC 1979, pp. 109-112). Three biologists worked in the study area a number of times during the study period (see table 1). A brief summary of methods employed for individual study segments follows. Species List Update The species lists presented in the baseline report (DNRC 1979) were updated, with emphasis placed on refining habitat preference and local distribution data. Project Area Wildlife Census This census was designed to collect data that would allow comparison of wildlife use of the project area between months and between years. The methods used were patterned after the standard winter bird study (Kolb 1965) and breeding bird census (Hall 1964, Van Velzen 1972) techniques used in the original inventory, but were extended to include all vertebrate species. The area censused includes: the entire Kootenai River and its shorelines from 50 m (164 ft) below the proposed dam outlet to the upper end of the proposed reservoir; the land which would be inundated by the dam at a forebay elevation of 610m (2,000 ft); the land which would be affected by railroad relocation; and all remaining land between Highway 2 and the Kootenai River. The entire area was censused for three consecutive days during the months of ■IVible I Dates Schedule of September 1979 - September 1980 field work, Kootenai Falls Wildlife Study. Observer (s) Type of Field Work October 8-11, 1979 PN- 1/ Riparian wildlife census, bighorn sheep count, Yaak Falls census, small mammal trapping January 15-17, 1980 PN , LT Riparian wildlife census, bald eagle survey, bighorn sheep counts, census of Yaak Falls April 8-11, 1980 PN Riparian wildlife census, bighorn sheep tracking, bighorn sheep count, reptile S amphibian search, Yaak Falls census June 2-4, 1980 PN Riparian wildlife census, harlequin duck survey, bighorn sheep count, reptile & amphibian search, Yaak Falls census August n-14, 1980 PN,LT,JB Riparian wildlife census, harlequin duck .survey, bighorn sheep counts, amphibian & reptile search, small mammal trapping, census of Yaak Falls, habitat description, meadow vegetation analysis. Vl'N-Pat Nichols I,T=Larry Th(jmpson JB=Jeff Birkby October 1979, and January, April, June and August 1980, following the instructions outlined in the baseline report (DNRC 1979, Appendix F) . Bald Eagle Survey The Kootenai River between Libby and Troy was surveyed for bald eagles on January 16 (2 counts) and January 17 (,1 count), following the methods of Meyer (1979). Surveys were made from U.S. Highway 2. Bald eagles seen during general surveys and riparian habitat censuses were also recorded. Harlequin Duck Special Studies In addition to surveys made during riparian habitat censuses, special searches of the Kootenai Falls area for harlequin ducks were conducted each study day in June and August. In June, emphasis was placed on determining the total harlequin duck population and the number of pairs present in the project area; in August, emphasis was placed on locating broods. Bighorn Sheep Survey One day per visit, the cliffs north of the river between Libby and Troy were surveyed with a spotting scope from strategic viewpoints along U.S. Highway 2. All observations were recorded on field maps and data sheets. On April 10 and 11, ground searches for evidence of sheep use were conducted on the north shore of the Kootenai River adjacent to known bighorn sheep range. These data also were recorded. Differentiating between deer and bighorn sheep sign was difficult. Amphibian and Reptile Search At least four hours was spent each month during April, June, and August searching likely habitat in the project area for amphibians and reptiles. Small Mammal Trapping Two snap-trap lines (each consisting of 25 stations with two traps per station) were run for three consecutive nights (August 11-14, 1980), one in riparian cottonwoods at the head of Kootenai Falls, and the other in adjacent riparian grassland. Capture data were recorded on standard data sheets. Census of Yaak Falls Water and shoreline habitats of Yaak Falls, including those areas within 100 m (328 ft) of the head of the falls (upstream and downstream), were censused for vertebrates on October 10, 1979, and January 17, April 8, June 2, and August 12, 1980, to determine the area's suitability as a future control study or compensation area. Vegetation Analysis--Riparian Tree/Shrub Habitats Riparian tree and shrub habitats (including the riparian cottonwood, cottonwood-conifer , and birch-alder communities described by Olsen-Elliott and Associates (1979)) on the south terrace immediately above Kootenai Falls, were sampled August 12-13, 1980, using the methods of James and Shugart (1970). This terrace would be flooded by the proposed reservoir. Ten vegetation plots, each 0.44 ha (0.1 acre) in size, were permanently staked and sampled. Locations of these plots are shown in figure 1. Vegetation Analysis--Sheppard Meadows Three grassy meadows on the north bank of the river about 1.5 miles above the head of Kootenai falls (DNRC 1979, p. 62) also were sampled using the canopy-coverage methods of Daubenmire (1959). These meadows are believed to be a source of early-spring forage for bighorn sheep. Because impounding the river could alter the vegetative composition and, thus, the use of these meadows by bighorns, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (DFWP) has expressed concern over the project. The property on which the meadows lie, formerly owned by Mr. Dale Sheppard, was purchased by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to mitigate the impacts on wildlife habitat caused by Libby Dam. The land is scheduled to be turned over to the State of Montana, and managed by DFWP for bighorn sheep. U c r. •rl c u o The following methods were used to determine the distribution of vegetation in the meadows: 1) Approximate measurements of the length and width of each meadow were made. 2) Major community types in each meadow were determined by subjectively identifying relatively homogeneous stands of associated plant species within a contiguous area. 3) Three ten-meter transects were laid out within selected major community types in each meadow. The transects were placed in what appeared to be the most representative part of each community, and were generally oriented parallel to the Kootenai River. 4) A measuring tape was stretched the length of the transect, and Daubenmire coverage frames (Daubenmire 1959) were placed on alternating sides of the tape at one-meter intervals. The percent of canopy-coverage for each plant species within each frame was noted and recorded on data sheets. 5) Color photographs of the major community types were taken. These are on file with DNRC in Helena. 6) Canopy-coverage data, originally assigned a cover class number (Daubenmire 1959), were converted to percent coverage for each plant species, using the midpoint for each class. 7) Maps of each meadow were drawn on topographic maps at a scale of 1:1,200. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Species List Update During the monitoring period, 70 species of vertebrates were observed or trapped--l species of amphibian, 1 reptile, 55 birds, and 13 mammals. Also during the monitoring period, 13 new species (1 amphibian, 12 birds) were found, bringing the total number of species observed since the studies began in 1978 to 124 (1 amphibian, 1 reptile, 84 birds, and 28 mammals). Data on those new species are summarized in table 2. The types of data included and the abbreviations used are as described in the baseline study (DNRC 1979, pp. 23-29). Project Area Wildlife Census Results of the wildlife censuses conducted in the project area during the study period are summarized in table 3. Seasonal variation in numbers of species encountered during project area censuses each month is shown in figure 2. Study data show that the number of water-related bird species (waterfowl, shorebirds, herons, gulls, ospreys , bald eagles, dippers, belted kingfishers) remains relatively constant year- round, with a slight increase during the breeding season. The number of species of other birds is relatively high throughout the year, but increases considerably during the breeding season. Census results for the dipper are shown in figure 3, and variations in average monthly abundance of the most common waterfowl species, as determined by the censuses, is portrayed in figure 4. o Q M 2 O O U t/l U < O >n 3 rJ fo 3 Z s < >< < 0. a s < o; [k u pa Ij rt z (U 1-1 C u n3 CO c fl a> 03 jt: , (fl U) T3 jJ -H O 1^ 0) 0) U) x: X3 2 O c ■H f3 0) •-H ^ fO >. Ul ■a c a fO c > H w Vj T) 0 I/) ( TO XI 0) XI e 01 o }^ OJ u 0 C (U 1-^ o TJ (1) 1^ 0 <4-l (A iJ . fl3 "O ^ 0) s .H ■3i5 T 4-" o ^ a» fO ^3 3 " a T' to (0 » -H 0) ,^ U-) IM C (J> c ■o ^ 0> ■H (1) in w c^ ■H kj •■1 z OJ a. a 0 4J a n) a •H 1^ m 4J 4J 0 CP c ftJ TJ Q. c c ■rH ■H U OJ ■H l^ 4J u t3 Ul D- UJ 0) LO 1-4 0 U) dj )^ OJ M Cn 13 vj at CU V ^ -Q § a u ■H 3 01 m U) 0 OJ IM 3 -H C OJ a 0 14-. OJ c g a 18 TJ 11 Table 3. Results of project area wi Idlife censuses, October 1979-August 1980. Avera Species ge numbe Oct. r known Jan. 1 present Apr. psr trip June Aug. BIRDS Great Blue Heron 0.5 0. 3 0.7 0. 3 Canada Goose 4.0 21.3 2.3 5.3 0. 3 Mallard 15.3 36.3 32.0 22.3 14.3 Gadwall 0.8 - - - - Green-winged Teal - - 1.3 - - Blue-winqed Teal - - - .7 - Common Goldeneye - 68.3 17.3 - - Bufflehead - - 0.7 - - Harlequin Duck - - - 1.0 1.0 Hooded Merganser - 0.7 - - - Common Merganser 5.3 8.0 6.0 22.7 12.0 Unidentified Duck - - - - 0.7 Red-tailed Hawk - - - - 0.7 Bald Eagle - 2.0 - - - Osprey 0.8 - - 1.0 1.7 American Kestrel - - - 1.0 - Ruffed Grouse 0. 3 - - - - Killdeer - 0.3 0.7 2.3 - Spotted Sandpiper - - - 3. 0 2.0 Unidentified Gull - - - 0.3 - Mourning Dove - - - 1.0 0.7 Common Nighthawk - - - 1.0 - White-throated Swift - - - - n. 3 Unidentified Hummingbird - - - 0.3 - Belted Kingfisher 1.3 - - - 1.0 Common Flicker 0.3 - 1.0 0.7 - Pileated Woodpecker - 0.3 - - - Hairy Woodpecker - 0.3 - 1.0 - Unidentified Woodpecker - - - - 0.7 Unidentified Flycatcher - - - - 1.3 Violet-green Swallow - - - 17.0 - Barn Swallow - - - 0.7 - Unidentified Swallow - - 2.0 3.0 4.0 Steller' s Jay 1.3 - 0.7 - - Common Raven 0.8 9.3 .3 1.0 6.3 Common Crow 9.8 1.3 14.7 10.7 11.0 Chestnut-backed Chickadee - 0.3 - - - Black-capped Chickadee 3.0 13.3 6. 3 5.3 4. 3 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2.3 2.3 1.3 1.0 3.3 Gray Catbird - - - - 1.0 Brown Creeper - 0.3 - - - Dipper 5.0 7.7 1.3 3.0 1.7 American Robin 0.8 - 13.0 4.7 0.3 Varied Thrush 1.5 - 2.0 - - Mountain Bluebird 0.3 - 0.7 0.7 - Townsend's Solitaire 2.3 0.3 1.0 1.0 - Golden-crowned -King let 5.8 5.3 - - - Cedar Waxwing - - - - 4.0 Red-eyed Vireo - - - 4.0 0.3 Northern Shrike - 0.7 - - - Nashville Warbler - - - 0.7 - Yellow Warbler - - - 1.7 - Yellow-rumped Warbler - - - 2.0 - American Redstart - - - 1.3 0.7 Unidentified Warbler - - - - 0.3 Western Meadowlark 0.3 - - - - Brown-headed Cowbird - - - 0.7 - Pine Siskin - - - - 2.0 Rufous-sided Towhee - - 0.7 - - Dark-eyed Junco - 0.3 32.3 2. 7 0.7 Chipping Sparrow 0.5 - - 0.3 l.U Song Sparrow 3.0 2.0 12.7 8.3 B.O Unidentified Sparrow 0.5 - - - 0.7 Unidentified Passerine 0.5 1.0 - - 10. 1 MAMMALS Unidentified Chi|jmunk f.. 3 . _ 1.3 4. ! Tree Squirrel 2.0 2.0 - - J. 7 Bighorn Sheep 8.8 - 1 . 0 - - White-tailed "eer 0.8 - 1. 3 - - Muskrat 0. ( - 0.3 - - REPTILES Unidentified garter snak _ _ 0. 3 _ 12 40 38 36 34 32 30 28 10 UJ o UJ Q. 26 24 22 U. O 20 K UJ 03 Z z 18 16 14 12- 10- 8- 6- 4- 2- 0- MAMMALS OTHER BIRDS no o n o n To nooooooo" ^ ^ A ^ ^ I I I 1 1 1 il 1 1 n n n n n n n n n n ^uiTijvTuuiJPU5u')Q("-f>i->[)ooQooooonooo 0000000000000000'J'")0000000000000< ■OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DOOOOOOOOOOOr - ^ ^ __ OOOnOOOOOO' oooooooooooo lA/Zl I t R inooooooooo DOOOOOOOOOOOC " ' ^1* OOOOOOOOOO' ■ oooooooooooo QIDf^Q loooooooooo DOOOOOOOOOOOC Dir\L^O OOOOOOOOOO' ■oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 30000000000000000000000000000000' oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 30000000000000000000000000000000' OOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOQOOO^'^O'^OOOOOO'^ I I I I I I I I I I o a. K > (J z OD (T (T V z -I o ■D UJ O o UJ U. s < 2 -5 -3 < 1979 1980 ■:asomx ".'.in n; :'■- rrca vili.;i:l cc.nsi'sc;;, 10-1 9- z UJ trt UJ a z $ o z a: UJ m UJ o < UJ 7- 5- 4- 3- 2- I - I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Z 03 CC (E >- Z < UJ < 0. ** 3 -3 u. 2 < 2 -> _ie)Q.i->ozo3Q:Q:v D3UJOOUJ < 1980 M."('rt; '3. ^rasonal variation in average nvin'-ers of (-irpor.s encountered 'urir;'^ T-i-o-jcct area "ildlife censuses. 13 Bald Eagle Survey During the monitoring period, bald eagles were observed only in January. No bald eagles were seen during the first two roadside counts, but two adults were viewed during the January 17 count, one near China Rapids and the other near the Libby city limits. At least two eagles, one adult and one juvenile, were known to be present in the project area (near China Rapids) during wildlife censuses. The adult was probably the one observed near China Rapids during the roadside count. Harlequin Duck Special Studies Information on harlequin ducks observed during the monitoring period is presented in table 4. On October 8, 1979, a female harlequin was seen in the Kootenai River approximately 3 miles upstream from Kootenai Falls, and on October 12, 1979, an adult female harlequin was shot by a hunter on the Kootenai River near the mouth of Cedar Creek, 7 miles upstream from Kootenai Falls (John Jeresek, pers . comm.). This is an unusually late record for this species in Montana. On June 2, a pair of harlequins was seen feeding and loafing among rocks in China Rapids. Despite an intensive search, no broods were located by DNRC biologists. However, in July 1980, a brood of three young was seen with one adult female and two adult males among the rocks in river section M just above the falls (Rogers 1980; Wolf pers. comm.). This is the first documentation of harlequin ducks breeding in the study area. 14 ■ CANADA GOOSE • MALLARD D COMMON GOLDENEYE O COMMON MERGANSER I I r I I I I I I I I zmtrccvz-iOQ.(->ozmQ:Q:>-z «iuj. ^ d C C 0^ C^ O -O O 0) -H ^ .-I M O 3N O iJ ^ ON CO rH 0) -H 4) W --I *-l c " -i-t i; 3 U) Ui o to t, 3 3 (1) G 01 O •"- < ""1 "=^ 3 -H E I! II II II II ^ Amphibian and Reptile Search During August 1980, a population of Coeur d'Alene Salamanders (Plethodon Vandyke i) was discovered under moss on cliffs near the U.S. Highway 2 retaining wall. This area, proposed as the site for an access tunnel to the powerhouse, is one of the very few sites in Montana in which this species (listed as a species of special interest or concern in Montana (Flath 1981)) is known to exist. No other amphibians were observed during the monitoring period. The only reptile found was an unidentified garter snake (Thamnophis spp.) which was seen during the June wildlife census. Small Mammal Trapping Table 5 presents a summary of the results of 1979 and 1980 small mammal trapping. Census of Yaak Falls No vertebrates were observed in the Yaak Falls area during the October 1979 and April 1980 censuses. On June 2, 1980, a single dipper and 4 black- capped chickadees were observed at the falls, and on August 12, 2 robins and a raven were observed on the shoreline near the falls. Based on these limited data, it appears that Yaak Falls does not provide a habitat comparable to that of Kootenai Falls, and would not be suitable as a control or compensation area. It is recommended that the census of Yaak Falls be dropped from the monitoring study. 21 M-l O Hi to Eh a lij o 00 CTi i-H CM iZ CM 00 O a> in O r- .H n 0^ r-i o CT\ CO a^ in o cr. ■sT (y\ w XI 3 1-4 O £ CO W (-1 XI ca c en (T5 r~ Oi U1 iH 0) OJ U O B CO C^ C rH ro -H M T! cy^ a r-- •H O O CO T3 C^ c r-H fC te .H a> •J) r^ m G\ m .— 1 u c O r^ CO ■r^ (y> tC r-H rH & Tl 0 01 0 r- rH 01 ro O O ^3- CO rsi 0) 3 (0 o o i-l 3 10 4-1 O Eh OJ ■H O 0) a in 14H 0 !h 0) 3 rd -t-i O O in .-H 00 00 in in (Nl e (0 w e o Xi 4-1 0 in po Ln I n fN in o ro CN '3• 01 in lO I C1J I -g- ro in r~ in kd I m 0) ■r4 O 0) a tn Q) a, w 0) !h 3 4-1 a, It! o 3 0) 0) Sh C x: -H CO u 0) 0) ^ !-i U) O (0 CO s — s c 0) to M 1-4 x: 01 CO (0 > 4-1 c X (0 (U !-J IH 01 o iTJ CO > -- 72 o in in CM ,^ w Ul ,— - 3 3 ■H u ^ ^ ^ 4-) M •H tn U) (0 (U c 3 01 X 3 .H ft 1? T! tn C Tl 3 ft > 3 3 3 3 u nj M (0 0 e (0 •rH tjl >1 0) u s -— a, 0 c 0) U) M -H tn ■H -H rO r-4 Ul c 0 01 Di ft x; MH 6 0 >1 c > c C 0) U 3 > E Q) 0 ■H U l4 in 0 0) ft TD .-H ft c TD 0) 3 73 c H 0) e -I Q) tn w u (1) 0 0 in .-H U) 3 U ■-H (0 3 U) X ■H > 3 ■rH 3 i-:i ft •rH -rH 0 >, 0 M 4-1 rfl 4-1 rO e s E to x: s 0 4-1 0 3 tn 4-1 fO 0 X! 4-) 0 1-4 1 Sh 5 s 1 4J iH S-4 1 0) T) o 01 o 'O ft TD 3 0) > 25 •^' )A\ I ^SLf / fi K> /■ y\ I \H Vr \ o a. p. 1 W 1 '.^ «] ri 11 K 1 1 1 ^d^ •H 1 Uilai J*-^^ , CO V4 ^ Tin ) ■J) H ' (1 ■ J S « •-1 0) eu /If O 2 •-• -< -3 « (U >. ^ )-i ^\ C / ff « u- m O (U 14- O '• f M 2^ wj ■H •f-J rJ F-< CO 1 //] ri ^ -^ x: c C.1 CO 1 N>^ O r- o iH O en 0 *r II "^ -H Cj Vj 3 u # f . ^ « ra CJ C u II # tt , — 1 ^ U •rH ID /I » rj K Vl OJ o ^ P- C /# ■ 2 > C 01 E •H c 1 ■ O 1 //|V> 2 u 3 < CO u ^1 co' P 1 /■/A «- 4-1 *'"' u •. C3 C oil C- en ■/ 1 c C- C ■H 1 C iH 3 If 1 II '•-i D cs *M l+-' r— 1 c CO C 1/ I 1— 1 rH CT. C 1/ •H 0 •H M I u o a 1 _ r '. o PH k ■ l| 1 O E •H ■^ -^.^ £. ■ 11 - c t-- < CJ ^ o Cfl en M rH -r^ C^ 0 3 OJ n u; rc O 4J u r. t 1 ^ P t: i ll ^^ ■H o l-i o a (fi •rH ' U 0 lll^lli ., Cfl •H 0) -a C col -H P, to \l ll f-H C t-4 t3 c in '^ t Ih " c. \ \ 111 \ OJ 4J C u CO C_ C- •ri = 4-1 -O 3 II 4-1 ,,, c m •H r-i • . r 1 0) tn iiiW'- CO K c p M > 0. '4IJ CT; u u ill \\^ ^■". CJ >-l D ' o £ rS '-Ic 3 (U 0 f 1 \\l -J .-H C-C;^ (B w t.. IM £1 CO 4J -3 .■\ CO ^. ? p '^ C -iH 3 '-I '.; 3 3 4-1 3 o c;: P- c tj D C U -H :- 0 P- (0 . 3 L". c: --J -^1 CO \/a\ ' i^ c C G o ^. 1 ' o e... ^- I-< t-J 1 ol ^tai U 1 tH c^ O c t 1 OlI\« 1 ) 'J u o 4-J o CO "4/ ;-; p U If: rH Ir ■H CTl c n r'l — 1 c; r-1 tn CJ f^ ' J /If \) ^ P- ■=|h u: 5i i-) c: G n cf'l u| ! -H ^ B \ 1 m •H -iU. '^l "k' Vl i 1 L U- CO 4-1 (t =^i rtl - -0 fj / 1 ' O a r„ ,■_) 1 tj J' •■-^ OJ !?^ T p ' OJ ''-' '• ^1 & '. C OJ 0-. \ ' r^ .M r -;| l-'l rH -M . , => « ^ \ Ti O OJ C -- 1 "■ M \ -. I •H »-■ c:l "' ci - ! c- H 1 <« f i r 4J O. CO! ° 4J *-' i ^ <^ L-l to p. ^ ^1 ', [^ rt c ^4 TX 1 \ ll 4-1 Cl L > rJ y u - CO s 1 w OJ o • r , c H -J 00 0 t^l 1 t. Cl. cs: ^- CO O rH -H •'" ■ ^ 0 ,5 • Jli\ > GO -■ '-' 0 3 ^ n^ 4-J W 1 r-\ ^, CO < 5' 1 u : •H 0 / ir" ,'" ^ CI "1 /\ 1 I'- f-* c a •.• 0 ', rH X 1 1 ".-^ H- T* ,' ll/ \ 1 * 3 u.\ u ■' ■*" "1 col 0 "^ ''' i \ If \ i\ o a '.: O -H C 1 3 1^ "1 >1*, 1 \i \ 1^ ■H u '. n CJ ' •H en H, >-- rH CT p ^ ' « \ At \ r; c« rH r-- ^\ 12 CJ c 3 I- U( C- P- /. V « \ 1 h 0 c u 4->' OJ •h| u c c 3 r. c Iff' i H \ y^ O CO O. CJ ^1 ^ 'r^ ^'^\^\'^ cjt w; ^A\ / 1\\\ u 1-1 r-i tj cj: a, O ' I- P- tfl 0 , \V ^- >- C nj o & 1 O ^ r c CJ r; . c CO ,r ^ Ph "1 '^ lA A 1 ll 1 I \\' 1 ~ 3 (■ c ■-"I c ■ r= '" =^ 1 n ~ w y 1 J V \\ V- C a r 1 "^i 'J ' - ^ t^ e V r '. \l i Jorl \ 1) Zl t.l Strn'-, c > i , ' . c eg c> c 5^ \^' J '■H r> 1 I , (^ r- J r f U) 1 , . 1 \ ttj. tn 1 D y. c D ^ E n r-l 'J s its r Id. ^ 1 .'^ o 0 in J-l 6 u u^ o '3 u; u c n ■0 v^ t- f- o i c 0 H < I o C ___ 3 0 W O >- n Li 5 o- ^ r- < a. E e E P D o ■H ■H a X O 0 <0 14J u-> M -^ ■H r3 ^ U H H H 27 n:.n idiw 0) > 1-4 c o II I— I o 02 c to c -J >-l ca p- (X o ex c c c a a > p- c tn ta 3 4-1 - •H (T N K ^1 U c O 4:; iJ r. OJ O c ,c. E ^\ rt tr u u ^ 3' ■ H « •r-i (-1 rH M t^ Vj tt) 3 ■u 3 iJ > C- m o c o 3 3 a: •s.\ c 3| 3 tn o ■^ 3 dj 3 01 c a^ C ■— I r ; n ■ ra c~ u CO e; o 3 c vj ^ o w •H .H ^ '. 3 ^1.1 tn " f tnl -u' (Oi >- j 4-1 t- p- tj; p tn ' tn 0^ x:' to •H ^ tn • c p. a> p. 4-> tn to t . in 3 c 0) CO c! p' to; o u to tJIP-l Q- P- P P. en tn to| to; \^\^^' i^i^I « r c o u u f. iKi'i nj:,v>i 29 The meadow, which was once a hayfield, is dominated by a number of introduced grasses. Most of the meadow is dominated by a mixture of Agropyron repens , Poa pratensis , and Plantago lanceolata. When canopy- coverage was measured in August 1980, Agropyron repens appeared to be the dominant grass in the three transects sampled (table 7). Poa pratensis , Medicago lupiluna, and Taraxacum officinale appeared to have a greater canopy-coverage in early summer than is indicated by this August sampling; this is true in the other meadows as well. Transect No. 1, located in a representative stand of the predominant community type, contained a large amount of Plantago lanceolata. Transect No. 2 placed on the south side of the road near the edge of the meadow, contained a large number of Achillea millefolium inflorescences and very little Plantago. Transect No. 3 was placed in a community type in which Filago arvensis was abundant . In the southwestern corner of the meadow, seedlings of Populus trichocarpa, Prunus virginiana, and apple are becoming established among the grasses. Small patches of Bromus tectorum occur on steeper, sandy slopes at the edges of the meadow. Middle Meadow. This meadow lies 9,500-10,200 feet upstream from the falls. It is approximately 260 m long and 50 m wide (see figure 7). Elevations range from about 2,006 to 2,014 feet (msl). A powerline crosses the meadow's northern edge, and a dirt road crosses near its southern edge. Unlike the other meadows, that portion of the meadow near the riverbank slopes gradually toward the river, rather than dipping sharply to the water's ^ edge. This gradual sloping may have resulted from frequent inundation and deposition of sandy alluvial soil. The meadow is bounded on the west and east by forests of Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus ponderosa. The northern edge, at the base of a steep, rocky slope, is fringed by Betula and Alnus . Clumps of Betula, Alnus , and isolated Pinus ponderosa occur in the western third of the meadow. A grassy community with clumps of heavily-browsed Amelanchier alnifolia and other shrubs forms a band across the northern third of the meadow. Much of the remainder of the meadow is dominated by Agropyron repens and Poa pratensis . Transect No. 1 was placed in this latter community type (see table 7). Transect No. 2 sampled a community type dominated by Plantago lanceolata and Poa pratensis . Although not included in the transect, clumps of Agrostis alba are present in this community. Transect No. 3 was placed in a community type dominated by Filago arvensis and Bromus tectorum. Over 60% of this community type consists of bare ground, indicative of the poor water-holding capacity of the sandy soil. Young Populus trichocarpa seedlings are invading the meadow near its western and eastern edges. A fringe of scattered Populus trichocarpa and Pinus ponderosa delineates the southern edge of the meadow. Upstream Meadow. This meadow (see figure 8) lies 11,300-12,800 feet upstream from the falls. It is about 480 m long, and has a maximum width of 30 m. Elevations range from about 2,006 to 2,012 feet (msl). A small stream lined with Populus trichocarpa, Acer glabrum, Betula, and Alnus incana divides the meadow into halves. The northern edge of the meadow, which abuts a steep rock cliff, is lined with Betula, Alnus incana, and Acer glabrum. Tanacetum vulgare, Melilotus alba, and Centaurea maculosa dominate the bank 31 between the river and the meadow. A fringe of Populus trichocarpa occurs along part of the bank. Most of the meadow consists of a community type dominated by Poa pratensis ; Phleum pratense is a co-dominant in some areas. Transect No. 1 sampled this community type (see table 7). Transect No. 2 was placed near the northern edge of the meadow where three seeps or springs create an area of saturated soil and standing water. The community type here, dominated by Carex rostrata, Mimulus guttata, and Equisetum pratense, contains many wetland plant species. Transect No. 3 was placed among a patch of Populus trichocarpa saplings which are invading the Poa pratensis- and Agrostis alba- dominated grassland just east of the stream. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE MONITORING The monitoring study described in the baseline report (DNRC 1979) should be continued. However, results of this year's monitoring suggest the following changes in study design: (1) October Monitoring. Fall conditions do not seem to differ enough from those of August to justify an additional week of study. Therefore, October monitoring should be discontinued. (2) Yaak Falls . Yaak Falls does not appear suitable as a control area for the project area wildlife census or as a compensation area. Thus, the Yaak Falls census should be discontinued. However, if the dam is to be constructed, a control area for the project area censuses must be selected and added to the monitoring program no later than two years before the dam is constructed. Since an ideal control area does not seem to exist, the stretch of the Kootenai River immediately above the principal study area may be the best location for control studies. (3) Meadow Vegetation Monitoring. The vegetation of the three grassy meadows described in this report (the "Sheppard Meadows") should be quantitatively studied the year before scheduled inundation and during alternate years thereafter, using the methods employed in this study. (4) Bighorn Sheep Studies. To more precisely monitor seasonal use of the project area by bighorn sheep, those study methods used during the baseline study and this monitoring study should be combined. Combining these 33 methods will provide an index through which use of project area habitats can be compared between seasons and between years. The proposed technique for future monitoring is as follows: The north bank of the Kootenai River--including cliffs, benches, and shoreline--wil 1 be searched with a 20X spotting scope from ten fixed observation points along U.S. Highway 2 (see figure 9). Exactly 10 minutes will be spent searching for sheep from each point; all observations from the viewpoint will be recorded on maps and standard data sheets. Sightings made while traveling between viewpoints, and duplicate observations of the same group of animals, will be noted. Weather, snow cover, and visibility conditions also will be recorded; the survey will not be conducted when visibility is impaired by fog or precipitation. During January, June, and August field trips, researchers should attempt to visit each station three times: once in early morning, once at midday, and once late in the evening. In late March and early April, each station should be visited six times, with observation times rotated so that each station receives some morning, midday, and evening monitoring. In addition, the Sheppard Meadows will be ground-searched for tracks or other evidence of bighorn sheep use during the March-April visit. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This study was funded by Northern Lights, Inc. of Sandpoint, Idaho. Inventory data were gathered by Pat Nichols, Jeff Birkby, and Larry Thompson of the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. William Phippen, I DNRC , edited the report. Typing was done by Joanne Brown. > 37 LITERATURE CITED Daubenmire, R.F. 1959. A canopy-coverage method of vegetational analysis. Northwest Sci. 33:43-64. DNRC. 1979. Kootenai Falls wildlife inventory and impact analysis. Final Report. Helena, MT. Flath, D. 1981. Nongame species of special interest or concern. Mont. Dept. Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Helena, MT. Hall, G.A. 1964. Breeding bird censuses--why and how. Audubon Field Notes 18:413-416. James, F.C., and H. Shugart , Jr. 1970. A quantitative method of habitat description. Audubon Field Notes 24:727-736. Jeresek, J. 1980. Personal communication with Larry S. Thompson. Kolb, H. 1965. The Audubon winter bird population study. Audubon Field Notes 19:432-434. Meyer, J.R. 1979. Northwest Montana/North Idaho transmission corridor bald eagle study. Bonneville Power Administration. Portland, OR. Olson-Elliott and Associates. 1979. Kootenai Falls project - vegetation impacts assessment and inventory. Prepared for Montana Dept. of Natural Resources and Conservation, Helena, MT. Rogers, T.H. 1980. The nesting season: Northern Rocky Mountain- Intermountain Region. Amer. Birds 34:911-914. Skaar, P.D. 1980. Montana bird distribution. P.D. Skaar, 501 South Third, Bozeman, MT. Van Velzen, W.T. 1972. Breeding-bird census instructions. Amer. Birds 26(6):929-931. Wolf, C. 1981. Letter to Larry S. Thompson, February 25, 1981. •^R ^J^p-'-jnT" ! FIELD ?.HEFT -OR VtGTTaTiON DATi location: i<'00T<.<"^ I ^ '\U..< Size I DESCRIPTION Of AREfi ^^ [j)^T(y401 SPtCiFS*. I ift^g*" &-lc>l» <-Lil^ Circle I C";';: f' P.i<.;r '^oAji^mT ±11 «ft(H),B(5?.CC''T [>,Jjt t>-;-W»jr(t>! D(3) 9 l^.,^Hg).cC4-) , ^(^1 A(n lAt') i SHRUBG : fJUMBL'R OF WOCPv ST^MS LEES Tuyj 3 l^CHES d b h irjTERCCPTED IN 2 ARMLENGTH TRANSECTS) I L ^\ 35 ^3 30 fof foT ^3 1^5- 5^ 5H- I GROWD COvEB i20 RANDOM t OR - SIGHTINGS THROUGH OCULAR TUBE FOR PRESENCE Of? ASSENCc OF GFiEE^ VEGETATION] i \%t ? + ^^ \%± l(r t CANOHf COVER l2'0 + OR- SIGHTINGS THROUGH OCuiAP T LISE FOR PRESEfJ :E OR f-HEENCE OF GP=i^^ '.'^Gf ^ATiCN I ! -I- n-o + i?-t- lO-^ CANOPY HEIGHT; (MAXIMUM CA'JCPV HEIGHT IN FEET) JO 1 ho I ^Q'_ ..; ^0 TlNTh-ack: CIRCLES J SPECIES*. ,^ ft '-'^ 'i <^L^Ut'."" ^.^LMU! S^Jft|J^ ^ ■ BfcfULf^ ^pp. Ljl BE.TULA SNl,(r 1^^') 6 l.1h\>llr\i: tiOlAJ-'il.kO) TREES I:-;a>,'ETER SIZE CLASSES a-h ?-6, t-". q-lt , 1^- 2i .2i-2", 2^-? J. IS-^Q, xlQ) Circle b j Ci'de 7 I Circn fl AU1 ftfiM«(i;),c(0 C"ce'r},3'■.^) -A0°) Ji^:s_ A(l-).e(7 7 pi^jVjr PoMPLR^Sft tLiO. A(b),BC') IA01_ ■■("i.SCj) ,<•!-', P C ■ 'I 13 P -Popui-u; rRJcHocW'M 6C) '^^'>.C-C' ) g ?RJMJi v/^&IN^'fcfJf, '^^'.l■. lOfitviioriJUi yfAj:itsil (■(I ), 0(w.E^') rr^' J II Tu^y p. pljc^tAi KCM , 1% ruj Tfl. <,Nh(s ^<:n i I "^ \/ -J "- fjo ^ ^ S^t^'j- iCO ftv )i flu i H (a J V- ; SHRUBS i NLVBER OF WOOE:'' STEMS LESS THA.N 3 INCHES tj 6 n INTERCEPTED IN 2 ARMLEfJG'^H ■■PANSECTS) "T cr. - 1 ^^ 7b 3^ ni ?? 1 1 I \31 i feO ?0 7t GROUND CCvEP ( 20 RANDOV + OR - SiGhT'IMGS THROUGH OCULAR TUBE FOP PRESENCE OR ASSrN'TE OF GFiEEN VEGETATICN) nr; T X r i T + v-,ANCF» tOVLR l?0+ OR - SiCHTiriGS TnSOUGH OCULAR 'UBE FOR PPES'"'.CE OP ABSENCE 0- '^^EE'-' -.TGr-AT'ONI n^ I lO-f- J_LL jn + CANCPY HEIGHT: (MAXIMUM CAr.OPY HEIGHT IN FEET) T^-^ \ ^ (oO 3r T~^ \ 1 o ' 'Jse obbrevtoteri descnptiO'-.s o^ t'ees, inruDS. or ne'bs to aesiqnate species tc De laeniif.eo ioie' »c sr-xDcir cctt, ^eor'-"'Ooea 'pcU n is -'Tiponom 10 'a*?'>tifv only tne ' DIAMETER SIZE CLASS CROSS SECTIONAL AREA OF THE TRUNK AT 4 5 FT FROM THE GF^XNO ( d & h ) 0. 1 is A 3-? B C j D 1 E 1 F 1 G S-9'9-l5'i5-2li2l-27'27-323>4C >40 A» 9 C a 1)1(031 (08) D 1 E i F I G '"fJ'"! ' 1 A ^e*^ <^\j.hru\^ as- 1 i-fc 7-fc fc.O ■2.V 0.3 „ 1 1 2.^ \Lt X ■+.3 2 A 1t\\i 5 1 Ot.av\c<, 87 ^ 'il =(1 10.1 a. 7 I 1 "1.1 G.2 3 (>i S '^ihjf Sviat( :i 1 Z OS i7.a 0.5. 0.( 1 a.( " Retulo. iV. CKo fab 9 i5-l HI son IH.fc n.« 7. a "H.io lt..l 7 ,4. P,|,C1^V 2 -F 3 5 JJ 3 10 iO l4.J 0.1 i-l a-f 'I.O 1? 14.1 1 n-.gjn.i •7 14.1 ';■■ TtiU|» 51^0.1) 1 1 1 o-a o.y O.g Ic.S ' ^.1 TOTALS 1 1"' 1 0 "f "r~ ~3 7 7 Hffc l-(o |.X3'», ■:.ZE CLASS 1 1 ' "•• W V :>.1 !i-3 I.I !i.i 0.1 liELATlV/La- . J.,^ ,1^, X.fc "■?j'^.7|i5.h: lH.o SHi^llB' Tolal VTu^ slom ii 0' ■fonsecT". : pt' Circlein ICK) OiviOed by " e fiufODer ot )ron^^:ts = 733 O - "^^ L Me""' f>*-' ocre GRCi 'iN J COVER Trtoi Di-fsps' + ) ecorGec:._'0 ctQ^^'tnqs oer rirctei ■ ;00, ovLieij Dv '^e 'orot rcf^r^f of ^q'^tr^gs ■ ). -eco ded IZOst gMcnqs pe'Crt:e)« lOO.divided by me totoi numCier of s.ijiiinqs' b7. 5" % Conooy Cover Ca.'JO'- i-,tii-.'. AierMe-+(o.O Rooge' ^_?..- ■^0 note:j. ' 30SQ 0 v'O r.„. « 01 :" ^.. ,.-. NwfTf:*.- tu 'jn.' ore 2 ■( ifc - ■ g . i 3 - 6 ■ B t 0 (Mrns l| 0* ire t-"0- a»e - of ir»e — « eitcyi 00 umtJet 4 b 'eat Id & ft > j. .1-. ''-_:.}LEr as'"TC'(;o c.i;- 40 » -'■1*':m<*'> <'^^' «^*