Kris Randall
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Arizona Ecological Services Field Office
2321 W. Royal Palm Rd., Suite 103
Phoenix, AZ 85021-4951
RE: 2006 Reporting and Monitoring Report for Safe Harbor Agreement and Private Lands Agreement with Modifications #1 and #2.
Enclosed is the 2006 Reporting and Monitoring Report provided for in Section 11 of the “Safe Harbor Agreement with James W. Crosswhite for Voluntary Enhancement and Restoration Activities Benefiting the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and Little Colorado Spinedace in Nutrioso Creek, Arizona”, dated December 19, 2003. The Report also covers monitoring for Private Lands Agreement Number 1448-20181-2-G598 effective July 24, 2002, Modification #1 dated January 8, 2004, and Modification #2 dated April 21, 2004.
Sincerely,
/signed/James W. Crosswhite
EC Bar Ranch
Box 44
Nutrioso, AZ 85932
Enclosed: 2006 Reporting and Monitoring Report
December 31, 2006
For the Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) with James W. Crosswhite
for Voluntary Enhancement and Restoration Activities
Benefiting the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
and Little Colorado Spinedace in Nutrioso Creek, Arizona
and
Private Lands Agreement Number 1448-20181-2-G598 effective July 24, 2002,
Modification #1 dated January 8, 2004, and
Modification #2 dated April 21, 2004.
In Section 11, SHA dated December 19, 2003, Reporting and Monitoring are described as follows:
The Cooperator will work cooperatively with the Service and AGFD for monitoring and reporting activities related to implementation of the Agreement and fulfillment of its provisions, including verification of baseline maintenance, implementation of agreed-upon conservation measures, and take authorized by the permit.
The Cooperator will submit a Compliance/Biological Monitoring Report to the Service by December 31 of each year following the frequency specified in the following table.
Frequency of Compliance/Biological Monitoring Report |
Years Report is submitted |
Reports submitted |
Comments |
|
First four years of project |
2004 2005 2006 2007 |
12-31-04 12-31-05 12-31-06 |
Report covers SHA and PLA monitoring requirements. |
|
Every three years
|
2010 2013 |
|
|
|
Every ten years
|
2023 2033 2043 2053 |
|
|
The report will include an inventory of riparian trees, photo point monitoring, observation records, a description of the number of cuttings harvested, and an evaluation of the condition of riparian fencing.
The Cooperator will conduct an inventory of riparian trees 3 feet or greater in height, thus providing verification of the baseline. In addition, the Cooperator will conduct photo point monitoring of the riparian vegetation in September after the summer monsoon rains. This project will build on previous photo point monitoring the Cooperator has conducted since 1998. The photographs will be taken at specified locations along several reaches of the creek. During this time, the Cooperator will also record observations documenting plant vigor, insect damage, or herbivore utilization.
The harvesting of cuttings of the riparian vegetation may occur in two to four years following planting. At the end of two years (after planting), the Service will meet with the Cooperator to determine if the riparian trees planted are of sufficient size and whether or not cuttings can be taken. Factors that will be used to make the determination include, but are not limited to, number of stems produced per tree, cutting length, stem diameter, and timing of harvest. If the Cooperator harvests cuttings, a description of the number of cuttings harvested will be provided to the Service.
Monitoring of the southwestern willow flycatcher can be initiated when the riparian habitat developed by this project establishes the structure that is thought to be required for this species. AGFD conducts statewide annual monitoring of breeding southwestern willow flycatchers. The Service, through the Arizona Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, will work with AGFD regarding flycatcher monitoring. When the habitat reaches a point where it is thought capable of supporting southwestern willow flycatchers, Partners will inform AGFD.
Monitoring will be conducted according to the survey protocol that has been established for the southwestern willow flycatcher (USFWS 2000, Sogge et al. 1997). If this monitoring protocol is revised, project monitoring will adopt the new format. A minimum of three surveys would be conducted. The first survey period would occur between May 15 and May 31. The second survey period would occur between June 1 and June 21. The third survey would occur between June 22 and July 17. Monitoring results for this site will be included in AGFD’s annual report on the southwestern willow flycatcher.
Monitoring of Little Colorado spinedace will be conducted in cooperation with AGFD. The focus of the monitoring will be to evaluate changes in the species’ population and the physical quality of aquatic habitat.
The annual Compliance/Biological Monitoring Report provided to the Service will provide data on the development and/or maintenance of the riparian habitat. This report will provide the data to indicate whether net benefits are accruing on the Enrolled Lands.
In the Private Lands Agreement Number 1448-20181-2-G598 effective July 24, 2002, Modification #1 dated January 8, 2004, and Modification #2 dated April 21, 2004, monitoring is covered by the periodic SHA Reporting and Monitoring Report.
Project Name: Safe Harbor Agreement with James W. Crosswhite for Voluntary Enhancement and Restoration Activities Benefiting the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and Little Colorado Spinedace in Nutrioso Creek, Arizona
FY Agreement signed: 2004
Landowner Name: James Crosswhite
Project Location: EC Bar Ranch, Nutrioso, AZ
Address: PO Box 44, Nutrioso, AZ 85932
Data collected by: Jim Crosswhite
Dates of monitoring for categories:
1. Inventory: 9-11-06
2. Photo point monitoring: 9-11-06
3. Observations: throughout the period.
4. Harvesting: not applicable.
1. Inventory of Riparian trees.
|
Enrolled acres by reach |
Number of riparian trees 3 feet or greater in height as of 12-31-06 |
|
Reach 1 |
4,233 trees, including plantings by the landowner without USFWS funding. |
|
Reach 2 |
5,871 trees, including plantings by the landowner without USFWS funding. |
|
Reach 3 |
652 trees, including plantings by the landowner without USFWS funding. |
|
Reach 4 |
23,179 trees. In 2004, approximately 15,000 trees, mainly coyote willow poles, were planted in reach 4 on Nutrioso Creek located on the EC Bar Ranch under a USFWS Partners in Fish & Wildlife Private Lands Agreement with Modification #1. In addition, approximately 6,000 trees, mainly coyote willow poles, were planted in reach 4 with funding in part by AZ Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). |
|
Reach 6 |
4,015 trees, including plantings by the landowner without USFWS funding. |
|
Total |
37,950 trees, including plantings with and without agency funding. |
2. Photo monitoring. See www.ecbarranch.com website link http://www.ecbarranch.com/adeq%206001/photomonitoring/9-11-06/start.htm. Then choose Reaches 1-6 and photos taken in 2006. To print a page while looking at the page online, press the Print key. Another option is to copy the online page into a Word document, save and/or print it.
3. Observation of project area.
A. Climate conditions during 2006: Winter precipitation was below normal. Monsoon rains arrived in late July, but produced normal precipitation between 10-15 inches in the Nutrioso area.
B. Stream flow regime: January to December had a flow throughout the project area, with high flows in March-April.
C. Fence conditions: Riparian and elk proof fencing was effective at controlling livestock and excluding elk.
D. Activities conducted during the monitoring period:
(1) Observations of willow plantings: Vigorous growth.
(2) Evidence of insect damage: None detected.
(3) Evidence of herbivore utilization: Beavers were present in the project area.
(4) Other observations: Invasive species/noxious weeds, including Russian olive, Muskthistle, and Bull thistle were treated in riparian pastures during the year. In June 2006, AGFD and FWS captured native fish, including LC spinedace, and relocated them from USFS downstream on Nutrioso Creek to the EC Bar Ranch. This was the first known instance where a listed fish species has been relocated from public to private land in AZ. See AGFD Fish Reports and FWS letter at link http://www.ecbarranch.com/agfd/fishmonitoring.htm. The ADEQ recommended removal of the section of Nutrioso Creek with water quality concerns as described in the Nutrioso Creek TMDL for Turbidity (July 2000) be removed from the Section 303(d) list as a non-attaining water body. If approved by EPA, this may be the first instance where a water body has been removed from the 303(d) list due to mitigation in AZ. See ADEQ letter at link http://www.ecbarranch.com/articles/adeq_delist_nc/ADEQdelisting82806.htm.
4. Harvesting of willows.
A. Date of any meeting with the Service to determine if the riparian trees planted are of sufficient size to be harvested and if cuttings can be taken: No meeting was held during the period.
5. Monitoring for southwestern willow flycatcher.
A. Does the riparian vegetation appear to have the structural characteristics that may provide potential suitable habitat for southwestern willow flycatchers? Maybe.
B. Has a survey for willow flycatchers been conducted in the project area? No.
C. Has a willow flycatcher habitat restoration plan been completed? No, but a draft plan is being developed. See www.ecbarranch.com website link http://ecbarranch.com/usfs%201011/flycatcherrecoveryplan.htm.
6. Monitoring for Little Colorado spinedace.
Did AGFD or another entity conduct a fish survey during the period in the project area of Nutrioso Creek on the EC Bar Ranch: Yes. See AGFD Fish Reports and FWS letter at link http://www.ecbarranch.com/agfd/fishmonitoring.htm.
7. Private Lands Agreement.
Has a meeting occurred between the Cooperator and the Service to determine if the vegetation planted is displaying good health and vigor? Yes. In June and August 2006, Marty Underwood, FWS Partners Program, performed a site visit.