December
31, 2007
Kris
Randall Field
Supervisor
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Arizona Ecological Services Field Office
2321 W. Royal Palm Rd., Suite 103
Phoenix, AZ 85021-4951
RE: 2007 Reporting and Monitoring
Report for Safe Harbor Agreement and Private Lands Agreement with
Modifications #1 and #2.
Dear Kris,
Enclosed is the 2007 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: 2007 Reporting and Monitoring Report
REPORTING AND MONITORING REPORTDecember 31, 2007 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:
Compliance/Biological Monitoring 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.
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. Net Benefit Monitoring/Reporting 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.
Compliance/Biological
Monitoring Report for the period:
1-01-07 to 12-31-07
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: 9-05-07 2. Photo point monitoring: 9-05-07 3.
Observations: throughout the period. 4.
Harvesting: not applicable. 1.
Inventory of Riparian trees.
2.
Photo monitoring. See
www.ecbarranch.com website link
http://www.ecbarranch.com/adeq%206001/photomonitoring/9-4-07/start.htm.
Then choose Reaches 1-6 and photos taken in 2007. 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
2007:
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 other varieties of thistles
were treated in riparian pastures during the year. 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. EPA approved delisting,
which resulted in the first instance in AZ where a water body has ever been
removed from the 303(d) list due to mitigation. See ADEQ letter at link
http://www.ecbarranch.com/articles/adeq_delist_nc/ADEQdelisting82806.htm
and EPA article at link
http://www.ecbarranch.com/articles/success_story/success_2007.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. 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: No. 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? No.
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