Progress 08/24/09 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Monitoring data collected under this project are provided to the Washington Natural Heritage Program (WNHP) and to federal, state, and local land managers. During the period of July 1, 2011 to October 31, 2012, 200 surveys of rare plant occurrences were conducted throughout the state of Washington. In addition, Rare Care participated in several special projects to conduct intensive surveys on USFWS Threatened and Endangered Species and Species of Concern. A total of 131 volunteers participated in the project contributing 4,861 hours. Populations were monitored by volunteers during the growing season when the species was most likely to be identifiable. Information collected by the volunteers included whether the population was extant, the precise location and area of the population, associated species, phenology data, a description of the habitat and physical environment, identification of invasive species, and land use or habitat management concerns. Estimates of population size were made either by directly counting the number of individuals or by using random plot sampling in accordance with Elzinga et. al. (1998). However, for some remote sites or sites on difficult terrain, random plot sampling was not possible due to time constraints or safety. For those populations, monitors provided a rough estimate based on observed density of plants and the area covered by the population. Qualitative pollinator data were also collected, including species identity to phylogenic order. The data were recorded by volunteers, reviewed by Rare Care staff for quality and completeness and, if necessary, clarified to provide incomplete or missing information. Completed original field data sheets were provided to land managers and biologists at public agencies where the populations occurred and a copy was provided to WNHP. In July 2012, Rare Care conducted its sixth annual group monitoring weekend in Klickitat County. The weekend had two focuses: 1) mapping Sisyrinchium sarmentosum populations and visiting modeling plots of potentially suitable habitat to search for new populations, and 2) conducting revisits and mapping new occurrences of rare plants at Conboy National Wildlife Refuge. In August 2011 and 2012, Rare Care conducted special surveys at Turnbull NWR to locate new populations of Silene spaldingii, a USFWS Threatened species. Rare Care also assisted agency botanists with monitoring of sensitive plant populations for two other projects led by project partners. Rare Care assisted with surveys for Rorippa columbiae, a USFWS Species of Concern, along the Hanford Reach in October 2012. Volunteers also assisted with collecting data on Sidalcea oregana var. calva (USFWS Endangered species) transects at Camas Meadows. We expect to continue with the Sidalcea oregana var. calva monitoring in 2013. PARTICIPANTS: Sarah Reichard, Professor/Director, University of Washington Botanic Gardens, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. Wendy Gibble, Rare Plant Care and Conservation Program, University of Washington Botanic Gardens, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. John Fleckenstein, Washington Natural Heritage Program, Washington Department of Natural Resources. Volunteers, University of Washington Botanic Gardens, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences: During the project period, 131 volunteers devoted 4,861 hours to rare plant monitoring and contributed 43,075 miles in their personal vehicles. This included hours dedicated to training, field work, travel, and report writing. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Washington Natural Heritage Program, partner agencies and organizations (including the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of Defense, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Washington State Department of Parks and Recreation, and The Nature Conservancy), botanists, researchers, educators, students, volunteers, and the general public. Monitoring data collected under this project are provided to the Washington Natural Heritage Program and to federal, state, and local land managers to inform short-term and long-term management activities. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: In addition to the revisits to known populations of rare plants, volunteers discovered and documented 28 populations of rare plant species that do not appear to be listed in the Washington Natural Heritage Program's (WNHP's) database. These included one population of a USFWS Threatened species, Howellia aquatilis, and eight populations for species tracked by USFWS as Species of Concern: Erigeron howellii, Lomatium suksdorfii, Meconella oregana, Penstemon barrettiae (2 populations), Ranunculus triternatus, and Sisyrinchium sarmentosum (2 populations). Final determination will be made by WNHP as to whether these populations are in fact new or represent an extension of an existing element occurrence. These reports have been provided to land managers at public agencies where the populations were discovered and a copy has been provided to WNHP.
Impacts
Volunteers successfully relocated the rare plant species at 58% of the sites. Volunteers attempted but were unable to reach ten of the sites due to access or time constraints. Reports were also provided for an additional twenty-eight potentially new occurrences that do not yet appear to be listed in the Washington Natural Heritage Program database. Between July 1, 2011 and October 31, 2012, Rare Care volunteers completed 200 monitoring reports on known occurrences or portions of occurrences that could be monitored in one day. The populations were found and documented at 115 of the sites. Forty of the rare plant populations found consisted of fewer than 50 individuals. Of the remaining 85 occurrences where the species was not relocated, ten included sites that the surveyors did not reach due to accessibility problems or because they ran out of time. Of the remaining 75 occurrences that surveyors did not successfully relocate, another attempt will be made in a subsequent year by Rare Care volunteers until a total of three attempts by at least two different individuals have been made. At that point, Rare Care considers an occurrence to have failed and no further attempts are made to monitor the site in the future. The exception is Howellia aquatilis occurrences at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge in which only two attempts are made for each pond because of the greater certainty concerning the location of these sites (location and identity of ponds were coordinated with Refuge biologist). Of the 75 occurrences not found in 2011 and 2012, twelve sites are considered to be extirpated because the visit constituted Rare Care's final survey attempt. Volunteers documented invasive species at 43% of the sites. In addition, potential land use and management concerns were identified by volunteers at 43% of the sites. Of the 200 monitoring reports provided on known occurrences of rare plants by volunteers during the project period, 31 were for species designated by Rare Care as focus species. Focus species are ones that Rare Care placed a high priority on revisiting all known occurrences located on public lands to provide an updated assessment of the overall health of their populations in Washington State. Three of the eight focus species are either listed under the Endangered Species Act or are tracked as USFWS Species of Concern. The remaining five are sensitive species tracked by WNHP because of their rarity in Washington State, but they are not considered to be rare across their natural range. Results of the S. sarmentosum mapping are being incorporated into population maps by the U.S. Forest Service. Surveys of modeling plots identified two potentially new populations. The Turnbull NWR surveys, in August 2011 and 2012, resulted in the documentation of one new population within the vicinity of element occurrence 61, consisting of 117 individuals.
Publications
- Gibble, W., and Fleckenstein, J. 2013. Copablepharon fuscum (sand-verbena moth) and Abronia latifolia (yellow sand-verbena) Washington State Surveys, Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Natural Heritage Report 2013-02, Washington Natural Heritage Program, January 14, 2013.
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