Xerces Society Inc

NRCS-XERCES SOCIETY PARTNERSHIP FOR POLLINATORS

STACKING CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE AND POLLINATOR CONSERVATION TO LEVERAGE MARKET-BASED INCENTIVES.

RECOVERING MONARCH BUTTERFLIES IN CALIFORNIA

TO ASSIST NRCS AND HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, NRCS PARTNERS AND LANDOWNERS IN THE IDENTIFICATION/INITIATION OF POLLINATOR CONSERVATION PRACTICES.

NRCS-XERCES SOCIETY NTSC POLLINATOR ASSISTANCE PROJECT

MIGRATORY DRAGONFLY PARTNERSHIP

THIS AGREEMENT WOULD BE TO PAY FOR XERCES SOCIETY TIME AND EXPERTISE ONPOLLINATOR SPECIES IDENTIFICATION WITHIN THE PLANTS DATABASE.

COLLABORATION BETWEEN XERCES SOCIETY AND THE USDA PEOPLE’S GARDEN INITIATIVE TO EXPAND POLLINATOR AND BENEFICIAL INSECT OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO GARDENS NATIONWIDE.

ISSSSP INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION

MULTI STATE POLLINATOR CONSERVATION 2023

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: L23AS00162FUNDING OPPORTUNITY GOALS TEXT: BEES ARE HIGHLY IMPORTANT POLLINATORS WITH SUBSTANTIAL ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE. SUBSTANTIAL WORLDWIDE DECLINES OF POLLINATORS, INCLUDING BEES, ARE REPORTED AND MANY OF THESE SPECIES MAY BECOME LISTED AS THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES. THERE IS VERY LITTLE DISTRIBUTIONAL INFORMATION FOR POLLINATORS, INCLUDING BEES. DISTRIBUTIONAL INFORMATION IS CRUCIAL FOR BLMS ABILITY TO CONSERVE BEES ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE. THE PROPOSAL TARGETS 5 BEE SPECIES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN PETITIONED FOR LISTING UNDER THE ESA. FOCUSING ON SPECIES PETITIONED FOR LISTING IS ESPECIALLY RELEVANT GIVEN THAT INFORMATION MAY BE VALUABLE FOR FWS EVALUATION OF SPECIES STATUS OR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSERVATION STRATEGIES. THE TECHNICAL APPROACH CLEARLY IDENTIFIES 6 ACTIONS TO SURVEY BEES AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND HABITAT USE ON BLM LANDS. THE ACTIONS INCLUDE OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING TO VOLUNTEERS ACROSS COLORADO, NEVADA, UTAH, AND WYOMING, THE PROVISION OF SURVEY KITS TO VOLUNTEERS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A WEBSITE PORTAL. THE PROPOSAL ALSO INCLUDES ONGOING MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS OF THE DATABASE AND THE DELIVERY OF PRESENTATIONS AND FIELD VISITS.

THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS INVENTORY PROJECT IS TO COLLECT SPECIES PRESENCE DATA ON THE BUMBLE BEES AND T E BUTTERFLIES PRESENT AT BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK (BADL), FORT LARAMIE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE (FOLA), SCOTTS BLUFF NATIONAL MONUMENT (SCBL), AGATE FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT (AGFO), AND MISSOURI NATIONAL RECREATIONAL RIVER (MNRR) TO INFORM INVASIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, CONTROLLED BURNING, AND COMPLIANCE DETERMINATIONS FOR T E SPECIES. THE METHODS USED COULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY OTHER NATIONAL PARK UNITS IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS NETWORK (NGPN), SHOULD INTEREST ARISE. COOPERATORS WILL USE DATA COLLECTED IN THIS PROJECT AND A GENERAL LITERATURE REVIEW TO PROVIDE PARK-SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY POTENTIAL VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT, PRESCRIBED BURNING, AND COMPLIANCE DETERMINATIONS).

BUILDING PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF NATIVE PLANT MATERIALS FOR BUMBLE BEES AND OTHER POLLINATORS

GREAT PLAINS BUMBLE BEE ATLAS

TRAINING, TECHNICAL GUIDANCE, AND INVENTORY FOR IMPERILED, THREATENED, AND ENDANGERED BUTTERFLIES ON BLM LANDS IN CALIFORNIA

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM

BUMBLE BEE ATLAS

15.945: COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS - RESOURCES OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEMPROGRAMMING SUPPORTS A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF COOPERATIVE STUDY UNITS TO FACILITATE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING TO INFORM SCIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM. THE STUDY UNITS FACILITATE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY SCIENCE AND INTEGRATED INFORMATION PRODUCTS ACROSS MULTIPLE GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.THIS PROJECT WILL DOCUMENT POLLINATORS AT EFFIGY MOUNDS NATIONAL MONUMENT, HERBERT HOOVER NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, AND HOMESTEAD NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK TO INFORM VEGETATION MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT COMPLIANCE FOR THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES. IN ALIGNMENT WITH EXECUTIVE ORDER 14303, RESTORING GOLD STANDARD SCIENCE, THE PROJECT WILL PRODUCE TRANSPARENT, REPRODUCIBLE DATASETS AND APPLY RIGOROUS, WELLDOCUMENTED SCIENTIFIC METHODS TO GUIDE EVIDENCEBASED MANAGEMENT DECISIONS. THE WORK WILL IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VISITORS TO VIEW BEES AND BUTTERFLIES, ENHANCE HABITAT RESTORATION PLANNING, AND SUPPORT LONGTERM CONSERVATION OF POLLINATOR SPECIES. DELIVERABLES INCLUDE A SUMMARY RESOURCE REPORT, ASSOCIATED DATASETS, AND PARKSPECIFIC MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS.BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, PUBLIC PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

FISH, WILDLIFE, & PLANT CONSV. RES. MGMT, 2008

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM

WESTERN MONARCH BUTTERFLY AND POLLINATOR CONSERVATION

REGIONAL MONARCH AND POLLINATOR CONSERVATION PROGRAM

DEVELOP A SHARED XERCES NRCS POSITION FOR PEST MANAGEMENT, POLLINATOR CONSERVATION AND FARM PLANNING

DEVELOPMENT OF A VISUAL SURVEY PROTOCOL FOR FRESHWATER MUSSELS IN WESTERN NORTH AMERICAN WATERSHEDS

HQ PROVIDING TECHNICAL GUIDANCE ON RARE AND AT-RISK POLLINATORS ON BLM LANDS ACROSS THE WESTERN US TO INFORM POLLINATOR AND MONARCH BUTTERFLY CONDITION, HABITAT MANAGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING

ASSESSMENT OF FRESHWATER MUSSEL DISTRIBUTION, STATUS, AND HEALTH IN THE CHEHALIS RIVER

CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

F22AP01839

OF THE 17 SPECIES OF BUMBLE BEES THAT OCCUR ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST, SEVERAL HAVE EITHER BEEN FEDERALLY LISTED RUSTY PATCHED BUMBLE BEE, BOMBUS AFFINIS , PETITIONED FOR LISTING YELLOW BANDED BUMBLE BEE, B TERRICOLA , AND OR HAVE POSITIVE 90 DAY FINDINGS VARIABLE CUCKOO BUMBLE BEE, B VARIABILIS, AND AMERICAN BUMBLE BEE, B PENSYLVANICUS OTHER SPECIES WITHIN THE PROJECT AREA ARE IN A THREATENED CATEGORY ON THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE IUCN RED LIST SOUTHERN PLAINS BUMBLE BEE, B FRATERNUS ENDANGERED AND YELLOW BUMBLE BEE, B FERVIDUS VULNERABLE EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT OVERALL BUMBLE BEE POPULATION NUMBERS, DIVERSITY, AND ABUNDANCE HAVE DRAMATICALLY DECREASED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES THE CAUSES OF THESE DECLINES ARE NOT FULLY UNDERSTOOD, BUT THE FOLLOWING LIKELY PLAY A ROLE LOSS OR FRAGMENTATION OF HABITAT, PESTICIDE EXPOSURE, CLIMATE CHANGE, COMPETITION WITH HONEY BEES, LOW GENETIC DIVERSITY, AND PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANT OF ALL, THE INTRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PATHOGENS THROUGH COMMERCIAL HONEY BEE AND BUMBLE BEE COLONIES USED FOR CROP POLLINATION ALL OF THESE FACTORS LIKELY INTERACT, INCREASING BUMBLE BEE VULNERABILITY ADDITIONALLY, CURRENT OCCURRENCE DATA FOR THESE SPECIES ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST HAS SUBSTANTIAL DEFICIENCIES, INCLUDING A LACK OF A COMPREHENSIVE, SYSTEMATIC, AND REPEATABLE SURVEYS TO TRACK BUMBLE BEES AT A REGIONAL SCALE FUTURE SPECIES STATUS ASSESSMENTS SSAS , LISTING DECISIONS, AND CONSERVATION PLANS ACTIONS WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT FROM AN ORGANIZED EFFORT TO UPDATE ELEMENT OCCURRENCE RECORDS EORS

THIS AGREEMENT CONSIST OF FOUR KEY STEPS TO RECOVERING THE WESTERN MONARCH POPULATION, INCLUDING PROTECTING & MANAGING CALIFORNIA OVERWINTERING SITES, RESTORING BREEDING & MIGRATORY HABITATS, PROTECTING & RESTORING SUMMER BREEDING AND FALL MIGRATION MONARCH HABITATS OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA, AND PROTECTING ALL THESE CRITICAL HABITATS FROM PESTICIDES. THIS PROJECT WILL HELP TO STABILIZE AND INCREASE THE POPULATION OF WESTERN MONARCHS.

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM

INTERAGENCY SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES PROGRAM INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION

PLANT MATERIALS FOR MONARCHS IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

ORWA PNW BUMBLE BEE ATLAS

ORWA SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES FACT SHEETS

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND THEUNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO, XERCES STAFF WILL UPDATE EXISTING MODELS OF CONNECTIVITY ACROSSCALIFORNIA S SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY TO HIGHLIGHT CORRIDORS OF LEAST PESTICIDE EXPOSURE RISK TO FRAME ATWO-PART INITIATIVE TO CREATE MONARCH BUTTERFLY AND POLLINATOR HABITAT IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.THE VALLEY HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AS A LANDSCAPE THROUGHWHICH MONARCHS NEED TO CROSS ON THEIR WAY TO AND FROM COASTAL OVERWINTERING SITES HOWEVER, ITSEVERELY LACKS HABITAT AND MONARCH BUTTERFLIES FACE SIGNIFICANT PESTICIDE EXPOSURE RISK. THE COREOF THIS INITIATIVE WILL HIGHLIGHT WHERE TO PRIORITIZE MONARCH AND POLLINATOR HABITAT IN CORRIDORS OF LEASTPESTICIDE RISK ACROSS THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. IN ADDITION, THE EFFORT WILL HIGHLIGHT A COMBINATION OFCROP SPECIFIC INTEGRATED PEST AND POLLINATOR MANAGEMENT PLANS AND POLLINATOR-PROTECTIVE BESTMANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO WORK WITH FARMERS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY TO TAKE STEPS TO LOWER PESTICIDERISKS TO MONARCHS AND POLLINATORS. THIS EFFORT WILL SUPPORT A WIDE RANGE OF HABITAT RESTORATIONEFFORTS BEING IMPLEMENTED BY CONSERVATION NON-PROFITS, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, FARMERS ANDOTHER STAKEHOLDERS. THIS EFFORT ALSO WILL COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH THE DIVERSE PARTNERS ENGAGED INTHE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY WESTERN MONARCH COLLABORATIVE, ORGANIZED BY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFESERVICE.PROJECT

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ESTABLISH A BASELINE FOR CONSERVING FRESHWATER MUSSELS IN THE UPPER COLUMBIA SUPPORTING THE MID COLUMBIA FWCOS INTEREST IN EVALUATING AND MONITORING THE STATUS OF FRESHWATER MUSSELS AND OTHER NATIVE AND INVASIVE AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES IN THE UPPER COLUMBIA REGION OF WASHINGTON STATE. THIS PROJECT WILL ASSESS THE DISTRIBUTION OF FRESHWATER MUSSELS IN THE UPPER COLUMBIA REGION AND PROVIDE DATA AND INFORMATION TO SUPPORT PARTNER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS INCLUDING SALVAGE ACTIVITIES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LONG TERM MONITORING PLAN. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS XERCES STAFF WILL CONDUCT A DATA REVIEW ENGAGE WITH PARTNERS PERFORM INVENTORY AND MONITORING SURVEYS COMPLETE DATA MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING AND DEVELOP A LONG TERM MUSSEL MONITORING PROGRAM FOR IMPORTANT FRESHWATER MUSSEL AREAS WITHIN THE UPPER COLUMBIA. DELIVERABLES AND OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE THE COMPLETION OF FIELDWORK ACTIVITIES COORDINATION WITH UPPER COLUMBIA SUBBASIN PARTNERS AND INTERIM AND FINAL REPORTING. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE STAFF AT THE USFWS AS WELL AS OTHER AGENCY AND TRIBAL STAFF.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ESTABLISH A BASELINE FOR CONSERVING FRESHWATER MUSSELS IN THE LOWER YAKIMA RIVER MEETING USFWS REQUIREMENTS UNDER THEIR AGREEMENT WITH THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION. THIS PROJECT WILL ASSESS THE DISTRIBUTION OF FRESHWATER MUSSELS IN THE YAKIMA BASIN AND PROVIDE DATA AND INFORMATION TO SUPPORT PARTNER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS INCLUDING SALVAGE ACTIVITIES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LONG TERM MONITORING PLAN. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS XERCES STAFF WILL CONDUCT A DATA REVIEW ENGAGE WITH PARTNERS PERFORM INVENTORY AND MONITORING SURVEYS COMPLETE DATA MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING AND DEVELOP A LONG TERM MUSSEL MONITORING PROGRAM FOR IMPORTANT FRESHWATER MUSSEL AREAS WITHIN THE YAKIMA BASIN. DELIVERABLES AND OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE THE COMPLETION OF FIELDWORK ACTIVITIES COORDINATION WITH YAKIMA BASIN PARTNERS AND INTERIM AND FINAL REPORTING. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE STAFF AT THE USFWS AS WELL AS OTHER AGENCY AND TRIBAL STAFF.

WESTERN MONARCH BUTTERFLIES ARE AMONG NORTH AMERICAS MOST ICONIC MIGRATORY INSECTS, YET THE POPULATION HAS DECLINED BY MORE THAN 97% SINCE THE 1980S. THE WESTERN MONARCH POPULATION NOW FACES AN ESTIMATED 86% PROBABILITY OF EXTINCTION BY 2067, AND 2025 MARKED THE THIRD-SMALLEST OVERWINTERING POPULATION EVER RECORDED. BECAUSE MONARCHS ARE CANDIDATE SPECIES UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AND CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE DECLINES, THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR OVERWINTERING ECOLOGY, MOVEMENT PATTERNS, AND HABITAT USE IN ORDER TO INFORM CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACTIONS.THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT TWO COMPLEMENTARY EFFORTS LED BY THE XERCES SOCIETY TO IMPROVE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING AND CONSERVATION OF WESTERN MONARCH BUTTERFLIES IN CALIFORNIA: (1) CONTINUED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WESTERN MONARCH COUNT, THE LONG-TERM COMMUNITY SCIENCE MONITORING PROGRAM THAT TRACKS THE STATUS OF THE OVERWINTERING POPULATION, AND (2) RADIO TELEMETRY RESEARCH USING NEWLY AVAILABLE BLUETOOTH-ENABLED BLU TAGS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND MONARCH MOVEMENT PATTERNS, OVERWINTERING BEHAVIOR, AND SPRING DISPERSAL.THE XERCES SOCIETY COORDINATES THE WESTERN MONARCH COUNT, WHICH MOBILIZES MORE THAN 400 VOLUNTEERS AND PARTNERS TO MONITOR OVERWINTERING SITES ACROSS CALIFORNIA EACH YEAR. DATA GENERATED THROUGH THIS EFFORT PROVIDE THE PRIMARY ANNUAL CENSUS OF THE WESTERN MONARCH POPULATION AND ARE ROUTINELY USED BY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, STATE AGENCIES, LAND MANAGERS, AND CONSERVATION PRACTITIONERS TO TRACK POPULATION TRENDS AND PRIORITIZE CONSERVATION ACTIONS. XERCES ALSO MAINTAINS THE WESTERN MONARCH OVERWINTERING SITES DATABASE, WHICH INCLUDES SITE LOCATIONS, HABITAT CONDITION DATA, THREATS, AND LONG-TERM MONARCH ABUNDANCE RECORDS.IN ADDITION TO LONG-TERM MONITORING, THIS PROJECT WILL ADVANCE INNOVATIVE APPLIED RESEARCH USING ULTRALIGHT BLU TELEMETRY TAGS DEVELOPED BY CELLULAR TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES. THESE NEWLY AVAILABLE TAGS ALLOW RESEARCHERS TO REMOTELY TRACK MONARCH MOVEMENT USING NEARBY SMARTPHONES AND RECEIVERS, PROVIDING UNPRECEDENTED INSIGHT INTO OVERWINTERING MOVEMENT, HABITAT CONNECTIVITY, AND SPRING MIGRATION PATHWAYS. XERCES AND PARTNERS HAVE LED THE DEVELOPMENT OF FIELD METHODS FOR USE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY IN CALIFORNIA AND PRELIMINARY RESULTS ALREADY DEMONSTRATE THAT MONARCHS MOVE AMONG OVERWINTERING GROVES AND DISPERSE ALONG MULTIPLE SPRING MIGRATION PATHWAYS.PROJECT FINDINGS WILL DIRECTLY INFORM CONSERVATION PLANNING, HABITAT MANAGEMENT, AND RESTORATION EFFORTS FOR WESTERN MONARCH BUTTERFLIES IN CALIFORNIA. RESULTS WILL ALSO BE DISSEMINATED THROUGH REPORTS, PRESENTATIONS, PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS, AND OUTREACH MATERIALS TO SUPPORT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND COORDINATION AMONG CONSERVATION PRACTITIONERS, RESEARCHERS, AND AGENCIES.

15.945: COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM CESU NETWORKPROGRAMMING SUPPORTS A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF COOPERATIVE STUDY UNITS TO FACILITATE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING TO INFORM SCIENCE-BASED MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM. THE STUDY UNITS FACILITATE MULTI-DISCIPLINARY SCIENCE AND INTEGRATED INFORMATION PRODUCTS ACROSS MULTIPLE GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.THE PROJECT WILL SURVEY BUMBLE BEES AND HABITAT AT TALLGRASS PRAIRIE NATIONAL PRESERVE AND EXAMINE IMPACTS OF GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS, SUCH AS FIRE AND GRAZING, ON BUMBLE BEES. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL TO PARK INTERPRETATION STAFF TO SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS REGARDING TALLGRASS PRAIRIE BUMBLE BEES.BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, PUBLIC PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

INITIAL FUNDING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND UPDATE OF INVERTEBRATE SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES FACT SHEETS AND AN OREGON POLLINATOR STRATEGY. IN FUTURE YEARS THIS AGREEMENT WILL SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT AND UPDATE OF ADDITIONAL INVERTEBRATE SPECIES FACT SHEETS SITE MANAGEMENT PLANS AND SURVEYS FOR HIGH PRIORITY BLM SENSITIVE INVERTEBRATE SPECIES. XERCES SOCIETY CONSERVATION BIOLOGISTS WILL DEVELOP TWO NEW SPECIES FACT SHEETS AND UPDATE ELEVEN SPECIES FACT SHEETS FOR OREGON AND WASHINGTON BUREAU SENSITIVE INVERTEBRATE SPECIES

OR/WA SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES FACT SHEETS

THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP, TEST, EVALUATE, AND PRODUCE A STANDARDIZED SURVEY PROTOCOL FOR ASSESSING FRESHWATER MUSSEL POPULATIONS IN DEEPWATER HABITATS ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. CURRENTLY, STANDARD SURVEY METHODOLOGIES ARE LIMITED BY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SUCH AS WATER DEPTH, POOR VISIBILITY, GLARE, AND DIFFICULT SITE ACCESSIBILITY. AS THESE FACTORS WORSEN, DETECTING MUSSELS BECOMES DIFFICULT, MAKING SURVEY RESULTS LESS REPRESENTATIVE OF ACTUAL MUSSEL POPULATIONS. THIS EFFORT WILL FOCUS ON ADAPTING EXISTING VISUAL AND TACTILE SURVEY METHODS TO DIVER-BASED APPLICATIONS THAT WORK SPECIFICALLY FOR WESTERN WATERBODIES AND MUSSEL SPECIES, AND ESTABLISHING CONSISTENT, REPEATABLE METHODS THAT CAN BE APPLIED ACROSS A RANGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WHERE CURRENT APPROACHES ARE INSUFFICIENT.PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE A PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS THAT ENGAGES REGIONAL EXPERTS, A COMPREHENSIVE LITERATURE REVIEW OF EXISTING SURVEY METHODOLOGIES, TARGETED FIELD TESTING OF DIVER-BASED OR REMOTE SURVEY TECHNIQUES, AND THE COMPLETION OF A PROTOCOL DOCUMENT. FIELD TESTING WILL EVALUATE MULTIPLE APPROACHES USING DIVER-BASED AND REMOTE UNDERWATER SURVEY METHODS, TO DETERMINE EFFECTIVE TECHNIQUES FOR LOCATING, IDENTIFYING, AND QUANTIFYING FRESHWATER MUSSELS IN DEEPWATER ENVIRONMENTS. RESULTS FROM THESE EFFORTS WILL BE SYNTHESIZED INTO A PRACTICAL, FIELD-READY PROTOCOL THAT CAN BE APPLIED CONSISTENTLY ACROSS AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS.THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE RESOURCE MANAGERS, RESEARCHERS, AND CONSERVATION AGENCIES WHO WILL USE THE NEWLY STANDARDIZED PROTOCOL TO IDENTIFY CRITICAL HABITATS, DETECT POPULATION CHANGES, AND PRIORITIZE CONSERVATION ACTIONS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE PROJECT DIRECTLY BENEFITS NATIVE FRESHWATER MUSSELS OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES, WITH A SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON SPECIES OF CONSERVATION CONCERN SUCH AS THE WESTERN RIDGED MUSSEL, WESTERN PEARLSHELL, AND FLOATERS. BY IMPROVING POPULATION ASSESSMENTS AND REDUCING SURVEY BIAS TOWARD SHALLOW HABITATS, THE PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO THE LONG-TERM RECOVERY AND SURVIVAL OF THESE IMPERILED SPECIES.

ORWA NCLS TERRESTRIAL MOLLUSKS ON CASCADE SISKIYOU NATIONAL MONUMENT

WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EXPAND UPON A PRELIMINARY DATA COLLECTION EFFORT IN THE KLAMATHRIVER BASIN IN 2022 THAT WAS FUNDED THROUGH A USFWS-WIDE EFFORT TO DEVELOP FRESHWATER MUSSELHEALTH ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR CAPTIVE AND WILD FRESHWATER MUSSEL POPULATIONS. THIS WOULD INCLUDEADDITIONAL COLLECTION SITES (SHASTA AND SALMON RIVERS), EXPANSION OF THE NUMBER OF HEALTH STATUSMARKERS ASSAYED AND THE COLLECTION OF WATER QUALITY DATA.IN ADDITION, THIS PROJECT WOULD CONTINUE MONITORING THE SURVIVAL OF PIT TAGGED, WESTERN RIDGEDMUSSELS THAT WERE EITHER TRANSLOCATED OR LEFT IN SITU, AT SIX SITES (N 3 IN SITU N 3 RECEIVING SITES)IN THE KLAMATH RIVER BELOW THE FORMER IRON GATE RESERVOIR.

BLM ORWA NORTHWEST OREGON CADDISFLY SURVEYS

BLM OR/WA LEPIDOPTERA INVENTORY, ANALYSIS AND MONITORING ON CASCADE SISKIYOU NATIONAL MONUMENT

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA MONARCH BUTTERFLY OVERWINTERING SITE PRIORITIZATION AND RESTORATION PROJECT

WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM

F18AC00486

PLANT MATERIALS CENTER

MONARCH CONSERVATION SCIENCE PARTNERSHIP ESTIMATING ASCLEPIAS POPULATIONS ON RANGELAND THROUGH

BUMBLE BEE SPECIES OCCURRENCE DATA

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM

PLANT MATERIALS CENTER

WESTERN MONARCH BUTTERFLY FLYWAY HABITAT MANAGEMENT

CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

KLAMATH BASIN FRESHWATER MUSSLES AND RESTORATION BMPS WORKSHOP

DEVELOPMENT OF A BOOK ON FRESHWATER MUSSELS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE