Ohop Creek Restoration Phases I & II Wildlife Surveys

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Transcript of Ohop Creek Restoration Phases I & II Wildlife Surveys

Ohop Creek Restoration Phases I & II

Wildlife Surveys

Nisqually Indian Tribe Natural Resources Department&

ICF International

Ohop Creek Restoration• Remeander construction and replanting

of 1 mile of Lower Ohop Creek and surrounding 100 acres – 2014• Maintenance and replacement plantings

were completed – 2015• Although designed to improve salmon

habitat, creek morphology, and floodplain function, the project is expected to benefit multiple species.

Species Information• Nisqually Land Trust worked with Northwest Trek to conduct surveys multiple times per year.

• Utilized teams of citizens scientists.• Document all species observed during the field visit.

• Species diversity:• Amphibians – 7 species• Reptiles – 5 species• Birds – 90 species• Mammals – 32 species• Invertebrates – 62 species

• Hunting/harvest records and general public knowledge.

• Not much else known about wildlife use in the area.

Ohop Creek Restoration Wildlife Surveys• USFWS Tribal Wildlife Grant• Although this is a salmon restoration project – what other wildlife

species are utilizing the site?• Focus on culturally important species• Elk• Deer• Beaver

• Added in bird surveys

Methods• Motion-activated cameras

• Pedestrian Transects

• Focused pedestrian transects for beaver

• Timed area searches (birds only)

• Nest searches (birds only)

Motion-activated cameras• Placed 9 cameras• Ran cameras continuously • Collected over 1,300 images of animals

Pedestrian Transects• Timed walking transects• Recorded all animal sign• Primarily wintertime surveys

Focused pedestrian transects for beaver

Timed area searches (birds only)

Nest searches (birds only)

Results - MammalsTransects• Only animals seen on

transects were coyotes• Other sign noted: scat,

tracks, tree damage• Elk was by far the most

detected terrestrial mammal species• Surveys were influenced by

site conditions

Cameras• Most consistent form of data

collection• Variable animal use of the site• Elk was by far the most

detected terrestrial mammal species• Camera detections were

influenced by site conditions

  Number of Detections By Species  

Camera Feral Cat

Dog Coyote Deer Elk Bird Unknown Total Percent of Total

1 - - 4 3 5 1 3 16 1

2 1 - 13 1 133 - - 148 11

3 - 1 45 9 204 46 13 318 23

4 - 2 26 7 235 10 37 317 23

5 - - 12 7 345 - 32 396 29

6 - - 1 7 59 - 10 77 6

7 1 - 14 - 3 - - 18 1

8 - - 1 3 42 - 6 52 4

9 - - 3 13 7 - 2 25 2

Total 2 3 119 50 1,033 57 103 1,367 -

Percent of Total

<1 <1 9 4 76 4 8 -  

Results - Beaver• Increasing beaver activity on site

• Only 1 beaver ever seen by observer

• Never recorded beaver on camera

• All observations were of tree damage

Results - Birds• 55 species detected during surveys• Most common bird species• Song Sparrow• Marsh Wren• Red-winged blackbird• American Goldfinch

• Most common nesting species• Song Sparrow• Common Yellowthroat• Cedar Waxwing

• Site provides very good elk habitat• Use of the site by elk is likely more influenced by surrounding

land uses than the site itself• Site supports and incredible diversity of animal species• This study is just one glimpse in time – the entire Ohop Valley

could benefit from some longer term studies on wildlife use• Longer term survey work would illustrate changes that will occur

as more of the valley is restored

Concluding Observations

Troy RahmigICF International

troy.rahmig@icfi.com206-801-2823

Questions?