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| Mowing
and reducing Reed canary grass allows Water plantain and Wapato to grow
providing a better food source for waterfowl in the winter. |
August 20, 2007
Region 5 Wildlife Areas:
Shillapoo Wildlife Area Wetland Management: Wildlife Area Assistant Manager Hauswald has been mowing Reed Canary Grass in two Wetland Basins in the Vancouver Lake Unit to prepare them for a disking treatment. We have had full water management capability in these wetlands for two years, which enabled us to reduce reed canary grass dominance and increase native plants in the basins. Last year for the first time one of the wetlands was disked as a further canary grass control measure with impressive results in part of the basin. A good portion of the wetland is now dominated by Water Plantain and Wapato, which will provide a much better food source for waterfowl this winter. A portion of the same wetland will be redisked where further control is needed and a portion of a second wetland will also be disked in hopes of obtaining similar results.
Game Management Division
Region 5 Deer Management: Biologist Holman calculated the annual estimate of the Region 5 deer population using the SAK (Sex Age Kill) model. The biologically based model uses hunter harvest of bucks, buck mortality rates, doe mortality rates and fawn to doe ratio to reconstruct the estimated pre-season deer population. Please see the figure below illustrating the estimated deer population in Region 5 from 1991 through 2006.
Apparent upon examination of the figure is the lack of young deer in the 2006 estimate. This is the result of the lowest fawn to doe ratio recorded since the inception of regional productivity surveys in 1995. Just 32 fawns per 100 adult does were recorded during the summer / fall 2006 survey effort. This is significantly below the long-term average of approximately 55. The relatively severe winter of 2005-06 was apparently detrimental to the regional deer population, causing reduced fawn production in the summer of 2006. Accordingly, a somewhat reduced population of yearling bucks will be available for harvest in the upcoming 2007 hunting season.
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| Click
figure to enlarge |
Wildlife Diversity Division
Klickitat Wind Power Projects: Biologist Anderson has been working with Biologist Weiler from the habitat division to address several existing and proposed wind development projects in Klickitat County. Wind Power in Klickitat County has been developing at such a rapid pace it has been difficult to adequately review all projects. Of specific concern are the accumulative effects from the development of such a high concentration of projects in a small, localized area. Currently, we are working with Researcher Watson to develop an expanded raptor telemetry project that looks at wind power impacts to nesting birds. Of particular interest are wind power impacts to Washington ferruginous hawks. Two different wind power companies have recently expressed interest in funding additional raptor work.
Bald Eagle Management Plans: Science Technician Ridenour responded to a citizen's concerns regarding a bald eagle nest and adjacent private land use practices in Lewis County. A site visit was arranged with the private landowner to discuss Bald Eagle Management Plan (BEMP) rules as outlined by the state Wildlife Commission in 1986. BEMPs are to ensure the protection of nesting and roosting habitat on a case-by-case basis. District Wildlife Biologist Miller will follow-up with the landowner regarding any further action.
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