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Southwest Washington Wildlife Reports
Janaury 29, 2007

Ridgefield NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP): Biologists from Region 5 are participating in the CCP process for the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. When completed, the CCP will guide management of the refuge for a period of 15 years. Wildlife Area Manager Calkins attended the first meeting of the "extended team", which is a group representing different agencies, whose role is to provide advice to the USFWS on various issues and management strategies. A wide range of topics were discussed, including whether to intensively manage small areas or attempt to manage large areas less intensively for geese; which is the species for which the refuge was established. Public use issues ranged from hunting and bird watching to management of the Cathlapootle Plankhouse, which is a new feature on the refuge that the staff have to operate. Management of non-native invasive species, such as reed canary grass and ricefield bulrush, was a topic that recurred in discussion of almost every other major topic.

Game Management Division

Elk Population Modeling and Season Setting: All Regional Wildlife Biologists along with Program Manager Jonker participated in various efforts related to the establishment of elk hunting seasons for 2007. Per the recently completed Mt. St. Helens Elk Herd Plan, seasons designed to result in population reduction are in development. The new seasons will offer additional opportunities to harvest antlerless elk, thereby reducing the elk population. Draft proposals have been submitted to Game Division Staff for their consideration.

Wildlife Diversity Division

Gateway Development (Port of Vancouver): Biologist Anderson attended a meeting with Port of Vancouver, consultants, and Paul King of CRANE to discuss mitigation for the Gateway marine development near Vancouver. At issue is the final mitigation plan being proposed by the CRANE conservation organization in collaboration with the Port. WDFW is taking an active role in oversight of the process and providing comments to specific issues of riparian habitat management, as well as wetland and meadow enhancement. In addition, Biologist Anderson is working on a bald eagle management plan on Port of Vancouver property that is adjacent to the proposed development.

Western Pond Turtle: Biologist Anderson participated in a meeting with Olympia staff to discuss integration of the regional western pond turtle database with the corporate (Olympia) data system. Issues being discussed are data entry, user access, integration into agency software, and report development. The goal of the program is to develop a database that is functional at the field and regional level as well as integrating data into the larger WDFW system.