access & habitat program regional advisory council project

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ACCESS & HABITAT PROGRAM Regional Advisory Council Project

Proposal Review ODFW Region / A&H Regional Council: Southwest Project Proposal Title: New River Aleutian Goose Project Applicants(s): Mike Knapp, Jim Kamph, Rick McKenzie, Alan Haga Date of Council Review: November 22, 2013 Type of Project: Access X Habitat X Other (specify) Motion: Bill Ryan moved to approve, Joanne Bigman seconded Council Member Position Vote

Betsy Smith Chair yes Bill Buswell Landowner Representative not present Dave Peterson Landowner Representative not present Fred Craig Hunter Representative yes Joanne Bigman Hunter Representative yes Bill Ryan Landowner Representative yes David Montgomery Hunter Representative not present Disposition of Vote: Motion Passed; 4-0 Project Strengths: Damage problem solved with public hunting, large area open to hunt, full waterfowl season, high quality hunting. Project Concerns:

The council would like to know the level of hunter success. They would like to see a hunter

check box at each parking lot for hunters to record the numbers of birds harvested.

Council Member Comments:

Fred Craig – This project solves a serious damage problem and provides good hunting

opportunity, but we need better hunter use numbers.

Betsy Smith – Need hunter check boxes at the parking areas.

Bill Ryan – Geese can eat a lot of pasture grass, understands damage problem.

10. Briefly explain what the project proposes to do:

The project proposes to provide two full seasons of public waterfowl hunting on a large

private ownership shared by four landowners, with access to an adjacent wetland area of

BLM lands. The New River Bottoms area represents the only large scale waterfowl

hunting opportunity on the Southern Oregon Coast south of Bandon.

The project proposes to reimburse the four New River landowners (the grant applicants)

for providing public hunting access by providing them with fertilizer as an exchange.

The fertilizer will be applied to pasture used for livestock grazing. The properties have a

mix of wetlands and pasture that support large populations of both ducks and geese. This

project is for 2 seasons, 2014-2015 and 2015-16.

Note: Filing of this application does not guarantee acceptance of the proposal nor any portion thereof. Applicants whose projects are approved by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission will be notified by mail. Background: (Describe the wildlife habitat and/or access challenge or opportunity this project will address.) History, Population Status and Management The project area has always held large numbers of waterfowl of all types, and was a hunting club under previous ownership. The current owners use the area for pasture for livestock, and have suffered increased damage to pasture from staging Aleutian Canada geese. The Aleutian Canada goose is a small subspecies of Canada goose that nests in the Aleutian Island chain in Alaska. Birds were known to be historically abundant, however between 1750 and 1936 arctic and red foxes were introduced to breeding islands in the Aleutian Island chain to promote the fur trade industry. Fox predation led to a decline of Aleutian Canada geese until 1967 when the bird’s numbers dwindled to a few hundred individuals. At that time the Aleutian Canada goose was placed on the endangered species list. In an effort to restore goose populations, foxes were systematically removed from most of the Aleutian Islands and nesting success began to increase. By 1995 Aleutian Canada goose populations were estimated to be over 15,000. The Aleutian Canada goose was federally de-listed in 2001 and the state of Oregon de-listed them in 2005. Estimated populations have increased an average of 4% per year since 2004, and the most recent estimate is 166,300 (135,200 – 197,500). Migration and Damage It is notable that the Aleutian Canada goose has the largest over-water migration path of any North American Waterfowl. Their migratory path brings them south across the Pacific Ocean into Oregon and Northern California in winter. The majority of the birds over-winter in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties in California. Upon their northward migration in the spring, the entire population stages in the New River area on the Southern Oregon Coast. The geese feed in the New River area for up to two months.

The birds feed heavily on the pasture lands of local ranchers. Birds frantically feed to store energy for their long over-sea flight back to the Aleutian Islands in April. Area ranchers receive significant damage to their pastures annually. Regulation California has reacted to their goose damage problems by implementing a two week long late season goose hunt within the pacific flyway season framework which ends annually on March 10. This measure was first implemented in the 2006-07 season to deal with Aleutian goose damage issues in Northern California. Hunting pressure south of the border may result in earlier than normal movement of geese into Oregon. Consequently, Oregon has implemented a concurrent special SW zone goose hunt on private lands West of HWY 101 in Douglas, Coos and Curry Counties. This measure ensures that hunting pressure is equal on both sides of the border. The measure is designed to avert damage that would escalate if birds moved into Oregon earlier and stayed longer due to increased hunting pressure in California. The land owned and listed by the four landowners on this application represents most of the New River basin, and virtually all of the short grass pasture habitat currently being used by Aleutian geese in Oregon. An A&H contract would solidify public hunting access in this area. Past History: (Describe any past Access & Habitat project, especially if the proposed project deals with the same objectives.) This is a renewal of a project started in 2006. The project has been very successful in providing public hunting and reducing damage to crops. The following table shows the hunter days recorded for the 2012-13 waterfowl season. Knapp 90 Kamph 71 McKenzie 170 Haga 30 Total 361 Project Objective(s): (a) What is the objective of the proposed project? The project proposes to provide hunter access to a large private ownership shared by four landowners, with excellent access to an otherwise remote adjacent wetland area of BLM lands. The New River Bottoms area represents the only large scale waterfowl hunting opportunity on the Southern Oregon Coast south of Bandon. Hunting will reduce the damage to pasture caused by staging geese in the spring. The project proposes to reimburse the four New River landowners (the grant applicants) for providing public hunting access by providing them with fertilizer as an exchange.

The fertilizer will be applied to fields traditionally used by Aleutian geese staging for their northward migration. Fertilizer will be applied in the spring. (b) How will the project benefit wildlife habitat and/or public access? The project will benefit wildlife by providing high quality forage of fertilized short grass pasture that will be available for goose utilization before the Aleutian geese make their migration flight across the Pacific Ocean to the Aleutian Island chain. The area also supports a large population of migrating ducks in the associated wetlands. Duck and goose hunting is allowed from early October through January, and for geese only from late February through March 10. Resident Western Canada geese that utilize the area will benefit from the increased forage throughout the entire year. (c) If damage related, how will the project alleviate/eliminate the problem? Currently, thousands of Aleutian geese utilize lands represented by the applicants on a yearly basis. The landowners feel that hunting during the special spring season prevents large numbers of geese from staying on the property and markedly reduces damage to pasture. Project Location: (Attach a map and provide description of the location and how to get there from a major highway.) Knapp: Drive South on Hwy 101 to the Town of Langlois. Turn right (West) on 1st St. Go West two blocks to the Gate at the entrance to the Knapp Ranch. House is 0.4 miles beyond gate. Kamph: Drive South on Hwy 101 South of Bandon. Turn right (West) on Bono Rd. Drive to the end of road (0.5 miles). Last House on Right is Kamph Ranch. McKenzie: Drive South on Hwy 101 South of Bandon. Turn right (West) on New Lake Road. Drive to the end of road (1.0 miles). Last house on right is Mckenzie Ranch. Haga: Drive South on Hwy 101 to the Town of Langlois. Turn right (West) on Allen Boice RD. Go West two blocks and turn left on Haga Ranch Road, ¼ mile to the Haga Ranch house on the right. Procedure: Specifically describe how the project will be conducted--use separate page for additional information, drawings or pictures. The project proposes to use A & H grant funds to purchase fertilizer to be applied to short grass pastures owned by Kamph, Knapp, Mckenzie, and Haga. An early spring application of 16-20-0-14 or urea fertilizer at a rate of 150 lbs /acre will be performed in March-April, starting as early as ground conditions permit. Work will be done using personnel and equipment (tractor spreaders) provided by the landowners. Public access will be managed as follows:

Knapp, Haga, and Kamph lands: Hunters will be allowed access, up to six hunters per day, open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays throughout the waterfowl season (mid-October through January, as per season structure). Mckenzie lands: Hunters will be allowed access, up to 10 hunters per day, open Saturday and Sunday throughout the waterfowl season (mid-October through January, as per season structure). All Lands will be open daily (except as precluded by farming operations) for the South Coast goose zone season, Late February – March 10. Hunters will be allowed walk-in access from designated parking areas. Hunters will be managed using a ledger book reservation system. Reservations will be booked on a first come, first served basis. Maps of the area will be printed and made available to the public. Permits: Have all of the appropriate permits been secured or applied for? (Examples: Water Resources Department for water rights, Division of State Lands for fill-removal or wetlands projects) No permits required Scheduling: What is the estimated project schedule? (a) Habitat Work Start Date: March, 2015 Habitat Work Completion Date: April, 2016. (b) Access Agreement Start Date: Sept. 1, 2014 Access Agreement End Date: March 10, 2016. (c) List major project activities and time schedule for each. Activity Time (month/year)

Public Waterfowl Hunting: as per season framework, October 2014 through January 2016. Kamph, Haga, and Knapp lands open to public hunting Wed, Fri, Sat. Mckenzie lands open to public hunting Sat and Sun.

Public Goose Hunting: late goose season,

special SW zone. Late February through March 10, 2015-2016. Kamph, Haga, Knapp, and McKenzie lands open to public hunting daily.

Landowners Fertilize Fields (March-April, 2015-

2016)

Participation: (Will other organizations participate in the project? If so, list and describe participation, and attach letters of commitment or verification of grant awards. You do not need to include individuals.) Participant Activity Public Waterfowl Hunting: throughout 2014-15 and

2015-16 seasons Oct.-Jan. Kamph, Haga, and Knapp lands open Wed, Fri, Sat. Six hunters per ownership per day will be available to the public on a first-call, first-booked reservation system. Mckenzie lands open to public hunting Sat, and Sun. 10 hunters per day will be available to the public on a first-call, first-booked reservation system.

Public Goose Hunting: late goose season, special

SW zone. Late February through March 10, 2016. Kamph, Knapp, McKenzie and Haga lands open to public hunting daily.

Landowners Fertilize Fields (March-April, 2015-16) Funding: (a) List other sources and amount of project funds (include in budget on page 7). Landowners purchase about 100 tons per year (in addition to A&H provided fertilizer) @$550/ton = $55,000 x 2 years = $110,000. ODFW Rogue Watershed will pay for maps = $100. (b) Have any conditions been placed on the funds listed in (a) which may affect the completion of the project? If so, identify and explain. No conditions have been placed on funds. Project Maintenance and Monitoring: (a) Who will maintain the project and fund long-term maintenance and/or operation if needed? No maintenance will be required. (b) What element(s) of the project will be monitored, how often, for how long? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service monitor Aleutian Goose populations. Landowners will record the numbers of hunters using the property.

Project Cost Estimate (provide as much detail as possible)

Category A&H Funds Other Funds1

Total Cost

Administration

Construction Materials2 Fencing Fertilizer $49,500 $110,000(landowners) $159,500 Seed/plants Other (itemize)

Supplies Transportation Fuels Printing $100 ODFW Maps $100 Other (itemize)

Contract Services3 (itemize)

Equipment4 (itemize) Tractor and Spreader 116hrs x$50(landowners) $5800 $5800

TOTAL COSTS $49,500 $115,900 $165,400 1 List detail in funding (page 6). 2 Provide amounts and cost per unit. 3 Attach subcontractor estimates. 4 Individual pieces of equipment costing over $100.00.

0 1 2MilesK

Map Extent

Langlois

Morton Butte

NewRiv

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Davis Creek

Floras CreekButte Creek

New Lake

Croft Lake

NEW

LAKE RD

BONO RD

ATV Parking

1st ST

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ZONE A2

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2224

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ZONE B2 FLORASLAKE

LOOP

FLORAS LAKE RD

Bandon 9 miles

Port Orford 11 miles

ZONE B1

"

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R. 14 WR. 15 W

T. 3

0 S

T. 3

1 S

BLM Land

State Land

Private Land

County Line

Safety Zone

ATV Access Only

Access Area Boundary

Parking Lot"

Open Roads

Jim Kamph Property

2012‐2013

Duck Hunting Program

October 2012

Rick Howard Bandon

Jeff Duncan Cave Junction

Don Chance Bandon

November 2012

Victor Strickland & 2 Sons Bandon

Rick Howard Bandon

Erica Howard Bandon

Randy Fugate & 1 Son Medford

John McNeil Bandon

Brookings Group, party of 4, two days Brookings

Bob Webb Bandon

Dan Anderson Bandon

Don Chance, party of 4 San Diego, CA

December 2012

Zane & Glen Nickel Crescent City, CA

Doug Strebendt, party of 3 North Bend

Bill McNair Gold Beach

Bob Kamph Roseburg

Rick Howard Bandon

Dan Fugate Roseburg

Randy Fugate Medford

Victor Strickland, party of 3 Bandon

Brookings Group, party of 3 Brookings

Jeff Duncan Cave Junction

Tanner Mahoney Eugene

Eddie Landon Eugene

Scott Hill Port Orford

Tony Houck Port Orford

January 2013

Mike Tulles Langlois

Pete Tulles Langlois

Doug & Bill Strebendt North Bend, Bandon

Ted & Shannon Kirpatrick Salem

Bob Webb Bandon

John & Will Moore Albany

Steve McNeil Bandon

Dan Anderson Bandon

Bob Webb Bandon

Scott Kreutzer North Bend

Don Chance, party of 4 Bandon

February‐March ALEUTIAN GOOSE SEASON 2013

Salem Group, party of 4 Salem

Dave Beck, party of 3 Coquille

Victor Strickland Bandon

Birds showed up on April 11th and left around 23rd. Very few birds shot

Form Revised July 2012

Project Name: Project #:

"Welcome" Private 0By-Permission Private 4,780Inaccessible Public* 0Accessible Public* 500

Instructions:

Access Only X XHabitat Only X XAccess & Habitat X X X

Definitions:

Inaccessible Public*:

Accessible Public*:

General Criteria (mark a "1" in the "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met)

1. Habitat Condition

Food: 1 1 n/a 1

Water: 1 1 n/a 1

Cover: 1 1 n/a 1

2. Partnerships Partners contributing financial or in-kind support:1 or more Sports groups…………………………………………………………. 03 or more Sports groups…………………………………………………………. 0Educational programs / non-governmental organizations……………………. 0Other government agencies or ODFW programs (i.e. OWEB, R&E)………. 0

Project Evaluation Form

Program Objective: The Access and Habitat Program’s motto, “Landowners & Hunters Together for Wildlife,” conveys the program’s basic mission to foster partnerships between landowners and hunters for the benefit of the wildlife they value. The program also seeks to recognize and encourage the important contributions made by landowners to the state’s wildlife resource.

Habitat Category:

3 15Total Score:

New River Aleutian Goose Project 2014

Access through private land will improve accessibility to public land. Public land may be extremely difficult to access otherwise, but is not legally surrounded by private land. Total area includes only public land that is closer (in linear distance) to the landowner's access point(s) than any other public access point.

Total Possible:

Mark 1 point in the corresponding "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met. Example: for question 2, if partnerships include 4 sports groups, award points for the first 2 criteria. Do not mark more than 1 point per box. Point schedule is designed to weigh access-only and habitat-only projects equally.

Complete these sectionsAccess Criteria

Access and Habitat Program

Score 1 point only if the property contains the resource in sufficient abundance/quality to support target species referenced in questions 11, 15, 16 and 19 (during at least one season of the year). For habitat projects, use the predicted future condition. Justify your score.

Project Type

Project Score

General Criteria Habitat Criteria

Access Acres

Habitat Acres

36(range: 1-6; see flow chart on page 4. Not applicable to access-only projects)

Access will be provided through private land to public land that is completely landlocked (surrounded) by private land, legally precluding public hunting access. Total area includes only public land within the boundary of private ownership.

1,930

n/a 0

* Access to public land MUST be provided on a "Welcome to Hunt" basis

0

Access Fee Assessment

Private Land

Inacc. Public

Acc. Public

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3. Matching Funds Total matching funds (monetary and in-kind)> 1% matching funds…………………………………………………………….. 1> 25% matching funds…………………………………………………………… 1> 50% matching funds…………………………………………………………… 1

4. Damage Project would mitigate current damage to private property:Wildlife damage occuring on private property…………………………………. 1Landowner participates in ODFW damage control programs……………….. 1

General Total 8 4 0 4General Possible 12 5 5 5

5. Public Land Project located in Wildlife Management Unit with <50% public land………………….. 1 1 n/a 1

6. Private access Private land access type:Project would provide access to private land………………………………….. 1Private land access would be on a "Welcome to Hunt" basis………………. 0

7. Public access Access through private lands would:improve access to public land………..………....…………..……………….... 1provide access to otherwise inaccessible public land…………...……...….. 0

8. Special Access Project would provide special youth or disabled hunter access opportunities…………. 0 0 n/a 0

9. Species Permitted

2+ species groups available and permitted……….…………………………… 0 0 n/a 04+ species groups available and permitted……….…………………………… 0 0 n/a 0

10.Under-rep. Species* Project provides access to under-represented species in the watershed……………. 1 1 n/a 1

11.Harvest Restriction Landowner would not restrict sex or species permitted for lawful harvest……………… 0 0 n/a 0

12.Season Restriction Landowner would not restrict access to any hunting season(s)……………………….. 0 0 n/a 0

13.Dispersion 1 1 n/a

Access Total 5 3 0 2Access Possible 12 8 8 7Payment Fee Total 7 n/a 6

* lists of under-represented species will be created by A&H state coordinator and approved by A&H Board

Access Criteria - Applies to private land access that would be provided under the proposed project.

Project Score

Access Fee Assessment

11 n/a

(mark a "1" in the "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met)

Species groups include big game, waterfowl, upland birds, turkey, and predators/varmints.

Property would provide access to animals pushed off of publicly accessible land during hunting season………………………………………………………………………………..

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Habitat Criteria (mark a "1" in the "Project Score" box for EACH criterion that is met)

14.Department Priorities Project is located within target area and will benefit target species identified in any of these Department programs: Mule Deer Initiative, Sage Grouse Initiative, Black-tailed Deer Plan Implementation………………………………………………………. 0

15.Location importance:

Area populations < 90% of management objective (deer and elk)…………

Project will increase wintering populations of upland birds/waterfowl………

Area populations < 75% of management objective (deer and elk)………….

Project will increase breeding populations of upland birds/waterfowl………

16.Conservation Strategy Project addresses Oregon Conservation Strategy (OCS) concerns:Project action benefits Strategy Habitat or Strategy Species………………. 0[above] AND action occurs in Conservation Opportunity Area (COA)……… 0

17.Critical Habitat

Project meets requirements of Habitat Categories 1-4……………………… 1Project meets requirements of Habitat Categories 1-2……………………… 0

18.Habitat Connectivity Project will help facilitate local animal movement (fence removal, etc.)………………….. 0

19.Habitat Impact

Project will increase the habitat quantity/quality >25% per unit treated…… 1Project will increase the habitat quantity/quality >50% per unit treated…… 0

Description of habitat impact:

20.Population Impact

Local abundance of at least one targeted game species should increase >25%......... 0

Habitat Total 2Habitat Possible 12

Grand Total 15Total Possible 36

21.Miscellaneous

Project will help establish or maintain a wildlife habitat corridor or otherwise reduce fragmentation on landscape level………………………………………….. 0

Fertilizing pasture increases nutrient content and quantity of grass.

Description of habitat connectivity benefit (required):

Post-treatment

Estimated Abundance

{

Applies to the specific GAME habitat that the project will maintain or enhance. Use accompanying flow chart and definitions to determine habitat category. Definitions are slightly amended from OAR Division 415 to be game-specific.

or:

Project Score

0

0

Describe other project details that may help with prioritization or fee assessment (i.e. current market value of similar hunting leases in the vicinity)……….…... NO POINTS

SpeciesPre-

treatment

or:

Describes the predicted impact that habitat improvements (excluding external variables such as weather, etc.) will have on game species on the project site. Provide estimates for all targeted species.

Applies to species that the habitat work will benefit. Question structured to equally weigh big game and game bird projects - score "1" if either item in each bracket is true:

Describes the predicted impact that the project will have on the habitat. Habitat work must benefit game species.

{

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Definition:

Watershed Species Watershed SpeciesMalheur pheasant, waterfowl, turkey Deschutes waterfowl, valley quail, chukar, doveSouth Willamette waterfowl, turkey, valley quail John Day upland game birdsNorth Coast predators, waterfowl Umpqua waterfowl, dove, turkeyGrande Ronde upland game birds Klamath waterfowl, quailRogue dove, waterfowl North Willamette waterfowl

game species that exist in the watershed district in huntable numbers, but that the general public does not have reasonable hunting access to (via public land, current A&H properties, etc.)

Access and Habitat Project Evaluation - Appendix

Under-represented Species

A&

H H

abitat Category

Flow

Chart

Note: T

hese definitions have been amended from

OA

R D

ivision 415 to be game-specific and applied on a

watershed basis. H

abitat Category designations m

ade on this Evaluation F

orm are for A

ccess & H

abitat P

rogram use only, and do not have any legal im

plications associated with O

AR

415.

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access & habitat program regional advisory council project

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