Habitat Monitoring. Twenty ponds within the designated habitat preserves in the project area are surveyed bi-annually by LSA biologists for an on-going species count of CRLF adults, larvae, and egg masses. In 2016, 12 ponds provided documented CRLF breeding and LSA also observed adults in 2 additional ponds. The number of CRLF observed within the constructed mitigation ponds in 2016 was the highest recorded in the previous 13 monitoring years and the number of CRLF observed within the enhanced ponds was the highest recorded since 2012 (see Tables D and E). In 2016, adult CRLF were observed at the following five pre-project breeding locations: pond 4 (up to 4 observed), pond 7 (up to 3 observed), pond 10 (up to 4 observed), pond 11 (up to 2 observed), and the cistern (up to 3 observed). Adult CRLF were also observed in the following seven created breeding locations: pond 4-P (up to 5 observed), pond 6-P (up to 8 observed), pond 7-P (up to 4 observed), pond 17-P (up to 1 observed), pond 19-P (up to 10 observed), pond 20-P (up to 5 observed), and pond 21-P (up to 4 observed). Numerous CRLF egg masses or CRLF larvae were observed in four existing ponds (4, 7, 10, and 11) and at seven mitigation ponds (3-P, 4-P, 6-P, 7-P, 9- P, 20-P, and 21-P). Tables D and E (below) summarize all observed CRLF individuals and breeding activities at mitigation ponds and enhanced ponds (respectively) by year. Adult CRLF and/or breeding activity has been observed at three ponds (4-P, 17-P and 19-P) that did not meet hydrologic and/or vegetation performance criteria discussed above.
Habitat Monitoring. Habitat monitoring is a rapidly developing discipline, and will likely change during the 25 year term of this Agreement. Enrolled Landowners will monitor EMR habitat using tools that are effective and available. These might include IFMAP, photo-monitoring, coarse level metrics, Habitat Suitability Indexes or niche modeling. X’Xxxxxx (2006) discusses a variety of monitoring techniques that might be adapted to habitat monitoring for the CCAA. Enrolled Landowners may choose to evaluate and monitor EMR habitat components and vegetation structure at other sites, which may be very valuable especially if management is intense. The DNR, experts, and other conservation partners will continue to evaluate and refine monitoring techniques and analysis and protocol will be adapted accordingly. Any new applicable information from EMR research projects will also be considered in the adaptation of a monitoring protocol.
Habitat Monitoring
