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BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT WATERFOWL/WETLAND WORKSHOP ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 14-16 AUGUST, 1991 ,j L 9 '6, crs 1 u ,UG~ LC(q f WATERFOWL AND WETLANDS WORKSHOP - ALASKA Bureau of Land Management Internationl Airport Inn, Anchorage, AK 14-16 August 1991 First Day - Wed 14 Aug 8:30 Opening remarks on workshop format: Alaskan wetlands DU rep and BLM rep 9:00 An overview of North American wetlands: Status and classification - Emphasis on the Pacifie Flyway - Mickey Heitmeyer 9:30 Extent and complexity of Alaskan wetlands 9:50 Break 10:20 Wetland structure and function - Fritz Reid 11:00 Conceptual model of marsh ecology and its utility to wetland management - Jeff Nelson 11:30 Questions/Comments on morning session 11:45 Lunch Break 13:30 Modified hydrological regimes: their impact on wetland productivity - Fritz Reid 14:00 Invertebrates in wetland communities - Fritz Reid 14:40 Break 15:00 Northern wetland communities: waterfowl species and population trends - Tom Rothe 1 Dirk Derksen ARLIS Alaska Resources Library & Information Services AnchJr~gc.Aùaska Second Day - Thu 15 Aug 8:00 Addresses by Cy Jamison and Ed Spang 9:00 Basic life history strategies of waterfowl: Energetic and nutritional needs - Mickey Heitmeyer 10:15 Break 10:45 Waterfowl foods - Fritz Reid 11:30 Lunch 13:00 Cross-seasonal effects, the importance of Alaskan, Californian, and Mexican habitats - Mickey Heitmeyer 14:00 BLM work session 16:00 Dinner 18:00 Optional field inspection of estuarine and palustrine -22:00 wetlands Third Day - Fri 16 Aug 8:30 USFWS waterfowlfwetland surveys - Bob LeedyfRuss Oates 9:00 California waterfowl habitat evaluation using remote sensing techniques - Dick Kempka 10:15 Break 10:45 Habitat inventory and evaluation in the Prairie Pothole Region - Dick Kempka 11:15 Satellite inventory and monitoring: A complete Pacifie Flyway perspective - Dick Kempka 12:00 Lunch 13:30 Step-wise approach to habitat enhancementjrestoration - Tom Rothe 14:00 Cooperative Partnerships CUrrent legislative and funding opportunities - Scott Sutherland Ducks Unlimited's Habitat Programs 1 IWWR - John Nagel 1 Jeff Nelson Wildlife 2000 1 WETT - Mike Mathiot 1 Craig Altop u.s. Forest Service 1 Taking Wing Program - Rob Olsen 15:15 Break 15:40 Partnerships for Alaskan wetlands and stewardship of the waterfowl resource - Ed Spang 1 Bishop Buckle 16:00 Meeting wrap-up Reference List for Wetland/Waterfowl Workshop Bergman, R.D., R.L. Howard, K.F. Abraham and M.W. Weller. 1977. Water birds and their wetland resources in relation to oil development at storkersen Point, Alaska. u.s. Interior - Fish and Wildlife Service Resource Publ. 129, 38pp. Derksen, o.v., T.C. Rothe and W.D. Eldridge. 1981. Use of wetland habitats by birds in the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska. u.s. Interior - Fish and Wildlife Service Resource Publ. 141, 27pp. Fredrickson, L.H. and F.A. Reid. 1990. Impacts of hydrologie alteration on management of freshwater wetlands. Pages 71- 90 in J. M. Sweeney, ed. Management of dynamic ecosystems. N. Cent. Sec., The Wildl. Soc, West Lafayette. Batt, B.D.J., M.G. Anderson, c.o. Anderson, and F.D. Caswell. 1989. The use of prairie potholes by North American ducks. Pages 204-227 in A. van der Valk, ed. Northern Prairie wetlands. Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames. Murkin, H.R. 1989. The basis for food chains in prairie wetlands. Pages 316-338 in A. van der Valk, ed. Northern Prairie wetlands. Iowa state Univ. Press, Ames. Sedinger, J.s. and D.G. Raveling. 1984. Dietary selectivity in relation to availability and quality of food for goslings of Cackling geese. Auk 101:295-306. Sedinger, J.S. and D. G. Raveling. 1986. Timing of nesting by Canada geese in relation to the phenology and availability of their food plants. J. Animal Ecol. 55:1083-1102. Sedinger, J.S. and Karen s. Bollinger. 1987. Autumn staging of Cackling Canada geese on the Alaska Peninsula. Wildfowl 38:13-18. Heitmeyer, M.E., D.P. Connelly, and R.L. Pederson. 1989. The Central, Imperial, and Coachella Valleys of California. Pages 475-505 in L.M. Smith, R.L. Pederson and R. M. Kaminski, ed. Habitat management for migrating and wintering waterfowl in North America. Texas Tech Press, Lubbock. en wo Fredrickson, L.H. and F.A. Reid. 1988. Nutritional values of waterfowl foods. Fish and Wildlife Leaflet 13.1.1, 6pp. en ~ Fredrickson, L.H. and M.E. Heitmeyer. 1991. Life history 0 0 strategies and habitat needs of the Northern Pintai!. Fish 0 and Wildlife Leaflet 13.1.3, 8pp. ~ ~ ~M M r. Fredrickson, L.H. and F.A. Reid. 1988. Waterfowl use of wetland complexes. Fish and Wildlife Leaflet 13.2.1, 6pp. Fredrickson, L.H. and F.A. Reid. 1988. Invertebrate response to wetland management. Fish and Wildlife Leaflet 13.3.1, 6pp. Fredrickson, L.H. and F.A. Reid. 1988. Initial considerations for sampling wetland invertebrates. Fish and Wildlife Leaflet 13.3.2, 5pp. Eldridge, J. 1990. Aquatic invertebrates important for waterfowl production. Fish and Wildlife Leaflet 13.3.3, 6 pp. Reid, F.A. 1985. Wetland invertebrates in relation to hydrology and water chemistry. Pages 72-79 in M.D. Knighton. Managing impoundments for wildlife. USDA-Forest service, st. Paul. King, J.G. and o.v. Derksen. 1986. Alaska goose populations: Past, present and future. Trans. N.A. Wildl. Nat. Res. Conf. 51:464-479. Raveling, o.G. 1984. Geese and hunters of Alaska's Yukon Delta: Management problems and political dilemmas. Trans. N.A. Wildl. Nat. Res. Conf. 49:555-575. 5 Impacts of Hydrologie Alteration on Management of Freshwater Wetlands Leigh H. Fredrickson Gaylord Memorial Laboratory The School of Natural Resources University of Missouri-Columbia, Puxico, MO 63960 Frede ric A. Reid Gaylord Memorial Laboratory The School of Natural Resources University of Missouri-Columbia, Puxico, MO 63960 Frcdricltson, L. H., and F. A. Reid. 1990.1mpaas of hydrologie alteration on manage ment of frcshwarcr wcrlands. Pages 71-90 ;, J. M. Swecncy, cd. Management of dynamic ecosystems. North Cent. Sect., The Wildl. Soc., West Lafayette, lnd. 71 Impacts of Hydrologie Alteration on Management of Freshwater Wetlands Leigh H. Fredrickson and Frederic A. Reid Abstract: Wetlands are dynamic systems that are characrerized by daily, seasonal, and long-term fluctuations in water levels. Man's activities in the 48 conterminous states, Hawaii, and the Canadian provinces have severely impacred a vast area of these habitats either by destruction or through modification of natural hydrologi cal functions. Constriction of river channels, and subsequent conversion of flood plain habitats to croplands, change hydrological regimes throughout major river basins and cause a decrease in the productivity of remnant isolated wetlands by stabilizing water levels. In an attempt to counteract the effects of habitat loss and hydrological change, intensive wetland management is widely practiced in North America. Unfortunately, implementation of commonly used manipulations may further stabilize wetlands developed for intensive management. To diminish these detrimental effects, it is essential that we have an understanding of wetland values and functions, as weil as knowledge concerning life history strategies of plant and animal foods that supply seasonal requirements for target organisms. Recommen dations for desirable development features and guidelines for intensive manage ment to maintain productivity require strategies that replicate natural hydrological regimes. Freshwater wetlands are among the most productive habitats in the world, with average net primary production reaching 2,500 g/m2/yr (Whittaker and Likens 1973). The long-term productivity of these habitats are maintained by the perpetuai destruction and creation of wetlands within the same general region. Glaciers, floods, fire, and changes in per mafrost are common forces important in freshwater wetland formation and maintenance. Unfortunately, productivity of our national wetland resource has been severely impacted because the natural hydrology that resulted in wetland formation, and to which myriad plants and animais have adapted, has been compromised. Developments such as dams for hydropower and flood con trol, diversions to speed water flow, levees for flood protection, wetland drainage for commercial districts and agriculture, and filling wetlands for marinas have modified wedands across the continent (Tables 1 and 2). 72 Wetlands • Friedrickson and Reid 73 Table 1. Agricultural developments that modify wetlands Development Modification Hydrology or water quality Rowcrops Drainage -lncreases speed and volume of runoff, remaining basins receive more water faster -Decreased periodicity of headwater or back· water flooding. but increased intensity -Isolation of individual basins and disruption of wetland complexes -Smaller size of wetland fragments -Disproponionate Joss of small ephemeral or seasonal wedands Cultivation -lncrease erosion and turbidity -lncrease toxins -Seasonalloss of vegetation jncreases rate and volume of flooding Conservation Terraces and contour -Reduce runoff and erosion practices farming and riparian -Lessen flow peaks in streams and/or wetlands buffer strips These destructive processes have been so complete within the 48 contermi nous states that all watersheds have been degraded to sorne degree and few wetlands have retained either their natural hydrology or productivity. Be cause of these modifications in natural hydrological regimes, intensive wet land management is essential in many regions if wetlands are to retain their values and productivity. To be effective, management must be based on an understanding of untampered wetland fonctions and values in order to emulate natural hydrological conditions that will assure the long-term pro ductivity of the remaining wetlands. A description of the essential compo nents in wetland productivity sets the stage for an understanding of how various wetland developments designed for either wildlife, commercial, or navigational purposes have impacted wetlands. The goal of this paper largely focuses on the abiotic components of hydrology and fire and their role in maintaining viable wetland habitats. The effects of modified hydrol ogy and the need for intensive management to compensat e for man's modi fications are discussed. R. Baskett, P. Covington, R. Drobney, B. Dugger, J. Kelley, M. Laubhan, J. P. Magee, G. Pogue, and Taylor kindly provided constructive criticism. Our thinking about the dynamic nature of wetland systems was stimulated by many individuals, but most noteworthy are M. Heitmeyer, C. Klimas, and M. Weller. Support was provided by Gaylord Memorial Laboratory 74 Management of Dynamic Ecosystems • 1990 (The School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri-Columbia, and Missouri Department of Conservation cooperating). This is Missouri Agri cultural Experiment Station Project 183, Journal Series No. 11,148. Basic Wetland Concepts Wetlands are transitional habitats between terrestrial and aquatic sys tems, that serve as a functional sieve (van der Valk 1981, Fredrickson 1982). Abiotic components that influence wetlands indude: climate; soils; fire; water quanrity, quality, and chemistry; hydroperiod; and hydrological regime (Fig. 1). Biotic components indude those within a wetland basin and those that are more peripheral to the system. Diseases, predators, and up land wildlife that occasionally use wetlands are biotic components that have sorne influence on wetlands. Within the wetland basin, there are corn- Table 2. Non-agricultural developments that modify wetlands. Development Modification Change in hydrology or warer quality Reservoir Modify overbank -Narural peak flows removed, lower down· flooding srream ftow over longer rime period, reduced rurbidity and sediment Joad, inundates riverine werlands upsrream Reservoir wirh hy· Modify overbank -Narural peak ftows removed, lower down· dropower flooding srream ftow over longer rime period, reduœd rurbidity and sediment Joad, inundates riverine wedands upsrream -Dramatic daily and seasonal ftucruations may occur Levees Consrricrion of river -Intensifies exrremes of ftooding and drought channel -lncrease rurbidity, decrease sedimentation and Modify overbank surface area flooding -lncrease ftow Channels Speed flow of water -Water rises and drops quickly -lncreased bank erosion -lncreased ftow velocity Urbanizarion and Drain and filling -Isolation of wedands marinas werlands -Stabilizarion of warer regimes -lncreases speed and volume of runoff, remain· ing werlands receive more water fasrer -lndusrrial and municipal pollutants, nurrient loading, eurrophication Highways/railroads Modify flow patterns -lncrease and/or decrease water deprhs - Toxic inputs