Baker River Relicensing Project
Grizzly Bear Spring Foraging Habitat Study
Study T-12
Final Study Plan
Prepared for:
Baker River Project Relicensing
Wildlife and Terrestrial Resources Working Group
April 8, 2003
1.0 Introduction
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and other interested parties are currently participating in the
collaborative development of an application for the relicense of the Baker River Project
(Project No. 2150) (Project). The Terrestrial Resources Working Group (TRWG) has
requested a study plan to evaluate grizzly bear spring forage habitat in the Project Area
which is located in the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone. Specifically, the
TRWG requires information on the amount of grizzly bear forage that could be available
under a “future without Project” scenario. This study will provide information necessary
for Section 7 consultation and evaluating effects of varying pool levels on habitat. This
draft study plan describes the proposed steps for completing the Baker River grizzly bear
spring forage study (Study T-12).
2.0 Objectives
The specific objectives of this study are to:
1. Measure the biomass of “potential” and “important” spring grizzly bear forage
species in the 5 non-coniferous habitats that are predicted to develop under the
“Future Without Project” scenario—(1) upland deciduous, (2) riparian deciduous,
(3) forested wetland, (4) shrub wetland, and (5) wet meadow.
2. Combine the biomass estimates for each habitat type with acreage data from the
potential future vegetation study (study T7-B) to calculate the total amount of
potential and important grizzly bear forage that could develop in the future. This
will be conducted by the TRWG.
3.0 Study Area
The grizzly bear habitat study area is limited to the Western hemlock vegetation zone
within the Baker River watershed because the Baker River Project lies almost entirely
within this zone. Within the western hemlock zone, the study will address only those five
communities present in the “future without Project scenario” that provide potential
grizzly bear spring forage habitat, as highlighted on the study area map.
4.0 Methods
The following major tasks will be conducted to complete this study:
4.1
Determining Forage Plant Species Biomass
There are numerous plant species that occur in the North Cascades that grizzly bears may
forage upon during the spring. In this study, the list of grizzly bear forage species
provided in Almack et al. (1993) will be used as the “potential” forage species (Appendix
A). Of these species, those that are assumed to be “important” grizzly bear forage in the
North Cascades include the following species (Almack et al. 1993):
Final Grizzly Bear Habitat Study Plan (T-12)
4/8/02
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skunk cabbage (Lysichitum americanum)
grasses (all except Phalaris which is considered a “potential” species)
sedges (Carex spp.)
horsetail (Equisetum spp.)
false hellebore (Veratrum sp.)
lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
cow parsnip (Heracleum spp.)
thistle (Cirsium spp.)
coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus)
biscuit-root (Lomatium spp.)
glacier and avalanche lilies (Erythronium spp.)
western springbeauty (Claytonia lanceolata)
Siberian miner’s-lettuce (Montia siberica)
few-flowered shooting star (Dodecatheon pauciflorum)
yellow bell (Fritillaria pudica).
The process of estimating how much actual potential grizzly bear forage would occur
under the “Future without Project” scenario in each habitat type will include the
following steps:
1. Selecting sampling sites in existing habitats that are assumed to have
characteristics similar to those that are predicted to develop in the 5 habitat types
with removal of the project
2. Collecting vegetation clippings at each sampling site
3. Processing the samples to measure the dry-weight biomass for the “important”
and “potential” bear forage species groups
4. Summarizing the biomass data to calculate mean, standard deviations, and
confidence intervals for each of the 5 habitat types
The following sections describe each of these steps.
4.1.1 Selection of sampling sites
For each of the 5 habitat types being assessed—upland deciduous forest, riparian
deciduous forest, forested wetland, shrub wetland, and wet meadow—24 potential
sampling sites will be selected randomly using GIS prior to the field season. The
combination of the existing T15 (plus National Wetland Inventory [NWI] and PSE
wetland inventory) and T2 vegetation GIS layers will be used to randomly select the
sampling sites. For logistical purposes, sampling sites will be limited to areas within 0.5
mile of accessible roads.
Final Grizzly Bear Habitat Study Plan (T-12)
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After the list of potential sampling sites are selected, botanists with Hamer
Environmental will go into the field, locate the randomly-selected sampling sites, and
determine whether they accurately represent the habitats that could develop under the
future without project scenario (Appendix B). Sites that meet all of the criteria defined
for each cover type in Appendix B will be sampled. If one or more criteria are not met,
then a new site will be selected. If, during field sampling, the criteria are determined to
be too restrictive, so that we have to keep re-selecting sites, we will modify the criteria
through consultation with the TRWG to achieve adequate sample sizes for each cover
type. During the early stages of field sampling, interested members of the TRWG are
invited to participate in a 1-day of field inspection to agree on the site evaluation process.
If a site is deemed inappropriate for sampling, it will be replaced by a polygon that is
appropriate.
To prevent impacts to USFS Sensitive plant species, the following actions will be
implemented as part of the sampling site selection and field data collection:
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All members of the field crew will have botany degrees and field experience in
the northwest conducting botanical surveys.
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Any sites where rare plants were documented during surveys conducted in
previous years will be avoided.
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Wetlands on USFS land will only be sampled if they were surveyed for rare plants
in 2002 and found to have no rare plants. Depending on the number of such sites
available, it may be necessary to go off of USFS land to reach the sample size of
24 sampling sites per habitat type. This will allow us to get data on wetlands that
have non-Sensitive Carex species while avoiding impacts to rare species.
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To ensure that we have an adequate pool of potential sampling sites, a number of
alternative polygons will be pre-selected randomly so that if a site needs to be
replaced due to concern for rare plants, the fieldcrew can go to the nearest random
alternate location. A map of the randomly selected polygons will be provided to
the USFS at the beginning of sampling in early April.
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As field sampling progresses, we will consult with the USFS to discuss species
encountered and issues that need to be addressed. If necessary, the sampling plan
will be modified.
4.1.2 Vegetation Sampling
To ensure that the range of forage conditions present in each habitat type is captured,
sampling will be spread out over an 8-week period in April and May, 2003 (Table 1). At
each sampling site, a cluster of five 1-m2 plots will be sampled. The first plot will be
selected randomly. The remaining 4 plots will be located 161 ft. (50 m) in each cardinal
direction from the center plot (modifying the distance to stay within the appropriate
Final Grizzly Bear Habitat Study Plan (T-12)
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Table 1. Field Sampling Schedule.
Plant Community
upland deciduous
forest
riparian deciduous
forest
forested wetland
shrub wetland
wet meadow
Total
April 5-19
6
Number of sites to be sampled
April 19-May 2
May 3-May 17
May 18-31
6
6
6
Total
24
6
6
6
6
24
6
6
6
30
6
6
6
30
6
6
6
30
6
6
6
30
24
24
24
120
habitat type when necessary). At each sampling site, the botanists will first ensure that
no rare plants are in the 1-m2 plot. If there is a plant that could be rare, the plot will be
shifted a random distance and direction within the polygon. If rare plants cannot be
avoided on the second attempt, an alternate polygon will be sampled.
In each 1-m2 plot, all herbaceous vegetation that is on the lists of “potential” or
“important” forage species will be clipped at ground level (Higgins et al. 1994).
Vegetation will be harvested from the 3-dimensional volume of the quadrat (height x
width x length). Plant biomass that is not rooted in the quadrat but occupies space in the
volume will be harvested while plants rooted in the quadrat that do not occupy volume in
the quadrat will not be clipped (Bonham 1989). No residual or dead material will be
included. The clipped vegetation at each plot will be placed in 2 separate paper bags, one
for the “important” species and one for the other “potential” species. Note that as the list
of potential species in Appendix A was taken straight from Almack et al. (1993) Table 9,
the species in the appendix should be considered to be “in addition to” the important
species listed in Section 4.1 so that in the end, the sum of “important” and “potential”
species biomass will equal the total potential forage availability. Collected vegetation
samples will be kept at below 4º C until drying can take place to prevent further
respiration and decay.
Data to be recorded at each plot include: plot number, date, observers, habitat type, map
location reference number, and a list of herbaceous plant species in each plot (Appendix
C).
4.1.3 Processing Vegetation Samples
The samples from the individual samples will be dried in an oven at 60-80º C for 24
hours. After totally dry, each sample will be weighed to the nearest tenth of a gram.
Two biomass values will be determined for each plot: one for the sample of “important”
forage species, and one for the sample of “potential” forage species.
Final Grizzly Bear Habitat Study Plan (T-12)
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4.1.4 Summarizing Biomass Data
For each of the 5 habitats that are sampled, the mean biomass per area (gm/m2) will be
calculated. First, data from each cluster of plots will be combined to calculate a mean for
each sampling site. The resultant sampling site means will then be treated as independent
samples and summarized with descriptive statistics including mean ± standard deviation
and 95-percent confidence intervals.
4.2
Reporting
The report will (1) document methods along with maps of sampling locations, and (2)
provide tabular summaries of plant biomass estimates for grizzly bear forage species by
habitat type. The TRWG can use these results in evaluating the relative effects of
different alternatives and in developing PMEs. It is assumed that one draft and one final
report will be prepared.
5.0 Schedule
March
Determine field sampling plan
April-May
Conduct vegetation sampling
June
Process vegetation samples
June-July
Analyze data and conduct GIS analyses
July-August
Prepare reports
5.1
Literature Cited
Almack, J.A., W.L. Gaines, R.H. Naney, P.H. Morrison, J.R. Eby, G.P. Wooten, M.C.
Snyder, S.H. Fitkin, and E.R. Garcia. 1993. North Cascades grizzly bear
ecosystem evaluation: final report. Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.
Denver, Colorado. 156pp.
Bonham, C.D. 1989. Measurements for terrestrial vegetation. John Wiley and Sons.
New York. 338pp.
Higgins, K.F., J.L. Oldemeyer, K.T. Jenkins, G.K. Clambey, and R.F. Harlow. 1994.
Vegetation sampling and measurement. Chapter 22, pp. 567-591. in: T.A.
Bookout, ed. Research and management techniques for wildlife and habitats.
The Wildlife Society, Bethesda, Maryland. 740pp.
Final Grizzly Bear Habitat Study Plan (T-12)
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Appendix A
List of Potential Grizzly Bear Forage Species
Source: Almack et al. (1993)
Appendix A
Potential Herbaceous Grizzly Bear Forage Species
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Allium schoenoprasum
Angelica arguta
Angelica genuflexa
Astragalus robbinsii
Boykinia richardsonii
Carex spp.
Castilleja spp.
Cicuta douglasii
Cirsium spp.
Claytonia lanceolata
Claytonia megarhiza
Clintonia uniflora
Danthonia unispicata
Disporum sp.
Empetrum nigrum
Epilobium angustifolium
Equisetum spp.
Eriophorum vaginatum
Erythronium grandiflorum
Erythronium montanum
Fragaria vesca
Fragaria virginiana
Fritillaria pudica
Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Hedysarum spp.
Heracleum lanatum
Heracleum sphondylium
Hieracium spp.
Juncus spp.
Ligusticum spp.
Lomatium spp.
Lupinus nootkatensis
Luzula spp.
Lysichitum americanum
Melica spectabilis
Mertensia sp.
Mitella sp.
Osmorhiza spp.
Oxyria digyna
Oxytropis spp.
COMMON NAME
chives
Lyall's arguta
kneeling angelica
Robbins'milk-vetch
boykinia
sedge
paintbrush
Douglas' water-hemlock
thistle
western springbeauty
alpine springbeauty
beadlily
onespike danthonia
fairy-bell
crowberry
fireweed
horsetail
cotton-grass
pale fawn-lily
alpine fawn-lily
woods strawberry
blueleaf strawberry
yellow bell
oak-fern
hedysarum
cow-parsnip
cow-parsnip
hawkweed
rush
lovage
biscuit-root
lupine
woodrush
skunk cabbage
showy onion
lungwort
mitrewort
sweet-root
mountain sorrel
crazyweed
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Perideridia gairdneri
Petasites sp.
Phalaris sp.
Polygonum spp.
Polypodiaceae spp.
Pteridium aquilinium
Ranunculus spp.
Rumex spp.
Scirpus microcarpus
Senecio triangularis
Smilacina racemosa
Smilacina stellata
Streptopus amplexifolius
Streptopus roseus
Taraxacum spp.
Tiarella spp.
Tiarella trifoliata
Trifolium spp.
Trillium ovatum
Veratrum sp.
Viburnum edule
Viola spp.
Xerophyllum tenax
Medicago sativa
Source: Almack et al. (1993)—Table 9.
COMMON NAME
Gairdner's yampah
coltsfoot
Reed canarygrass
doorweed
common fern family
braken
buttercup
dock
small-fr~ted bulrush
groundsel
western Solomon-plume
starry Solomon-plume
clasping-leaved twisted-stalk
rosy twisted-stalk
dandelion
coolwort
coolwort
clover
white trillium
false hellebore
moosewood viburnum
violet
beargrass
alfalfa
Appendix B
Plant Associations to be Sampled
Plant Associations to be Sampled
Upland Deciduous Forest
Overstory Species Composition: ≥80% deciduous (red alder, black cottonwood, bigleaf
maple)
Stand Condition: Sapling/Pole-Moderate or Sapling/Pole-Closed
Average dbh 1-9 inches
Total tree canopy closure ≥40%
Understory:
Unspecified
Location: Outside floodplain
Riparian Deciduous Forest
Overstory Species Composition: ≥80% deciduous (red alder, black cottonwood)
Stand Condition: Sapling/Pole-Moderate or Sapling/Pole-Closed
Average dbh 1-9 inches
Total tree canopy closure ≥40%
Understory:
Unspecified
Location: Within floodplain
Forested Wetland
Overstory Species Composition: unspecified (can be conifer, mixed or deciduous)
Stand Condition: Sapling/Pole-Moderate or Sapling/Pole-Closed
Average dbh 1-9 inches
Total tree canopy closure ≥40%
Understory:
Unspecified
Location: Unspecified
Hydrology: Evidence of at least temporary inundation during the growing season
Shrub Wetland
Overstory Species Composition: unspecified (can be conifer, mixed or deciduous)
Stand Condition: Tree size unspecified
Average dbh unspecified
Total tree canopy closure <10%
Understory:
tall
>80% (by cover) wetland obligate or facultative woody species <6 meters
Location: Unspecified
Hydrology: Evidence of at least temporary inundation during the growing season
5.2
Wet Meadow
Overstory Species Composition: unspecified (can be conifer, mixed or deciduous)
Stand Condition: Tree size unspecified
Average dbh unspecified
Total tree canopy closure <10%
Understory:
species
>80% (by cover) wetland obligate or facultative grass, sedge or forb
Location: Unspecified
Hydrology: Evidence of at least temporary inundation during the growing season
Appendix C
Data Form
Baker River Grizzly Bear Habitat Vegetation Plot Data Form (T-12)
Site #:____________
Crew:_______________
Date:_____________
Map Location Reference Number
Polygon Location/Description:
Habitat Type:__________
Comments:
Plot #
Species
Plot #
Species