Appendix D. MIS and Sensitive Plant Species and their Habitat Associations. Houston Longleaf Project Bankhead National Forest

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1 Appendix D MIS and Sensitive Plant Species and their Habitat Associations Houston Longleaf Project Bankhead National Forest

2 Houston Longleaf Project Management Indicator Species and Major Terrestrial Habitat Groups Existing Conditions Population Information Management indicator species (MIS) are selected because their population changes are believed to indicate the effects of management activities (36 CFR 219 (a)(1)). They are to be used during planning to compare effects of alternatives and as a focus for monitoring. Twelve species were selected as management indicator species for the RLRMP. Eleven of these MIS occur on Bankhead National Forest. Six MIS have been selected for this analysis and are identified below. Table 1 Management Indicator Species selected for Houston Longleaf Project Common Name Reason for Selection Related RLRMP Objectives Scarlet tanager Brown-headed nuthatch Prairie warbler Northern bobwhite quail Eastern wild turkey White-tailed deer To help indicate management effects on xeric oak and oak-pine forest communities. To help indicate management effects on the pine and pine-oak forest community. To help indicate management effects on creating and maintaining early successional forest (low elevation) communities and other early successional habitats. To help indicate management effects on meeting hunting demand for this species. To help indicate management effects on meeting hunting demand for this species. To help indicate management effects on meeting hunting demand for this species. 1.3, 16.3, , 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, , 1.2, 1.3, , 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 16.1, , 1.2, 1.3, , 1.2, 1.3, 16.3 Swainson s warbler is not evaluated because proposed actions will not affect the amount of early successional riparian forest available within the analysis area. Acadian flycatcher is not evaluated because proposed actions will not affect the amount of riparian forest within the analysis area. No treatments are proposed in riparian areas. There are approximately 3,070 acres of riparian areas within the analysis area. Existing RLRMP standards will provide for riparian forest within the analysis area. Pileated woodpecker is not evaluated. Pileated woodpecker is an MIS to help indicate the effects to snag dependent wildlife. Snags are retained in all forest management projects to provide for snag dependent wildlife, particularly Indiana bats. RLRMP standards provide for the retention of snags. Wood thrush is not evaluated because proposed actions will not affect the amount or quality of contiguous mature forest habitat over the landscape. The proposed action includes approximately 1,877 treatment acres scattered in four areas that are generally surrounded by private lands. Two of the areas are developed recreation

3 areas. Hooded warbler is not evaluated. Hooded warbler is an MIS to indicate management effects on mesic deciduous forest and mesic oak and oak-pine forest communities. The Houston Longleaf project is focused on management of upland pine. Therefore the hooded warbler is not included for evaluation. Species associated with these habitat elements will not be affected by proposed management activities. Game species (white-tailed deer, Eastern wild turkey, and Northern bobwhite) are recreationally important terrestrial wildlife species. Harvest regulations for these game species are established and enforced by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Seasons and harvest regulations differ between the Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area and the Bankhead National Forest. Annual harvest data is recorded on the Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area. Harvest data are not known from the general Forest area. Although seasons and harvest regulations differ between the Black Warrior WMA and the general Forest area, data from the WMA is considered as there is no data collected for the proposed analysis area. The Houston and Corinth areas are closed to hunting due to safety zones established around developed recreation areas. Spotlight surveys are conducted on the Bankhead National Forest for white-tailed deer annually. However, the areas proposed for treatment south of Highway 278 are not included in spotlight survey routes. Breeding birds are surveyed annually on the Bankhead through landbird point count surveys. This forest bird monitoring program is implemented throughout the Southern Region of the USDA Forest Service. Monitoring protocol and goals and objectives of monitoring neotropical migratory birds are described in The Southern National Forest s Migrant and Resident Landbird Conservation Strategy (Gaines and Morris 1996). The strategy is used to estimate population trends and measure success in achieving habitat objectives on the national forests in the Southern Region as a whole, in 10 physiographic areas and on 14 national forests. Data from landbird point count surveys in national forests has been assessed by La Sorte et al. (2007) in the publication Population Trends and Habitat Occurrence of Forest Birds on Southern National Forests, Percent annual change in observations of species is presented for physiographic areas, as well as national forests. The Bankhead National Forest is within the Southern Ridge and Valley physiographic area as designated by Partners In Flight. Although the landbird point count survey data resulting from implementation of Gaines and Morris Landbird Conservation Strategy was designed for analysis at regional and physiographic levels, frequency of occurrence data can be reviewed at the District level. The frequency of occurrence report for Bankhead s Management Indicator Species shows that all bird MIS selected for this project are present on the Forest and the frequency with which they are observed is variable from year to year. Normal annual fluctuations in frequency of occurrence do not indicate declining trends in observations of MIS. Bankhead has conducted point count surveys annually since 1997 and data is currently available through The frequency of occurrence graphs presented below represent the total frequency within which a species was observed over all survey points regardless of habitat type. The maximum value of 1.0 indicates the species was observed on 100% of the survey points.

4 The North American Breeding Bird Survey began in 1966 throughout the United States and Canada. US Geological Survey s Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) has been conducted on the northern portion of the Bankhead National Forest (Youngtown Route) since The BBS was designed and is used to provide overall bird population trends on a rangewide scale. See Table 2 for the Management Indicator Species, Habitat Associations and Forest Community Types Crosswalk used for analysis. Brown-headed Nuthatch Partners in flight estimates the brown-headed nuthatch population at 180,000 in Alabama and Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data show declines in the state, although not a significant decline. Brown-headed nuthatch is a species of conservation concern due to local population declines related to the loss of fire-maintained forests. Forest Service bird point count data reveal that percent annual change for brown-headed nuthatch observations between 1992 and 2004 have increased by 86.5% in the Southern Cumberland Plateau/Ridge and Valley area and by 43.6% in the National Forests in Alabama. The chart below displays the frequency of occurrence (the frequency that a species was observed) for all Bankhead bird points. Figure 1 Brown-headed Nuthatch Frequency Prairie Warbler Partners in flight identifies prairie warbler as a priority species associated with early successional and scrub-shrub habitats. Partners in flight estimates the prairie warbler population at 120,000 in Alabama and BBS data show declines in the state. Forest Service bird point count data show percent annual change for prairie warbler observations between 1992 and 2004 have decreased by 0.4% in the Southern Cumberland Plateau/Ridge and Valley area. However, observations on the National Forests in Alabama have increased by 2.7% annually. The frequency of occurrence of prairie warbler on Bankhead National Forest bird points is presented in the graph below.

5 Figure 2 Prairie Warbler Frequency Scarlet Tanager Partners in Flight estimate the scarlet tanager population in Alabama to be 30,000. Alabama Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data indicate positive trends (increase) in population in the state. Forest Service bird point count data show percent annual change for scarlet tanager observations between 1992 and 2004 have increased by 5.9% in the Southern Cumberland Plateau/Ridge and Valley physiographic area and by 4.8% in the National Forests in Alabama. Figure 5 Scarlet Tanager Frequency Northern Bobwhite Quail

6 Harvest data is estimated for this game species on the 98,000 acre Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on Bankhead and is presented below. The Black Warrior WMA is located in the northern portion of Bankhead and contains the Sipsey Wilderness Area. Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area harvest data reported by the Alabama Department of Conservation is highly variable. Variation in harvest may result from a number of factors including changes in bird populations, weather, hunter numbers and changing season lengths over time. There are no harvest estimates available for the analysis area which is outside of the WMA. Figure 6 Northern Bobwhite Quail Harvest Data Partners in flight estimates Alabama s Northern bobwhite population at 260,000. Breeding bird surveys have documented a steady decline in population trends. Forest Service bird point count data show percent annual change for Northern bobwhite quail observations between 1992 and 2004 have decreased by 5% in the Southern Cumberland Plateau/Ridge and Valley area. An even greater decrease in observations has been documented on the National Forests in Alabama with an 11.3% annual decline. The frequency of occurrence of this species on Bankhead National Forest bird points is presented in the graph below. Figure 7 Northern Bobwhite Quail Frequency

7 Man Days Number Harvested Eastern Wild Turkey Harvest data is collected for this game species on the 98,000 acre Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on Bankhead and is presented below. As described for Northern bobwhite, harvest data collected on the WMA is highly variable. Harvest reporting on the WMA is on the honor system, but compliance is considered to be generally good. When reviewing the hunter effort and success it must be considered that the hunting seasons and licenses requirements are different between the Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area and the general Bankhead National Forest area outside of the Black Warrior WMA. The analysis area is outside of the Black Warrior WMA. Hunting opportunities for turkey are more liberal within the general Forest than on the Black Warrior WMA, as all day hunting is allowed on the Forest Eastern Wild Turkey Harvest Data, Black Warrior WMA Man Days- 120 Known Year Figure 8 Wild Turkey Harvest Data Partners in flight estimate Alabama s turkey population at 20,000. Breeding bird survey data have documented an increase in turkey population trends. Forest Service bird point count data show percent annual change for Eastern wild turkey observations between 1992 and 2004 have increased by 18.3% in the Southern Cumberland Plateau/Ridge and Valley area. An even greater increase in observations has been documented on the National Forests in Alabama with a 25.9% annual increase. The frequency of occurrence of the Eastern wild turkey on Bankhead National Forest bird points is presented in the graph below.

8 Figure 9 Wild Turkey Frequency White-tailed Deer Deer spotlight surveys are conducted on the Bankhead National Forest and Black Warrior Wildlife Management Area annually. As with other game species data on the Forest, surveys are focused in the northern portion of the Bankhead. Monitoring white-tailed deer can provide an indication of the long-term status and trends of the local population and provide information on habitat types used by the species within the District. The spotlight survey consists of driving two established survey routes and using spotlights to count all deer observed. One route (Black Warrior) is located entirely within Lawrence County and the Black Warrior WMA. The eastern route (Bankhead) includes areas in Winston and Lawrence counties. It also includes areas both within and outside of the Black Warrior WMA. The routes are not within the Houston Longleaf analysis area.

Figure 10 Deer Count Survey Data, West Route = Black Warrior WMA; East Route = Bankhead Note: In 2008, spotlight survey data was not collected on the Black Warrior Route.

Harvest data for areas outside of the WMA are not collected.

9 Figure 10 Deer Count Survey Data, West Route = Black Warrior WMA; East Route = Bankhead Note: In 2008, spotlight survey data was not collected on the Black Warrior Route. Harvest data is collected for this game species on the 98,000 acre Black Warrior WMA on Bankhead and is presented below. As described above, the analysis area is outside of the Black Warrior WMA. Harvest data for areas outside of the WMA are not collected. When reviewing the harvest data it must be considered that the hunting seasons, antler restrictions, unantlered deer harvest (doe days), and licenses requirements are different between the Black Warrior WMA and the general Forest area. Hunting opportunities are generally more liberal on Bankhead than on the Black Warrior WMA. Figure 11 Deer Harvest Data

10 Table 2 Crosswalk between Habitat Associations and Forest Types with Management Indicator Species Evaluated Management Indicator Species Habitat Associations Community & Forest Types Scarlet Tanager Mixed Xeric Forest Associates Hardwood and Mixed Types over 31+ and all Hardwood and Mixed Woodlands over 11+ Hardwood Forest Hardwood-Pine Pine-Hardwood Hardwood Woodland Pine-Hardwood Woodland Excluded Loblolly Pine and Loblolly Pine-Hardwood and Longleaf Brown-headed Nuthatch Prairie Warbler Southern Yellow Pine Forest and Woodland Associates Grass/Forbs/Shrub/Seedling/Sapling Habitat Associates Southern Yellow Pine Woodland Associates All pine forest types over 31 and all pine woodlands Loblolly Pine forest and woodlands Virginia Pine Forest Longleaf Pine Forest Loblolly /Longleaf Pine Forest All Early Successional Forests (0-10 years) and All Woodlands

11 Northern Bobwhite Quail Grass/Forbs/Shrub/Seedling/Sapling Habitat Associates Southern Yellow Pine Forest and Woodland Habitat Associates All Early Successional Forests (0-10 years) and All Woodlands Eastern Wild Turkey Habitat Generalist All Forest Types except those ages All Woodlands White-tailed Deer Habitat Generalist All Forest Types except those ages All Woodlands Table 3 Sensitive Plant Species and their Habitat Associations Common Name Eggert's sunflower Small flowered buckeye Tennessee Milkvetch Spreading yellow false foxglove Bryson's sedge Alabama larkspur Riverbank bush-honeysuckle Gorge filmy fern Alabama jamesianthus Butternut Alabama Gladecress Fleshyfruit Gladecress Duck River Bladderpod Sweet pinesap Scott's Spleenwort Broadleaf Barbara's buttons Alabama Sandwort Alabama snow-wreath White fringeless orchid Tennessee Leafcup Habitat Association Southern Yellow Pine Forest Wetland Associate

12 Clammy Locust Pinnate-lobed Black-eyed Susan Alabama skullcap Nevius' stonecrop Blue Ridge catchfly Limestone Fameflower Menge's fameflower Little mountain meadow rue Lanceleaf Trillium Jeweled Trillium A liverwort A liverwort A liverwort A liverwort A liverwort A liverwort Southern Yellow Pine Forest

Mixed Conifer Working Group Meeting February 17, 2011 Wildlife Habitat Management Considerations

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