OSPREY NEST STRUCTURES 2013 ANNUAL REPORT

Transcription

1 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ARTICLE 506 OSPREY NEST STRUCTURES 2013 ANNUAL REPORT REPORTING PERIOD JANUARY 1 DECEMBER 31, 2013 BAKER RIVER HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT FERC No January 2015 BAK SA 506 Annual Report 2013.Docx Baker River Hydroelectric Project PUGET SOUND ENERGY 30 January 2015

2 CONTENTS CONTENTS 1.0 Executive Summary Introduction Osprey Surveys Documents Submitted Agency Comments Distribution List... 9 List of Tables Table Lake Shannon and Baker Lake osprey survey results Table 2. Draft Osprey Nest Structures 2013 Annual Report reviewers List of Figures Figure 1. Osprey nests identified in 2013 at Baker Lake Figure 2. Osprey nests identified in 2013 at Lake Shannon Figure 3. message from PSE accompanying the draft report PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page ii

3 Executive Summary 1.0 Executive Summary This annual report documents the steps taken in 2013 to meet the requirements of settlement agreement article 506 (SA 506) of the Baker River Hydroelectric Project license. Major tasks completed include monitoring osprey nesting success on Lake Shannon and Baker Lake by boat, conducting a helicopter productivity survey, and submitting annual reports to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as required. 2.0 Introduction The Osprey Nest Structure Management Plan filed on September 30, 2009 describes the steps Puget Sound Energy will take to meet the requirements of SA 506, Osprey Nest Structures, of the Order on Offer of Settlement, Issuing New License and Dismissing Amendment Application as Moot (the license) issued by the FERC on October 17, It establishes the goals and objectives of osprey nest structure management and criteria for the nest structure creation, maintenance, monitoring, and reporting that will occur over the term of the license. The plan was prepared collaboratively by the Baker River Project Terrestrial Resources Implementation Group (TRIG), which includes representatives of Puget Sound Energy and the other signatories to the settlement agreement. The goal of the Osprey Nest Structure Management Plan is to provide a sufficient number and distribution of nest structures at Lake Shannon to support an estimated seven breeding osprey pairs. The objectives of the osprey nest structures program are to: Provide and maintain a minimum of 10 artificial nest structures at Lake Shannon. Modify 10 existing trees at Lake Shannon to promote their eventual use as osprey nest sites. Conduct osprey nest structure activities in a manner consistent with the other objectives and constraints pertinent to project lands. Monitor osprey nesting activity and productivity annually at both Lake Shannon and Baker Lake. Inspect the 10 artificial nest structures at Lake Shannon at two-year intervals and maintain the structures in conditions suitable for nesting by osprey. The following activities were completed in 2013 as specified by SA 506. All of the tasks needed to maintain compliance with SA 506 requirements were completed. Maintaining a minimum of ten artificial osprey nest structures in a manner conducive to osprey nesting Monitoring osprey nesting and productivity between April 1 and August 31 at both Lake Shannon and Baker Lake Submitting the Osprey Nest Structures 2011 Annual Report to the FERC (March 2013) Submitted Osprey Nest Structures Inspection &Monitoring Report to the FERC (May 23, 2013) PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 1

4 Osprey Surveys Lake Shannon and Baker Lake were surveyed by helicopter on July 2, 2013 to record nest productivity. (A productive nest is one which produces young.) Four productive osprey nests were identified on Lake Shannon; six adult birds and five osprey chicks were observed. The flight survey and boat surveys identified three additional nests that appeared to be active but were not productive. One productive nest was identified on Baker Lake; one adult bird with three young was observed on nest A near Depression Lake. The flight survey and additional boat surveys conducted in the summer of 2013 did not reveal any other active osprey territories on Baker Lake. In addition to the aerial productivity survey, three boat surveys of Lake Shannon and Baker Lake were completed to supplement the snapshot of osprey nesting activity. The data collected during the breeding season aerial and boat surveys are presented in table 1. The boat surveys are drive-by surveys where bird presence or absence is noted. The 2013 nest locations for Lake Shannon and Baker Lake are identified in figures 1 and 2. Nests identified by numbers (1-10) are artificial platform nests. Nests identified by a letter are naturally occurring nests. Nests T1 through T13 are in trees modified to provide suitable osprey nesting sites around Lake Shannon. Figures 1 and 2 identify productive nests and active nesting territories where adults were observed using nests but young birds were not observed. Table Lake Shannon and Baker Lake osprey survey results. Adult Osprey Observed Young Osprey Observed Date Survey type Lake Nest Location (territory) Comments 4/9/13 Boat Shannon Canada Goose on Nest 4/9/13 Boat Shannon Canada Goose on Nest 4/9/13 Boat Shannon Canada Goose on Nest 4/9/13 Boat Shannon T /9/13 Boat Shannon T /9/13 Boat Shannon /9/13 Boat Shannon T1 thru T /9/13 Boat Baker A,B,C,D,E,F,G Canada Geese on Nest, This was active osprey nest site in 2012 Osprey in flight near nest T- 11 No osprey activity on artificial platforms No osprey nest activity on tree top nest, One osprey flying near T-11 No osprey observed on Baker Lake PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 2

5 Date Survey type Lake Nest Location (territory) Adult Osprey Observed Young Osprey Observed 5/10/13 Boat Shannon T /10/13 Boat Shannon T1, T2 1 0 Comments Osprey flying around nest probably a nesting pair at this site, not observed on nest Osprey flying shoreline near T2 5/10/13 Boat Shannon T5 1 0 Osprey perched above nest 5/10/13 Boat Shannon 7 Canada goose on nest 7 5/10/13 Boat Shannon 8 Canada goose on nest 8 5/10/13 Boat Shannon T /10/13 Boat Shannon T /10/13 Boat Shannon /10/13 Boat Shannon T3,T4,T7,T8,T9, T11,T12,T Osprey perched next to nest no sign of Canada geese that were there in April Osprey left nest as we approached No osprey activity on artificial nest structures, Goose activity on 7and 8 Possible nesting activity at five Tree top nest T1,T2,T5,T6 and T10 5/10/13 Boat Baler Depression Lake 1 0 Osprey flying over lake 5/10/13 Boat Baker A,B,C,D,E,F,G 0 0 6/11/13 Boat Shannon T /11/13 Boat Shannon T /11/13 Boat Shannon T /11/13 Boat Shannon T /11/13 Boat Shannon T1,T3,T4,T6,T7, T8,T11,T12,T /11/13 Boat Baker A,B,C,D,E,F,G 0 0 No observed activity near nest sites Osprey perched adjacent to T2 Perched near nest second month in row One bird on nest one perched near by One bird on nest one bird perching near by No observed osprey activity near these nest No observed activity near nest sites PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 3

6 Date Survey type Lake Nest Location (territory) Adult Osprey Observed Young Osprey Observed 7/2/13 Helicopter Shannon TI 1 1 7/2/13 Helicopter Shannon T /2/13 Helicopter Shannon T /2/13 Helicopter Shannon T /2/13 Helicopter Shannon C 1 1 7/2/13 Helicopter Baker A 1 3 Comments Active nest site, nest site was also active in 2012 Active nest site, nest site was also active in 2012 No young observed, This nest has had adults present during 2 previous boat surveys Active nest site, nest site was also active in 2012 Active natural nest site, was also active in 2012 Active natural nest site near depression lake, nest active in Only active osprey nest on Baker Lake last two years. PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 4

7 Figure 1. Osprey nests identified in 2013 at Baker Lake. PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 5

8 Figure 2. Osprey nests identified in 2013 at Lake Shannon. PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 6

9 Analysis of the boat and helicopter surveys indicates that eight osprey nesting territories were active during the 2013 breeding season: seven on Lake Shannon and one on Baker Lake (figures 1 and 2). On Lake Shannon, T1, T2, T5, T6, T9, T10, and the natural nest site C were active. Four of these sites, T1, T2, T9 and C, were productive and produced five known young ospreys. The Lake Shannon modified nests T5, T6, and T10 had adults present in the nesting territory but did not appear to have produced young birds. This is the second year in a row that the T5 and T6 nest sites were active but did not produce. On Baker Lake, only one naturally-occurring nest territory was occupied: nest A was active and produced three young. The boat and helicopter surveys indicate that Lake Shannon and Baker Lake supported at least 16 adult ospreys, which produced 8 known chicks or young ospreys. The actual number of fledglings was probably higher than recorded. It still is difficult to see young birds on the nest by helicopter, and we are still working on timing of the helicopter flight in an effort to obtain better productivity data. Use of drones may be possible in the future; however, there are concerns about osprey attacking drones. So we will continue to use helicopter surveys as our best option. Discussion The goal of the Osprey Nest Structure Management Plan is to provide a sufficient number and distribution of nest structures at Lake Shannon to support an estimated seven breeding osprey pairs. There are at least 24 available nesting sites on Lake Shannon: 10 artificial structures, 13 trees that were topped and modified to create potential nest sites in 2010, and 1 new naturally-occurring nest (nest C). Natural nests A and B identified on figure 4 have collapsed (their snags fell down) and are not viable nest sites. The availability of adequate nesting platforms is probably not a limiting factor for the Lake Shannon osprey population. While the number of nests on Lake Shannon has been relatively stable over the last several years, with five to seven active osprey nests per year, there appears to have been a decrease in nesting activity on Baker Lake from historic levels in the 1980s and 1990s, when there were four or five active nests on the lake. There are still adequate numbers of old-growth snags for nesting, and the availability of fish in and around Baker Lake has probably improved. However, increases in eagle populations in the upper basin may have resulted in more competition for food. The one active osprey nest on Baker Lake is located near Depression Lake, a recreational lake planted with catchable-sized fish by PSE s hatchery staff. While nesting activity on Lake Shannon remains stable, there has been a complete shift by osprey away from use of the artificial bowl structures, created for nesting between 1980 and 2010, and towards the tree-top nest sites that were created in 2010 by topping and modifying trees near the Lake Shannon shoreline. One of the five active nests on Lake Shannon in 2011 was in a modified tree. In 2012, five of the seven active nests on Lake Shannon were in modified trees, and only one of the artificial bowl nesting poles was in use by osprey. In 2013, six of the seven active nest sites were on modified treetops. The other nest was in a natural location on the wetland complex to the west of PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 7

10 Lake Shannon. None of the artificial nesting bowls constructed from were used by nesting osprey in The shift of osprey from the artificial bowls to the modified trees was what the TRIG envisioned when the requirements to create these structures were included in the 2009 Osprey Management Plan. It was thought that a modified-top tree on the shoreline would create a more natural nest that would lead to better nesting success with less chance of disturbance from recreational users of the lake. It should be noted that the shift from the artificial platforms to the modified trees has also been the result of early season nesting competition with Canada geese. Canada geese nested on 5 of the 10 artificial structures in 2011, 4 of the 10 artificial structures in 2012, and 4 of the 10 artificial structures in Canada geese also attempted to use T10 in April, but the osprey took over that nest sometime in May. The osprey did not appear to have produced any young at the T10 nest site during the 2013 breeding season. We should continue to see less nesting competition between osprey and Canada geese with the shift by osprey to the modified tree nest sites. It appears that resources are in place to support an estimated seven breeding osprey pairs at Lake Shannon and possibly increase nesting success in the Baker River basin. 3.2 Documents Submitted PSE submitted the final Osprey Nest Structures 2011 Annual Report to the FERC In March PSE filed the Osprey Nest Structures Inspection and Monitoring Report on May 23, PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 8

11 Agency Comments 4.0 Agency Comments 4.1 Distribution List Table 2. Draft Osprey Nest Structures 2013 Annual Report reviewers. Name Organization Address Brock Applegate Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Len Barson The Nature Conservancy Cathy Baker The Nature Conservancy Jack Oelfke National Park Service Mignonne Bivin National Park Service Roger Christophersen National Park Service Chris Danilson Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Lou Ellen Jones US Fish and Wildlife Service Theresa Mathis USDA Forest Service Shauna Hee USDA Forest Service Bob Nelson Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Bill Richardson Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Scott Schuyler Upper Skagit Indian Tribe Jon-Paul Shannahan Upper Skagit Indian Tribe Doug Couvelier Upper Skagit Indian Tribe Kara Symonds Skagit County Stan Walsh Swinomish Indian Tribe Todd Wilbur Swinomish Indian Tribe Peter McBride Swinomish Indian Tribe Jason Joseph Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe Michael Wolten Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe Emily Wirtz Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 9

12 Agency Comments 4.2 Cover Message From: Fuchs, Anthony D -Tony Sent: Friday, March 28, :41 PM To: Applegate, Brock A (DFW); Bob Nelson; Edwards, Haley; Fuchs, Tony; Heller, Scott W; Kara Symonds; Len Barson; Lou Ellyn Jones; Michael Wolten; Roger Christophersen (roger_christophersen@nps.gov); Scott Schuyler; Theresa Mathis; Todd Wilbur; Walters, Melvin L -Mel; Bill Richardson; Cathy Baker; Chris Danilson; Doug Couvelier; Emily Wirtz; Flynn, Tom; Jack Oelfke; Jason Joseph; Jon-Paul Shannahan; Mignonne Bivin; Peter McBride; Shauna Hee; Stan Walsh Cc: Hackbart, Alice; OpenText ECM --mail Subject: Baker River - SA 506 Osprey Nest Structures Draft Annual report for 2013 Attachments: 2013 annual report draft Article RevDraft.pdf TRIG members, PSE is forwarding the 2013 draft annual report for Settlement Agreement Article 506 Osprey Nest Structures, to the Terrestrial Resources Implementation Group representatives for the "30-Day" review period and seeks comments and suggestions. We are asking that comments be sent to Tony Fuchs via mail or by April 30, This review is part of the TRIG review cycle established per Article Terrestrial Resource Management Plan. Thanks! Tony Doc ID: BAK PSE.TRIG Anthony D. Fuchs Consulting Natural Resource Scientist Licensing - Terrestrial Puget Sound Energy P.O. Box PSE-09S Bellevue, WA (w) (f) Figure 3. message from PSE accompanying the draft report. 4.3 Summary of Reviewer Replies No reviewer replies or comments were received. PUGET SOUND ENERGY Baker River Hydroelectric Project Page 10