The purpose of this cooperative project is to develop an approach to monitoring the extent of western snowy plover (WSP) nesting habitat at guadalupe-nipomo dunes national wildlife REFUGE (REFUGE)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654), awarded a $200,000 Cooperative Agreement to Point Blue Conservation Science (Point Blue). The purpose of this 5-year project is to develop a habitat suitability model and survey protocol to monitor changes in the extent of western snowy plover nesting habitat at the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge in California. The key deliverables include: 1) a habitat suitability model using physical environmental and local substrate variables to evaluate the extent of western snowy plover nesting habitat, and 2) a survey protocol that meets USFWS standards for monitoring changes in the extent of this nesting habitat over time. This work will help the USFWS evaluate and improve management strategies aimed at improving western snowy plover habitat at the refuge.

Project objectives are the following: 1. Develop a habitat suitability model (HSU) to evaluate the extent of western snowy plover (WSP) nesting habitat at guadalupe-nipomo dunes NWR using physical environmental and local substrate variables such as vegetation and wrack cover that can be controlled through management action 2. Develop a survey protocol for monitoring change in the extent of WSP nesting habitat on the REFUGE over time (informed by the HSU) that meets USFWS protocol standards. The protocol will be designed to evaluate the progress in achieving a REFUGE management objective focused on the extent of western snowy plover nesting habitat. The objective was developed during the REFUGE adaptive management project (ramp, known nationally as the chiefs challenge) and the information gathered during this project will be used to evaluate and update this objective. This work will help the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (USFWS) evaluate and improve management strategies aimed at improving WSP habitat at the REFUGE.