A04_SOW_-_Final_Revised_9-6_0001.pdf

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Inventory & Monitoring Division

Statement of Work / Objectives

NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division

Inventory of Bog Turtles to Inform Trail Relocation and Agricultural Permits in APPA

TAR 20242

Inventory of Bog Turtles to Inform Trail Relocation and Agricultural Permits

Project Background The bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) is a federally threatened and state endangered species in New York. The smallest turtle in New York and one of the most critically imperiled in North America, the bog turtle occurs in two allopatric populations that are separated by 250 miles. The northern population is known to occur in seven states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The southern population is found in southern Virginia southward to northern Georgia. In New York, it reaches the northern extent of its distribution. Bog turtles require open calcareous wetland complexes with a variety of pockets that may be dry, saturated, and subject to flooding.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA) recently acquired a parcel known as Corbin Hill or the Boniello Tract in Pawling, NY. This 219-acre parcel (tract 268-46) adjoins tracts 268-15 (23 acres) and 268-16 (43 acres east of road), through which the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) footpath currently passes (Figure 1). Tract 268-16 features a known population of the bog turtle, and its habitat likely straddles both tract 268-16 and tract 268-15 (Figure 2). A trail relocation onto the newly acquired Corbin Hill tract has been proposed to better protect bog turtles, but more information on bog turtle presence and habitat is needed to optimize the new trail alignment. Additionally, there is a lapsed agricultural permit on tract 268-16 and the park would like to better understand the presence and distribution of bog turtles to inform whether to renew this lease.

Specifically, APPA managers wish to ensure the new trail alignment minimizes the potential for incidental take and poaching, and maximizes the protection of bog turtle habitat, which may be affected by permitted agricultural activities in an adjacent parcel, the potential removal of an earthen dam, or the trail relocation itself. Inventory results will be used in the environmental compliance process to inform decisions on future trail relocation onto the Corbin Hill tract and renewal of the agricultural permit on tract 268-16.

Figure 1. Map showing the tracts of interest for the survey and their approximate area.

Project Goals

This project aims to develop a clear understanding of bog turtle habitat and bog turtle distribution on three parcels within APPA (tracts 268-15/16 and the newly acquired Corbin Hill tract 268-46). These tracts are located on West Dover Rd in Pawling, NY. Bog turtle habitat will be evaluated throughout the entirety of the tracts, but based on wetland maps and prior site visits, bog turtles likely use a smaller portion of the tract areas and turtle inventory efforts may be more limited based on habitat evaluations and professional judgment.

Specific Project Objectives The specific project objectives are to:

1. Determine if habitat for bog turtle nesting, basking, foraging, and overwintering exists, and map its extent on the Corbin Hill tract (tract 268-46, 219 acres) and tracts 268-15/16 (combined 66 acres) using the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) guidelines for Phase 1 (habitat surveys).

2. Sample appropriate habitat from all tracts to determine presence/absence of bog turtles using the FWS guidelines for Phase 3 (trapping efforts), modified to ensure all potential bog turtle habitat is fully surveyed (i.e., without terminating search effort at first detection). Potential core habitat is estimated to total 4 acres or more.

3. Record number of bog turtles, as well as geolocation, habitat type and usage (foraging, basking, nesting, hibernaculum, etc.) information for all bog turtle detections.

4. Provide recommendations for maintenance, stewardship, protection of any existing bog turtle habitat, particularly in light of proposed management actions.

5. Note any other rare, threatened, or endangered plant and animal species (and their locations) encountered during the course of bog turtle surveys.

Figure 2. Map showing approximate bog turtle habitat (outlined in blue), current trail (red) and potential location of re-routed trail (green).

Deliverables The offeror will provide the following to NPS at the conclusion of the study (see templates and examples here):

1. Prior to implementing fieldwork, a study plan is required that will be reviewed and approved by the NPS Inventories program.

https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2286435 https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2286435

2. Final report in Microsoft Word format documenting the project narrative, methods, and results.

and, if relevant, discussing implications of results for park management. The methods should have sufficient detail that readers can determine if the resulting data are suitable for their intended purposes, and so that the park could repeat this survey in the future to estimate changes over time including criteria used for project site selection. The report will be published in the NPS Natural Resource Report series. All figures used should be embedded in the document and submitted as standalone files. Preferred stand-alone file types are .jpg/.jpeg or .tif for photos and .pdf, .eps, or .ai for all other figures. NPS Inventories Team will ensure final report conforms to accessibility requirements.

3. Data products in a simplified Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Darwin Core Archive format consisting of three core data tables (see template link above). NPS will work with the awardees/cooperators for efficient translation of project data into this format. Supplemental information can be included in additional tables.

a. Both presence (detects) and absence (non-detects) can be captured in this format.

b. See item 6 for spatial reference to use.

c. Metadata in EML format for the species data tables.

4. Scripts as separate standalone files (R, Python, or other) used to analyze the data and the scripts used to produce figures and estimates in the report. Include datasets (raw or preliminary is fine) used by the submitted scripts (if relevant).

5. Geotagged photos including date-time, location coordinates, and device information embedded in EXIF image headers, with file naming indicating sampling event and species.

6. Spatial data generated from the project will utilize the SRID/EPSG: 6318 NAD83 2011 realization spatial reference a.k.a. NAD83(2011) and should include:

a. The boundar(ies) or footprint(s) of the project areas within the park, the locations/sites surveyed (as points, polylines for transects, or polygons, as appropriate) as datasets in an open-format geopackage (see template link). Ensure feature geometry is repaired using the Open Geospatial Consortium validation method.

b. Locations of occurrences (usually as points) as datasets in an open-format geopackage.

c. Spatial metadata in EML format

7. A webinar presentation of the results with APPA consultation agency partners.

Place of Performance Field work must be completed at the tracts listed above. All other activities associated with analysis and reporting can be conducted at the recipient’s location.

Period of Performance Field work shall be completed within one year of award.

A study plan shall be completed by March 1, 2024. All other deliverables shall be submitted within 20 months of award, , with an additional 90 days for review and acceptance of products by NPS staff.

https://www.nps.gov/im/reports-nrr.htm

Period of Performance: Award through 7/30/2025 (estimated 9/20/23 – 7/30/25)

Selection Criteria Because of the intended use of information resulting from this study, it is essential that proposals be evaluated carefully with respect to the technical approach, expertise of the offeror, and project costs.

Criteria (other than cost):

• Tractability and statistical soundness of the sampling design proposed by the offeror, and the likelihood that resultant data will result in information suitable to meet project goals.

• Demonstrated experience collecting, analyzing, and reporting data as proposed by the offeror.

• At least 5 years' experience implementing Fish and Wildlife Service protocols (phase 1, 2, and 3) for bog turtle surveys in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.

• Current or recent past (within the last 3 years) Qualified Bog Turtle Surveyor, as recognized by the Fish and Wildlife Service and a successful history of obtaining New York state-issued handling permits for this species.