Attachment 7 WMNF_PLANT SURVEY PROTOCOL.doc

GENERAL PLANT SURVEY PROTOCOL

WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST

Revised Dec. 2023

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE:

These guidelines describe protocols for conducting project-related botanical surveys for federally listed, proposed, and candidate species as well as Regional Forester Sensitive Species (RFSS), state-listed species, and non-native invasive species (NNIS) on the White Mountain National Forest. The WMNF will use, in part, survey results in determining whether the project under consideration may affect any federally listed, proposed, or candidate plants (USFWS 1996)., federal RFSS on the WMNF, and NNIS, and in determining the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of the proposed project, as well as other National Forest and WMNF Forest Plan regulations, directives, and guidance.

PREFIELD WORK:

Prefield work is done to determine which federal Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive (TES) species or state-listed species may be present in the project area. Sensitive Species is synonymous with Regional Forester Sensitive Species (RFSS). Documentation of state listed species is not required by federal law and regulations per say but is strongly encouraged during botanical surveys. Many state-listed species are not listed on the RFSS list because we assume activities on the WMNF are not affecting these species, and their potential viability. If these species could be affected by a project without mitigation, the information is relevant for Botanists to consider when periodically revising the RFSS list and can also be provided to the Deciding Official for informed decision making and reasonable mitigation strategies.

Prefield work should include the use of Forest resources, at least including the following:

1. USFWS Isotria medeoloides maps for the WMNF: These maps cover the entire forest and identify areas with low, medium, high, and highest probability for the presence of small whorled pogonia, a federally threatened species. They have proven effective in locating several populations of this species on the forest. These are available only as hard copy maps. The potential distribution of small whorled pogonia is limited to the southern and eastern sides of the WMNF, generally within a few miles of the border (the western, northern, and interior areas are out of range for this species).

2. New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau (NH NHB) and/or Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP) database depending on project location: These databases include all tracked species and exemplary natural communities on the WMNF identified by the NH NHB and the MNAP. Both have conducted inventories on the Forest (some related to past projects) and have a significant list of species and unique habitat occurrences in our project areas, and include records reported by USFS Botany staff and volunteers on the WMNF. Access to this database is limited to certain individuals and information therein is confidential. Note that there are several RFSS species tracked by the WMNF that are not tracked by the NH NHB, including Dryopteris goldiana and Galium kamtchaticum, and records are kept only by WMNF Botany staff.

3. Invasive species database records – the USFS maintains a GIS database of the occurrences of NNIS plants on the WMNF and immediate vicinity, which should be consulted for individual project areas.

4. WMNF “Regional Forester Sensitive Species” list (aka Sensitive Species): Identifies all plants identified by the WMNF for which surveys are required when habitat potentially exists, and ground disturbance is involved in a project. Consult the current RFSS list, including the version with descriptions of their habitat requirements.

5. Topographic maps: Critical for navigation and useful for identification of areas of particular interest: cliffs/ledges, interesting/unusual topography, drainages, alpine areas, aspect, etc.

6. Aerial photographs: Helpful in identifying forest type and successional stages. Also very useful, in conjunction with topographic maps, in identifying openings, ledges, and other unique features.

7. Personal communication: USFS foresters, wildlife biologists, and other project leaders may know valuable information pertaining to plants in project areas. It is advisable to contact project leaders prior to surveying, particularly in larger project areas.

“SEARCH LIST”:

Based on prefield work, the surveyor may compile a preliminary list of TES and state-listed plant species that may occur within the project area. For species with distinct habitat requirements, this will enable the surveyor to focus on appropriate habitat types while conducting field surveys.

FIELD SURVEY:

Objectives:

1. To locate populations of suspected TES or state-listed plants within the project area.

2. To document localities of TES or state-listed populations, if found, on GIS and appropriate maps.

3. To describe the habitat associated with the occurrence of these populations.

4. To document non-native invasive species within the project area.

Methodology:

Many plant surveys on the WMNF involve a large amount of acreage. The intent of the prefield work is to enable the surveyor to key into specific areas, when possible, for more in depth coverage. It is, however, acknowledged that prefield work will not always identify every location in which rare plants may occur. While in the field, it is important that the surveyor ascertain in which areas more in depth surveying is required.

Field searches will generally follow the “random meander” methodology, unless the project area is small enough to enable a surveyor to thoroughly search the entire project area. For large projects, in order to facilitate this random meander method, points created in GIS on maps of the project area. These points can then be transferred to GPS and used to navigate while in the project area. The establishment of these “navigation points” prevents locational biases by the surveyor. Without these points it would be possible to un-knowingly exclude an entire area of a project due to the presence of steep slopes, difficult terrain, or dense vegetation. Areas to be searched should be chosen systematically and should cover most, if not all, possible habitat areas (Bonham et al, 2001). Levels of search intensity should correlate with likelihood of occurrence of TES and state-listed species and should be documented.

Non-native invasive species are most likely to occur in openings and disturbed areas such as old roads and landings. These areas should be the primary focus for invasive species searches.

DOCUMENTATION:

These surveys are designed to locate TES, state-listed species, and NNIS and do not require identification or recording of all observed plant species, although a detailed recording of vegetation coupled with GPS coordinates may serve other purposes (soil survey, future projects, development of local Flora) at a later time. At a minimum the following documentation is required for all surveys:

· Rare plant forms: Complete the appropriate state Heritage Program Rare Plant Reporting Form for all rare species encountered, or equivalent Native Plant Trust form designed for use in all New England state. Follow instructions on how to fill in each field.

· Invasive plant forms: Obtain the most recent NNIS list from WMNF Botany staff. Complete invasive plant forms for all invasives found during surveys along with GPS coordinates (see exceptions below). Alternatively (and preferably), the basic information/fields on the NNIS form can be collected electronically and be included in a shape file. Some USFS staff and some partners can record data directly in a Field Maps application (ESRI product). Surveys should include NNIS known to occur on the WMNF and tracked/recorded in GIS (see this column in Excel file) – these species should be sought specifically. Other species that occur elsewhere in NH or ME that have the potential to become established on the WMNF (e.g., Early Detection/Rapid Response (EDRR) species such as mile-a-minute vine, or stilt grass) should be reported. Exceptions:

· a) Certain species are considered invasive in alpine settings but are not currently tracked in lowland settings, such as common dandelion and others (consult list).

· b) other species documented from the WMNF (but not currently tracked in GIS) may or may not require documentation at this point (consult Forest Botanist).

· c) detailed documentation and population information is not required for Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass), but the distribution of patches of this plant should be mapped for avoidance and prevention of spread strategies.

· GPS and Maps: Record GPS points of all rare and invasive plants found. Document your survey route via point or track route feature on GPS or on a topographic map or other provided maps. Identify locations of any other relevant findings or observations both with GPS locations and on a map.

· Brief vegetation descriptions: Dominant and common species should be recorded periodically, and as different natural communities or habitats are encountered across the survey area (and be tied to GPS coordinates), as well as general habitat/soil conditions. In addition, species that appear to be rare or not observed frequently within the study area should be noted when observed. The species lists do not need to be exhaustive, but they need to be adequate to describe common vegetation and habitats present, including the presence/absence of RFSS habitat, and whether RFSS plants are present within those habitats. This basic documentation is required for the Forest Botanist or a third party to complete a Biological Evaluation, and to address other required NF and WMNF policy, regulations, and Forest Plan direction. Surveyors may use a form of their choice to record brief vegetation descriptions; a “Form 1 – rapid reconnaissance”-type form used by Natural Heritage programs, or the equivalent form used by USFS (see VGS Rapid Assessment hard copy version, although some fields are not required).

· For proposed timber sale areas and other projects affecting large areas, the brief vegetation descriptions take the form of VGS Rapid Assessment plots, using a separately described protocol and recorded in the Vegetation GIS System (VGS) database on field tablets. This rapid reconnaissance method uses a nested plot design (30’ herbaceous layer, and 60’ radius for trees), with species abundance noted by strata, density of large diameter living and dead trees, and other ecological features of the site recorded. Consult the VGS protocol document if this method is called for or appropriate for the project. Note that other vegetation survey protocols are available in the VGS system for other study objectives (modified Whittaker plots for detailed long-term plots, alpine transects and nested plot designs).

· Reports: Complete a brief written report of all surveys completed. Include location, general site descriptions, habitat and community types encountered. Level of detail of this summary report may vary depending on the needs of specific project. Details can be provided in copies of field forms. Identify specific species findings in this report and indicate whether or not any field forms were filled out. If special features such as TES, exemplary or outstanding natural communities, old growth, seeps, or wetlands were observed, please provide recommended mitigation and protection measures. Please identify if habitat suitable for any RFSS species was observed. If VGS rapid reconnaissance plots were recorded, output from this database will serve as primary report documentation.

Completed write ups, original copies of rare species observation forms, NNIS forms, and downloaded GPS coordinates are to be stored in Botany project survey folders.

REFERENCES

Bonham, Charles D., Bousquin, S.G., and Tazik, D. 2001. Protocol for inventory and monitoring of threatened and endangered plant species. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.

USFWS. 1994. Potential small whorled pogonia habitat model. Sperduto, M.

USFWS. 1996. Guidelines for conducting and reporting botanical inventories for federally listed, proposed, and candidate plants. Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office. http://sacramento.fws.gov/es/documents/listed_plant_survey_guidelines.htm