B08_140L6322Q0028_-_Attachment_01_-_SOW.pdf

BLM Alaska – 140L6322Q0028 – Attachment 01

Statement of Work:

Golden Eagle Nesting Habitat Mapping

Background The Bureau of Land Management-AK, Fairbanks District Office (BLM) manages natural resources along the Dalton Highway corridor within the Central Yukon Field Office (CYFO). They collect and maintain data on a variety of wildlife to inform land management decisions, such as those governed by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. §§4321-4370h), and to maintain compliance with federal laws including the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act; 16 U.S.C. 668-668c, USFWS 2007), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712), and the memorandum of understanding (MOU) concerning the implementation of Executive Order 13186 with regard to protection of migratory birds (FERC and USFWS 2011). The Eagle Act prohibits the "take" (i.e., disturbance) of any Bald or Golden eagle, alive or dead, including any part, nest, or egg, unless allowed by permit (16 U.S.C. 668(a); 50 CFR 22).

The MOU was created to establish a voluntary framework to ensure that agencies cooperate with the FWS to conserve birds and their habitats by identifying and mitigating potential adverse effects resulting from the development of energy infrastructure. The MOU defines bird "species of concern" as those species - including several raptors - that are listed as sensitive or of conservation concern by various management agencies, agency working groups, and non-governmental conservation organizations (FERC and USFWS 2011; also see ABR, Inc. 2011 and AEA 2011). Given the recommendations in the MOU for minimizing impacts on birds, it is expected that concern will focus on the effects of the Project on raptors, especially Bald and Golden Eagles, necessitating preparation of plans to avoid, minimize, or mitigate for those impacts.

Identifying places where take is likely to occur, particularly sensitive nesting sites, will be a useful asset to the BLM in managing the breeding Golden Eagle population on BLM lands within the purview of the Central Yukon Field Office (CYFO). A nesting suitability map would identify highly suitable areas for Golden Eagle nesting, aid in planning field surveys and future studies, identify potential conflicts with planned development, and aid in communicating potential conflicts with stakeholders. The suitability map could also be used by the BLM during NEPA documentation and permitting and incorporated into the development of permit-specific avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures.

Objectives

I) Develop a model and map to identify suitable nesting habitat for Golden Eagles.

2) Evaluate model performance and validity in areas outside of the Dalton Highway corridor but within BLM lands managed by the CYFO, if sufficient funds are available.

3) Provide a report detailing the methods, results, and a discussion of findings.

Methods To develop predictive spatial models of suitable Golden Eagle nesting habitat, the vendor will use methods and datasets similar to Dunk et al. (2019), who used Maxent (Phillips et al. 2020) to create a Species Distribution Model (SOM) for nesting Golden Eagles in the western contiguous United States. Inputs will include environmental/landscape variables for weather, vegetation type, and topography measured at multiple scales. The primary area of inference is along the Dalton Highway corridor from the Yukon River (milepost [MP] 56) north to the northern limit of BLM lands managed by the CYFO (MP 299), however, if funding provides, the vendor will evaluate model performance in other portions of the CYFO where less is known about Golden Eagle nesting. The primary output of the model will be a map depicting the suitability of each pixel within the study area for Golden Eagle nesting . This raster product will be delivered as an ESRI-compatible file with FGDC compliant metadata.

Additionally, a report detailing the methods, results, and a detailed discussion of the results will be provided.

Requirements Vendor should be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of raptor ecology in Alaska, specifically Arctic Alaska, and will preferably have previous experience modeling Golden Eagle nesting habitat in Alaska using the Dunk et al. (2019) method. The vendor should also have familiarity with Golden Eagle nesting habitat within the CYFO.

Task: Golden Eagle Nesting Habitat Mapping Area: Dalton Highway Corridor and possible extension to entire Central Yukon Field Office Timeframe: May 2022-- 2023 Description: Golden Eagle nesting habitat suitability will be modeled and mapped for BLM lands along the Dalton Highway corridor using methods and datasets similar to those used by Dunk et al. (2019) to map Golden Eagle nesting habitat in the Western Contiguous US. Model performance and validity will be evaluated and reported on for areas outside of the Dalton Highway corridor but within Central Yukon Field Office lands.

Estimated total cost includes personnel and direct costs.

Deliverables

a. Golden Eagle nesting suitability map in an ESRI compatible file with FGDC compliant metadata

b. Summary report with detailed methods, results, and discussion of findings.

Literature Cited

ABR, Inc. 2011. Wildlife data-gap analysis for the proposed Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project. Draft report, August 16, 2011. Report for the Alaska Energy Authority by ABR, lnc.-Environmental Research and Services, Fairbanks, Alaska. 114 pp.

AEA (Alaska Energy Authority). 2011. Pre-Application Document: Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project, FERC Project No. 14241. December 29, 2011. Prepared for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC.

Dunk, J. R., B. Woodbridge, T. M. Lickfett, G. Bedrosian, B. R. Noon, D. W. LaPlante, J. L.

Brown, and J. D. Tack. 2019. Modeling spatial variation in density of golden eagle nest sites in the western United States. PLoS ONE 14(9). e0223 I 43.

https://doi.org/10.137 l/journal.pone.0223143

FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) and USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2011. Memorandum of Understanding between the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of the Interior United States Fish and Wildlife Service Regarding Implementation of Executive Order 13186, "Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to protect Migratory Birds." March 2011. 13 pp.

USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). 2007. National Bald Eagle management guidelines.

Washington, DC. 25 pp.