NCDNATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
4
Personnel
1. James M. Carroll, Jr. Refuge Manager GS-11 PFT 2. Richard G. Nord Assistant Refuge Manager GS-09 PFT 3. Norman C. Brown Refuge Forester GS-09 PFT 4. Jonathan E. Olson Biological Technician GS-05 PPT 5. Jean L. Murphy Administrative Technician GS-05 PPT 6. Harold R. Carter Maintenance Mechanic WG-09 PFT 7. Paul E. Woggon Maintenance Worker WG-08 PFT 8. Louis S. Koziol Forestry Technician GS-04 T 9. Joseph Falkenberg Forestry Technician GS-05 T 10. Josetta Hawthorne Biological Aid GS-04 T 11. Peter A, Bennett Tractor Operator WG-05 T 12. Benji Brackman YACC Camp Director GS-09 T
4. Transferred from Lake Mills YACC October 5, 1980 8. July 5, 1979 to January 4, 1980-June 29, 1980 to February 20, 1981 9. Terminated January 4, 1980 10. Terminated May 12, 1980 11. August 18, 1980 to September 26, 1980
Review and Approvals
Submitted by Date
NECEDAH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE:
LISTED IN THE CURRENT WISCONSIN BIG GAME HUNTING
REGULATIONS, MAY BE HUNTED DURING THE ESTAB­
LISHED STATE SEASONS. ALL STATE LAWS APPLY.
2. BOW AND ARROW ONLY DURING BOW SEASONS.
3. AREAS ARE OPEN ONE DAY BEFORE EACH SEASON
FOR SCOUTING AND LOCATING A STAND.
4. CAMPING, OVERNIGHT PARKING AND FIRES ARE
PROHIBITED. VEHICLES MAY TRAVEL ONLY DESIGNATED
PUBLIC ROADS (SHOWN IN RED ON MAP). PLEASE DO NOT
BLOCK ROADS OR GATES.
PUBLIC HUNTING.
AVAILABLE AT HEADQUARTERS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. GENERAL Page
A. Introduction i B. Climatic and Habitat Conditions 1 C. Land Acquisition 7
D. System Status 7
II. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
III. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
A. Croplands '. . 14 B. Grasslands 14 C. Wetlands 15 D. Forestlands ' ' 18 E. Other Habitat 21 F. Wilderness and Special Areas 21 G. Easements for Waterfowl Management 21
IV. WILDLIFE
A. Endangered and Threatened Species 22 B. Migratory Birds 23 C. Mammals and Non-Migratory Birds and Others 26
V. INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION
A. Information and Interpretation 30 B. Recreation 31 C. Enforcement 32
VI. OTHER ITEMS
A. Field Investigations 36 B. Cooperative 36 C. Items of Interest 37 D. Safety 38
1
I. GENERAL
A. Introduction
The Necedah National Wildlife Refuge is located in Juneau and Wood Counties in west-central Wisconsin. The 39,607 acre refuge lies in the lake bed of glacial Lake Wisconsin. The area is characterized by poorly drained sandy soil sedge meadows dominated by jack pine and oak uplands.
The Necedah Refuge has been partially developed to enhance waterfowl production and to provide habitat for migrating waterfowl. The area supports good populations of resident forest wildlife species.
B. Climate and Habitat Conditions
No snow was on the ground at the beginning of the report period. The remainder of the winter was mild. Temperatures never dropped below -16 degrees and intermittent thaws kept the snow cover from exceeding 8 inches in depth, although 32 inches of snow did fall. Bare ground often was the case and less than 2 inches of snow cover was the average for the winter.
Less than half the normal rainfall occurred in March, April, and May. Near normal precipitation occurred in January, February, and in June and July. Thus, planned water level management was easily accomplished during the first seven months of the year. Spring run-off was not excessive and rainfall was adequate to maintain desired levels through the early growing season. Smartweed, wild millet, and other moist soil plants germinated and were progressing toward a bumper crop in Rynearson Pool #1, West Sprague Pool, and in Pool 19.
Then, the monsoons hit in August. Rain fell on all but eleven days of the month. Seven inches fell on August 7th and 8th. A total of 12.02 inches of rain fell during the month which was about 3^ times the nor­ mal rainfall received in August.
A private dike on a cranberry flowage broke, sending a surge of water down the Remington ditch. Water was on Highway 173 at the Remington Bridge. Water went through the Refuge Remington Control at full capa­ city and topped the township road just west of the structure. Water topped the Pool 27 dam and dike downstream and flooded a h mile stretch of the Finley Road below Dam #27. Some, but not serious erosion damage occurred about the wing-walls of Dam #27. All the emergency spillways of Pools 9, 13, 18, and 19 carried the flood without damage. Water was released from all the Sprague pools and the Rynearson Pools at the highest rate that the public road bridges and culverts located down­ stream from these structures could take. The Speedway Road went under water in four places. Pool 19 road went under water below Dam 19. The emergency spillways of Pools 1 & 2 and the Sprague Pools did not over flow. Damage to refuge roads and water control facilities was insig­ nificant. Seed production damage did occur in .the West Sprague Pool and in Pool 19 where moist-soil plants were completely inundated.
Flood waters in August, boiling through the Remington Control structure, after a cranberry dike broke up­ stream. Note the water, behind the truck, as it flowed over the township road. No serious erosion damage occurred to the road. Rock rip-rap was stock-piled prior to being pushed over the embankment.
In these pools, water control facilities did not have the capacity to pass the surge fast enough. Nearly all the plants were submerged for about a week in both these pools, resulting in an estimated 80% loss in smartweed and cutgrass seed production in Pool 19 and 40% loss of smartweed seed production in the West Sprague Pool.
Water flooded the moist soil plants during the flowering stages in Pool #2 to a depth of about a foot for about a week, leaving the tops of the plants exposed above the water level. Seed production did not seem to be adversely affected and a tremendous smartweed seed crop had developed by the time migrant waterfowl arrived. Frost did not occur until September 26th, resulting in an unusual long growing season which contributed to the increased smartweed production in Pool #2.
No rye was seeded for goose browse on the refuge crop land this year because high water in August prevented field access with farm equipment. Spike rush production was destroyed in the Carter-Woggon Pool and the East Sprague Pool because of flood waters. Thus, there was little if any green browse produced on the refuge this year for the fall goose flock.
However, the loss of green food production was apparently partially compensated for by the tremendous crop of moist soil food produced in
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Pool 2. About 80 acres of marsh and uplands adjacent to the east shore of Pool 2 was burned on September 30. Nearly all of the refuge popula­ tion of 9000 Canada geese, 200 sandhill cranes, and about 10,000 ducks congregated in Pool 2 and on the adjacent burned area.
Water levels in Goose Pool and the main portion of the Sprague Pool were kept low to prevent wave action damage to the foot of the recently resloped dikes at least until a sod had developed on the surface. Wave action damage was successfully prevented; however, two years of low level maintenance has resulted in mud flats becoming over grown with woolgrass. Preferred waterfowl food plants were crowded out and much reduced waterfowl use of these pools occurred in the fall even after water levels were raised.
Weather conditions continued to be mild and dry through the fall and winter. A good acorn crop was produced. Residual high water from the August monsoons, in natural woodland ponds and in the local river flood plains provided easy waterfowl access to the available mast. Little or no snow made acorns easily accessible to upland wildlife species through the end of the year. The pools became ice covered on November 17th.
May 28, 1980. Smartweed, wild millet, and spike rush germinating on mud flats of Rynearson Pool #2.
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September 10, 1980. Tremendous crop of smartweed now maturing on mud flats of Rynearson Pool #2.
June 10, 1980. View showing a portion of the spike rush and needle rush production capabil­ ities of mud flats in the western half of the Rynearson Pool #2. The pool was drained on May 20, 1980. Later in the summer, spike rush was overgrown by smartweed and biddens.
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September 10, 1980. Another view of the 500 acres or so of smartweed and other moist-soil plants pro­ duced on Rynearson Pool #2.
September 10, 1980. Mature smartweed seed just be­ ginning to drop onto the floor of Rynearson Pool #2. As can be seen, smartweed seed production was not adversely affected by the August flood, provided the flowers were not submerged.
6
Man Days
Funding O&M
Funding, Other
6810 21.2 11.8 11.8 17.0 17.0
8722 6.6 5.3 15.6 17.0 5.0
YCC 26.1 31.0 -0- -0- 26.8
* Projected $ in thousands ** Includes $75,000 for master planning *** Includes in 1210 14.0 revolving rehab and 29.0 in cyclical maintenance,
in 1220 5.0 in cyclical maintenance, and in 1240 4.0 in cyclical maintenance.
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1. Objectives
The following are responses to items in the AWPA which applied to this station. References are included.
1200-202 No field station "Disease" plan was developed as no instructions were received relative to the National Disease Plan.
1200-203 Scrap items or excess items in our outside storage area were separated out for disposal. In order to confine storage to inside buildings only, we are in need of a rather large building to house cedar posts, culverts, various construction materials, etc.
1200-205 A Service landscape architect developed a plan for modifying the HQ area to separate visitors from maintenance activities and better locate storage facilities. Initial stages of the plan have been implemented.
1200-302 Three staff members completed basic firefighter training, S130 and S190. Five staff members have now been trained. Any others will take the training when we again host a course.
1200-305 Manager Carroll and Assistant Manager Nord were scheduled for LE refresher training this year. Mr. Nord completed the training. The course Mr, Carroll was to attend was cancelled.
1210-202 Necedah's prescribed burning activities comply with the Clean Air Act as required by the State of Wisconsin.
1210-21A Row crops were eliminated helping to reduce energy use needs.
1210-300 Hunter education relative to lead poisoning in waterfowl was included in our on-going cooperative hunter safety program.
1210-302 Migratory bird surveys were completed as assigned.
1210-30A Banding quotas met or partially met as indicated in IV.B.l.C.
1210-305 Increasing dabbling duck production is one of several benefits of this refuge's on-going effort to establish grasslands around major water impoundments. Only minor progress was made on this project this year.
1240-301.3 Initial steps in development of a revised station hunting plan were made as part of a contract to develops this stations "I&R Planning Prospectus".
1240.306.3 Implementation planning for the "I&R Planning Prospectus" was delayed pending approval of the Plan.
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Bicentennial Land Heritage Program
One of two BLHP rehabilitation projects that were initiated in 1978 was continued through 1979 and into 1980.
Kenco Construction Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, was awarded a contract for $417,853 for the rehabilitation of 8.9 miles of existing dikes on the refuge. Construction work began on September 4, 1979, and was essentially completed except for final dressing of the dike slopes and seeding by November 29, 1979. The final dressing of dike slopes and seeding was completed in the spring of 1980.
It was impossible to salvage all of the old rock rip-rap as specified under the above contract. The material that was salvaged was replaced on the dike inslopes. However, it turned out to be a significant shortage. Pool #2 could not be reflooded without causing wave action erosion damage to the main dike and Pool #1 could not be flooded to planned capacity without causing the same type of damage to the east dike of that pool.
Thus, in 1980, a $43,843.80 contract was awarded to Arthur Overgaard, Inc., of Elroy, Wisconsin to supply and deliver 3,500 tons of rock rip-rap and 1,890 tons of bedding material for application on the in- slope of two refuge dikes. About 2,000 tons of rip-rap and 1,080 tons of sub-base material was placed on the Rynearson #2 dike to complete the bank stabilization project there. Another 1,500 tons of rip-rap and 810 tons of sub-base material was placed on the east dike of Rynearson Pool #1. The contractor delivered and spot dumped the material and refuge personnel and equipment were used to spread the gravel and rock.
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Photo showing refuge personnel and equipment spreading rock rip-rap on the main dike of Rynearson Pool #2.
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Maintenance
Two truck loads of rock rip-rap was placed on both tail-water banks of the Remington Water Control structure. Past flood waters were causing bank erosion which threatened the wing-walls of the dam as well as the township road embankment.
All 19.5 miles of refuge back country boundaries west of Highway //80 were inspected on foot for proper posting, evidence of unauthorized use, etc.
YACC Maintenance Jobs
Seven miles of back boundary through the woods was cleared of trees and brush.
Eight miles of refuge boundary, north of the Finley Road, was entirely reposted.
Posting of nearly all the refuge boundaries, exterior as well as inter­ ior, adjacent to public roads was upgraded from 1/4 mile sign intervals to 1/8 mile intervals.
About 3/4 miles of low land dikes of Pools 27 and 28 were completely cleared of trees.
Tree tops, left from the initial clear cut, on about 20 acres of prairie restoration area was piled for eventual burning.
Much work continued on the Clearing of the Canfield Road Fire-break.
The YACC were able to move into their new building on April 1. Their leased office trailer was removed the following week and the restroom trailer several months later when the new restrooms were completed to minimum needs. During the balance of the year the YACC installed sheetrock, taped, plastered, and painted the walls and ceilings. They trimmed all but one window and hung two doors, constructed cabinets and a tool crib, installed soffit vents, insulated the walls and ceiling and sealed the floor.
ll i
Relocating the YACC septic/holding tank allowed us to finally get rid of the restroom trailer. Note the new YACC building constructed by YACC in the background.
1
A section of the north wall of the shop is being removed revealing a newly installed insulated garage door. This tall door allows entry of equipment with ROP. (Price on gas pump is 20.1c/gal,)
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Photos showing part of YACC crew cutting trees and brush from refuge exterior boundaries. Future maintenance can now be done with a tractor and rotary mower. Seven miles of boundary was cleared in the fashion shown in the lower photo.
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G. Wildfire
There was only one wildfire on refuge lands this year. On May 14th a passing train ignited a small spot fire along Highway 80 near Turkey Track Road. The DNR fire tower in Necedah spotted the smoke and dis­ patched the Babcock DNR unit. The fire was contained at .05 acre.
Although the refuge did not participate in the refuge fire, they did assist on four other fires on private lands in accordance with the cooperative fire agreement with the State of Wisconsin. On one occasion the refuge totally handled an off-refuge fire since all local DNR units were tied up on other fires at the time. Much experience is gained through this type of cooperation since the incidence of fire on the refuge is (luckily) very low.
On May 12 through 16 the refuge hosted a fire training seminar for regional employees. Course work for the S-130 and S-190 courses was presented by Jim Lennartson at the Holiday Inn at Tomah. Demonstration of fire equipment and a practical exercise was presented by refuge personnel on site.
On May 14 refuge personnel presented an abbreviated version of the S-130 Basic Fire Fighting Training course to YACC enrollees. These people could then be used on prescribed burning and wildfire operations.
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A. Croplands
Under force account, the refuge provided 22 acres of buckwheat in A separate strips and 36 acres of red and alsike clover in three strips. Geese, sandhill cranes, and other wildlife made good use of these crops. Com is no longer planted on the refuge. No rye was planted this year because heavy rains and run-off occurring in August prevented us from getting machinery into the fields during planting time.
Corrective lime rock was applied on the following fields in December 1980:
East strip of Field #1, 8 acres, 5 Ton/A
East strip of lower upper Canfield, 8 acres, 11 Ton/A
Hanson field, A acres, 5 Ton/A
East half of lower Canfield, A acres, 5 Ton/A
South end of Irontop field, A acres, A Ton/A
Corrective Potash of 280 lbs/acre was applied on the following fields on April 30, 1980.
West strip of Field #1, 7 acres
East strip of middle Canfield, 15 acres
Williams field, 5 acres
East half of the lower Canfield field, A acres
Approximately 100 bushels of ear corn were harvested from fields in the State Meadow Valley Wildlife Management Area and were used by refuge personnel in banding operations on the refuge.
B. Grasslands
The 110 acres of grass strips between the farmed strips within the Canfield fields could not be mowed this year for goose browse. These fields were too wet to get machinery into them because of the residual affects of the August "monsoons".
Switch grass, planted in 1978 and 1979 in the Laske and Camp Road Fields appears to have been successfully established. Experimental broadcast inter-seeding of switch grass on an established native sod above the Bewick tum-around, immediately following a prescribed spring burn in 1979, is so far an apparent failure. No cultivation of this sod was done. No attempt was made to harvest previous plantings of switchgrass seed in 1980. Field checks showed seed heads failed to fill for some unknown reason.
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No wildlife openings in the woods were mowed this year for brush control. This activity, planned to be done in August, was "rained out". The ground was too soggy to get equipment into these areas. Only limited roadside mowing of refuge trails was accomplished.
A summary of the prescribe burning is as follows:
Date Unit No.
3-31-80 PR19 PR20 365 65 NE 10-18 40 191.27 0.52
4-1-80 PR31 153 50 NE-SE 5-12 35 159.63 1.04
4-2-80 0533 440 60 NE-SE 10-13 30 481.35 1.09
4-16-80 F7 41 54 S 10-15 32 177.48 4.32
10-8-80 28A 28B 108 75 SW-NW 10-18 31 206.10 1.35
10-9-80 PR26 78 68 E-SE 8-15 25 178.05 2.28
TOTAL 1185 $1393.88
Favorable weather during spring months provided opportunity to accom­ plish a good share of the burning. As fall approached, the rains settled in and stayed with us until snowfall.
The newly revised and updated prescribe bum plan was returned to the station for some minor revisions. It is in the process of receiving minor revisions and should be hot off the presses for the second time early next year.
Wetlands
Pool 28 and the Carter-Woggon Pool were both kept at near full capacity for the second successive growing season in an effort to drown out wool- grass competition in preparation for 1981 moist-soil plant production. Woolgrass was successfully killed in about 80 acres of the Carter-Woggon Pool but only 2-3 acres were opened up on Pool 28. Sufficient water depths could not be obtained in Pool 28 to drown out the woolgrass with out topping the existing low dike.
A late summer draw-down was attempted on the Carter-Woggon Pool to stim­ ulate spike rush growth on exposed flats. The Pool was dewatered on August 1st and spike rush had just started to develope when the August "monsoons" began. The 12+ inches of rain received during the rest of the month prevented dewatering again until it was too late. The spike rush failed to develope prior to the frost.
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Goose Pool and the main Sprague Pools were kept at relatively low levels in order to protect the recently repaired inslope of the dike from wave erosion. This makes the second growing season that the pool levels were kept low, last year because of construction and this year for vegetative recovery on the inslope. While the purpose of low level management did accommodate dike re-construction and vegetative recovery during the last two growing seasons it also caused the encroachment and establishment of huge acreages of woolgrass. Little moist-soil annual plant regrowth occurred with the woolgrass competition in 1980. These pools attracted little waterfowl use. Goose Pool was practically ignored through the second week of October, while several thousand puddle ducks were on the flooded smartweed across the road. Goose Pool was then pulled down nearly two feet in the last 10 days of October. Only after the bottom was exposed here and there did the mallards and pintails respond to that pool. It is believed that the invertebrates in the pool were then concentrated at depths accessible to dabbling ducks.
Pools 9 and 13 were also kept at low levels during the 1980 growing season to give the dike inslopes a chance to revegetate after being resloped in the fall of 1979.
Pool #1 was reflooded in 1980 after being managed as a moist-soil unit in 1979. Water levels were maintained as stable as could be accomplished at or near the 922.0 level. By mid-July spears of rice cutgrass shoots protruded from the surface in open water of the upper pool. Algae collected on the rice cutgrass which in turn collected floating duck­ weed. Much increase use by goose and puddle duck broods occurred in comparison to last year. The shoreline was "jumping" with leopard frogs. By August the first slicks of submerged aquatics showed on the surface as far south as the dam. A large bed of Sagitraria sp. appeared in the north-west corner of the pools and stable water levels encouraged muskrat activity there.
See "Habitat Conditions" for more details concerning moist-soil manage­ ment and problems with flood water in August.
17
\
Both photos above were taken in the Laske Field. The top photo shows how switchgrass was flattened by freezing rain, then snow, in late March. The bottom photo taken two weeks later, shows the ability of the switchgrass to spring back after snow packing and provide some pretty respectable nesting cover.
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Forestlands
Five timber pulpwood permits were active during the year. Four were carryovers from last year and one was a new issue. (See chart on following page.)
Louie Koziol was hired as a Forestry Technician again this year under disease control (8722) funding. He was able to do a considerable amount of forestry work in conjunction with the oak wilt control pro­ gram. This included contract preparation for ten sales to be issued next year as well as job inspection of active pulpwood and firewood permits.
Ten firewood cutting permits were active on an area designated as prairie restoration. State residents are given the opportunity to cut firewood on their "own" block of land in a relatively secluded setting over a period of two years. Response has been very favorable as well as providing the refuge an economical means of accomplishing this land clearing.
A local portable sawmill operator was contracted by the refuge to set up his mill and convert about fifty cords of oak, jackpine, and redpine into 20,000 board feet of lumber for refuge use. He charged $70/MBF for the sawing and trimming.
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79-6 S-M/West Boundary Sale
80-1 South Firebreak Sale
80-2 New Plantation Sale
80-8 Bewick Lateral Sale
TOTAL 36,276.83
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A Hydro-axe brush chopper was contracted on an experimental basis to test its ability at controlling heavy brush encroaching in the prairie areas. It was noted that the chopper did an excellent and efficient job of leveling the brush. However, breakdowns were somewhat of a problem. Also this is only a temporary measure of brush control. The roots will rapidly resprout and cause the same problem five years hence if not chemically treated. Chemical or biological control appears to be the most effective solution to resprouting oaks.
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1. Necedah Jack Pine-Oak (Research) Natural Area
)
2. Sandstone Research Natural Area
This 240 acre area is located in Section 12 in the sduthwest quarter of the refuge, just south of Sprague-Mather road. It can be designated as a Kuchler-K18 Oak Savanna type ecosystem. Fire is to be an important part of the management of this area. Prescribed burning is to be done about every five years. The area was last burned in 1974 so it should have been burned in 1979, but it was not because clearing of fire breaks had not yet been completed.
G. Easements for Waterfowl Management
Nothing to report.
Endangered and Threatened Species
The tail-water area below Petenwell Dam off the refuge continued to be an attractive wintering area for bald eagles. Eagles are not commonly seen on the refuge in winter, spring, and summer. However, while migrant waterfowl are present in the fall, eagles are common around the pools. Ten immature eagles were seen on the refuge on October 16, 1980, and 13 iramatures as well as 2 adults were present on October 29th.
»
No osprey or Kirtlands' warbler observations have been made again this year.
Photo showing a summer time aerial view of a bald eagle winter "hang-out". Tail-water, in the foreground, below the Petenwell Dam, remains ice-free through the winter. Wintering eagles are often seen in the trees on both sides of the river.
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Migratory Birds
1. Waterfowl
a. Swans
A flock of 9 whistling swans were the first to arrive on the refuge on March 27, 1980. They peaked at 41 on April 3rd. The first fall migrant whistling swan returned on November 4th. Twenty-seven were present on November 12th and 66 on November 16th. The west Sprague Pool was their "hang-out" in the spring and the north end of Pool #1 was their favored spot in the fall. Both pools, by the way, were re-flooded moist-soil units.
b. Geese
The first eleven Canada geese arrived in the spring on March 15, 1980. About 800 was the spring peak occurring on April 6th.
The first goose brood was sighted on May 12, 1980, containing 7 goslings. On July 15th, 20 adults and 100 goslings were counted on Pool //I and 3 broods with 22 goslings were on Goose Pool. These were the only pools where goslings were noted this year.
The first of the fall migrants showed up on the refuge during the week of September 18, 1980. The peak occurred at 7,900 Canada geese on October 7th. This was 2,700 more than the peak of last fall. The pools froze over on November 16th. However, 1,000 geese lingered until December 2, when 6 inches of snow fell. Nearly all the fall geese remained in the two Rynearson Pools. Little goose activity occurred in the Sprague Pool this fall. After freeze up, the whole goose population fed exclusively in standing com provided by the State DNR in the Meadow Valley area south of the refuge.
Success on the firing line was judged somewhat better than that occurring the year before. No check station or kill registra­ tion is currently being done. The shooting opportunity was up judged by the apparent increased number of hunter's cars observed parked nearby.
c. Ducks
The spring duck migration began arriving on the refuge on March 27th. The peak of 5,500 ducks occurred on April 19th. Mallards made up about 45% of these birds. About a thousand diving ducks, most of which were ringneck and scaup, were on the refuge during peak periods. Ringneck and scaup have decreased about 50% each year for the past two years during the spring migrations. Spring migrant puddle ducks haven't changed significantly.
The 1980 aerial breeding pair count was done on May 23rd. A total of 753 pairs were projected from count data. This was
2A
38 pairs more than the average of breeding pair counts of the last 16 years and about 5.7 times the number projected in 1979 and 1980 due to the fact that all of the major refuge pools were drawn down for dike rehab work. Rynearson Pool #2 was drained for moist-soil plant production at the time of the count and the Rynearson Pool #1 and the Sprague Pools were filled only to the point where wave action was prevented on the recently re-worked toe of the dikes.
Breeding pairs were again noticeably absent on the natural sedge meadow marshes and potholes. Nearly all pairs were observed on the managed impoundments and were by far most common on the impound­ ments that were drained for moist-soil plant production during the previous year.
Duck production was estimated as follows:
Breeding pairs X Average Brood 'size X Hatching Rate = Production
753 X 7.2 X 25% = 1355
Preseason banding was completed as follows:
AHY-M AHY-F HYM HYP LM LF TOTAL
Mallard
Quota 100 100 100 100 - - A00 Banded 122 108 1A3 188 1 1 563 Percent 22% 19% 25% 33% - - 100%
Wood duck
Quota 50 50 50 50 - 200 Banded A2 12 18 5 1 - 78 Percent 5A% 15% 23% 6% 1% - 100%
Black duck
657
Catching and banding the mallard quota for the refuge was not difficult this year. We couldn' t come close to the quota for wood ducks. We suspect that the 12 plus inches of rain received
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in August set up such good habitat conditions locally that woodies could not be baited off flooded acorns in the back woods ponds and river flood plains.
Puddle ducks numbered near 14,000 at the peak in mid-October. Mallards made up 67% of the puddle ducks, and had increased 20% over the 1979 peak fall population. Ringnecks made up 83% of the fall peak diver population of 3,000. Ringnecks increased 767% over last year but remained less than 50% less than the peak ringneck population occurring in 1978.
4. Coots
The first coots arrived on the refuge on April 3, 1980. Only about 100 birds made up the spring peak population. About 10 coots remained on Pool #1 all summer. No broods were observed, however. Six hundred coots was the peak fall population in 1980 which was much reduced from th^ 5000 or so present in 1979 on Pool //2. Submerged aquatics were present in Pool //2 in 1979 but were absent in that pool in 1980 because of moist-soil plant management. Few coots took advantage of flooded moist-soil plants there during the fall.
2. Marsh and Water Birds
The first sandhill cranes arrived on March 28, 1980. About 20 breeding pairs scattered widely over the refuge. Fifty-five probably non-breeders, were seen in a flock on Pool #2 on May 31st. Another group of 12 were seen there on June 20th. Sixty-two were present on Pool 2 on August 27th. The entire east shore of Pool #2 was burned on October 1st, which created the preferred habitat for the refuge cranes. Up to 142 cranes remained on the bum throughout the month of October.
Except for the sandhill crane the following is a list of Marsh and Water bird species using the refuge at times, and their relative abundance. Most are not known to nest on the refuge.
Less than 50 individuals: American bittern, least bittern, green heron, black-crowned night heron, Virginia rail, and common loon.
Fifty to 100 individuals: Homed grebe and great egret
100 to 300 individuals: Great-blue heron, sora rail, pied-billed grebe, and sandhill crane.
3. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species
A few black terns, woodcock, and killdeer nest on the refuge. Peak populations of these birds are recorded in the following table show ing relative abundance:
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Less than 50: 50-100: 100-300:
Coramon tern Black tern Common snipe, ring-billed gull, woodcock, yellow- legs, spotted sandpiper, and killdeer
4. Raptors
See section on "Endangered and Threatened Species" for comments concerning the bald eagle. Marsh, sharp-shinned. Cooper's, red- tail, rough-legged, and American kestrel are common. Barred and great-homed owls are also common. One snowy owl was observed on November 16, 1980.
5. Other Migratory Birds
a. Doves
The annual off-refuge coo-count route conducted by refuge per­ sonnel tallied 1.35 mourning doves heard per stop in 1980. This was a 42% increase over last year's count.
b. Woodcock
Banding sites were checked for evidence of woodcock activity but there was not enough noted to warrant the required trapping effort.
Mammal and Non-Migratory Birds and Others
1. Game Mammals
Less than 6 inches of snow was on the ground during the period of January through March 1980. Deer came through the winter in fine condition. State deer managers figured a 22% higher deer kill occurred in 1980 over the previous year. State game managers were surprised at the fact that the buck harvest was up this year in Juneau County. Buck harvest was up in adjacent Adams, Wood and Portage Counties also. Thus, the winter of 1978-79 appeared to have a less severe affect on the deer herd than was originally thought. The refuge deer herd seems to be remaining at a resonable level which has no apparent detrimental affect on available browse. Kill registration at the Necedah Ranger Station recorded 351 antlerless deer and 739 bucks. Antlers were averaging larger than last year it seemed. It was rare to see antlers larger than spikes during the 1979 season while in 1980 fork-homs were common and 8-pointers were much more common than during the previous year.
Raccoon numbers continued to decline in 1980. Trappers took 86 "coons" in 1979 which was a 28% decrease from the number taken in 1978. Seven trappers took only 33 coons in 1980 which was a 62% decrease from 1979. The reduced trapping take of coon may have been influenced by the reduction in early season trapping area open to trappers rather than actual reduction in coon numbers. For instance, this year trappers were not allowed to trap the Rynearson Pool #1
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and #2, Goose Pool or West Sprague Pool until after the closing of the duck hunting season although they were allowed to trap the ditches outside these pools. Trappers, however, did comment that they did find difficulty in getting coon this year.
Seventeen beaver problem sites developed on the refuge this year, up 55% from last year. Trappers removed 59 beaver during the 1980 spring trapping season, twice that taken in 1979. Their reduced numbers seemed to have little effect on their activity in plugging the road culverts after the ice disappeared. It was necessary to hire two beaver trappers to remove problem beaver under State beaver control permits. Trappers were paid $30 each for 16 beaver caught in April, May, and June. Beaver problems still persisted through the summer. Four State contracts for Beaver Removal were issued to refuge trappers during the period from November 1-16, 1980 for specific sites on the refuge. Twelve more beaver were taken under this program at no cost to the refuge since trappers could sell the hides. A total of 87 beaver were removed in 1980 which was about three times the number removed in 1979, and beaver are still plentiful.
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Above photo showing refuge trapper, Matt Jordon, examining beaver hides taken on the refuge during the spring beaver trapping season.
Muskrats continued to increase since the drought 4 years ago. Six trappers reported 639 rats taken in the fall of 1980. Beaver plugged the outlet of Pool 19 early in the year, causing a significant area
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of sedge meadow edges of this pool to flood. Water levels stabi­ lized and muskrat numbers exploded here. Fifty-eight percent of all the rats caught on the refuge in 1980 were caught in the trapping zone containing this pool.
No sign of red or gray fox was noted on the refuge this year. Coyotes seem to be more numerous as several were seen and their sign is regularly noted. At least 3 coyotes were killed on the refuge during the deer gun season.
Otter, mink, and badger were occasionally seen on the refuge. No trapping for fox, coyote, otter, or badger was allowed on the refuge in 1980. Eleven mink and seven skunk were taken by trappers this year. However, trappers failed to report catching any opossum or weasel.
2. Other Mammals
Nothing to report
3. Resident Birds
Ruffed grouse are common. Prairie chicken continue to be absent. Only two observations of sharp-tail grouse was recorded in 1980. One was sighted south of Sprague along Hwy 80 in January and the other occurred November 5, 1980 on the east dike of the Carter- Woggon Pool. One ringneck pheasant was seen on December 16, 1980 on the east dike of Pool ill. Four observations of bob-white quail were recorded in June and July in the vicinities of Goose Pool and Pools ill and ill. A covey of 8 bob-whites were observed near the Laske Field on November 6th. No quail or pheasants have been seen on the refuge for several years. Less than 10 observations of wild turkey occurred on the refuge in 1980 although numerous sightings were reported west and southwest of the refuge.
4. Other Animal Life
Two other uncommon species were noted: A snowy owl was seen on November 16th a mile north of the headquarters; and a yellow headed blackbird was seen on September 16th on the east shore of Pool ill.
Northern pike and bullhead populations continued to hold their own through 1980. There was no evidence of any fish kill during the year. High rain fall and run-off occurring in August, forced us to open the radial gate on Pool ill in order to release water to prevent wave action damage to the dike. Wave action was prevented, however, many large carp were observed entering the refuge through this structure and were able to pentrate as far north as the Sprague Pools. Thus, all species of fish native to the Yellow River System were able to repopulate all of the major pools of the refuge during this year. This was unfortunate especially after two years of pool drawdowns in conjunction with dike rehabilitation work which had forced many fish out of the refuge.
Few soft shelled turtles are seen locally, however, the above specimen was found crossing the dike between Pools #1 and #2 on May 31st.
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Information and Interpretation
1. On Refuge
Existing interpretive facilities appeared to receive average use. The accuracy of visitor counts has been and is a problem. As our new I&R plan is implemented, reliable counters will be placed at optimum locations as prescribed by studies and as funds allow.
One particularly interesting class to visit the refuge was from UW-Madison. The students study the planning process by master planning the Necedah NWR using our recently completed Master Plan as a guide. The refuge is benefiting from this in-depth analysis.
2. Off Refuge
Two noteworthy off-site activities took place again this year. Forester Brown and Administrative Technician Murphy participated in a local career day by talking to fifty students in groups of about six individuals.
National Wildlife Week programs were presented to over thirteen hundred students in eleven area grade schools. Programs were directed at the fifth and sixth grade levels with other classes participating as desired by each school.
Manager Carroll became a member of the Wisconsin Environmental/Con­ servation Education Seminar Advisory Council by participating in a Council meeting on October 8. An EE Teacher Workshop was scheduled at the Refuge for the Spring of 1981. This workshop will be promoted State-wide and conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Extension utilizing materials provided by the Refuge. We are fortunate to have this excellent resource available.
All Necedah leaflets are being replaced by new ones prescribed in the new I&R Plan. This overdue replacement had been delayed pending completion of this plan. Manager Carroll, Forester Brown, and Maintenance Worker Carter served as firearms safety instructors for twenty-five students and adults in the local Wisconsin Firearms Safety Class again this year. Mr. Carter received his "hundred student" award.
Refuge employees were involved with youth or community activities as follows:
Brown: Member of Necedah Lions Club, Necedah Volunteer Fire Dept., Necedah Volunteer Ambulance Service as an EMT, and the Juneau County Law Enforcement Association.
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Carroll: Member of Necedah Lions Club as 2nd Vice President and Boy Scout Volunteer Council Scout Program Coordinator, Unit Commissioner, and member of the local troop committee.
Carter: Chief of Necedah Volunteer Fire Department and member of Necedah Volunteer Ambulance Service as an EMT, Juneau County Deputy Sheriff, member of Village of Necedah Aux­ iliary Police, Wisconsin DNR Special Conservation Warden and member of the Juneau County Law Enforcement Association.
Murphy: Necedah Area School District Board member, and secretary Juneau County Health Association.
Recreation
1. Wildlife Oriented
Early bow hunting of white-tail deer was again open on that portion of the refuge located north of the Turkey Track road. The season ran from September 20 through November 16. The early bow season, the most popular of the two bow seasons attracted most of the hunter use. It is estimated that 980 hunter visits occurred this year and the deer kill is estimated at about 26 animals. Nine hunters were apprehended bow-hunting in closed portions of the refuge. Other than closed area hunting problems, the hunt went well.
The 1980 deer gun season was again open refuge wide except for the Pool #1 area. The nine day season ran from November 22 through November 30. Unlimited numbers of "buck only" licenses were issued in this zone. Party permit deer were eliminated this year in favor of a limited quota antlerless individual permit system. Opening week-end car counts showed about 2,020 hunters on the refuge on the first day and 1580 hunters on the second day. This amounted to about one hunter for every 15 acres on the opening day and was typical of hunting pressure the last few years. Temperatures were mild through­ out the hunt and thus, weather had no affect in limiting hunting pressure on deer. Few hunters had antlerless permits and the kill was predominately bucks. No gun inflicted personal injuries occurred on the refuge. However, one parked car was reported shot through the door. At least three neck-shot antlerless deer were left in the woods. Two individuals were apprehended possessing untagged deer and about a dozen campers were evicted from the refuge during the night prior to the opening day. Other than the excessive numbers of hunters on the opening week-end the hunt went reasonably well. Uncrowded hunter density was the rule after the opening weekend.
The late bow deer season was open refuge wide, except for the Pool #1 area. It was open from December 6 through December 31st, but few hunters took part in it, apparently preferring the mild weather of the early season.
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2. Non-Wildlife Oriented
Again maps were prepared by the staff showing recently burned areas on the refuge where one could expect to find optimum blueberry pro­ duction. About 450 blueberry pickers took advantage of this service in July. However, the crop was considered about average.
Snowmobilers can legally use certain township roads through the refuge. They had ''tough-sledding" this year because of the lack of snow. Occasionally, we find evidence of trespass motor bike use of the dike trails around the Sprague Pool. So far it hasn't been significant.
Enforcement
Burglers broke into the YACC office on January 23, 1980 and made off with several items.
Photo showing the YACC office the morning after burglers ransacked it.
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Last year a building at the secondary headquarters site was broken into. This year a wagon-gear with flat bed rack was stolen from this site and another attempt at a building break-in was not successful.
In order to stem the rash of break-ins and thefts, the buildings at the isolated secondary headquarters are to be moved to the primary head­ quarters site. This year an electronic burgler-fire alarm system has been installed at the primary headquarters and YACC office sites. Other than the break-ins vandalism elsewhere on the refuge continues at low level.
Game and trespass violations for 1980 are summarized on the next page.
Residence Name Address Offense Date Officer Fine/Costs Fed. State
Res. Non.
X Britt, William W. Racine, WI Trespass-Bow Hunt 09/20/80 Carter 25/00 X
X Thielen, Robert J. Racine, WI Trespass-Bow Hunt 09/20/80 Carter 25/00 X
X Johnson, Thomas S. Edgerton, WI Trespass-Bow Hunt 09/21/80 Nord 25/00 X
X Johnson, Randall D. Edgerton, WI Trespass-Bow Hunt 09/21/80 Nord 25/00 X
X Dorn, David D. Edgerton, WI Trespass-Bow Hunt 09/21/80 Nord 25/00 X
X North, Kevin L. Edgerton, WI Trespass-Bow Hunt 09/21/80 Nord 25/00 X
X HeirinR, John W. Kenosha, WI Bow Hunt in closed Area 09/21/80 Brown 50/00 X
X Leittl, Lance L. Kenosha, WI Bow hunt in closed Area" 09/21/80 Brown 50/00 X
X Ahrens, William R. Toledo, OH Possession of Fire­ arm in closed area 09/21/80 Brown 50/00 X
X Bom, Robert J. Eau Claire, WI Possession of Fire­ arm in closed area 10/22/80 Brown 50/00 X
X Walch, Randall S. Eau Claire, WI Possession of Fire­ arm in closed area 10/22/80 Brown 50/00 X
X Nelson, Donald L. Union Grove, WI Trespass-Bow Hunt 11/1/80 Brown 25/00 X
X Williams, B. J. Milwaukee, WI Possess untagged deer Possess doe w/buck 11
Cll/23/80 Brown Nord 1140/00 X
X Reynolds, Charles Milwaukee, WI Possess untagged deer 11/23/80 Brown Nord 1140/00 X
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Photos showing biannual pistol qualifications on refuge pistol range. The County Sheriff supervised this particular shoot. Local Wisconsin DNR personnel as well as Sheriff's office personnel use the range on occasion.
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Field Investigations
The extensive oak wilt control program, funded by the U.S. Forest Service, continued for the second and final year. Forestry Technician Louie Koziol was hired for a six month period to complete the program that he started last year. He entered on duty July 5th and began by marking out about 35 oak wilt areas that were not completed last year. On August 8th Tractor Operator Peter Bennett came on board to handle the Vermeer vibratory plow. In the following month all but three of the remaining areas were trenched. High water and rain were a constant source of trouble during the operation. The plow performed much better this year than last. There was no significant breakdowns and the operation went without a hitch. Safety screens fabricated last year fit this year's plow. The trenching operation ended September 26. Mr. Koziol spent the remainder of his appointment completing the field marking and mapping of the areas and writing the reports. Next year the Forest Service plans to do a follow-up study of the results if their funding permits.
The radio telemetry work on Sandhill Cranes initiated last year by students from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, was not active this year.
Mr. Walter Bernard, Rt. 2, New Lisbon, WI, a member of the North American Mycological Association, was given a Special Use Permit to make any inventory of and list all the species of mushrooms growing within the refuge. His report for 1980 is now in the refuge files. He plans to continue his work in 1981.
Cooperative Programs
This was the second year without a YCC program which was discontinued in 1979 after five years of an exemplary, energy efficient, non-resident program. We hope to have a camp in Fiscal Year 81 even if the number of enrollees is reduced.
Our YACC base camp was reduced to a satellite camp under Seney NWR prior to 1980 with a reduction in the number of staff and enrollees. In October of 1980 the Necedah Camp was transferred from Seney to Tamarac NWR. Our YACC staff was reduced to one on the last day of the year when Group Leader Charles Roth resigned leaving Benji Brackman as the only staff person. There was twenty-five enrollees at the beginning of the year. We were down to thirteen by the end of December dropping to our new quota of eight. The number of female enrollees has remained at about half for the duration of the program. YACC work projects are reported on in Section II.
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The refuge, under cooperative agreement with the DNR, assisted in the suppression of four small off-site wildfires. In turn, we were assisted by the DNR in suppression of a very small fire on the refuge. Additional information is reported under "11. C. Wildfire".
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Identifying numbers were painted on top of refuge fire equipment to aid DNR spotter planes.
Items of Interest
Jonathan Olson entered on duty on October 5 as a GS-5 career-conditional Biological Technician. His position is seasonal. He will be off for two months each winter. Jon will be assisting in the aerial fall Wiscon­ sin goose surveys each year as well as attending to biological and main­ tenance duties at Necedah. He is a welcome addition to our staff.
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Harold Carter, Maintenance Mechanic, received his twenty-year length-of- service award effective August 10, 1980.
This report was written by Assistant Manager Nord with the following exceptions. Forester Brown wrote sections II C, III D and portions of III B and V A. Manager Carroll wrote sections ID, V A, VI B & C, and edited the report. Administrative Technician Murphy typed and assembled the report.
Safety
Monthly safety meetings were held which included periodic defensive driving refreshers.
Our record of A231 days without a lost time accident was shattered on November 20, 1980 when our temporary Forestry Technician Louis Koziol stepped into a hole (depression) while walking in the woods. He received a back injury which kept him from reporting to work for two weeks.
The following topics were used as subject matter for the safety meetings:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December