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
3
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.
4
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.
5
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.
7
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.
8
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.
I
9
I
Photo showing refuge personnel and equipment spreading rock rip-rap
on the main dike of Rynearson Pool #2.
10
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,)
12
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.
13
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.
14
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.
15
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.
16
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.
18
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.
I
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
20
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.
I
I
21
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.
23
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
25
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:
26
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.
I
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
28
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.
30
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.
31
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.
32
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.
33
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
35
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.
36
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.
37
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".
I
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.
38
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