The Nisqually Indian Tribe contracted ICF International to conduct wildlife surveys in Ohop Valley to track impacts on culturally important species (elk, deer, and beaver) and birds. Troy Rahmig (ICF International) shared the results of the monitoring.
Ohop Creek Restoration Phases I & II Wildlife Surveys
1. Ohop Creek Restoration Phases I & II
Wildlife Surveys
Nisqually Indian Tribe Natural Resources Department
&
ICF International
2.
3. Ohop Creek Restoration
โข Remeander construction and replanting
of 1 mile of Lower Ohop Creek and
surrounding 100 acres โ 2014
โข Maintenance and replacement plantings
were completed โ 2015
โข Although designed to improve salmon
habitat, creek morphology, and
floodplain function, the project is
expected to benefit multiple species.
4.
5.
6. Species Information
โข Nisqually Land Trust worked with Northwest Trek to conduct surveys multiple times per
year.
โข Utilized teams of citizens scientists.
โข Document all species observed during the field visit.
โข Species diversity:
โข Amphibians โ 7 species
โข Reptiles โ 5 species
โข Birds โ 90 species
โข Mammals โ 32 species
โข Invertebrates โ 62 species
โข Hunting/harvest records and general public knowledge.
โข Not much else known about wildlife use in the area.
7. Ohop Creek Restoration Wildlife Surveys
โข USFWS Tribal Wildlife Grant
โข Although this is a salmon restoration project โ what other wildlife
species are utilizing the site?
โข Focus on culturally important species
โข Elk
โข Deer
โข Beaver
โข Added in bird surveys
10. Motion-activated cameras
โข Placed 9 cameras
โข Ran cameras continuously
โข Collected over 1,300 images of animals
Pedestrian Transects
โข Timed walking transects
โข Recorded all animal sign
โข Primarily wintertime surveys
Focused pedestrian transects for beaver
Timed area searches (birds only)
Nest searches (birds only)
11. Results - Mammals
Transects
โข Only animals seen on
transects were coyotes
โข Other sign noted: scat,
tracks, tree damage
โข Elk was by far the most
detected terrestrial
mammal species
โข Surveys were influenced by
site conditions
Cameras
โข Most consistent form of data
collection
โข Variable animal use of the site
โข Elk was by far the most
detected terrestrial mammal
species
โข Camera detections were
influenced by site conditions
15. Results - Beaver
โข Increasing beaver activity on site
โข Only 1 beaver ever seen by observer
โข Never recorded beaver on camera
โข All observations were of tree damage
16. Results - Birds
โข 55 species detected during surveys
โข Most common bird species
โข Song Sparrow
โข Marsh Wren
โข Red-winged blackbird
โข American Goldfinch
โข Most common nesting species
โข Song Sparrow
โข Common Yellowthroat
โข Cedar Waxwing
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21. โข Site provides very good elk habitat
โข Use of the site by elk is likely more influenced by surrounding
land uses than the site itself
โข Site supports and incredible diversity of animal species
โข This study is just one glimpse in time โ the entire Ohop Valley
could benefit from some longer term studies on wildlife use
โข Longer term survey work would illustrate changes that will occur
as more of the valley is restored
Concluding Observations