North Cascades Resource Management Activities 2001

This pamphlet describes the activities of the Resource Management (RM) division of North Cascades National Park Service Complex (NOCA). Senior Scientist, Regina Rochefort (who also has regional duties) and Division Chief, Bruce Freet integrate the efforts of Cultural and Natural Resources, Wildland Fire and the three science branches. The people of RM conduct studies that provide important information about the complex's natural and cultural resources. Numerous volunteers support staff listed below.

NOCA is a member of the new North Coast and Cascades Network that includes Olympic and Mount Rainier National Parks, Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, San Juan Islands National Historical Park, Fort Clatsop National Memorial, and Fort Vancouver National Historical Site. Our Network is one of the first networks to be funded in FY2001 as part of the NPS Natural Resource Challenge budget initiative.

The Natural Resource Challenge initiative may add $100M to the NPS base-operating budget during a 5-year period (averaging $20M per fiscal year). Congress authorized and the President approved the first increase in the FY2000 budget. A similar increase was obtained for FY2001, and an another increase is in the FY2002 budget proposal. We are "on-track" for attaining our national goal.

NOCA and Olympic have been working on long term ecological monitoring since 1993. You may encounter people working on the following projects: vascular plant, vertebrate wildlife and surficial geology inventories. Efforts are also underway to develop a strategic water-quality monitoring program for the network. In addition, the USGS-Biological Resources Division will be conducting research on potential indicators as well as a scientific peer review of our current monitoring efforts.

Bruce Freet and Jeannie Probala have been assisting other Network parks conduct "Vital Signs" Workshops to identify potential indicators of "ecological health" (status, trends, and rates of change). Viki Gonzales (Administrative Tech, SW), is helping the RM Division with programming, tracking, and reconciling its many budgetary accounts. Contact Bruce, Reed Glesne or Jon Riedel for more information.

Dan Allen (Branch Chief, SW)
Leigh Smith (RM Specialist, MM)
Mike Larrabee (Laborer, MM)
Wendy Ross (RM Specialist, STE)
Cathi Jones (Biological Technician, STE)
Katie Barnett (SCA, STE)
Laurie Thompson (Maint Worker, STE)

Air Quality Monitoring — NOCA air quality is Class I, or ‘most pristine'. The Clean Air Act requires that this standard be maintained with no degradation of air quality-related values. In order to ensure that NOCA air remains pure, the RM staff has established baseline conditions at Marblemount and Stehekin. As part of the National Acid Deposition Program, the NPS has conducted weekly monitoring of the acidity and chemical composition of rainfall in Marblemount for 15 years. A station in Marblemount, which monitors ground-level ozone and other indicators of air quality, is part of a five-year study to determine the severity of airborne pollutants in the NOCA airshed. Contact Leigh for more information.

Hazard Tree Management — Inspections of trees surrounding all NOCA development sites are performed annually in order to minimize the hazards diseased and dying trees may pose. Trees with serious problems may be limbed, topped or felled. Alternatively, the target for the tree may be moved or the facility closed. Felling of trees is the last resort. Most diseased or dying trees are topped. The resulting snags become valuable habitat for a host of insects, birds, mammals and amphibians. NOCA has created over 100 snags in the past eight years. Contact Leigh for more information.

Non-Native Plants — Numerous non-native invasive plant species exist within the boundaries of NOCA. With no natural controls their populations can expand at alarming rates. They may threaten native species by outcompeting them for space, sunlight and nutrients. The RM staff is committed to controlling the spread of these plants. Target non-native species include; knapweed, rush skeletonweed, Japanese knotweed, yellow hawkweed, scotch broom and Dalmatian toadflax. Control strategies include intensive hand pulling, mulching, and experimental techniques such as low-pressure steam and filter fabric. Contact Wendy or Leigh to learn more.

Compliance — All members of the RM staff work with other NOCA divisions to ensure that projects disturbing ground, water, soil, vegetation, wildlife or other features abide by state and national laws and regulations and with NPS policy. Compliance efforts include writing documents such as Environmental Assessments (EA's) and Categorical Exclusions (CE's) and obtaining appropriate permits such as from the Corps of Engineers or the State Department of Fish and Wildlife. EA's have recently been prepared, or are currently being prepared for an automatic snow measuring station at Beaver Pass, bridge replacement at Stillwell, a possible land exchange in Stehekin and protection of the Stehekin Valley Road from erosion. Contact Dan for more details.

Land Acquisition —In the past year 100 acres of private land have been acquired in the Ross Lake NRA; about 59 acres have been or are being acquired in North Cascades National Park; and, easements have been acquired recently on about 3.7 acres in the Lake Chelan NRA. Contact Dan for more details.

Tod Johnson (Fire Management Officer, MM)
Andris Vezis (Supervisory Forestry Technician, MM)
Joanie Lawrence (Fire Program Assistant, MM)
Loretta Duke (Prescribed Fire Specialist, STE)
Karen Kopper, Cedar Drake, Yancy Moore, Matt Melnicki, Kitty Currier (Fire Effects Monitors, MM)
Mya Archamboult, Andrea Holmquist, Tracy Barbaro, Kate Potter, Christy McDevitt (Marblemount Crew)
Travis Wheeler, Gavin Rush (Stehekin Crew)
Marie Wirschem (Desolation Lookout)

Wildland Fire Management — The NOCA Fire Management Team is charged with suppressing all fires that are potentially dangerous to Park visitors or may affect valuable resources. NOCA has the option to manage lightning-caused fires for their biological benefits. Usually this means they are monitored to their natural end. Contact Tod or Andris.

Fuels management and forest restoration — The NOCA Fire management Team uses chainsaws and prescribed fire to thin unwanted and overstocked forests that have been altered by fire suppression. Trees are also thinned to keep Park visitors safe from fire. Fire is reintroduced to reduce unwanted ground fuel that has accumulated there over the past 100 years using carefully controlled ignitions. The end result is a forest that is recycled to release valuable nutrients to promote growth in healthy trees and ground vegetation creating a forested landscape that is more fire tolerant and biologically diverse.

Fire Effects Monitoring — The effects of thinning trees and applying prescribed fire is closely monitored by a devoted team that reads long term monitoring plots. These plots are located in many treatment units in the Stehekin valley. This monitoring team also supports fire programs with long term monitoring plots at John Day Fossil Beds NM, Whitman Mission NHP, San Juan Islands NHP, and Lake Roosevelt NRA. Information from these plots is gathered and analyzed to determine treatment effects. This information is used to help develop and refine treatment prescriptions and assist planners in restoring altered vegetation. Contact Karen.

Jesse Kennedy (Branch Chief, MM)
Deborah Wood (Curator, MM)
Bob Mierendorf (Archeologist, MM)
Andrea Weiser (Staff Archeologist, MM)

Archeological Inventory — Even the most rugged and remote areas in NOCA contain sensitive archeological resources. Surveys are conducted to inventory archeological sites prior to any undertakings in NOCA. Currently, 260 prehistoric sites have been identified, some dating older than 8,500 years. As a result of these studies, it is now widely recognized that the extensive subalpine landscape of the North Cascades contributed importantly to Northwest Coast Indian economies. Historic archeological sites include mines and mining camps, sawmills, homesteads and a "lost" hotel. Contact Bob or Andrea for more information or to find out about volunteer opportunities.

Archeological Testing — Archeological sites are test excavated to assess their significance to the National Register of Historic Places. These excavations have contributed new and unanticipated information about indigenous use of the mountains, including: the use of alpine obsidian sources in NOCA for the last 5,000 years; the establishment of regular travel routes for the movement of resources and people; the exploitation of mountain goats and other native fauna and flora; a geologic record of Cascade volcano eruptions which is used to mark the timing of both human and climatic events; and, a radiocarbon chronology providing a timescale for human uses, natural events, and climatic changes in the North Cascades. A summary of park archeology results is available at http://www.nps.gov/noca/archeology1.htm. Contact Bob or Andrea for details.

Buckner Homestead, Stehekin — This site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a cultural treasure. The site includes; a historic orchard where the last elements of a once common genetic strain of apple grow, over 17 buildings telling the story of pioneering life, fields and pastures, a unique irrigation system, and forests that include riparian habitat and prehistoric archeological sites. Management of the Buckner Orchard includes the day-to-day maintenance of watering, pruning and fertilizing the trees, as well as long-term efforts, such as planting new trees to maintain and perpetuate the unique genetic material found here. Contact Wendy Ross (in Stehekin) or Jesse (in Marblemount) for more information or to find out about volunteer opportunities.

Museum and Archives — The Marblemount Curation Facility is a multi-park repository for the museum collections from NOCA and San Juan Island National Historical Park. The combined collections total over 1.5 million objects and specimens, and are rapidly growing in direct proportion with inventory, monitoring, and research activities. The cultural museum collections include both prehistoric and historical objects. The prehistoric objects provide valuable information about Native American life in the mountains of North Cascades. The historic artifacts document early exploration and settlement of the area, and logging and mining efforts in the mountains. The natural collections include biological, geological, and paleontological specimens. NOCA also has an extensive archival collection that includes archeological project documents, historical records, park administrative documents, resource management records, maps and drawings, records and documents associated with natural resource studies and inventories, photographs, reports, oral histories, and electronic media. The museum collections serve as scientific and historical documentation for the parks' resources and purpose. They provide baseline information for park planning, management activities, and interpretive and educational programs. Contact Deborah to set up a tour or find out about volunteer opportunities.

Historic Structure Inventory and Monitoring — The cultural resources branch is responsible for the inventory and monitoring of the many unique and nationally recognized structures within NOCA. These structures are regularly inventoried and their condition is monitored to ensure that they are managed in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Contact Jesse for more information.

Reed Glesne (Branch Chief, Aquatic Ecologist, SW)
Ron Holmes (Biological Technician, SW)
Amy Hill (Aquatic Ecologist, NH)
Stan Zyskowski (Biological Technician, SW)
Ashley Rawhauser (Biological Technician, SW)
Pat Buller (Biological Technician, MM)
Mike Florin (Biological Technician, MM)
Steve Borrego (Biological Technician, MM)
Carmen Welch (Biological Technician, MM)
Chris Clark (SCA, MM)

FERC Relicensing and Settlement Agreements

• Chelan PUD relicensing: Ongoing development of interagency fish management plans for Lake Chelan and its tributaries.
• Baker River Project (Puget Sound Energy) relicensing: Participation in the interagency management of fish in the Baker River Watershed. Development of study plans and recommendations for protection and enhancement of aquatic resources related to the FERC relicensing of the Baker Project.
• Skagit River Project (Seattle City Light): Participation in committees related to expending funds for fishery research and habitat restoration, and monitoring flow conditions for the protection of salmon under the SCL Settlement Agreement for the Ross hydroelectric projects.

NPS and Network Inventory and LTEM Programs

Development of protocols for monitoring water quality and the ecological health of lakes and streams using indices of biological integrity derived from aquatic macroinvertebrate communities' data.

• Development of NPS Network Water Quality Monitoring Plan.
• Development of LTEM Lake and Pond Monitoring Protocols in cooperation with USGS, Biological Resources Division, Corvallis OR.
• Development of NPS Network protocols for monitoring and inventory of stream-resident fish populations at NOCA, Mount Rainier, and Olympic.

Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest contract projects

• Stream habitat and fish surveys in the Baker River watershed.
• Fish population monitoring in the Stilliguamish River watershed
• Aquatic macroinvertebrate stream monitoring (Skagit River Stewards)

Other studies

• Assist Carl Ostberg (USGS-BRD Seattle) in the collection of tissue samples from cutthroat trout in the Stehekin watershed to evaluate hybridization levels in native cutthroat trout with non-native rainbow trout.
• Assist Ed Connors (Seattle City Light) in the investigation of bull trout distribution using radio/sonar transmitters in Ross Lake and tributaries.

Bob Kuntz (Wildlife Biologist, SW)
Roger Christophersen (Wildlife Biologist, SW)
Hugh Anthony (Biological Technician, SW)
Anne Braaten (Natural Resource Specialist, SW)

Bat Surveys — Park biologists continue to survey bats as part of an inventory program documenting species presence, species richness, and distribution patterns within NOCA. In 2001, efforts will concentrate on sampling additional sites in low elevation forests, riparian areas, subalpine habitats, and at special sites (e.g. caves, mines, etc.). Using capture - release methods, data collected on each bat will include determining species identity, sex, age, reproductive condition, weight, measuring several morphological characteristics, and getting voucher recordings of each bat's echolocation calls. As of June 2001, we have documented 8 bat species and collected data from 131 individuals. For further information contact Roger or Bob K.

Harlequin Duck Surveys — Harlequin ducks are indicator species of pristine riverine habitats within NOCA. To date approximately 75 % of the suitable Harlequin Duck nesting habitat within the park has been surveyed to determine occupancy and productivity of these nesting ducks. Efforts this summer will concentrate on surveying suitable habitat within Big Beaver Creek and Little Beaver Creek drainages. We plan to collect data on four additional species (Common Merganser, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, and American Dipper) that also have habitat niches associated with pristine rivers. Bob K. or Roger can provide further details upon request.

Landbird Monitoring — During the summers of 2001 and 2002, park resource management staff and cooperators (The Institute for Bird Populations and Western Washington University) will conduct breeding bird surveys throughout NOCA. The objectives of this survey are to:

• Determine bird-habitat relationships across the park.
• Field test and evaluate a sampling method and survey design for inventory and monitoring avian populations in areas with diverse habitats and limited access.
• Predict avian responses to habitat changes due to land management practices and non-anthropogenic factors.

Over the next 2 years, approximately 6 to 8 point counts will be conducted at 150 sites. At each point-count station, we will document the location of each point (using GPS), identify the habitat class using NOCA's current GIS habitat classification system (Pacific Meridian Resources 1996), and record information on slope, aspect, and weather. We will also describe site vegetation structure and composition using a modified Releve procedure. In addition to collecting point-count data, we will conduct spot-mapping surveys at six, 10 hectare plots to develop correction factors in order to improve the accuracy of our point-count data. For more details, call Bob K.

Grizzly Bear — Related Projects — The hair snag project is in its final year. Fieldwork is being conducted in northern Idaho and NW Montana. Radio collared bears on the study area will be compared with DNA from hair snag "hits" to determine the likelihood that known bears visit the snag sites. Results from the Rockies will be compared with results from the North Cascades to determine the probability of detecting a grizzly bear given a population density of "x". Indications so far are that this method is not effective in detecting a small, widely dispersed ‘population', such as exists in the North Cascades.

We are also experimenting this year, with another method of detection through DNA. This involved using specially trained dogs to locate scat samples in 2 sites (Chilliwack Valley and a portion of the Pasayten) during May and early June. The dogs were well behaved, focused on their jobs and highly effective in locating samples. Eighty samples were collected from the Chilliwack in 2 days. DNA extraction from scat is more complex than from hair, but the science seems promising over the long term. We will learn later this year how many scats from this project can be tested for species, and whether there are any grizzly bear samples among those collected in the few days of sampling. Contact Anne for more information.

Jon Riedel (Geologist, MM)
Rob Burrows (Physical Science Technician, MM)
Jeannie Probala (Physical Science Technician, MM)
Richard Everett (Geography Intern, MM)

Glacier Inventory — NOCA staff, in cooperation with Portland State University, are completing the second comprehensive inventory of glaciers in the park. The first inventory, published in 1971, identified 321 glaciers covering an area of 118.8km². Preliminary results indicate that we have lost five glaciers covering an area of 10.6km² between 1971 and 1998.

Glacier Mass Balance Monitoring — Several related projects are helping us understand the ecological importance and changing nature of the park's 316 glaciers. Glacial meltwater feeds the labyrinth of lakes and streams in the complex, maintaining runoff during droughts. Glaciers are also important indicators of climate change. This is the 9^th year we have monitored the surface mass balance of Noisy, Silver, North Klawatti and Sandalee glaciers. Three trips are made annually to each glacier to measure the amount of winter accumulation and summer melt. Data collected provides valuable information about the climate of NOCA and the amount and timing of meltwater released by glaciers. We will also be developing methods for monitoring of glaciers at Mount Rainier National Park.

Climate Change from Lake Cores — In cooperation with a University of Massachusetts professor, sediment cores were extracted from the bottoms of three NOCA lakes in 1999 and 2000. The cores are being analyzed to assess climate change during the past 1,000 years by measuring changes in sediment texture and chemical properties.

Glacial History of NOCA — This summer Jon is initiating a four-year study on the glacial history of the park during the last great ice age, (between 30,000 and 10,000 years ago). Study sites include deposits from an ancient glacial lake in the vicinity of Devil's Creek and moraines deposited by alpine glaciers in the Bacon Creek and upper Fisher Creek valleys.

Weather Stations — Jon has been meeting with three hydroelectric utilities and other government agencies in an attempt to upgrade and reconfigure the system of weather stations at NOCA. Monitoring of weather is a key part of the NOCA's LTEM Program. Negotiations led to hydroelectric companies funding new automated weather stations at Hozomeen and Beaver Pass, and elimination of proposed stations at Fourth of July Pass and Willow Lake. Current efforts are focused on the Baker River watershed, where Puget Sound Energy has weather stations at Easy Pass and Jasper Pass, and an aerial snow marker on Mt. Blum.

Stehekin River Inventory and Monitoring —In the summer 2000 Jon and Reed led an effort to inventory and monitor several aspects of the lower 10 miles of the Stehekin River. Goals of this project were to inventory large woody debris, stream channel habitat, and erosion control structures. Preliminary results indicate that there are 103 logjams containing 6,398 large logs, and 1,055 large individual logs on, or in, the lower Stehekin River. This summer we will complete this inventory and produce a report on results.

Lake Chelan Bottom Survey — Jon and a scientist from the University of Washington surveyed sediments on the bottom of Lake Chelan in fall 2000. Near Safety Harbor, there is a blanket of sediment 1,700 feet thick at the bottom of the lake. In other words, the total depth of this amazing valley is approximately 3,200 feet below the surface of the lake (1500ft of water and 1700ft of sediment). Survey results are now being analyzed to identify the nature of the sediments at the bed of the lake to develop an understanding of the lake's formation and history.

Geology Mapping — Jon, in cooperation with the USFS, has been developing a scheme for mapping the surficial geology of all federal lands in the North Cascades. Surficial geology is mapped as landforms, which include cirques, valley walls, alluvial fans, terraces, floodplains and landslides. The purpose of this project is to provide baseline resource and geologic disturbance information in support of long term ecological monitoring programs. Results from the Thunder Creek watershed indicate that 55% of this watershed is "valley wall"; 20% is impacted by landslides; and only 1.8% is riparian/floodplain. This year will focus on the Stehekin River and Bacon Creek watersheds, as well as at Mount Rainier National Park.

Erosion Control — Erosion control on Lake Chelan and Ross Lake is a 2 million-dollar program. In one year, on Ross Lake alone, approximately 1 acre of shoreline is lost to erosion. The primary goal of the Erosion Control Program is to use innovative approaches to shoreline stabilization that incorporate native rock, vegetation and logs. The Ross Lake Erosion Control Program is in its eighth year, and is led by Jeff Weyand (Maintenance) and Jon. In addition, the NPS is negotiating with Chelan PUD on funding a similar, comprehensive program for erosion control on Lake Chelan.

Native Plant Propagation — Revegetation of damaged areas has been a high priority at NOCA for many years. Subalpine restoration efforts at places such as Cascade Pass have been underway since the early 1970's. A native plant greenhouse facility in Marblemount has been in operation since the late 1970's. In addition, as part of the new Seattle City Light license agreement, NOCA is responsible for propagating plants for revegetation of erosion control construction sites in the project area. As a result, greenhouse and nursery facilities in MM are being expanded and improved, and we are increasing plant production to accommodate projects throughout the park. Contact Michael Brondi (Maintenance) or Pat Milliren (Wilderness District) for more information.