Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge - Everglades Cooperative ...

Arthur R. Marshall LoxahatcheeNational Wildlife RefugeLisa JamesonUnited StatesFish and Wildlife Service

History/BackgroundThe Refuge(WCA1) was established in 1951 under a 50 year licenseagreement with South Florida Water Management District under theMigratory Bird Conservation Act.– ObjectiveTo achieve maintenance control of allexotic plant species present within theRefuge

Priority Plant Species• Priority PlantsOld World Climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum)Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia)Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius)Under maintenance control.Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia)Under maintenance control.• Secondary PlantsHydrillaWater LettuceWater HyacinthCarrotwoodShoebutton ardisiaEarleaf AcaciaPapayaJava Plum

Priority Animal Species• Priority Animals:Sacred ibis: unconfirmed reports inWood Stork nesting coloniesPurple swamp hen: none reportedbut anticipate they can utilize interiorPythons: unconfirmed reports in theinterior and along leveeNile monitor lizard: unconfirmedreport in compartment DIguanas: there here and beingwatched• Currently trapping for:Redbay Ambrosia Beetle(Xyleborus glabratus)Bromeliad Weevil(Metamasius callizona)

Aerial TreatmentsTo achieve maintenance control of Brazilianpepper, Melaleuca and Old World Climbing Fernwithin the RefugeSeptember 2008Brazilian pepper –377 acres - $ 69,368- CompletedMelaleuca –300 acres- $65,700 - CompletedOld World Climbing Fern-6,040 acres- $899,960.00-Completed

Ground TreatmentsWork Area IAwarded to :Aquatic Vegetation Control Inc.(AVC)Start Date: December, 20086- Airboats6- Supervisors36-CrewmembersEnd Date: On goingCompleted: 20,783 acresSpent: $1,012,432.82

Ground Treatments• Work Area IIWork Area IIAwarded to:Southeastern Chemtreat Inc.(SECT)Start Date: October , 20084-Airboats2- Supervisors16-CrewmembersEnd Date: On-goingCompleted: 2,411 acresSpent: $614,118.83

Ground TreatmentsWork Area IIIAwarded to:Applied AquaticManagement Inc.(AAM)Start Date: September, 200812-Airboats12-Supervisors60-CrewmembersEnd Date: On -goingCompleted: 8,266 acresSpent: $ 1,035.467.82

Ground TreatmentsCompartment DAwarded to: NaturChemStart Date: May, 2009End Date: CompletedCompleted: acres 300Spent: $ 123,348

Fiscal Year Treatments: 2009• Aerial = 6,717• Ground = 31,760• Prescribe Fire= 17,300Total 55,530

Biological Control NeedsBrown Lygodium Moth :March 2009 – 8800 larva …………………………Water Lettuce native bio-control research………………………………….Melaleuca psyllid: 17,000 adults 2001, 2008……………...........October 2008 – 4400 larva…………………………………….Melaleuca psyllid: released onFLEPPC test plots outside Refuge…………………………………..

MonitoringSystematic Reconnaissance Flights2002, 2003, 2005Digital Aerial Sketch Mapping(SFWMD, NPS)2005, 2007, 2008, 2009Prescribed fire post-burn vegetation2008, 2009

Digital Aerial Sketch MappingArthur R. MarshallLoxahatchee N.W.R.2009 MelaleucaCoverage Class AcresHigh - 310Medium - 15Low - 91,091Total - 91,4162008 MelaleucaCoverage Class AcresHigh 669Medium 90,217Low 268Total 91,154

Digital Aerial Sketch MappingArthur R. MarshallLoxahatchee N.W.R.2009 Brazilian PepperCoverage Class AcresHigh - 26Medium - 226Low - 168Total - 4202008 - Brazilian PepperCoverage Class AcresHigh 245Medium 436Low 13Total 694

Digital Aerial Sketch MappingArthur R. MarshallLoxahatchee N.W.R.2009Old World Climbing FernCoverage Class AcresHigh - 210Medium - 320Low - 2,941Total - 3,4712008Old World Climbing FernCoverage Class AcresHigh 614Medium 2,189Low 127Total 2,931

MonitoringDaily Monitoring:Contractors:EquipmentPersonalChemicalsTimeContractors work:Inspections of completedtreatmentsSafety

Innovations and SuccessesBroad Landscape ControlsFire17,300 acres of prescribe fire treatments

2009 Prescribe Fire TreatmentsJon_Wallace@fws.govPrescribe Fire Specialist

Contractor SuccessPre-bid site visitStandardized proposal requirements and evaluationDaily monitoring and communication with contractorQuarterly evaluation contractorFinal inspection and review at completion of work.

Lygodium biocontrol researchDr. Krishnaswamy Jayachandran (Jay)Department of Environmental StudiesSoutheast Environmental Research CenterFlorida International University

Questions???