Grant Opportunity Monitoring Bi-State Sage-grouse Populations in Nevada

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1 Grant Opportunity Monitoring Bi-State Sage-grouse Populations in Nevada Proposals are due no later than November 13, Grant proposal and any questions should be directed to: Shawn sepsinosa@ndow.org. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) is committed to monitoring populations of Greater Sage-grouse (hereafter referred to as sage-grouse ) within the Nevada portion of the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment residing in southwestern Nevada along the border with California. Initially, monitoring will be conducted within the Desert Creek and Mount Grant Population Management Units (PMUs) to determine whether or not certain management actions and habitat improvement projects are effective at conserving sage-grouse within this area. These management actions and habitat improvement projects are outlined in the Bi-State Action Plan and the Greater sage-grouse Bi-State Distinct Population Segment Forest Plan Amendment Record of Decision (2015). It is important for NDOW to maintain this commitment to demonstrate effectiveness and adaptive management principles to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which found the Bi-State Sage-grouse not warranted for listing as a threatened or endangered species in April of Grant Application Instructions Please refer to scope of work below for details regarding this research project. Proposals should include the following at a minimum: Demonstrate qualifications to conduct tasks identified within the scope of work; Identification of the project manager and any supporting staff along with a brief description of their qualifications; A proposed cost estimate with detail to include: salary, travel, material costs and other anticipated expenses; A schedule of activities; Submission of the draft report in digital form Grant Eligibility (must meet all the following criteria) Must be a Government Agency or Academic Institution (University) with offices located in either Nevada or California; Specific experience working with Greater Sage-grouse within the Great Basin and measuring demographic parameters and habitat selection of sage-grouse; Scope of Work Sage-grouse Monitoring Capture and radio mark (utilizing GPS satellite transmitters and VHF Transmitters) up to 40 female sage-grouse initially (10 GPS satellite transmitters and 30 VHF transmitters) across the two study areas and maintain that approximate sample size over the course of the 3-year study; Capture and band any male sage-grouse encountered during trapping efforts; Periodically download and categorize data obtained from GPS satellite transmitters; Track VHF marked individual birds by ground or aircraft 2 3 times per week during nesting period; Determine nest initiation dates of each female grouse; Identify movement patterns during the nesting season; Determine nest fate of each female grouse and estimate daily nest survival probabilities; Estimate the effects of environmental characteristics on nest survival rates;

2 Calculate kernel home-ranges of female grouse during the nesting season; Track individual birds by ground or aircraft 2 3 times per week during brooding period; Conduct brood counts during day and night (spotlights) every 10-d interval through the brood-rearing period to document brood success. Broods with no chicks will be scored unsuccessful and confirmed within 48-hours; Calculate 10-day interval brood survival rate; Identify patterns in sexual segregation during the fall months using radio telemetry relocations; Identify late-fall feeding area for congregated broods; Estimate differences between male and female (with broods) departure dates to wintering areas; Use aircraft to identify wintering grounds; Calculate Brownian bridge movement path models to identify corridors between seasonal use areas; Calculate seasonal and annual survival rates and identify differences between sexes; Habitat Measurements and Analyses Within 48 hours of nest fate, measure multiple microhabitat characteristics at each nest site, including total shrub cover, sagebrush cover, perennial and annual grasses, perennial and annual forbs, vertical cover, and horizontal cover (measured at 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 m from nest site); Place four perpendicular transects centered at the nest and record the percent shrub cover for each meter along the transect at scales of 5, 10, 25 m; In addition, place two 20 X 50 cm Daubenmire plots along each transect and one at the nest center where percent cover is estimated and all plants are measured and keyed as annual or perennial; Use three methods, including Jones cover, board to estimate vertical and horizontal cover at each point of subplots and at the nest bowl; Conduct multiple measurements to quantify the amount of conifers within the nesting area (Monitor study site); Use maps of vegetation types derived from remote sensing data in a Geographical Information System (GIS) to measure habitat characteristics at larger spatial scales; Measure the habitat characteristics (field and GIS) at random points that are spatially dependent and independent from the nest site; Develop a cover class layer of conifers using 1-m resolution NAIP and NDVI data (Monitor study site); Conduct multi-scale habitat selection analysis using random and used points; Estimate the effects of grouse age and body condition on nest survival rates; Conduct habitat measurements (field and GIS) at a subsample of brood locations during day and night and dependent random locations for each 10-day interval; Develop and compare brood survival models that include vegetation characteristics as covariates to identify the effects of vegetation factors; Location 1) Desert Creek Population Management Unit sage-grouse use within the Nevada portion of this PMU is mainly concentrated around the terminus of Desert Creek proper (near State Highway 338) and Sweetwater Flat south of Wellington, Nevada. Late brood rearing habitat is centered on the Desert Creek Ranch and the Sweetwater Ranch;

3 however, relatively little is known regarding winter habitat use, or use of high elevation habitats within the Sweetwater Mountains or the Pine Grove Hills. 2) Mount Grant Population Management Unit Use of this PMU is relatively dispersed. Suitable low elevation habitats are located from Nine-mile Flat through China Camp and areas along the East Fork of the Walker River where it enters Nevada. Upper elevation habitat exists in the Wassuk Range near Mount Grant and in the Bodie Hills near Mount Hicks, Aurora Peak and Beauty Peak in Nevada. See Map below. Contractor Furnished Property and Services The contractor shall furnish labor and certain equipment and supplies to perform all work as set forth in the specifications. Provide NDOW with nesting and brood-rearing (March August) telemetry data by November 30 th each year following the field season. Data should be reported in an excel spreadsheet with the locations (Universal Transverse Mercator [UTM] preferred using North American Datum (NAD) 83 and latitude and longitude), date, sex, season (breeding, brood-rearing, fall, and winter). Provide NDOW with fall and winter (Aug March) telemetry data by May 1 st each year following flights. Data should be reported in an excel spreadsheet with the locations (UTM preferred using NAD 83 datum and latitude and longitude), date, sex, season (breeding, brood-rearing, fall, and winter). Provide NDOW with monthly progress reports for April, May, June and July summarizing the following: o Movement data (i.e. PMU connectivity, migration routes, landscape level movement drivers, movement distances from leks to nests, if Ruby Pipeline infrastructure is having a measurable effect on sage grouse habitat use, and presenting other noteworthy information) o Use areas (i.e. identification of new leks, confirmation of existing leks, nesting, brood-rearing, winter, and presenting other noteworthy information) o Habitat characteristics (i.e. nesting and brood-rearing site selection characteristics, determine what riparian/meadow characteristics sage-grouse are selecting for and against, and presenting other noteworthy information) o Population demographics (i.e. annual, seasonal, and daily survival estimates; nest and brood rearing success; average brood size, population growth estimates; presenting other noteworthy information.) o Other relevant information. Provide NDOW with an annual comprehensive report by December 31 st of each year summarizing: o o Movement data (i.e. PMU connectivity, migration routes, landscape level movement drivers, movement distances from leks to nests, and presenting other noteworthy information) Use areas (i.e. identification of new leks, confirmation of existing leks, nesting, brood-rearing, winter, and presenting other noteworthy information) o Habitat characteristics (i.e. nesting and brood-rearing site selection characteristics, determine what riparian/meadow characteristics sage-grouse are selecting for and against, and presenting other noteworthy information)

4 o Population demographics (i.e. annual, seasonal, and daily survival estimates; nest and brood rearing success; population growth estimates; presenting other noteworthy information.) o Other relevant information. Will submit data upon request. Random data request may occur on a limited basis. Data request may include but is not limited to the information discussed under subgrantee obligations and additional information. Any activities performed under this subgrant shall acknowledge the funding was provided through the Nevada Department of Wildlife s Upland Game Stamp program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service s Wildlife Restoration federal aid funding. NDOW Furnished Property and Services NDOW will provide USGS with technical assistance and guidance throughout the project process; NDOW may provide personnel assistance with capture efforts in either of the two study site locations.

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