SPRING STUDIES OF DALL SHEEP ALONG THE NORTHWEST ALASKAN PIPELINE ROUTE. Final Report. Prepared for and Funded by. Northwest Alaskan Pipeline Company

Transcription

1 ALASKA RESOURCES USRARY Bureau of Land Manaoement SPRING STUDIES OF DALL SHEEP ALONG THE NORTHWEST ALASKAN PIPELINE ROUTE Final Report Prepared for and Funded by Northwest Alaskan Pipeline Company under Contract No K71 Prepared by LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 867 Fairbanks, Alaska 9971 Steve G. Fancy. (.,., Ql 737.US33 F ~L _ "". 4~ J<71 - )el-l

2 SPRING STUDIES OF DALL SHEEP ALONG THE NORTHWEST ALASKAN PIPELINE ROUTE ALASKA RESOURCES LIBRARY Bureau of Land Management GL l{~33 F21P lqyd Final Report Prepared for and Funded by Northwest Alaskan. Pipeline Company ' under Contract No K71 Prepared by LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 867 Fairbanks, Alaska 9971./ fl:5 ;A II Steve G. Fancy , ~ L. L: ~ ~ - - 4e8-9-K7I- Jcl- 1

3 :..~-... ~... ~- -" " ~-...,.. _.,.._,_, _ , ----~ - ~ ~ Dall sheep (Ovis dazzi) ranges occur within two miles of the Northwest Alaskan Pipeline Company corridor in the Brooks Range and along the Alaska Highway near Cathedral Rapids. Information available on Dall sheep ranges along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline route was summarized in Hemming and Morehouse (1976). This reference includes data from ADF&G (1974), sightings by JFWAT (Joint State/Federal Fish and Wildlife Advisory Team) personnel, and information from studies by Andersen (1971), Linderman (1972), Price (1972), and Summerfield (1974). No distinction is made between summer and winter ranges, since winter ranges were well documented only for the Atigun Canyon area (Andersen 1971, Price 1972, Summerfield 1974). LGL Alaska Research Associates, Inc., initiated a Dall sheep study during spring 198 to provide current information on Dall sheep ranges and movement zones along the proposed NWA pipeline route. Field work was limited to the Brooks Range since sheep ranges in the Cathedral Rapids area have been well studied by ADF&G (Heimer 1975, 1977). This study was initially designed as a long-term monitoring study, but also provided data on the locations of winter ranges, lambing area, mineral licks and movement zones along the NWA corridor. Three ground trips to the Brooks Range were made by camper along the Haul Road; two in April to determine sheep use of winter ranges along the corridor, and one in May to identify lambing areas. During the first trip, 61 sighting locations overlooking potential wintering and lambing areas visible from the Haul Road were selected. These sighting locations were between Cathedral Mountain near Haul Road milepost 11 (M.P. 11), and Sl ope Mountain (M.P. 248). During all three trips, al l sheep vis i ble f rom each site were counted and cl ass ified as either rams, lambs, or 'ewes and yearlings. Side trips off of the Haul Road were also made on foot or skiis to locate lambing and wintering areas.

4 :~~v.:.v~ -~_,.;> :...-:.,.N.A~~...: :-:,.-. ;.-r..,"'. :..-...i..:.~ -:~:.:~!:t-'...::~...:."~""""~.:..::u:t...; ;.l;6."'"~~~~:t..:{;,:~-;;;_~,. <:_.';.:i.::: ; ;: :-;:.;.,_..:~ ~ :-=';:~~Z"1 i:" ::;::,:,? ~::S.~ -W.:. ~~~~~~~~u.::~na:u."id:!'.~-~ :'-"'.-. = ~... ~;.: ~,-:!.::: :.:. -~~.. ~-~::s ;.:; :.,.._._...;..,. - ~: , : ~ - - -'. 2 Sites where Dall sheep crossed the Haul Road were located by driving slowly along the Haul Road watching for trails crossing the road. Where_ i sheep crossings occurred a number of variables which might influence sheep in their selection of crossing sites were measured (Appendix A). Results and Discussion During this study, seven previously unidentified lambing areas and one new mineral lick were identified. This indicates how poorly documented Dall sheep ranges in the Brooks Range are. In addition, a number of areas along the NWA corridor were identified as wintering areas. Table 1 lists the wintering areas adjacent to the Haul Road identified in this study by alignment sheet with the number and composition of sheep seen on these areas. These wintering areas have been included on the Environmental Master Guide (EMG) maps prepared for NWA. Wintering areas were characteristically snow-free areas along ridges or on steep south-facing slopes. Many of these areas were used for lambing during May. The locations of seven new lambing areas and one major mineral lick were drawn on topographic maps forwarded to Fluor Northwest for inclusion on the EMG. Only four sites where Dall sheep had crossed the NWA corridor were located. All four of these sites were located near Atigun Pass. The data sheets for these four sites are presented as Appendix A. No data analysis was conducted for these crossing sites due to the small number of crossing locations identified.

5 - TABLE 1 Number and composition of sheep seen on wintering areas adjacent to NWA corridor. A.S. DIRECTION FROH ROAD 11 EWES 11 AND DATE TOTAL RAMS YEARLINGS LAMBS UNKNOWN REMARKS 22 West 26 East ' April 9 April May April 9 April April May May May w 28 West April 9 April Apri l 3 No Count May 1 No Count May May Snowing hard, poor visibility Snowing hard, poor visibility

6 TABLE 1 continued... DIRECTION 11 EWES 11 and A.S. from ROAD DATE TOTAL RAMS YEARLINGS LAMBS UNKNOWN REMARKS 29 East April April April 3 No Count Snowing hard, poor visibility May 1 No Count Snowing hard, poor visibility May May 24 3 West April 9 April April 3 No Count Snowing hard, poor visibility May 1 No Count Snowing hard, poor visibility May May East April 9 April April 3 No Count Snowing hard, poor vis i b i1 i ty May 1 No Count Snowing hard, poor visibility May May '="

7 TABLE 1 continued... DIRECTION 11 EWES 11 and A.S. FRm1 ROAD DATE TOTAL RAMS YEARLINGS LAMBS UNKNQ~JN REMARKS 31 al'l April di1rections April 1 April 3 No Count Snowing hard, poor vis i b.il ity May 1 May 22 May West April Apr il tn April 29 May May May East April 9 Apri 1 1 April 29 May May 22 May West April 9 April 1 April May 1 May 21 May 24

8 A.S. DIRECTION FROf-1 ROAD DATE TABLE 1 continued EWES 11 and TOTAL RAMS YEARLINGS LAMBS UNKNOWN REMARKS 35 West East 36 West Ea.st April 9 April 1 April 26 May 1 May 21 May 24 April 8 April 1 April 29 May 1 May 21 May 24 Apri 1 8 Ap ril 11 April 29 May 1 May 21 May 25 April 8 Apri 1 11 April 29 May 1 May 21 May \

9 TABLE 1 continued... DIRECTION 11 EWES 11 and A.S. FROM ROAD DATE TOTAL RAMS YEARLINGS LAMBS UNKNOWN REMARKS 37 West April 8 April 11 April May May 21 May 25 Ea1st April 8 April April 24 May May J May West April April 11 April 29 May 1 May May East April 8 Apri April May 1 May May 25

10 TABLE 1 continued E\4ES 11 and ~ A.S. DIRECTION DATE TOTAL RAMS YEARLINGS LAMBS UNKNOWN REMARKS 4 West April April April May May May East April '8 Apri 1 11 April 29 May May May 25

11 .;;:~~:;.IM: -.._.. > w..:...-.:.r.....:.,;.... ':.-;..._,..-...,.:~~.:...,.....,fl(.(.. ~:.,; :;,:. ~;.~.t..l'~~ ;...:r.~.:r'.i.:.: a.!!..:-i~,.:;..:: ~ ;..:..:::;,_~ ; : : : ::. -:... ~. ~ :-::;;ri i:;".c" ;;;..:~.l:i.~~ ~.:;~.:..:...,.~ o;:;..., )_,.~,uji~ ~-... :. -..::... ~ ~ :-: :~~: :.: ;.,.. ~ :..ow.... ~;...,J! ~ -.:. ; _...;,.. =...:-..:... : -"-' ' LITERATURE C!TED Alatka Department of Fish and Game Alaska's wildlife and habitat. Vol. I. Anchorage, Alaska. 144 p. Andersen, R Effect of human disturbance on Dall sheep. Alaska Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Quarterly Rep. 23(3): Heimer, W.E Study area selection in the Tok management area. Final Rep., Fed. Aid Wildl. Restor., Proj. W-17-7, Job 6.8R. ADF&G Juneau. Heimer, W.E Interior sheep studies. Vol. III. Annual Proj. Prog. Rep., Fed. Aid Wildl. Restor., ADF&G Juneau. Hemming, J.E. and K.A. Morehouse (eds.) Alaska Oil Pipeline, Valdez to Prudhoe Bay p. Wildlife Atlas: Trans JFWAT, Spec. Rep. No. Linderman, S A report on the sheep study at the Dietrich River headwaters. Appendix III. In : L. Nichols and W. Heimer (eds.), Sheep Report, Vol. XIII. ADF&G Juneau. Price, R Effect of human disturbance on Dall sheep. Final report. Alaska Coop. Wildl. Res. Unit Quarterly Rep. 23(3): Summerfield, B.L Population dynamics and seasonal movement patterns of Dall sheep in the Atigun Canyon area, Brooks Range, Alaska. M.S. thesis, University of Alaska, Fairbanks. 19 p.

12 1 APPENDIX A Data collected at locations where Dall sheep crossed the Haul Road adjacent to the NWA corridor.

13 11 SHEEP CROSSING SITES DATE May 1, 198 TIME 115 OBSERVER Steve Fancy LOCATION 7559N ; 3965E zone 6 UTM. 5 m north of Alyeska pjpeline milepost 167 near summit of Atigun Pass ~ DESCRIPTION OF TRACKS (#, age, etc.) 1 set running perpendicular to road, going downhill north to south. ELEVATION (m) :.1.::::..61:...:::5: ASPECT (de g) ;..1.;;,.2; _ VALLEY \-IIDTH (m) _5 _ VEGETATIO N HEIGHT ~ -.5m C Om m D Om 2.1-).m O>J.Om OIL PIPELINE: RIVER WIDTH (m) X] buried C7 elevated BOP-TOP DISTANCE (m) Does pipeline berm inhibit direct sighting of other side? No N/A ---'----- RIVER FLOW (counts/min) N...;./_A SN\-1 DEPTH (em) NOISE LEVEL (db) SLOPE (degrees) 12 4 _4_5 SLOPE ON FAR SIDE (deg) 42, DISTANCES: (m) NEAREST TRIBUTARY JiLA. NE4.BEST HAN-MADE STRUCTURE 2..:_!~Ati gun Camp) NEAREST MINERAL LICK Unknown RIVER TO EDGE OF VALLEY N/A ---- ROAD TO EDGE OF VALLEY ~ Road cuts across slope OILLINE TO EDGE OF VALLEY.ol.;SOI.L-Wm~--

14 12 SHEEP CROSSING SITES DATE May 1, 198 TIME 11 OBSERVER Steve Fancy LOCATION N; 3965 E zone 6 UTM/ Summit of Ati gun Pass DESCRIPTION OF TRACKS (#, age, etc.) 3 sets coming down hill on west side of _lul Snow blower covered tracks on east side ELEVATION (m) ASPECT (deg) _1...,._,._5_ 11 VALLEY WIDTH (m) -.!..:7::... _ VEGETATION HEIGHT OIL PIPELINE: RIVER WIDTH (m) ~ -.5m 2.1-J.Om L Om C7>J.Om L:J m!iil buried elevated BOP-TOP DISTANCE (m) L: r Does pipeline berm inhibit direct sighting of other side? ~ NLA RIVER FLOW (counts/min) SNOW DEPTH (em) NOISE LEVEL (db) 12 SLOPE (degrees) 41 N/A SLOPE ON FAR SIDE (deg) 28 DI STANCES: (m) NEAREST TRIBUTARY N/A NE4-REST MAN-MADE STRUCTURE 5. km (Atigun Camp) NEAREST MINERAL LICK Unknown RIVER TO EDGE OF VALLEY f:!il,!. ROAD TO EDGE OF VALLEY _Q_ Road cuts across slope ILLINE TO EDGE OF VALLEY _2c.:.S:lllm.l-

15 13 SHEEP CROSSING SITES DATE May 1, 198 TIME 12 OBSERVER Steve Fancy ---- LOCATION N/ 398 F zane 6 UTM. North side ot..at.i.idj_n Eas_s near bottom. of steep hi 11' DESCRIPTION OF TRACKS (#, age, etc.) 1 set perpendicular to Haul Road going Eas~t~t~o~We~s~t~ ~ ELEVATION ( m) -=1=21=9~--- ASPECT (deg)...;;.3=15:_"' VALLEY HIDTH (m) VEGETATION HEIGHT LXf -.5m L:(.6-l.Om ~ m L: m OIL PIPELINE: 2.1-J,Om O>J.Om /JJl buried C7 elevated BOP-TOP DISTANCE (m) Does pipeline berm inhibit direct sighting of other side? ~N~n-- RIVER WIDTH (m) NtA RIVER FLOW (counts/min) _]LA SN\-1 DEPTH (em) NOISE LEVEL (db ) 1..=_3,l.I..O -..:l4~8 SLOPE (degrees) -~5""'-8- SLOPE ON FAR SIDE (deg) 52 DISTANCES: (m) NEAREST TRIBUTARY _5 NEAREST MAN-MADE STRUCTURE -~k.m (Atigun Camp) NEAREST MINERAL LICK Unknown RIVER TO EDGE OF VALLEY ROAD TO EDGE OF VALLEY N/A -'--- -~~O:.:.:.m OILLINE TO EDGE OF VALLEY -'~SlWm

16 14 SHEEP CROSSING SITES DATE May 22, 198 TIME 111 OBSERVER S. Fancy & J. Wright : LOCATION No:th side of Atigun Pass near turnout at bottom. DESCRIPTION OF TRACKS ( #, age, etc. ) 1 set N to S a 1 onq creek bottom running ~rpendjcular to haul road ELEVATION (m) ill.a ASPECT (deg) ---=1=65~-- VALLEY HIDTH (m) _:::...;:;...;:,_ 3 VEGETATIO N HEIGHT OIL PIPELINE: _ I[JJ -. 5m D 2.1-J.Om ~.6-l.Om L: m D>J.Om!If buried elevated BOP-TOP DISTANCE (m) D Orr Does pipeline berm inhibit direct sighting of other side? ~ RIVER \HDTH ( m) U-1-A RIVER FLOW (counts/min) SNOW DEPTH (em) NOISE LEVEL (db) SLOPE (degrees) 3 4 N/A SLOPE ON FAR SIDE (deg) DISTANCES: (m) NEAREST TRIBUTARY Q _ NEA_REST MAN-MADE STRUCTURE _A...lUm (Atiguri Camp) NEAREST MINERAL LICK Unknown RIVER TO EDGE OF VALLEY N/A ROAD TO EDGE OF VALLEY OILLINE TO EDGE OF VALLEY ;;;_2.;...;..m~--