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**Draft Meeting Summary**

**DMG Mohave Ground Squirrel Partnership Ad Hoc Work Group**

**February 28, 2006**

**NPS Office, Barstow, California**

**Purpose:**

1.  Refine elements of Conservation strategy

2.  Agree on what method to use for obtaining population/statistical
    information

3.  Set date for next working group meeting.

    **Participants:**

Becky Jones (CDFG)-chair Manny Joia (MCLB)

Cynthia Wilkerson (DoW) Clarence Everly (DOD)

Annette Tenneboe (CDFG) Robert McMorran (FWS)

Lorelei Oviatt (Kern County) Shannon Collis (EAFB)

Denyse Racine (CDFG) Brian Shomo (NTC)

Tonya Moore (CDFGS) Patrick Kelly (ESRP)

**Meeting Summary/Conclusions:**

1)  Introductions were made and agenda approved

2)  Lorelie gave a presentation on the East Kern Initiative for a
    landfill that is proposed to be placed adjacent to the DTNA.

3)  Patrick gave an overview of the ESRP proposal for the quest that had
    gone out for a population biologist/statistician to determine most
    effective/efficient method for surveying/monitoring for MGS. The
    goal of the ESRP proposal was to develop an economically feasible,
    statistically robust, and scientifically defensible survey and
    monitoring protocol by: 1) Holding a two-day workshop in the
    Ridgecrest area this spring or summer; 2) Workshop would be by
    invitation but participation would be representative of the
    necessary expertise area (MGS biologists, Mojave Desert plant
    communities, experimental design, conservation and population
    biologist, GIS, etc.); 3) Some of the invitees will not be familiar
    with MGS ecology; they will have very specialized skills in
    population biology, experimental design, and statistics; they will
    also provide an unvarnished "outside' perspective on the issues
    involved; 4) Ideally, the workshop would include a short site
    visit; 5) Invited workshop participants would be paid an honorarium
    plus expenses for their participation; 6) Some participants would
    have much more extended involvement - more time would need to be
    budgeted for their involvement; 7) Immediate tasks included
    literature review, workshop coordination and completion, synthesis
    of inputs, draft the survey and monitoring protocols with assistance
    of workshop participants, finalize protocols; 8) ESRP personnel
    would take a lead on coordination and development of the protocols,
    but with specialized assistance from other experts, the workshop
    participants, and the DMG; and 9) Draft Schedule: coordinate and
    complete workshop by June 30, 2006, complete draft protocols no
    later then Sept. 30, 2006, and the final protocols shortly
    thereafter.

4)  Becky presented the USGS proposal and one recommendation that she
    received. They areas follows-

> **USGS**
>
> An important first step towards an experimental design would be to
> utilize existing field data to develop a more precise map of the
> potential MGS distribution. We can take advantage of
> biologically-robust spatial modeling techniques to produce a
> range-wide distribution map that would help guide subsequent field
> efforts and monitoring design.
>
> Field work to study MGS throughout its range is going to be highly
> labor intensive and thus expensive, so utilizing existing data to the
> greatest extent possible and following up with carefully planned field
> surveys would greatly improve the efficiency of any field efforts and
> more quickly lead to solid range-wide conclusions about MGS. Otherwise
> there is the risk of accumulating more field data at great cost that
> do not provide any greater resolution than what might be gained from
> existing data.\
> \
> After the 2005 workshop, I spent some spare time modeling the MGS
> range from locality records to assess the feasibility and utility of
> such an effort, as I have done a similar process for desert-dwelling
> carnivore species. My initial modeling attempt for MGS showed great
> promise in identifying more specific areas of occurrence.
>
> Once a predictive distribution map is developed and validated, we
> could assess the suite of environmental characteristics with which
> squirrels are most closely associated and even how these might vary
> from year to year. However, I did my quick initial attempt with only a
> subset of the pertinent MGS data, and without the statistical analysis
> and design expertise of Julie Yee or the detailed ecological knowledge
> of the region and its rodents that Phil Medica has. As a team working
> on this project and utilizing other resources within our USGS Center,
> we would be able to provide a report on the squirrels and a map of
> their distribution that would answer some of the current questions and
> would provide crucial guidance for any field efforts.\
> \
> The work that we are suggesting would lead to the development of a
> reliable range-wide distribution map of the localities that MGS are
> most likely to inhabit. If this sounds like a logical first step that
> you would like to consider having us pursue, we could probably start
> this summer and finish by year's end (Dec. 2006).
>
> Then we could begin designing field surveys that could be ready to
> initiate during the squirrels' active season in 2007.
>
> A quickly derived estimate would be a total of \$30,000 - \$40,000. If
> the funding comes from a DOI agency, the amount could be less because
> USGS overhead rates are higher for funding that comes from outside
> DOI.
>
> **Other recommendation**
>
> The advice is inexpensive, takes very little time, and is enormously
> useful in designing experiments and surveys, analyzing data, and
> reporting/interpreting results.  The USGS has Dr. Julie Yee, who
> oversees all our work.  In addition, I contract with Dr. Wayne Alley,
> recently retired Professor from Cal State LA.  He does some of the
> more complex work for me, thereby assuring that I\'m not stepping out
> on a cliff edge.\
> \
> Two new books are of interest for the MGS. The first is \"Sampling
> Rare or Elusive Species (Concepts, Designs, and Techniques for
> Estimating Population parameters), edited by William L. Thompson,
> published by Island Press, date:  2004.  This is a great and useful
> book.  Dr. William L. Thompson pulls together many different
> techniques, ideas, and examples and has a chapter on the topic of the
> second book (below) on estimating occupancy.  This book is an outcome
> of a special session at a Wildlife Society Meeting.  (I think this
> book is about \$25)\
> \
> The second book (single thought-directed) is titled \"Occupancy
> Estimation and Modeling:  Inferring Patterns and Dynamics of  Species
> Occurrence\" by D. I. MacKenzie, James D. Nichols, J. Andrew Royle, K.
> H. Pollack, L. L. Bailey, and J. E. Hines.  Hot off the press,
> available from Amazon for \$64.95.  Both are available for \$99 from
> Amazon.\
> \
> I do not think that hiring a statistician to work on MGS is the way to
> go; consulting and a fee, yes.  If all are lucky, Dr. Thompson might
> contribute his time free.  He is an ecologist/biometrician with the
> National Park Service in Anchorage, Alaska, were he oversees the
> design of long-term monitoring programs for plants and animals in five
> national parks in southwestern Alaska.  He also provides technical
> training and statistical assistance to biologists and resource
> managers and is senior author of [Monitoring Vertebrate
> Populations.]{.underline}
>
> Need to prepare a written outline of what is needed first (summary of
> data collected; what has been found, how much survey time per MGS per
> study), then a list of questions to be addressed, then do the approach
> to him.   It shouldn\'t be hard to do.  You will get the best answer
> if you are well prepared ahead of time with good questions and a good
> outline of what is already available.  

5)  Discussion took place on the different proposals. Though all have
    merit and some advantages. In general the group liked the ESRP
    proposal. It is similar to what was done with the desert tortoise.
    The group felt this was an unbiased approach to coming up with a
    solution. Additional information was requested regarding cost
    estimates, selection of group and more details on products.

6)  We then reviewed the Objects and tasks. Some changes were made to
    the wording and tasks were added. Changes are underlined.

Objective 1) Determine the extent of the MGS range

Task 1) Prioritize areas to be surveyed or monitored to determine
presence/absences inside and outside currently drawn boundaries.

Task 2) Update current MGS map

Task 3) [Determine the most efficient and statistically valid
method]{.underline} of locating MGS

Task 4) Conduct presence/absence surveys

Objective 2) Determine ecological requirements

Task 1) Determine [environmental parameters and limiting
factors]{.underline}

Task 2) [Determine habitat elements of population sources, sinks and
corridors.]{.underline}

Objective 3) Develop and implement effective conservation measures to
sustain long term viability of the species

Task 1) Limit the loss of habitat and effects on MGS populations through
the application of effective conservation measures and when applicable
through mitigation and compensation

> Subtask 1) Avoid and minimize impacts to MGS and its habitat

Subtask 2) Restore and enhancement of habitat

Task 2) Secure and/or manage sufficient core habitat and corridors to
maintain self sustaining populations

Task 3) Develop and implement interim conservation measures

Task 4) Maintain genetic variation through out the range

Objective 4) Develop and Implement an Adaptive management plan

Task1) Long term monitoring for status trends

Task 2) Population estimates and baseline population data

Task 3) Continue to support research that promotes conservation of the
species

SubTask 1) Locate core populations

> SubTask 2) Determine important corridors between core areas.
>
> SubTask 3) Determine barriers to movement and id measure to minimize
> barriers
>
> SubTask 4) Document genetic variation through out the range

Task 4) Create and maintain central data base

Task 5) Standardize data collection techniques

Task 6) [Investigate potential for]{.underline} translocation/
reintroduction of MGS

Task 7) Assess the need for and develop as necessary education materials
that will assist in the conservation of the species.

[Task 8) Effectiveness monitoring of conservation measures and
appropriate changes in implementation]{.underline}

Objective 5) Foster communication and coordination among participants
and other interested parties to identify opportunities for collaborative
action to further [species recovery and]{.underline} the acquisition,
protection, restoration and management of MGS habitat.

[Task 1) Continue commitment to DMG MGS working group.]{.underline}

[Task 2) Identify funding opportunities]{.underline}

[Task 3) Identify other collaborators]{.underline}

7)  We reviewed different formats for conservation strategies. The
    following is the format we agreed would be best.

**Executive Summary**

**Preface**

**Overview**

Species Description

Threats

Listing History

**Conservation Strategy**

Overall goal

Conservation Objectives

Overview and Purpose

Planning Actions

Summary of current Management Actions

Implementation Schedule

Habitat Management

Mitigation

Compensation

Monitoring Program

Restorative Measures.

**Literature Cited**

**Appendices**

8)  **Agreed upon next steps** --

-   Those who did not attend the meeting (or even those who did) will
    review changes to Objectives and task to see if they have any
    problems with the changes. They should also review the proposed
    format for the Conservation Strategy.

-   Comments should be sent to Becky by April 3.

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-   Becky will send out Island Fox Recovery Strategy, amended Objectives
    and Task, and proposed Conservation Strategy.

-   Becky will present Goals and Objectives and Conservation Strategy
    format to the MGSTAG.

-   Denyse will check on using endowment funds to help fund the ESRP
    proposal. Becky send out the proposed scope of work to several
    biologist, familiar with MGS, for review and comment.

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-   Becky and Cynthia will be meeting with ESRP to discuss some of the
    additional information requested above.

9)  **Next meeting** -- April 26^th^ 10:30am at NPS office in Barstow.