Prince William Sound Shoreline Rare Plant Surveys

1. Prince William Sound Shoreline Rare Plant Surveys 2009-2010 USDA Forest Service

2. Prince William Sound Framework Evaluate and improve current management framework in the Sound in response to increased human use and EVOS Objectives: Delineate human use “hot spots” Map sensitive cultural and biological resources Further justification Bioenvironmental analysis for rare plant habitat concluded PWS has highest potential on Chugach N. Forest. Unique geologies and beaches No systematic plant surveys to date (2009).

3. Prince William Sound Shorelines Sitka Spruce/Western/Mountain Hemlock Dominated Forests with a few pockets of Alaska Yellow Cedar Intriguing Upper Beach Meadows Luxurious Fens

4. Target rare/sensitive plant species: Papaveralboroseum Cochleariasessifolia Romanzoffiaunalaschcensis Botrychiumspathulatum B. Tunux B. yaaxudakeit Tanacetumbipinnatumssp. huronese Cypripedium guttatum C. Parviflorumvar. pubescens Piperiaunalascensis

5. Methods 120 systematic plots selected using ArcGIS Create Random Points tool and the shoreline_linecoverage as the constraining feature class.

6. Methods cont. 30 subjective plots were selected by using known locations of rare plants, unique geologies, or unique beach habitats

7. Methods, cont. • Sites were surveyed following the USFS Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plant Survey Protocol> • 1 hour per site • random or intuitive meander within 1 km of shoreline • document every species encountered. • Collections were also made for many species and are housed at the UAF Herbarium

8. Surveys conducted by: Marilyn Barker, UAA Rob Lipkin, Natural Heritage Program Helen Cortes-Burns, Natural Heritage Program Jonnie Lazarus, Girdwood Parks and Rec. Al Batton, UAF Mary Stensvold, USFS Betty Charnon, USFS Erin Cooper, USFS Kate Mohatt, USFS Pete Johnson, USFS Rob DeVelice, USFS

9. Results 90 systematically selected and 10 subjectively selected sites surveyed in 2009 10 subjectively selected sites surveyed in 2010

10. Results cont. • 384 total plant taxa recorded (181 taxa known previously) • Two Region 10 designated sensitive plant species at 5 locations • Range extensions for 2 species • 5 AKNHP Tracked Species • 181 specimens contributed to UAF Herbarium (more coming from AKNHP)

11. AKNHP Tracked/ Ranked Species: Platantherachorisana G3, S3 Occurrence: 16 Carexlenticularisvar. dolia Occurrence: 2 MalaxispaludosaG4, S3 Occurrence: 2

12. Range Extensions Ranunculus pacificus G3, S3 Occurrences: 3 Tiarellatrifoliatavar. unifloliata

13. USFS Alaska Region Sensitive Species: Romanzoffiaunalaschcensis One new population (?) on Hitchinbrook Island

14. 4 new populations: Hawkins Island Port Fidalgo

15. Subjectively selected plots revealed no additional taxa or indicated higher than previous average number of taxa per site suggesting randomly selected points may be adequate sample of PWS shorelines

16. Sampling Adequacy Three estimates of species richness indicate at least 83% of PWS shoreline plants were documented

17. Management Implications Plots in western PWS on average had higher number of taxa per site but had no Alaska Region sensitive species occurrences Sites where Alaska Region sensitive plant populations were located receive little human use relative to others.

18. Future Surveys