Developing Waterfowl Habitat and Population Modeling tools for Habitat Management on Lower Klamath and Tule Lake NWR's and other waterfowl refuges within the Pacific flyway.

F11PX05558 This is a notice of intent to go Sol Source in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 for the following items: Modify TRUEMET model for USFWS. Vendor: Ducks Unlimited, Inc.Western Regional Office3074 Gold Canal Dr.Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 Currently, there are no other existing models that can estimate waterfowl carrying capacity by evaluating waterfowl energy needs across multiple species with foods produced from different waterfowl habitats. There have been limited efforts in the past to estimate habitat requirements of wintering and migratory waterfowl, however, these models were restricted to narrow geographic areas and only addressed the needs of single species. Ducks Unlimited's (DU) TRUEMET model can be applied in any geographic region, and can address the needs of all waterfowl species occurring at a site. Using the TRUEMET model precludes the need to develop a new model specific to Lower Klamath and Tule Lake NWRs or other wildlife areas, and thus greatly reduces the cost of this effort. DU has invested 8 months of staff time in developing the model at a cost of approximately $100,000. This is a cost that the Service does not incur as part of this project.Waterfowl that rely on Lower Klamath and Tule Lake NWRs and other California wildlife areas also use habitats within the boundaries of the Pacific Coast, Central Valley Habitat, and Intermountain West Joint Ventures. Establishing habitat objectives for wintering and migratory waterfowl for the Pacific Flyway as a whole will require that regional planning efforts be integrated. The model to be used in the Tule Lake/Lower Klamath NWR project is also being used to establish waterfowl habitat objectives in the Pacific Coast, Central Valley, and Intermountain West Habitat Joint Ventures. By combining these efforts using a common tool, it will be possible to establish habitat objectives for waterfowl throughout a significant portion of the Pacific Flyway. In addition to developing the model, Dr. Mark Petrie has been involved in research addressing habitat needs of wintering and migratory waterfowl in all four flyways through his research responsibilities with DU. Dr. Petrie is responsible for updating the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture Implementation Plan, and serves as the Pacific Coast Joint Venture representative on the North American Waterfowl Management Plan Science support Team. His principle role in both Joint Ventures is to establish biologically sound habitat objectives for wintering and migratory waterfowl. Dr. Petrie is also responsible for strategic planning in DU's Western Regional Office, which generally coincides with the Service's Region 1 and Region 8 boundaries.