Lower Brule Tribe Proposes Unique Project

A delegation of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe received unanimous support for consideration of a unique plan for habitat restoration at Lake Sharpe.

A tribal delegation including Michael B. Jandreau, tribal chairman, Scott Jones, Joel Bich and Brian Molyneaux presented their plan and asked for support from the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee, during their group's quarterly meeting being held at Omaha, from October 22-25th.

The tribe was asking for support from the group and financial assistance from the U.S. government to correct some of the impacts created when their homelands were destroyed by dam construction and inundation of the river by a reservoir, Jandreau said. The project "can work and become a real extension in an effort to try and heal those things created by mankind," and an "opportunity for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe to complete a project that will work for the benefit of everyone," interested in the Missouri river.

The "Little Bend" project would have several features:

1) an elongated island 200 feet wide, and 6200 feet to provide nesting habitat for the interior Least Tern and Piping Plover;

2) removal of vegetation from a former island — which is now a peninsula — and create a channel to separate it from the adjacent upland, resulting in a 12-acre island;

3) create a one-acre island;

4) create 60 acres of backwater habitat; and,

5) establish some upland habitat for flora and fauna, including the planting of some cottonwood trees.

The off-shore island habitat would not be inundated by any high-flow events, as the Lake Sharpe reservoir has a "stable water pool elevation," said Bich, during his portion of the presentation. The island would also have long-term permanence and require a lesser extent of maintenance, in comparison to mid-channel emergent sandbar habitat created below Gavins Point Dam, for example.

Additional items explained to the committee members and others present at the meeting on Wednesday afternoon, included:

• how the habitat could contribute to the conservation of both bird species, if they were to use the new islands;
  
• the projects could expand restoration efforts associated with the Missouri River to the northern, reservoir sections;
  
• many other benefits could result, including stopping shoreline erosion, which is an ongoing problem along the reservoir shore, protect a cultural resources, create ancillary habitats for various flora and fauna; and
  
• how the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe has "the desire, capability and commitment to successfully complete projects."
  
• risks and uncertainties were also presented, including whether or not the two bird species would utilize the habitat, will the project further species' recovery, if there might be predation dangers at a permanent site and long-term management issues.
  

Scott Jones indicated there have been many social, cultural, economic and psychological impacts on tribal members due to dam construction and loss of the natural river. The Little Island project has an interdisciplinary approach with many obvious benefits, he indicated.

Committee members expressed several comments in response, and they were all supportive. One comment indicated that the tribal presentation was unique to the efforts associated with committee activities.

The project design was completed in 2008, with development assistance provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and is ready to be constructed, once funding of approximately $4.5 to 5 million dollars is available. Representatives of the Corps, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, also visited the project area, earlier in October.

The LBST asked that the MRRIC that this off-channel habitat project be considered as a high priority for Missouri River restoration projects and that the project be given priority consideration in a current reservoir study. No decision was made at the time on establishing the project as a high priority for the Missouri River Recovery Program.

The MRRIC members, through a unanimous consensus vote, agreed to have the Science and Adaptive Management work group, specifically the tern and plover focus group, consider the project further and then report back all members.

Additional potential projects have also been developed for future consideration on tribal lands at the lake, the reservoir behind Big Bend Dam, which was completed in 1966.

The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe has already carried out a project to protect their land and culture. An island was constructed that stopped erosion threatening a 1000-year-old earth mound site — designated as a national cultural site — and which was planted to cottonwood trees.

This project has provided multiple benefits to tribal members, said Jones, including scientific and educational values.

"Animals were waiting for this habitat to appear," said Brian Molyneaux, expressing how turtles were using the project site, the spring after its completion. "We need to enable habitat possibilities, and allow animals to exhibit behavior people cannot predict."

The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe has an active conservation program, and elsewhere on their lands in central South Dakota, the tribe has reestablished the Black-footed Ferret, with young being raised at prairie-dog colonies of only about twenty acres in extent.

Early Autumn Survey of Water Conditions at Mitigation Sites

A survey on September 27th indicated the extent of wet lands along the Missouri River between Langdon Bend and northward to near Sioux City in Nebraska.

With ongoing high releases of water from Gavins Point Dam, the plane survey was done to evaluate water conditions at the Missouri River Recovery Program project sites, according to Lynn Heng, a Natural Resource Specialist in the Omaha District of the Army Corps of Engineers.

Overall, "it was wet in the southern extent of the survey area, and extremely wet in the northward region," Heng said of the six-hour aerial survey.

The flight allowed Heng to become familiar with the sites and to get a perspective of their conditions. He is responsible for management of several of the land tracts. Because of the higher-than-normal water levels, he also wanted to get a preliminary assessment of any damage, such as excessive sediment deposition in backwaters and chutes, and to see how much timber debris may have accumulated.

At some of the prominent chutes, many which have been created in recent years in conjunction with the Corps' Missouri River Recovery Program, the high water was actually having a beneficial effect.

The chutes were built with a particular width and bottom slope, and the natural erosive influence of the river waters has altered these features to where they mimic what would have been present when the river was unaltered in the centuries prior to the 1940s.

Heng called this adaptive management, where current engineering design and methods are used with projects.

Variable Conditions

Conditions at the different project sites varied during the survey, with Heng noting several prominent findings:

- Snyder Bend: "really inundated"

- Glovers Point Bend: the majority of the area, which now includes a dredged backwater and chute, was completely inundated. "The bank of the river was not even visible in many locations," Heng noted.

- Tieville-Blackbird-Upper Decatur Bends: The rock-armored outflows were working as planned to allow the high levels of water to flow outward from the project sites, and back into the river. "It was neat to see the system functioning as it was meant to be," Heng said. With the high level of water, there has been no need to operate electric pumps which are typically used to augment autumn water conditions at these sites.

- Bullard Bend: extremely wet with a "good amount" of standing water over much of the area. This is one of the newest Corps' project sites and includes a backwater.

- Sandy Point Bend: this site would normally have an isolated, off-channel lake, but with the greater than average flows, the bit of a lake looked as if it was part of a continual chute adjacent to the primary channel.

- South of the Platte River confluence, at Tobacco Island, the lowland next to the river was wet, but not inundated, with the chute still obvious.

- At Van Horn's Bend, one of the most recent properties acquired by the Corps, what had been cropland was flooded. A big help in creating this situation, Heng said, was a notch placed in a riverside levee which allowed the water to flow onto the land. This 240-acre tract was still really wet in early October.

At this particular site, once the land dries, the plans to establish some native grasses and limited tree plantings, and where cottonwood saplings have sprouted, allow them to continue to thrive. A chute may also be created here, Heng noted.

- Hamburg Bend: the lowland was dry in April, allowing vehicular access to the river, but in July it was inundated with water from the levee to the river, and this latter condition continued into early autumn.

As water levels recede, Heng will assess the conditions at the different sites and determine what maintenance work may be necessary. Typical work has had to be postponed during to the high-water, and other work such as placing rip-rap has also been delayed.

Overall, the aerial reconnaissance trip was very beneficial in providing a snapshot of current water levels and an idea on what the Corps can expect to see once the high flows subside.

Water releases from Gavins Point Dam are expected to continue at about 45,000 cubic feet per second, into December.

New Method Being Used to Create Sandbar Habitat on Missouri River

A new methodology is now being used to create emergent sandbar along the Missouri National Recreation River in northeast Nebraska.

Due to high water flow conditions, geotextile tubes are being placed into the river channel to promote an accumulation of sand down-river, with the intent to create sandbars which the Least Tern and Piping Plover could use for nesting next season.

The project is just getting underway, with worked expected to be completed by mid-April, 2011.

About 75 acres of emergent sandbar habitat is expected to be created at three locations along the MNRR:

River mile 757, just upriver from Ponca State Park

River mile 759, roughly four miles upriver from Ponca State park

River mile 789.6 near Wynot, Nebraska

These sites were selected for two reasons, according to Corps officials: historic use by both species, and "natural sand accumulation" within the area. There are already large, submerged sand deposits in each of the three" locations.

Habitat is usually created using a dredge to move and pile sand which is then formed into a barren sandbar, suitable for the nesting birds. An unusually high release of water from Gavins Point Dam, has required that an alternative method be used.

"Water releases are so high that it is next to impossible to get onto the river to create habitat using the dredging process," said Matt Krajewski, a project manager with the Corps of Engineers. There is currently about 50,000 cubic feet per second of water being released from the dam.

Using the geotube method to promote habitat creation is much less expensive, Krajewski said, as fuel costs are significantly reduced. "Each site will require 4000 to 6000 cubic yards of fill to be dredged from the river bottom, compared to over 200,000 c.y. of fill for a typical emergent sandbar habitat constructed sandbar."

The contract cost of the projects are, according to Corps figures: river mile 757 - $890,000; river mile 759 - $922,500, and river mile 789.6 - $710,000.

"This is, generally, 20% - 40% of a typical dredging project," Krajewski said.

Picture showing an installed geotube. Image courtesy of the Corps of Engineers.

Geotubes are made of a "specially engineered textile" which can be filled with sand, and allow water to permeate the heavy-duty fabric, according to a fact sheet issued by the Corps. Each tubes will be filled with a dredge, and then put in place. The tubes slow the water flow and are expected to "induce" the river to naturally deposit sand. The geotubes - filled to heights ranging from 3 to 8 feet - will be placed in a chevron configuration, perpendicular to the flow of the water. A "scour mattress" will also be used to prevent the river from undercutting the geotubes.

"The effectiveness of using geotubes is uncertain, as they have not been used previously on the Missouri River, with its high flows," Krajewski said. "We have a monitoring plan in place to determine the effectiveness of this operation. It commenced with a pre-construction survey and will continue until the geotubes are removed."

Once the sand has accumulated in the coming months, the geotubes will be removed next spring, prior to the arrival of the terns or plovers. The sandbar areas may then need to be "dressed," to optimize the habitat area, Krajewski added.

The 2003 Biological Opinion released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2003, requires that the Corps of Engineers provide tern and plover habitat along the Missouri River. The current project is the latest effort, developed by the agency partners involved in the planning and implementation process involved with sandbar construction. These agencies involved are the Corps, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and South Dakota Fish and Game.

Imperiled Species to Benefit From Sandbar Habitat Creation on Missouri River

The latest project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create an expanse of sandbar habitat for imperiled terns and plovers will get underway next spring on the Missouri River near the Niobrara River confluence.

The created sandbar will be 37 acres in size, and situated at Missouri River mile 842, across from the "Old Townsite boat ramp," near Niobrara, Nebraska, according to Corps officials.

This site was selected because of its former use by Least Terns and Piping Plovers, and since it has areas of natural sand accumulation, according to Kelly Crane, a biologist and manager of the Emergent Sandbar Habitat Program of the Corps. "There are already large, submerged sandbars at this location. When sandbars persist in an area for several years, vegetation encroaches to the extent where the birds will no longer use them. Birds can no longer easily see approaching predators and no longer feel safe and will abandon the sites. The Corps capitalizes on these existing, vegetated sandbars by performing vegetation removal and habitat enhancement."

"The 842 site and staging area as it looks today. 842.09 is looking from slightly upstream looking downstream from the NE side towards the SD side." Images courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers.

A picture of the road to the staging area parking lot (the Niobrara Townsite Boatramp).

Tern and plovers have not used this sandbar for a couple years, Crane said.

"On September 25, 2009, a construction contract was awarded to Western Contracting Corporation of Sioux City, Iowa to construct a 37 acre sandbar," Crane said. "Dead vegetation will be cut and removed to the extent possible and the sandbar will be overtopped with approximately 1-2 feet of sand, as the contractor will dredge shallowly submerged sand and pump it on top of the sandbar. The sand will be reshaped to designated elevations so it will be at varying elevations suitable for nest sites of the plovers and terns.

"The contractor will begin work as soon as ice conditions leave Lewis and Clark Lake and can work until April 15th. April 15th is approximately the date when the terns and plovers will start making their way back to the area for the 2010 nesting season. The contractor will then suspend work until mid- to late-August 2010 when these birds will leave the area. The contractor must have all the work completed by December 2010."

"The contractor will use the Niobrara Townsite boat ramp area to stage and launch equipment," Crane said. "There will be a number of trucks that will transport the dredge, the dredge pipes, the dozers, scrapers, and other earth moving equipment. Barges will carry the equipment out to the sandbar complex."

The elevation of the sandbar will be high enough to "enable normal operation of the upstream system of dams, especially Fort Randall Dam near Pickstown, S.D.," according to a Corps press release.

A team of government officials decided where this new sandbar habitat would be established.

"The Emergent Sandbar Habitat (ESH) Program works with a multi-agency team from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service (in reaches of the Missouri National Recreational River), state wildlife agencies and the Natural Resources Conservation Service when choosing sites for ESH construction," Crane said. "Members on the team from the Corps are engineers, biologists, project managers, construction representatives, real estate, and regulatory. The ESH multi-agency team usually meets in early spring prior to the birds' arrival in April to take a look at maps of the river reaches and Lewis and Clark Lake and to talk about past years' bird usage of each potential sandbar creation area.

"The team looks for areas in the river where the sand naturally accumulates. Sometimes these areas are partially emerged and sometimes these areas are completely submerged. From aerial photograph imagery we can see these naturally accumulating areas, even if they are shallowly submerged. The ESH program capitalizes on these accumulation areas. There are other selection criteria that have been identified over the years by various agency and public scoping comments used when choosing our sites. For example, we try to stay away from areas of high recreational usage, like popular picnicking sandbars. Once the birds utilize a sandbar, the Corps will restrict its use by the public during the time when plovers and terns are present. Examples of other selection criteria are, avoidance of the thalweg (main channel in the river), and avoiding sandbars that are attached to land to avoid any potential for mammalian predation.

"The team discusses potential localities and develops a prioritized list of sites for consideration. One of the goals of sandbar creation activities is to spread the habitat along the entire river section where these species breed, in order to avoid drawing a bunch of birds into one particular area that could be disastrously impacted by one hail storm, for example."

In 2009, summer thunder-storms had a deleterious impact on nesting activities of the plovers and terns, when hail destroyed nests and also caused bird mortality along a portion of the Missouri National Recreation River.

"There are currently two multi-agency teams that identify sandbar habitat for the ESH Program; one in North Dakota and one for Nebraska and South Dakota," Crane said in an email message. "The four reaches identified in the 2003 Amended Biological Opinion (BiOp) with habitat creation goals are 1). Below Gavins Point Dam, 2). Below Garrison Dam, 3). Below Fort Randall Dam, and 4). Lewis and Clark Lake.

"The entire process from site selection, design, National Environmental Policy Act (preparation of the Environmental Assessment), processing the Section 404 regulatory permit, selection of a staging area, to when construction actually begins is about 18 months," Crane said. "Construction contracts are awarded in the fall of the year so the contractor are poised to begin construction as soon as the birds leave the area in late August/early September. Construction cannot take place during the bird nesting season because there is a chance that if construction begins, the birds will choose the new sandbar as a nesting site and construction would have to be halted. The contractor works from approximately September until winter conditions prevent any further construction. Most projects can be finished within this time period, however, the contractor is allowed to complete the project in the spring if there is an early onset of wintry conditions in the fall."

The Army Corps of Engineers must provide habitat for the tern and plover under the amended Biological Opinion regarding the operation of the main stem dams on the Missouri River, which was issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2003, according to a press release issued by the Corps for the Niobrara sandbar project. "Prior to the construction of the dams, bare sandbars were more abundant than they are today. Operation of the dams has altered the flows so that little new habitat is formed and the existing habitat is prone to erosion and vegetation encroachment."

Aerial Survey of Habitat

A recent aerial survey of riverine sandbars used by plovers and terns was done on September 16th 2009 by Corps officials to document the conditions of the habitat during this more normal flow regime.

The Corps has created several sandbar areas in recent years, and the survey was an opportunity to evaluate the conditions of these sites.

"These aerial surveys provide valuable information on any erosion that may be taking place on the sandbar and to assure the sandbars are performing as designed with areas of shallow water within the sandbars to provide additional plover forage opportunities," Crane said.

"The constructed sandbars are performing as designed and no areas of unanticipated erosion is taking place."

The Least Terns and Piping Plovers "have shown an immediate, favorable response to these habitat creation activities," she noted. "Both species utilize the newly created sandbars the first year they are available and continue to use the habitat until the vegetation becomes too thick for their tolerances. It is the Corps' responsibility to assure sufficient, barren sandbar habitat is available to the birds each year in all reaches. We are still behind the habitat creation curve and need to continue to create and maintain sandbars each year so we can assure compliance with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Services Biological Opinion and to eventually recover populations of both birds on the Missouri River.

"The Niobrara sandbar project will continue the efforts of the Corps to improve and provide places for the plovers and terns to nest and successfully rear young which is essential for maintaining viable the Great Plains populations of these birds.

Pictures of riverine habitat created by the Corps of Engineers along the Missouri River. Images and caption details courtesy of the Corps of Engineers.
River mile 761.3 is a 50 acre sandbar the ESH program built in the river below Gavins Point Dam in 2005.	RM 826 is a 200 acre complex built from 2006-2008 in Lewis and Clark Lake just downstream from the sediment deposition zone.
RM 791.5 is a 40 acre sandbar built in 2007. The picture is from the South Dakota side looking towards Nebraska.	RM 775 is a 44 acre sandbar built in fall of 2008 in the river below Gavins Point Dam, immediately downstream of the Vermillion Bridge.
RM 777.7 is a picture of the 15 acre backwater constructed in South Dakota in conjunction with the 76 acre sandbar.	RM 777.7_30 is a 76 acre sandbar complex built in the Missouri River immediately upstream of the Vermillion Bridge.
RM 795 is a 76 acre sandbar built in autumn of 2008.	RM 774 is a 49 acre sandbar built in spring of 2009 in the river below Gavins Point Dam, immediately downstream of the Vermillion Bridge.

Waterfowl Conservation Group Acquires Platte River Property

By James Ed. Ducey

An important tract of Platte River channel habitat in central Nebraska has been acquired for waterbird management.

"This is Ducks Unlimited’s second largest Nebraska acquisition and DU’s first on the Platte River,” said Steve Donovan, DU’s manager of conservation programs for Nebraska.

Whooping Cranes have already been sighted using riverine habitat at the site, which is also beneficial to waterfowl, including geese and many types of ducks.

The tract was purchased from the Younkin Estate in October, using funds from a grant from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and other donors. Other grant partners include Prairie Plains Resource Institute, Nebraska Environmental Trust, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and several private landowners.

The 400-acre property extends for a mile along the river, just west of Rowe Sanctuary, owned by the National Audubon Society. DU and the Audubon Society are entering into an agreement to allow Audubon to manage this property as an extension of its Rowe Sanctuary.

The Younkin place is also in close proximity to other protected habitats managed by The Nature Conservancy, Platte River Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, all partners in the grant.

"DU will be working with partners on a restoration plan for the property over the next six months," Mr. Donovan said. "We have already submitted a proposal to the Nebraska Environmental Trust seeking a grant to assist with the cost of proposed restoration work. If we are successful, habitat restoration actitivities will be completed in late 2008."

Platte River on the Younkin property, during a period of extremely low flows on the river. Looking east from the bridge.

Grasslands on the Younkin property. Looking east from the highway. Images courtesy of Steve Donovan, Ducks Unlimited.

The Big Bend Reach of the Platte River NAWCA grant will protect and enhance about 2,600 acres of some of the most important migratory bird habitat in Nebraska, according to a press release issued by Ducks Unlimited. This bend serves the vast majority of waterfowl that travel through the state, including millions of ducks, geese, shorebirds, Sandhill Cranes and several endangered species like the Piping Plover and Least Tern.

The Big Bend Reach of the Platte River is one of North America’s most popular birding areas, and the site of an annual Rivers and Wildlife Celebration of the Sandhill Cranes and other spring fowl.

NAWCA is a federal grant program that funds wetland habitat conservation projects throughout North America.

The North American Waterfowl Management Plan identifies the Platte River as a waterfowl habitat of major concern due to long-term habitat loss and reduced water flows. In addition, aggressive, non-native plant species are choking the river and reducing the river’s ability to provide critically needed habitat for migratory birds.

Dismal Years for Least Tern and Piping Plover Along the Middle Niobrara River

Portion of a sandbar used by Least Terns and Piping Plovers on the Niobrara National Scenic River. All images courtesy of the National Park Service office, Valentine.

By James Ed. Ducey. This article contains biological opinions of the author.

The number of Least Tern and Piping Plover present this season along the scenic river stretch of the Niobrara River was the lowest number recorded in the past twenty years.

Only four tern and six plover were noted during June and July surveys, according to a report from the National Park Service office in Valentine.

Heavy rains and subsequent higher water flows along the river may have washed away any nesting attempts. Weather related events also decimated river colonies last season.

The endangered Least Tern and threatened Piping Plover occupy variable sized, shifting sandbars each breeding season to scrape a small depression of a nest , then lay eggs and raise some young as they have for centuries.

The Niobrara valley is a challenging environment. Weather and rampaging water in a valley of different overall widths can result in flood flows that will wash away any nests, eggs or young on the sandbars elevated just inches above the river's usually languid surface. High water from heavy rains inundate the channel. Flood flows also shift river sediments that can modify and create suitable sandy bars habitat, with but a bit of vegetative growth.

Roaming predators and unconfined livestock from adjacent pastures can be a negative influence on colony sites for terns and the little brown plovers.

The species' recorded history for the Niobrara River extends back more than 100 years. Both species are first known from bird field notes from the Niobrara during the 1902 breeding season. Along the river south of Springview (now on Highway 183) were four Piping Plover, two of which were collected by scientists. A nest was found on June 21st; said nest with three known eggs then empty on June 25th. These plover "were noted commonly throughout the trip," down the river, said the bird journal of by professor Myron H. Swenk, along on an expedition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

"The Least Tern was not observed until on August 4, when a few miles west of Badger we met with a flock of eight or nine flying about over the shallows. One male specimen was secured. From this point on to Niobrara it was very common, being noted every day, and every large bar was certain to have several of the little fellows hovering about, uttering their harsh, squeaky notes as they plunged into the shallows or chased each other about in the air. On one occasion one was seen flying straight towards a large bar with food in its mouth. Although lack of time prevented any stopping to search for nests, I have little doubt but that it breeds commonly on the large bars in that locality," the narrative said.

The active Badger postoffice was once near Big Sandy Creek, at the river in northwest Holt county.

Bird Surveys

Aerial views provided the results for the first surveys - starting in 1977 - and counting from Mariaville to Spencer Dam, and further east along the river course. These were continued by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for many years. Since 2002, numerous riverine surveys have been conducted by biological technicians of the National Park Service, along the Niobrara National Scenic River. These are the detail surveys now conducted.

Results of surveys for Least Tern and Piping Plover on Niobrara National Scenic River segments. Information courtesy of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and National Park Service.
Date - Survey Segment	Least Tern	Piping Plover
1982, July 14 - Highway 183 to Meadville	25 adults	8 adults
1983 - Highway 183 to Meadville	7 adults on 13 July; 4 on 19 July; and 2 on 26 July	2 adults on 13 July; 5 on 19 July
1984, 22 June - Mariaville to Highway 183	10 adults	6 adults
1985 - Mariaville to Highway 183	16 adults and six nests on 4 June; 3 adults on 23 July	10 adults and 5 nests on 4 June; 20 adults on 23 July
1987, 9 June - Mariaville to Highway 183	10 adults and 3 nests	8 adults and 2 nests
1996 - 5 June - Highway 183 to Meadville - 18 and 20 June - Mariaville to Hwy 183	- 2 adults - 3 nests on 18 June and 2 adults on 20th	- 4 adults - 2 nests with eggs on 18 June and 1 adult
2001, 5 June - Highway 183 to Meadville - Mariaville to Highway 183	- 2 adults - 13 adults at four sites	- 4 adults - 6 adults at two sites and a nest with eggs
2002 - Highway 183 to Highway 7 - Highway 7 to Carns Bridge - Carns Bridge to Highway 137	- 6 adults and 3 nests - 4 adults - 4 adults	- 6 adults and 2 nests - 5 adults and 1 nest - 2 adults and 1 nest
2006 - 13-25 June - Highway 183 Bridge to Highway 7 Bridge - 12 June to 7 July - Carns Bridge to Highway 137	- colony 1 with 16 nests; colony 2 with 5 nests - 11 nests	- colony 1 with 9 nests; colony 2 with 4 nests - 6 nests
2007 - Highway 183 to Highway 7 - 22 June: - 27 June: - 6 July:	- 4 adults and nest with eggs - 2 adults - 2 adults	- 6 adults and nest with eggs - 6 adults and two additional nests, 3 fledged chicks - 6 plovers, 3 chicks
* Numbers given represent the highest seasonal count.

The count numbers for 2007 are exceptionally less, being the least number seen in any of the years with available survey results. There is no exact reason for this loss, according to Park Service staff.

Extensive rainfall from several early storms during the breeding season may have influenced the nesting by these species.

On May 5th a slow moving system dumped some rain, giving Valentine a record rainfall exceeding 1.25 inches. Tornadoes were reported, with hail prevalent. Ainsworth reported 4.3 inches in town and 5.83 inches elsewhere that washed out county roads.

Showers and thunderstorms brought a rainfall of 3.44 inches to Ainsworth on May 30th. Valentine had 1.73 inches.

On June 12th, another intense weather system moved through the Niobrara valley. Rainfall measured 1.97 inches at Valentine. O'Neill had 1.92 inches. Atkinson had a report for 1.62 inches. A flash flood watch was issued for the 13th, as showers continued. Weather reports indicated wide-spread 1-2" rainfall reports throughout the drainage of the Niobrara.

Another extensive storm accompanied by large hail hit the region on June 21st.

The magnitude of precipitation from these storms likely flooded the channel of the Niobrara River, with an influx from some tributaries adding to the flows. These weather events may have had an impact on the bird nests on the riverine sandbars inundated by higher water flows.

Least Tern nest along the Niobrara River.

Piping Plover nest along the Niobrara River.

The primary nest initiation dates for the Least Tern in 2006 were during June to early July, according to the Park Service survey report. For Piping Plover the period extends from latter May to early July.

Flooding may have been a recurring event during the breeding season, resulting in the low population when an initial survey was done in latter June.

Summary of number of birds surveyed along the scenic river section of the middle Niobrara River.
Year	Least Tern	Piping Plover	Notes
1982	25	8	aerial survey
1983	7	5	aerial survey
1984	10	6	aerial survey
1985	16	20
1987	10	8	aerial survey
1996	5	4
2001	15	10
2002	14	13	An adult and a juvenile Least Tern were at Cornell Dam in late July
2006	32, 22	18, 8	Highway 183 Bridge to Highway 7 Bridge, and Carns Bridge to Highway 137
2007	4	6	Three plover chicks fledged; defensive adult terns but no actual nesting success noted

Several large sandbars which appeared suitable for use by terns or plovers, did not have either, according to the season's summary report. At a colony location near Carns, "4-wheeler tracks criss-crossed the sandbar" that seemed promising for tern or plover use, the survey report said. There were 25 Killdeer present. Elsewhere, including between the Carns Bridge and Highway 137, a large number of Killdeer were present, raising the question if this species was out-competing the tern or smaller plover.

In 2006 on another obviously suited sandbar, the species showed the largest numbers recorded for these species within the scenic river section. Habitat had to be expansive enough for the many sites used for nesting. The counts indicate the extent of birds that can occur when there is exceptional, suitable habitat. Fewer Least Tern could be expected where there is a lesser extent of suitable sandbars habitat.

Piping Plover would be influenced by the river factors that create suitable habitat.

During the 2006 season, a smaller colony on the segment Highway 183 Bridge to Highway 7 Bridge was affected by two influences. The "sandbar experienced several weather events and cattle damages that led to multiple re-nest attempts by both species," according to the survey report. There was a large colony along the Carns Bridge to Highway 137 stretch, with 11 tern nests and 6 plover nests. "A large rain event wiped this colony off the river in early July."

Notable are the 1982 numbers for a colony on the river a few kilometers east of Meadville. Activities at this lively breeding place were gathered during avifauna studies in 1983 for the Niobrara Valley Preserve, after it was established. The colony had several plover nests and more than 15 chicks noted on July 22nd. There were nests with 3 eggs, chicks and a flying fledgling for the Least Tern on July 24th. The sandbar here was apparently very suitable habitat.

Survey results indicate there are usually fewer tern and plover during recent breeding seasons. There are enough exceptions to these lesser counts for larger numbers. There are no apparent trends or obvious population level represented. The numbers seem to highly variable to determine an average. The numbers do suggest a regular population of more than 15 Least Tern could be expected from the Highway 183 Bridge to east of Meadville. There could a similar number of Piping Plover. Habitat has more limitations in this region than further down the river, and is possibly the greatest limiting factor along the river.

Other facets which may have a role in the occurrence of these two species along the Niobrara, may include the extent of habitat along the Missouri National Recreation River influencing the bird's use of the running water tributary. Do fewer birds occur on the Niobrara when habitat is more prevalent on the wide variety of Missouri river sandbars?

Extensive and detailed Least Tern and Piping Plover surveys are conducted on the MNRR each season by Corps of Engineer staff.

Niobrara Tern and Plover Populations

The Niobrara River population of Least Tern and Piping Plover is highly variable, based on a summary of some survey results from aerial counts, and recent ground-based investigations.

Populations for the Niobrara River. Given is a summary of values recorded for multiple segments, sometimes with multiple entries referring to a colony locale. These estimates are based on several accounts added together to furnish an approximate total for the river. Detail survey information is courtesy of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and National Park Service.
Survey Information	Least Tern	Piping Plover
1977, 30 June - Mariaville to Spencer Dam	7	4
1978, 27-29 June - mouth to Mariaville	40	44
1979, 17 and 26 July - mouth to Highway 183, and westward from Meadville	45	No count data
1980, 13-14 July - mouth to Highway 183	82	No count data
1981, 5-7 July - Pischelville to Highway 183	87	92
1982, 1-2 and 13-14 July - mouth to Meadville	80	19 in partial count
1983, 20-22 June - mouth to Highway 183; mid-July, Highway 183 to Meadville	106	59
1984: 19-22 June - mouth to Highway 183	142	38 in partial count
1985 30 May - mouth to Mariaville 4-6 June - mouth to Highway 183 23-25 July - mouth to Highway 183	- 79 - 183 - 110	- NA - 114 - 60
1987 9-11 June - mouth to Highway 183 6-19 June - mouth to Mariaville 13-15 July - mouth to Highway 183	- 115, with more than 50 nests - 109 - 68	- 98, with more than 55 nests - 85 - 91 with nests and chicks
1988 14-16 June - mouth to Mariaville 19-20 July - mouth to Mariaville	- 181, more than 80 nests - 124, with 47 chicks noted	- 83, with more than 35 nests - 54, with 22 chicks noted
2001, 5-8 June - mouth to Meadville	148, with about 40 nests	88, with about 25 nests
2007 - 22 June - Highway 183 to Highway 7 - Lower Niobrara River	- 4 - 33	6 - 19

Counts doing using consistent survey methods in recent years has improved the means for devising the river's population of these two species. Populations can readily exceed 125 Least Tern and 75 Piping Plover, with greater numbers when suitable habitat conditions are more prevalent.

Niobrara River locales.