Comprehensive Conservation Plan Sullys Hill National Game Preserve

              Comprehensive Conservation PlanSullys Hill National Game PreserveComprehensive Conservation Plan Approval Sullys Hill National Game Preserve
Contents
Summary ………………………………………���……………………………………………………………ix
Abbreviations ………………………………………………………………………………………………… xii
1 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………
1
1.1 Purpose and Need for the Plan ………………………………………………………………………1.2 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Refuge System ………………………………………1.3 National and Regional Mandates ……………………………………………………………………1.4 Refuge Contributions to National and Regional Plans ……………………………………………1.5 Ecosystem Description and Threats …………………………………………………………………1.6 Planning Process ………………………………………………………………………………………
1 3 4 4 7 7
2 The Refuge …………………………………………………………………………………………………
13
2.1 Establishment, Acquisition, and Management History ……………………………………………2.2 Special Values of the Refuge …………………………………………………………………………2.3 Purpose …………………………………………………………………………………………………2.4 Vision ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
13 14 14 15
2.5 Goals ……………………………………………………………………………………………………
15
2.6 Planning Issues …………………………………………………………………………………………
16
3 Refuge Resources and Description …………………………………………………………………
19
3.1 Physical Environment ………���………………………………………………………………………3.2 Biological Resources …………………………………………………………………………………3.3 Cultural Resources ……………………………………………………………………………………
22 24 30
3.4 Special Management Areas …………………………………………………………………………3.5 Visitor Services ………………………………………………………………………………………
3131
3.6 Socioeconomic Environment …………………………………………………………………………
32
3.7 Operations ………………………………………………………………………………………………
33
4 Management Direction …………………………………………………………………………………
35
4.1 Management Focus …………………………………………………��………………………………4.2 Goals, Objectives, Strategies, and Rationale ………………………………………………………Prairie Habitat Goal …………………………………………………………………………………
35 3636
Woodland Habitat Goal ………………………………………………………………………………
41
Wildlife Population Management Goal ……………………………………………………………Environmental Education, Interpretation, and Outreach Goal …………………………………Visitor Services Goal …………………………………………………………………………………
444951
Protection and Maintenance Goal …………………………………………………………………
54
4.3 Staffing and Funding …………………………………………………………………………………4.4 Partnerships ………………………………………………��…………………………………………4.5 Step-down Management Plans ………………………………………………………………………4.6 Monitoring and Evaluation ……………………………………………………………………………
55555556
Glossary …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
59
AppendicesA. Key Legislation and Policies …………………………………………………………………………B. Preparers …………………………………………………………………………………………………C. Public Involvement ……………………………………………………………………………………
656971
D. Section 7 Biological Evaluation ………………………………………………………………………75vi CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
E. Environmental Compliance ……………………………………………………………………………79
F. Species List ………………………………………………………………………………………………81
G. Fire Management Program ……………………………………………………………………………93
H. Compatibility Determinations …………………………………………………………………………97
Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………………………………………101List of Figures and Tables
FIGURES
1 Vicinity map for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, North Dakota ………………………
2
2 Physiographic areas of the United States ………………………………………………………
6
3 Mississippi Headwaters/Tall-grass Prairie ecosystem map …………………………………
8
4 Steps in the planning process ……………………………………………………………………
9
5 Sullys Hill National Game Preserve boundary map ……………………………………………
20
6 Sullys Hill National Game Preserve management units ………………………………………
21
7 Vegetative communities within Sullys Hill National Game Preserve ………………………
25
8 Sullys Hill National Game Preserve visitor services map ……………………………………
53
TABLES
1 Planning process summary and timeline for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve …………
10
2 Current and proposed staff for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve ………………………
56
3 Step-down management plans for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve ……………………
57
Summary
This is a summary of the comprehensive conservation plan developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the Sullys Hill National Game Preserve in Benson County, North Dakota. This plan, approved in 2008, will guide management of the refuge for the next 15 years. The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a comprehensive conservation plan by 2012 for each national wildlife refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System. This brief summary describes the refuge and its purposes, the planning process, and the comprehensive conservation plan.
THE REFUGE AND ITS PURPOSE
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is a 1,675-acre national wildlife refuge sitting on the south shores of Devils Lake, about 10 miles south of the city of Devils Lake, North Dakota. The refuge was first established on April 27, 1904, as a national park, but was later transferred to the Service in 1921 as a national wildlife refuge. This refuge supports a unique community of habitats such as an oak, ash, basswood, and aspen woodland; and mixed-grass prairie, interspersed with some natural and created wetlands. These diverse habitats create a large ecotone that provides “edge” habitat for over 250 species of migratory birds, plains bison, Rocky Mountain elk, white-tailed deer, turkeys, and prairie dogs.
The refuge is 1 of only 19 designated natural areas in North Dakota, of which only 4 are national wildlife refuges. It is also one of only four refuges established for national bison conservation.
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve has a long history of visitation with over 60,000 annual visitors, making it the most visited refuge in North Dakota. The refuge is becoming a progressive regional conservation learning center, promoting the conservation role of the National Wildlife Refuge System while educating visitors about the functions and benefits of the refuge and the surrounding prairie wetlands and grasslands. The refuge uses both indoor and outdoor education with a focus on the sciences, biodiversity, and human dimensions in the environment, providing area educators a unique tool to make learning exciting, interesting, and effective. According to the refuge’s legislative purposes, there is no hunting permitted.
Every refuge has a purpose for which it was established. These purposes, found in legislative acts or administrative orders, are the foundation upon which to build all refuge programs, from biology and public use, to maintenance and facilities. No action that the Service or public takes may conflict with these purposes.
The purposes for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve are described in the following legislation and public land orders:
“All the lands that are now reserved or may QQhereafter be included within the boundaries of the … Sullys Hill National Park Game Preserve … are hereby further reserved and set apart for the use … as refuges and breeding grounds for birds.” (Executive Order 3596, December 21,
1921)
“As a big game preserve, refuge, and breeding QQgrounds for wild animals and birds … provided, that the said game preserve is to be made available to the public for recreational purposes in so far as consistent with the use of this area as a game preserve … provided further, that hunting shall not be permitted on said game preserve.” (46 Stat. 1509, Act of March 3, 1931)
VISION STATEMENT
The vision for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is based on the establishing purposes of the refuge, resource conditions and potential, and the issues.
Photograph caption:
Photograph credit:x CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
Overlooking North Dakota’s largest natural
lake and riding the tops of a glacial thrust
block formation, Sullys Hill National Game
Preserve is dressed in undulating native
woodlands and prairie. Teddy Roosevelt’s
vision and broad community support
are largely responsible for the successful
conservation of these habitats ensuring the
preservation of the refuge’s plains bison
and Rocky Mountain elk while supporting
migrating waves of warblers and other
native bird species.
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is
renowned as a regional conservation
learning center—greeting families,
students, and outdoor enthusiasts of all
abilities. Children are able to learn about
their natural world using all their senses,
which fosters their own environmental
ethics. Each visitor’s experience not only
enriches their personal lives, but instills
a unique understanding and appreciation
for preserving native prairie and wetland
habitats, the natural resources of the
Devils Lake Basin, and the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System to preserve
America’s wildlife heritage.
GOALS
The goals described below reflect the vision for
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve.
Prairie Habitat Goal
Maintain prairie plant communities representative of
the historical mixed-grass prairies to support healthy
populations of grassland-dependent migratory birds
in balance with bison, elk, and other indigenous
wildlife.
Woodland Habitat Goal
Manage for healthy native woodlands of various
age classes and structure to provide habitat for
migratory birds in balance with bison, elk, and other
indigenous wildlife.
Wildlife PoPulation ManaGeMent Goal
Carry out management practices that ensure healthy
populations of Rocky Mountain elk, plains bison, and
other indigenous wildlife species that exemplify the
genetic integrity of historical prairie wildlife.
E
Deliver quality, interactive environmental education
programming to regional schools, communities,
organizations, Spirit Lake Nation, and local
governments to garner support and appreciation
for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, North
Dakota’s wetland and grassland resources, and
the conservation role of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
V
Provide captivating visitor services facilities and
activities for visitors of all abilities, community
groups, youth groups, and the members of Spirit
Lake Nation to provide enjoyment that results
in a greater understanding and support of the
preservation of native habitats and landscapes of
North Dakota’s Prairie Pothole Region and the
mission of the Refuge System.
Protection and Maintenance Goal
Refuge visitors, staff, and volunteers will have a
safe, protected, and well-maintained environment
in which to learn about, work with, understand, and
appreciate the importance of protecting the unique
natural and cultural resources of Sullys Hill National
Game Preserve.
PLANNING PROCESS
In 2006, a planning team of refuge and other
Service staff gathered to begin planning the future
direction of Sullys Hill National Game Preserve.
The planning process included designing a vision
for the refuge, along with goals to reach that vision.
The team invited the public to participate in the
Summary xi
planning process. A mailing list of about 320 names was created which included private citizens; local, regional, and state government representatives and legislators; other federal agencies; tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations. Key issues (habitat, wildlife, public outreach, public use, and refuge operations) were identified during analysis of the concerns raised by refuge staff, partners, and the public. The unique qualities and values of the refuge were also determined. The team identified which of these qualities and issues were crucial to achieving the vision and goals. These were addressed throughout the planning process and in the comprehensive conservation plan. Three alternatives were developed for addressing substantive issues and managing refuge programs. Through the environmental analysis process, the Service has selected alternative C from the draft conservation plan and environmental assessment, published in June 2008. This alternative is now the final comprehensive conservation plan. Implementation of this plan will be monitored throughout its 15-year effective period.
ISSUES
Because of its location, serving as a conservation learning center is an important designation and direction for this refuge. Yet, even though the refuge hosts 60,000 visitors annually, there is minimal law enforcement presence. There has been some vandalism, including fires set on refuge lands. Given the small staff size and budget, numerous habitat needs have not been addressed, including promoting forest regeneration, plant inventories, habitat health, invasive species, and disease management. Invasive species such as brome and bluegrass need to be reduced and native species restored. Also, there needs to be a better understanding of the carrying capacity of the area to support the populations of bison, elk, and white-tailed deer to ensure that forest and prairie management can improve migratory bird production.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PLAN
This comprehensive conservation plan is designed to optimize the biological potential for big game and migratory birds while creating an inviting place for visitors to enjoy and learn about the refuge’s resources, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the importance of conserving prairie wetlands and grasslands. This refuge will serve as an outreach tool for the Devils Lake Wetland Management District and its habitat protection programs, while serving as a conservation learning center in this region.
Habitat and Wildlife ManaGeMent
Habitat management will address enhancing and restoring native prairie habitat, and promoting forest regeneration. Ungulate populations will be maintained at lower levels (≤20 bison, ≤18 elk, and ≤18 white-tailed deer) to control the overgrazing and overbrowsing that has impacted refuge habitats in the past. Management tools, including exclusion fences and other appropriate methods such as chemical, biological, and mechanical techniques (including prescribed fire), will be used to restore and enhance habitat for the benefit of forest interior breeding and grassland nesting birds. Selected hayland acres will be restored to native vegetation. Fuels treatment (including prescribed fire or other mechanical means) will also be used to reduce hazardous fuels, minimizing the threat to life and property. Invasive species will be treated and areas restored. The ungulate herd health program will take a more active disease surveillance and treatment approach, including timely introduction of ungulates to maintain genetic health, particularly for the refuge’s plains bison. A biologist trainee will be recruited to conduct the refuge’s biological, management, and restoration programs.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
There will be an increase in delivery of both on- and off-site programming of youth environmental education programs. In cooperation with local teachers, a formal wetland and grassland conservation curriculum will be designed for targeted grade levels and will meet local and state standards. Emphasis will be placed on developing education partnerships with Spirit Lake Nation schools and agencies and recruiting students for careers in refuge management. The refuge’s limited fishery will be used for environmental education programs only. A comprehensive cultural resource survey of the refuge will be completed in partnership with other agencies and organizations, and the area’s cultural history will be interpreted in a visitor center display. One additional staff person, an environmental education specialist, will be recruited to assist with the design and implementation of these expanded programs.
Protection and Maintenance
Visitor, staff, facility, and wildlife safety will be improved through year-round patrols by a full-time law enforcement officer. Facilities will be maintained and the refuge roads will remain open all year through the addition of a full-time maintenance worker.
Abbreviations
Administration Act
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act
amsl
above mean sea level
CCP
comprehensive conservation plan
CO2
carbon dioxide
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
CWCS
comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy
CWD
chronic wasting disease
DNC
dense nesting cover
EA
environmental assessment
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
F
Fahrenheit
FMP
fire management plan
GIS
Geographic Information System
Improvement Act
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997
IPM
integrated pest management
NAWMP
North American Waterfowl Management Plan
ND
North Dakota
NDGF
North Dakota Game and Fish Department
NDSU
North Dakota State University
NEPA
National Environmental Policy Act
NHPA
National Historic Preservation Act
NOA
notice of availability
NOI
notice of intent
NRCS
Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA)
PL
public law
refuge
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve
Refuge System
National Wildlife Refuge System
Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
spp.
species (plural)
SWG
state wildlife grant
UND
University of North Dakota
USC
United States Code
USDA
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USFWS
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
USGS
U.S. Geological Survey
VOR
visual obstruction reading
WG
wage grade pay schedule (civil service employees)
WPA
wetlands production area
WUI
wildland-urban interface
YCCYouth Conservation Corps
Definitions of these and other terms are in the glossary, located after Chapter 4.1 IntroductionPhotograph caption: Photograph credit:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has developed this comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) to provide a foundation for the management and use of Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, which is located in Benson County near the town of Fort Totten, North Dakota (see figure 1, vicinity map). This CCP will serve as a working guide for management programs and actions over the next 15 years. This chapter provides an introduction to the CCP process and describes the involvement of the Service, the state of North Dakota, the public, and others, as well as conservation issues and plans that affect Sullys Hill National Game Preserve.
This CCP was developed in compliance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Improvement Act) and Part 602 (National Wildlife Refuge System Planning) of “The Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.” The actions described in this CCP meet the requirements of the Council on Environmental Quality regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Compliance with NEPA is also being achieved through involvement of the public.
The CCP specifies the necessary actions to achieve the vision and purposes of the refuge. Wildlife is the first priority in refuge management, and visitor services (wildlife-dependent recreation) are allowed and encouraged as long as they are compatible with the refuge’s purposes.
This CCP has been prepared by a planning team comprised of representatives from various Service programs. In addition, the planning team used public input, public involvement, and the planning process as described in section 1.6, “Planning Process.”
After reviewing a wide range of public comments and management needs, the planning team developed alternatives for managing the refuge. This was documented in the “Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment—Sullys Hill National Game Preserve.” The regional director of region 6 selected alternative C as the Service’s preferred alternative for management of the refuge. This action addressed all substantive issues, while determining how best to achieve the purposes of the refuge.
1.1 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PLAN
The purpose of this CCP is to identify the role that Sullys Hill National Game Preserve will play in support of the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) and to provide long-term guidance for management of refuge programs and activities. The CCP is needed
to communicate with the public and other QQpartners in order to carry out the mission of the Refuge System;
to provide a clear statement of direction for QQmanagement of the refuge;2 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
Map title:Chapter 1 — Introduction 3
QQ to provide neighbors, visitors, and government
officials with an understanding of the Service’s
management actions on and around the refuge;
QQ to ensure that the Service’s management
actions are consistent with the mandates of the
Improvement Act;
QQ to ensure that management of the refuge is
consistent with federal, state, and county plans;
QQ to provide a basis for development of
budget requests for the refuge’s operation,
maintenance, and capital improvement needs.
Sustaining the nation’s fish and wildlife resources
is a task that can be accomplished only through the
combined efforts of governments, businesses, and
private citizens.
1.2 U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
AND THE REFUGE SYSTEM
The Service is the principal federal agency
responsible for fish, wildlife, and plant conservation.
The Refuge System is one of the Service’s major
programs.
U
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
working with others, is to conserve, protect, and
enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats for
the continuing benefit of the American people.
Over a century ago, America’s fish and wildlife
resources were declining at an alarming rate.
Concerned citizens, scientists, and hunting and
angling groups joined together to restore and sustain
America’s national wildlife heritage. This was the
genesis of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Today, the Service enforces federal wildlife laws,
manages migratory bird populations, restores
nationally significant fisheries, conserves and
restores vital wildlife habitat, protects and recovers
endangered species, and helps other governments
with conservation efforts. In addition, the Service
administers a federal aid program that distributes
hundreds of millions of dollars to states for fish and
wildlife restoration, boating access, hunter education,
and related programs across America.
S
Service activities in North Dakota contribute to
the state’s economy, ecosystems, and education
programs. The following list describes the Service’s
presence and activities:
QQ employed 201 people in North Dakota
QQ assisted by 623 volunteers who donated more
than 14,245 hours in support of Service projects
QQ managed two national fish hatcheries and one
fish and wildlife management assistance office
QQ managed 65 national wildlife refuges
encompassing 342,799 acres (0.8% of the state)
QQ managed 12 wetland management districts
including
—— 284,317 acres of fee waterfowl production
areas (0.6% of the state)
—— 1,046,358 wetland acres under various leases
or easements (2.4% of the state)
QQ hosted more than 394,063 annual visitors to
Service-managed lands including
—— 152,160 hunting visits
—— 2,360 trapping visits
—— 83,650 fishing visits
—— 142,281 wildlife observation visits
—— environmental education programs for over
51,000 students
QQ provided $3.3 million to North Dakota Game
and Fish Department (NDGF) for sport
fish restoration and $3.4 million for wildlife
restoration and hunter education
QQ helped private landowners restore more than
191,225 acres on 4,464 sites and restore 47.8
miles of river since 1987, through the Partners
for Wildlife Program
QQ employed 11 Partners for Wildlife Program
managers
QQ paid North Dakota counties $352,271 under the
Refuge Revenue Sharing Act (money used for
schools and roads)
N
In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt designated
the 5.5-acre Pelican Island in Florida as the nation’s
first wildlife refuge for the protection of brown
pelicans and other native, nesting birds. This was the
first time the federal government set aside land for
wildlife. This small but significant designation was
the beginning of the Refuge System.
One hundred years later, the Refuge System has
become the largest collection of lands in the world
specifically managed for wildlife. It encompasses over
96 million acres within 547 refuges and more than
3,000 small areas for waterfowl breeding and nesting.
Today, there is at least one refuge in every state,
including the territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands.
In 1997, the Improvement Act established a clear
mission for the Refuge System.
4 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge
System is to administer a national network
of lands and waters for the conservation,
management, and where appropriate, restoration
of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their
habitats within the United States for the benefit of
present and future generations of Americans.
The Improvement Act states that each national
wildlife refuge (that is, each unit of the Refuge
System, which includes wetland management
districts) shall be managed
QQ to fulfill the mission of the Refuge System;
QQ to fulfill the individual purposes of each refuge;
QQ to consider the needs of fish and wildlife first;
QQ to fulfill the requirement of developing a CCP
for each unit of the Refuge System and fully
involve the public in the preparation of these
plans;
QQ to maintain the biological integrity, diversity,
and environmental health of the Refuge
System;
QQ to recognize that wildlife-dependent recreation
activities including hunting, fishing, wildlife
observation, wildlife photography, and
environmental education and interpretation, are
legitimate and priority public uses;
QQ to retain the authority of refuge managers to
determine compatible visitor services.
In addition to the mission for the Refuge System, the
wildlife and habitat vision for each unit of the Refuge
System stresses the following principles:
QQ Wildlife comes first.
QQ Ecosystems, biodiversity, and wilderness are
vital concepts in refuge management.
QQ Habitats must be healthy.
QQ Growth of refuges must be strategic.
QQ The Refuge System serves as a model for
habitat management with broad participation
from others.
Following passage of the Improvement Act, the
Service immediately began to carry out the direction
of the new legislation, including preparation of
CCPs for all national wildlife refuges and wetland
management districts. Consistent with the
Improvement Act, the Service prepares all CCPs in
conjunction with public involvement. Each refuge is
required to complete its CCP within a 15-year time
frame (by 2012).
PeoPle and tHe refuGe systeM
The nation’s fish and wildlife heritage contributes to
the quality of American lives and is an integral part
of the country’s greatness. Wildlife and wild places
have always given people special opportunities to
have fun, relax, and appreciate the natural world.
Whether through bird watching, fishing, hunting,
photography, or other wildlife pursuits, wildlife
recreation contributes millions of dollars to local
economies. In 2002, approximately 35.5 million
people visited the Refuge System, mostly to observe
wildlife in their natural habitats. Visitors are most
often accommodated through nature trails, auto
tours, interpretive programs, and hunting and
fishing opportunities. Significant economic benefits
are generated for the local communities that
surround refuges and wetland management districts.
Economists report that Refuge System visitors
contribute more than $792 million annually to local
economies.
1.3 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL
MANDATES
Refuge System units are managed to achieve the
mission and goals of the Refuge System, along with
the designated purpose of the refuges (as described
in establishing legislation, executive orders, or
other establishing documents). Key concepts and
guidance for the Refuge System are in the National
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966
(Administration Act), Title 50 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), “The Fish and Wildlife Service
Manual,” and the Improvement Act.
The Improvement Act amends the Administration
Act by providing a unifying mission for the Refuge
System, a new process for determining compatible
visitor services on refuges, and a requirement
that each refuge be managed under a CCP. The
Improvement Act states that wildlife conservation
is the priority of Refuge System lands and that
the Secretary of the Interior will ensure that the
biological integrity, diversity, and environmental
health of refuge lands are maintained. Each refuge
must be managed to fulfill the Refuge System’s
mission and the specific purposes for which it was
established. The Improvement Act requires the
Service to monitor the status and trends of fish,
wildlife, and plants in each refuge.
A detailed description of these and other laws and
executive orders that may affect the CCP or the
Service’s implementation of the CCP is in appendix
A. Service policies on planning and day-to-day
management of refuges are in the “Refuge Manual”
and “The Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.”
1.4 REFUGE CONTRIBUTIONS TO
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL PLANS
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve contributes to
the conservation efforts described here.
Chapter 1 — Introduction 5
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A 1999 report, “Fulfilling the Promise, The National Wildlife Refuge System” (USFWS 1999), is the culmination of a yearlong process by teams of Service employees to evaluate the Refuge System nationwide. This report was the focus of the first national Refuge System conference in 1998—attended by refuge managers, other Service employees, and representatives from leading conservation organizations.
The report contains 42 recommendations packaged with three vision statements dealing with wildlife and habitat; people; and leadership—this CCP deals with these three major topics. The planning team reviewed the recommendations in the report for guidance during CCP planning.
Partners in fliGHt
The “Partners in Flight” program began in 1990 with the recognition of declining population levels of many migratory bird species. The challenge is, according to the program, maintaining functional natural ecosystems in the face of human population growth. To meet this challenge, Partners in Flight worked to identify priority land bird species and habitat types. Partners in Flight activities have resulted in the development of 52 bird conservation plans covering the continental United States.
The primary goal of Partners in Flight is to provide for the long-term health of the bird life of this continent. The first priority is to prevent the rarest species from becoming extinct. The second priority is to prevent uncommon species from descending into threatened status. The third priority is to “keep common birds common.”
There are 58 physiographic areas, defined by similar physical geographic features, wholly or partially contained within the contiguous United States, and several others wholly or partially contained in Alaska. The Sullys Hill National Game Preserve lies within the physiographic area known as the northern mixed-grass prairie, area 37 (see figure 2, physiographic areas).
The northern mixed-grass prairie physiographic area includes almost the entire eastern half of South Dakota and central North Dakota, from the Red River Valley on the east, to the Missouri River and Montana border on the south and west. In Canada, it includes a small portion of southern Manitoba and a swath that crosses Saskatchewan and extends into Alberta. The southern edge of this physiographic area is the terminus of a glacial moraine parallel to the course of the nearby Missouri River. To the north, prairie gives way to aspen parkland.
Precipitation declines and evaporation rates increase from east to west across the northern mixed-grass prairie, resulting in differences in the height of dominant grasses. To the east, the mixed grass begins as topography rises out of the tall-grass prairie of the Red River Valley. Grass height gradually decreases toward the western boundary of this physiographic area.
Because of the glacial history of the northern mixed-grass prairie and the relationship between precipitation and evapotranspiration, the area is dotted with thousands of depressions that range from permanently to periodically wet. This area is known as the Prairie Pothole Region.
Priority bird species and habitats of the northern mixed-grass prairie include the following:
Grassland
Baird’s sparrow
greater prairie-chicken
McCown’s longspur
Sprague’s pipit
Le Conte’s sparrow
Wetland
yellow rail
Nelson’s sharp-tailed sparrow
marbled godwit
Riparian Woodland
Bell’s vireo
River Sandbars
piping plover
waterfowl
shorebirds
Maintenance of large, unfragmented grassland ecosystems is the conservation objective for areas where agriculture is not dominant. On the drift prairie and other agricultural areas, conservation of discrete blocks of grassland-wetland complexes is recommended.
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Written in 1986, the “North American Waterfowl Management Plan” (NAWMP) (USFWS et al. 1998) envisioned a 15-year effort to achieve landscape conditions that could sustain waterfowl populations. Specific NAWMP objectives are to increase and restore duck populations to the average levels of the 1970s—62 million breeding ducks and a fall flight of 100 million birds.
By 1985 waterfowl populations had plummeted to record lows. Habitat that waterfowl depend on was disappearing at a rate of 60 acres per hour. Recognizing the importance of waterfowl and wetlands to North Americans and the need for international cooperation to help in the recovery of a 6 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
shared resource, the United States and Canadian governments developed a strategy to restore waterfowl populations through habitat protection, restoration, and enhancement. Mexico became a signatory to the plan in 1994.
The plan is innovative because of its international scope, plus its implementation at the regional level. Its success depends on the strength of partnerships called “joint ventures,” involving federal, state, provincial, tribal, and local governments; businesses; conservation organizations; and individual citizens. Joint ventures are regional, self-directed partnerships that carry out science-based conservation projects through a wide array of community participation efforts. Joint ventures develop implementation plans focusing on areas of concern. Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is part of the “Prairie Pothole Joint Venture.”Map title: Map title:
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Where federally listed threatened or endangered species occur at the Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, management goals and strategies in their respective recovery plans will be followed. The list of threatened or endangered species that occur at the refuge will change as species are listed or delisted, or as listed species are discovered on refuge lands. Currently, 8 species of fish, 15 species of birds, 6 species of mammals, 4 species of reptiles, 6 species of insects, 4 species of mollusks, and 7 species of plants native to the ecosystem are listed as either threatened or endangered, or are under status review for possible listing. If these species are ever found residing on the refuge, the staff will follow recovery plan guidelines.
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Over the past several decades, declines of wildlife populations have been documented nationwide. Congress created the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program in 2001. This program provides states and territories with federal dollars to support conservation aimed at protecting wildlife and preventing species from becoming endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The SWG program represents an ambitious endeavor to take an active hand in keeping species from becoming threatened or endangered in the future.
According to the SWG program, each state, territory, and the District of Columbia were required to complete a comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy (CWCS) by October 1, 2005, in order to receive future funding.
These strategies help define an integrated approach to the stewardship of all wildlife species, with additional emphasis on species of concern and habitats at risk. The goal is to shift focus from single-species management and highly specialized individual efforts to a geographically based, ecosystem and landscape-oriented fish and wildlife conservation effort. The Service approves CWCSs and administers SWG program funding.
The CWCS for the state of North Dakota was reviewed and this information was used during Chapter 1 — Introduction 7
development of this CCP. Implementation of CCP habitat goals and objectives will support the goals and objectives of the CWCS.
1.5 ECOSYSTEM DESCRIPTION AND THREATS
MississiPPi HeadWaters/tall-Grass Prairie ecosysteM
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is located within the “Mississippi Headwaters/Tall-grass Prairie Ecosystem” (figure 3). This ecosystem—primarily located in Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota, with small sections extending into Wisconsin and Iowa—encompasses a major portion of the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. The Prairie Pothole Region annually produces 20% of the continental waterfowl populations.
Historically, this portion of North America was subject to periodic glaciation. Glacial meltwaters were instrumental in forming the five major river systems located or partly located within this ecosystem: Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Red, and St. Croix river systems. Glacial moraines and other deposits resulted in a myriad of lakes and wetlands common throughout this area. This significant variation in topography and soils attest
to the ecosystem’s dynamic glacial history.
The three major ecological communities within this ecosystem are tall-grass prairie, northern boreal forest, and eastern deciduous forest. Grasses common to tall-grass prairie include big bluestem, little bluestem, Indiangrass, sideoats grama, and switchgrass. In addition, native tall-grass prairie supports ecologically important forbs such as prairie coneflower, purple prairie clover, and blazing star. The northern boreal forest comprises a variety of coniferous species such as jack pine, balsam fir, and spruce. Common tree species in the eastern deciduous forest include maple, basswood, red oak, white oak, and ash. Due to its ecological and vegetative diversity, the “Mississippi Headwaters-Tall-grass Prairie Ecosystem” supports at least 121 species of Neotropical migrants and other migratory birds. It provides breeding and migration habitat for significant populations of waterfowl, plus a variety of other waterbirds. The ecosystem supports several species of candidate and federally listed threatened and endangered species including bald eagle, piping plover, Higgins eye pearly mussel, Karner blue butterfly, prairie bushclover, Leedy’s roseroot, dwarf troutlily, and western prairie fringed orchid. Additionally, the increasingly rare paddlefish and lake sturgeon are found in portions of this ecosystem.
Current land uses range from tourism and timber industries in the northern forests to intensive agriculture in the historical tall-grass prairie. Of the
three major ecological communities, tall-grass prairie is the most threatened, with more than 99% having been converted for agricultural purposes. Other major
industrial developments include logging, mining, and
hydroelectric development. Management of old growth
and late-succession forests to make up for reduced timber harvests, and a focus on smarter energy solutions, head the priorities for this ecosystem.
1.6 PLANNING PROCESS
This CCP for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve
was developed in compliance with the Improvement Act, NEPA, and the implementing regulations of
both acts. The Service issued its Refuge System planning policy in 2000, which established requirements
and guidance for refuge plans—including CCPs and
step-down management plans—to ensure that planning
efforts comply with the Improvement Act. The planning policy identified several steps of the CCP and environmental analysis process (see figure 4, steps in the planning process).
Table 1 lists the specific steps in the planning process for the preparation of this CCP. The Service began the pre-planning process in January 2006 with the establishment of a planning team (see appendix B).
The planning team is comprised primarily of Service
personnel from the Devils Lake Wetland Management
District (the managing station). Other partners include other Service divisions, the Spirit Lake Nation Tribe, NDGF, North Dakota Forest Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), North Dakota Bureau of Animal Health, local teachers, and researchers at the University of North Dakota.
During pre-planning, the team developed a mailing list, a list of internal issues, and a special qualities list. The team also identified and reviewed current refuge programs; compiled and analyzed relevant data; and determined the purpose of the refuge. In May of 2006 a notice of intent (NOI) was published in the Federal Register to notify the public of this planning process and to invite them to comment.
The planning team met with many experts from the Service and other state, tribal, and federal agencies to evaluate existing refuge programs. This information was used to develop three separate alternatives designed to address issues and guide future refuge management. The environmental consequences of these three alternatives were evaluated and a draft CCP and final EA were prepared. This document was then reviewed internally by a group of Service, state, and tribal employees. The document was revised based on some of their comments.
In June 2008, the Service published a notice of availability (NOA) announcing that the Draft CCP and EA was available for a 30-day public review. Hard copies of the document and/or a planning update, summarizing the plan, were mailed to 238 8 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
Map title: Map title:Chapter 1 — Introduction 9
federal, state, and local agencies; organizations; and citizens. The document was also posted on the region 6 website. A summary of the comments and responses can be found in appendix C. An intra-Service Section 7 evaluation was completed on the document by the Service’s ecological services office to evaluate any impacts to threatened and endangered species (appendix D). The regional director reviewed
the document, the analysis of alternatives, and all public comments. He selected alternative C as the preferred alternative for the final CCP. Subsequently, the draft CCP was modified in accordance with substantive public comments to produce this final CCP, which the regional director approved in August 2008 after documentation of a “finding of no significant impact” (see appendix E).
Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process. Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.Chart showing the eight steps in planning process.
Chart title:10 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
Table 1. Planning process summary and timeline for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve.
Date
Event
Outcome
June 23, 2005
Forest management review.
Forest management program review with the ND Forest Service, NRCS, and Service staff.
January 26, 2006
Kickoff meeting.
CCP overview; planning team list finalized; purposes identified; initial issues and qualities list developed; development of mailing list started. Biological and mapping needs identified; public scoping planned.
May 1, 2006
Vision statement.
Worked with team members, including NDGF, to develop first draft of vision statement for CCP.
May 23, 2006
NOI.
NOI published in Federal Register initiating public scoping.
June 8, 2006
Planning update.
First planning update sent to mailing list describing planning process and announcing upcoming public scoping meeting.
June 15, 2006
Focus group meeting (woodland birds).
Discussed woodland bird habitat needs and impacts of grazing by bison (Service nongame biologists).
June 17, 2006
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve Annual Birding Festival.
Presentations and displays reach over 1,200 attendees at the annual birding festival.
June 29, 2006
Public meeting, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve visitor center.
Public opportunity offered to learn about the CCP and provide comments.
August 1, 2006
Public scoping.
All public scoping comments were due. Comments were compiled for consideration by planning team.
August 1, 2006
Focus group meeting (disease control/grazing).
Discussed ungulate grazing and disease control (Service, NRCS, and UND researchers).
August 23, 2006
Focus group meeting
(disease control).
Discussed fenced animal disease issues with North Dakota Board of Animal Health.
August 29, 2006
Meeting with Spirit Lake Nation tribal council.
Presented CCP process and potential partnership proposals to Spirit Lake Nation tribal council members and chairwoman.
August 30–31, 2006
Vision and goals workshop.
Fine-tuned initial vision statement and developed goals to support it.
September 20, 2006
Focus group meeting
(visitor services).
Visitor services program experts from the Service and tribal members reviewed the current refuge program.
September 21–22, 2006
Alternatives workshop.
Alternatives table developed.Chapter 1 — Introduction 11
Table 1. Planning process summary and timeline for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve.
DateEventOutcome
January 17–18, 2007
Objectives and strategies workshop.
Finalized alternatives table and began writing objectives/strategies for the proposed action.
February 2007–June 2007
Draft plan.
Planning team prepared draft CCP and EA.
March 18–April 2, 2008
Internal review.
Draft CCP and EA reviewed by other Service divisions along with interested state and tribal agencies.
June 26, 2008
NOA.
The public was notified that the draft plan was available for review and comment.
July 22, 2008
Public meeting.
Public opportunity offered to learn about the draft plan and offer comments.
July 25, 2008
End of public comment period.
All public comments were received or postmarked by this date.
August 29, 2008
FONSI.
The regional director selected the preferred alternative and signed the FONSI.
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A mailing list was prepared during the preplanning phase. The list includes more than 320 names of private citizens; local, regional, and state government representatives and legislators; other federal agencies; and interested organizations. A summary of the nongovernmental, state, and federal organizations who participated in public involvement is in appendix B.
The first planning update issue was sent to everyone on the mailing list in June 2006. Information was provided on the history of the refuge and the CCP process, along with an invitation to the public scoping meeting. Each planning update included a comment form and postage-paid envelope to give the public an opportunity to provide written comments. Comments via email were also accepted at the refuge’s email address.
Presentations about the CCP process were made during all public activities including the refuge annual birding festival, attended by more than 1,200 individuals. The public scoping meeting was held on June 29, 2006, at the refuge visitor center. There were 10 attendees including local citizens, local teachers, and members of the Spirit Lake Nation. After a presentation about the refuge and an overview of the CCP and NEPA process, attendees met with presenters to ask questions and offer comments. Each attendee was given a written comment form to submit additional thoughts or questions. All written comments were due August 1,
2006. A total of 183 written comments were received throughout the scoping process. All comments were reviewed by the planning team and considered throughout the planning process.
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The Service’s region 6 director sent an invitation letter in April 2006 to the director of NDGF requesting the department’s participation in the CCP process. Several representatives from the NDGF have participated in the planning process. Local NDGF wildlife managers and the refuge staff maintain excellent, ongoing working relations that preceded the start of the CCP process.
The NDGF’s mission is to “protect, conserve, and enhance fish and wildlife populations and their habitats for sustained public consumptive and nonconsumptive uses.” In addition to enforcing the state’s protection laws for migratory birds and endangered species, the NDGF is also responsible for managing natural resource lands owned by the state. The state manages over 78,000 acres in support of wildlife, recreation, and fisheries.
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The Spirit Lake Tribal Council was sent a written invitation in April 2006 to participate in the CCP planning process. The Spirit Lake Nation Reservation surrounds the refuge boundary on three sides. Although no initial response was received, tribal members did attend the public scoping 12 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
meeting. At that time another meeting was proposed for the tribal council meeting in August.
On August 28, 2006, the tribal chairwoman and 11 other members of the tribe, including 3 council members and tribal planning staff, met with refuge staff and the planning team leader at the Sullys Hill National Game Preserve education and visitor center. A presentation on the CCP process and a separate presentation outlining common goals and interests between the refuge and the tribe were presented. Tribal representatives also attended the visitor services workshop held the following month. Their insights were valuable and all comments were considered during development of alternatives. In particular, the refuge staff recognized several opportunities to further incorporate the tribe’s history and culture into future visitor services programs.
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Table 1 and appendix C summarize all scoping activities. Comments collected from scoping meetings and correspondence, including comment forms, were used in the development of a final list of issues to be addressed in this CCP. The Service determined which alternatives could best address the issues. The planning process ensures that issues with the greatest potential effect on the refuge will be resolved or given priority over the life of the CCP. These issues are summarized in chapter 2. In addition, the Service considered suggested changes to current refuge management presented by the public and other groups.
Plan aMendMent and revision
This CCP will be reviewed annually to determine the need for revision. A revision will occur if and when significant information becomes available, such as a change
in ecological conditions.
The CCP will be augmented by detailed step-down management plans to address the completion of specific strategies in support of the CCP goals and objectives. Revisions to the CCP and the step-down management plans will be subject to public review and NEPA compliance. At a minimum, this plan will be evaluated every 5 years and revised after 15 years.
Caption:2 The RefugePhotograph caption:Photograph caption: Photograph credit:
This chapter discusses the history, purpose, and special values of Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, the proposed vision and goals, and planning issues.
2.1 ESTABLISHMENT, ACQUISITION, AND MANAGEMENT HISTORY
The establishment of Sullys Hill National Game Preserve was first addressed in April 27, 1904, by the Fifty-Eighth Congress of the United States. The Senate and House of Representatives enacted bill H.R.11128, known as Public Law No. 179, which authorized President Theodore Roosevelt to reserve a tract of land embracing Sullys Hill as a public park. It stated that a portion of unallotted lands within the Devils Lake Indian Reservation, including the unallotted tract of land known as the Fort Totten Military Reservation, would be set aside for this purpose. Much of the remaining unallotted lands would be disposed under the general provisions of the homestead and town site laws of the United States and opened to settlement by proclamation of the President. The final Proclamation, No. 32, was signed on June 2, 1904, by President Roosevelt, officially establishing Sullys Hill Park as part of the National Park Service system. Ten years later, on June 30, 1914, appropriations were made for the creation of a big-game preserve within the park.
On December 22, 1921, President Warren Harding, by Executive Order 3596, ordered that all lands within the boundaries of Sullys Hill National Park Game Preserve be reserved and set apart as a refuge and breeding grounds for birds.
In the Act of March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover transferred the preserve from the National Park Service to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and renamed it Sullys Hill National Game Preserve. This transfer became law by the Seventy-First Congress where it was stated that the refuge should be administered “as a big game preserve, refuge and breeding grounds for wild animals and birds.” Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is administered as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve has a rich history of management, primarily centered on the purposes of migratory birds, big game, and visitor service. Refuge management history indicates that regular timber management occurred throughout the woodlands by cutting and coppice regeneration (growth of new shoots from stumps). Defoliation of grasslands primarily occurred because of grazing and haying activities associated with the management of the herds of bison, elk, and deer. Extensive visitor use continues to be a major component of the refuge.
Historical records show that through 1943, the refuge used the services of Works Project Administration personnel, a depression-era program that was used for many public projects. A shortage of material and human resources caused by World War II (1939–1945) made refuge management very difficult. 14 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
Historical data from the manager’s log indicates that staff did not have time to serve the public so they did their “work” during the daytime shift and then worked off-the-clock in the evenings to service visitors and maintain the facilities. Much of the historical visitation to the refuge was for wildlife viewing and social gatherings. Visitation during this broader public or “park” use was up to 90,000 visitors annually.
Current management of the refuge reflects its original purposes, and specifically supports the National Refuge System’s vision of putting wildlife first. As an example, managing habitat for migratory birds is a major focus in managing the forest and prairie areas. Bison management has recently evolved to center upon Service-wide metapopulation management, focusing on the genetic conservation of this species. Visitor service is based on wildlife-dependent interpretative activities and education programs. The goal has been to use the refuge as a regional conservation learning center, keeping the refuge habitats and associated wildlife at the core. Approximately 5,000 students are taught each year in the indoor and outdoor classrooms, and there are 60,000 visitors annually.
2.2 SPECIAL VALUES OF THE REFUGE
Qualities are defined as the characteristics and features that make the areas special and worthy of refuge status. The planning team and the public identified the following outstanding qualities of Sullys Hill National Game Preserve:
The refuge contains shallow wetland, deep lake, QQwoodland, and grassland habitats. Together they provide for a wide variety of migratory birds; unique small mammals and furbearers; and large ungulates, such as bison and elk.
The refuge protects an important piece of QQnative woodland, a habitat type found only in 2% of North Dakota. This woodland likely includes the most western range of American basswood.
The refuge attracts a diversity of woodland bird QQspecies, such as warblers, that are absent from the surrounding grassland ecosystem.
Several unique plant species thrive on the QQundisturbed hills across the refuge, including ball cactus, downy paintbrush, Indian pipe, and marsh marigold.
The woodlands of Sullys Hill National Game QQPreserve provide a significant acreage to support over 250 species of nesting and staging migratory birds unique to North Dakota.
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is 1 of only QQ19 designated natural areas in North Dakota of which only 4 are national wildlife refuges.
Interactions with both flora and fauna are QQavailable to refuge visitors.
At the station’s education and visitor center, QQthe Service has a tremendous opportunity to educate the visiting public about the value of wetlands and grasslands, and about the refuges and wetland management districts in North Dakota and throughout the nation. There is no other place in this region of the country where the Service has this type of facility to accomplish its mission of outreach and environmental education.
The education and visitor center has numerous QQoutreach displays, tools, and techniques available to Service personnel, teachers, and other educators to conduct both student and adult environmental education and interpretation.
The refuge is a great education and learning QQdestination for both indoor and outdoor environmental education with a focus on the sciences, biodiversity, and human dimensions in the natural environment.
Special events educate visitors from the QQsurrounding areas and the nation on the values of the Refuge System for the purpose of garnering support for the Service’s mission.
The refuge is the Service’s link to the local QQcommunity. The outreach conducted through the refuge is instrumental in educating the public and garnering support for the work carried out by the Devils Lake Wetland Management District Complex, especially for the protection of wetlands and grasslands.
The “friends group” at Sullys Hill National QQGame Preserve was the first formed in North Dakota and has been an active supporter of both the refuge and the conservation activities conducted by the staff at Devils Lake Wetland Management District Complex.
The refuge has several archaeological sites that QQreflect thousands of years of human occupation and use.
2.3 PURPOSE
Every refuge has a purpose for which it was established. This purpose is the foundation upon which to build all refuge programs, from biology and visitor services, to maintenance and facilities. No action that the Service or public takes may conflict with this purpose. The refuge purposes are found in legislative acts or administrative orders, which provide the authorities to transfer or acquire a piece of land for a refuge. Over time, an individual refuge may contain lands that have been acquired under a variety of transfer and acquisition authorities, giving a refuge more than one purpose. The goals, objectives, and strategies identified in the CCP are intended to support the individual purposes for which the refuge was established.Chapter 2 — The Refuge 15
The purposes for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve
are described in the following legislation and public
land orders:
QQ “All the lands that are now reserved or may
hereafter be included within the boundaries of
the … Sullys Hill National Park Game Preserve
… are hereby further reserved and set apart
for the use … as refuges and breeding grounds
for birds.” (Executive Order 3596, December
21, 1921)
QQ “As a big game preserve, refuge, and breeding
grounds for wild animals and birds … provided,
that the said game preserve is to be made
available to the public for recreational purposes
in so far as consistent with the use of this area
as a game preserve … provided further, that
hunting shall not be permitted on said game
preserve.” (46 Stat. 1509, Act of March 3, 1931)
2.4 VISION
A vision is a concept and includes the desired
conditions for the future that the Service is trying to
accomplish at the refuge. The vision for a refuge is a
future-oriented statement designed to be achieved
through refuge management throughout the life
of a CCP and beyond. This is the vision statement
developed by the planning team for the Sullys Hill
National Game Preserve.
Overlooking North Dakota’s largest natural
lake and riding the tops of a glacial thrust
block formation, Sullys Hill National Game
Preserve is dressed in undulating native
woodlands and prairie. Teddy Roosevelt’s
vision and broad community support
are largely responsible for the successful
conservation of these habitats ensuring the
preservation of the refuge’s plains bison
and Rocky Mountain elk while supporting
migrating waves of warblers and other
native bird species.
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is
renowned as a regional conservation
learning center––greeting families,
students, and outdoor enthusiasts of all
abilities. Children are able to learn about
their natural world using all their senses
which fosters their own environmental
ethics. Each visitor’s experience not only
enriches their personal lives, but instills
a unique understanding and appreciation
for preserving native prairie and wetland
habitats, the natural resources of the
Devils Lake Basin, and the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System to preserve
America’s wildlife heritage.
2.5 GOALS
The Service developed a set of goals for Sullys Hill
National Game Preserve based on the Improvement
Act, the refuge’s purposes, and information
developed during CCP planning. The goals achieve
the vision and purposes of the refuge and outline
approaches for managing refuge resources. The
Service established six goals for the refuge.
Prairie Habitat Goal
Maintain prairie plant communities representative of
the historical mixed-grass prairies to support healthy
populations of grassland-dependent migratory birds
in balance with bison, elk, and other indigenous
wildlife.
Woodland Habitat Goal
Manage for healthy native woodlands of various
age classes and structure to provide habitat for
migratory birds, in balance with bison, elk, and other
indigenous wildlife.
Wildlife PoPulation ManaGeMent Goal
Carry out management practices that ensure healthy
populations of Rocky Mountain elk, plains bison, and
other indigenous wildlife species that exemplify the
genetic integrity of historical prairie wildlife.
E
Deliver quality, interactive environmental education
programming to regional schools, communities,
organizations, Spirit Lake Nation, and local
governments to garner support and appreciation
for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, North
Dakota’s wetland and grassland resources, and
the conservation role of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
V
Provide captivating visitor services facilities and
activities for visitors of all abilities, community
groups, youth groups, and the members of Spirit
Lake Nation to provide enjoyment that results
in a greater understanding and support of the
preservation of native habitats and landscapes of
North Dakota’s Prairie Pothole Region and the
mission of the Refuge System.
Protection and Maintenance Goal
Refuge visitors, staff, and volunteers will have a
safe, protected, and well-maintained environment
in which to learn about, work with, understand, and
16 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
appreciate the importance of protecting the unique natural and cultural resources of Sullys Hill National Game Preserve.
2.6 PLANNING ISSUES
Although Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is well established, celebrating its 100th birthday on June 4, 2004, it is not without challenges or management issues that need to be addressed. These challenges include areas such as staffing, funding, visitor use and opportunities, accessibility, flooding, refuge support, biology, disease, and overall habitat and wildlife management. The following summarizes these issues and some of their effects:
staffinG issues
Q Serving as a conservation learning center is an important designation and direction for this refuge. Inadequate staff for conservation education has created a roadblock to the refuge reaching its full potential. Numerous opportunities have been lost to instill a greater understanding and appreciation for the important conservation role of the Refuge System here in the Devils Lake Basin and abroad. Q The refuge struggles to remain open in the winter season due to lack of staff to keep roads clear.Q This refuge has historically had only one full-time person dedicated to its management. The refuge hosts more than 60,000 students and guests annually. Providing a safe and educational experience for these visitors is very important but leaves little time for wildlife and habitat management. The minimal staffing also prevents the expansion of programs into the surrounding schools and communities.Q Wildlife management needs at the refuge include herd management, disease prevention, genetics, population dynamics, and trust species needs. Q Given the small staff-size and budget, numerous habitat needs have not been addressed, including promoting forest regeneration, determining native prairie carrying capacities, plant inventories, habitat health, invasive species, and disease management. Q There is no administrative staff located at the refuge.Q Even though the refuge hosts 60,000 visitors annually, there is minimal law enforcement presence. There has been some vandalism, including fires set on refuge lands.
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The refuge is part of the Devils Lake Wetland QQManagement District Complex, responsible for protecting and restoring grassland and wetland habitats in the Devils Lake Basin. There has been some confusion and mistrust as to the role of the Service in protecting these dwindling habitats. The refuge could serve as a resource to the community to provide a clearer understanding of the importance of protecting these resources, as well as acquiring rights from willing landowners.
Improved communication is needed with QQthe members of Spirit Lake Nation, along with assistance in development of education curriculum, technical help, fire training opportunities, cultural and religious needs, and overall marketing and outreach of our joint landscapes and resources.
There is potential to significantly increase the QQnumber of students educated, but the current staff of one person limits the ability to reach these additional students.
Approximately 20 different schools visit the QQrefuge annually to participate in environmental education programs. The success of this program has relied on initiative from the schools due to lack of Service staff to facilitate visits, conduct programs, and conduct outreach to surrounding schools. This has resulted in a less structured program which does not provide a consistent message of wetland and grassland protection, and there have been missed opportunities to ensure students are aware of the Refuge System. There is much more potential to actively pursue partnerships with other schools within North Dakota if there were resources and a dedicated staff member.
Because of the flooding that has occurred QQthroughout the last 10–15 years, there have been many impacts to the accessible trails, hiking trails, amphitheater, outdoor classroom clearings, and remote classrooms.
There is also a need for additional accessible QQtrails.
The Sullys Hill education and visitor center QQbuilding has been completed, but the interpretive displays have not been addressed.
Curriculum needs to complement the state and QQlocal schools’ standards and education goals. Nature education could be used to improve math and science scores, while generating an overall understanding and support for the conservation role of the Refuge System.
Part of the refuge’s auto tour route needs to be QQresurfaced.Chapter 2 — The Refuge 17
The possibility of using funds from the sale of QQrefuge elk for developing education and visitor services programs should be explored.
The refuge staff and Spirit Lake Nation QQmembers should discuss how to complement and support each other’s roles and activities and develop partnerships when possible.
The auto tour route goes through the big game QQunit where bison and elk roam freely. Although there are signs warning visitors not to approach wildlife, there is always concern for the safety of both visitors and wildlife.
Wildlife and Habitat issues
There needs to be a better understanding of QQthe carrying capacity of the area to support the populations of bison, elk, and white-tailed deer to ensure that forest and prairie management can improve migratory bird production.
There is no complete plant inventory at the QQrefuge.
Invasive species such as brome and bluegrass QQneed to be reduced and native species restored.
There needs to be a feral dog and prairie dog QQmanagement plan.
Habitat management plans need to be QQdeveloped and implemented.
There is a lack of forest regeneration as a result QQof grazing ungulates.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) continues to be QQa disease issue among cervids. This and other disease issues such as brainworm, lungworm, and parasites all need to be part of an overall management plan.
There is a need for cross fencing, enclosures, QQand water development for better herd distribution and forest regeneration. Currently, the refuge land receives year-round grazing.
The refuge should be part of the Service’s QQprogram to maintain genetically pure bison in the nation. The Service needs to define the refuge’s role and then a plan needs to be developed to ensure the success of this program.
A review needs to be completed on winter QQfeeding operations and its efficacy to determine if it can be eliminated, reduced, or better managed.
Protection and facilities Maintenance issues
There are known occurrences of drug and QQalcohol use and vandalism on the refuge. The potential poses a danger to the visiting public and facilities. Without consistent patrols, the refuge will continue to serve as a place for unlawful activities, putting wildlife, staff, and visitors at risk.
Recreation fee compliance is based on a QQvoluntary honor system with an estimated compliance rate of 40%, resulting in a loss of revenue for refuge programs.
There is no on-site maintenance staff. Refuge QQfacilities are maintained on an “as needed” basis if staff is available.
There is no comprehensive survey of historical QQand cultural resources on the refuge, only sporadic documentation as sites are discovered.
Due to minimal law enforcement resources, big QQgame animals are vulnerable to illegal activities such as poaching and harassment.
Challenges abound in the refuge, and these issues will be dynamic over the years and will have to be reviewed, changed, and added to as management actions are put into place, and as environmental and social issues interact with refuge purposes and plans.
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Photograph credit:3 Refuge Resources and Description
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This chapter describes the current characteristics and resources of Sullys Hill National Game Preserve. It specifically addresses physical, biological, cultural, and socioeconomic resources, as well as recreational opportunities.
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is a 1,675-acre national wildlife refuge sitting on the south shores of Devils Lake, about 10 miles south of the city of Devils Lake, North Dakota. The refuge supports a unique community of habitats such as an oak, ash, basswood and aspen woodland; mixed-grass prairie; and natural wetlands; along with beaver ponds and created wetlands (see figure 5, boundary map). It is also 1 of only 19 identified sites to be listed in North Dakota’s list of natural areas, of which only 4 are national wildlife refuges. In addition, the refuge is one of four refuges nationally established for the purpose of bison conservation.
Administratively, the refuge consists of two noncontiguous blocks of land (see figure 5, boundary map). The main unit of the refuge supports the big game forest, lower forest, big game prairie, several wetlands, and the visitor services and education infrastructure. The second block of land is comprised of windbreaks, south forest, south prairie, haylands, and wetlands (see figure 6, management units map).
The refuge blends a unique plant community with a diverse mixture of wildlife in an area of historical, geological, and archaeological significance. The woods and prairies of the refuge sit atop the glacial
moraine hills and rise to an elevation well above the level of Devils Lake. The area is a thrust block formation resulting from glaciers mining a large area, now called Devils Lake, and depositing all this material in the range of hills which includes the refuge. Thus, the refuge is a unique landform or anomaly within this flat prairie region. As such, this area is a large ecotone that provides “edge” habitat for many species of birds as well as plains bison, elk, white-tailed deer, turkeys, and prairie dogs. More specifically, this edge is the joining of palustrine (vegetated wetlands) and lacustrine (lake) wetlands with woodlands and grasslands. This ecotone is very attractive to many forms of wildlife, including more than 250 species of migratory birds; unique small mammals, such as woodchucks, fishers, and the large ungulates (hoofed mammals) that have made the refuge a destination for many visitors. A primary purpose of the refuge is to provide habitat and breeding grounds for birds.
The unique topography of the refuge also provides for some unique plant species that are not common to the area. These plants include ferns, ball cactus, sarsaparilla, downy paintbrush, Indian pipe, showy lady’s slipper, and marsh marigolds.
This exceptional mix of topography, vegetation, and wildlife attracts many visitors to the area because of the variety of interaction with easily accessible flora and fauna. Visitation has long been a tradition at the refuge. In the early years, the 20 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
Map title:Chapter 3 — Refuge Resources and Description 21
Map title:22 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
area was frequented by visitors for picnics, enjoying the playgrounds, reunions, and other “park-type” activities. As the area transformed from a park into a game preserve and refuge, so did visitor activities. Gradually, the refuge is becoming a progressive regional conservation learning center, promoting the conservation role of the Refuge System, as well as educating the public about the functions and benefits of prairie wetlands and grasslands. Additional learning opportunities are available through hiking trails, scenic wildlife overlooks, a self-guided auto route, and the refuge education and visitor center. All activities support efforts to educate and provide interpretation to visitors through premier education facilities. Ultimately, the refuge uses the dual concept of indoor and outdoor environmental education with a focus on the sciences, biodiversity, and human dimensions in the environment and provides area educators an environment that makes learning more exciting and interesting.
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve has gained much community support and boasts North Dakota’s first refuge “friends group.” This group has supported special events such as the “Birding and Nature Festival” and “Sullys Hill Winterfest.”
The refuge has become the Service’s link to the community and the traveling visitor. While visiting, they receive information on the values of wetland and grassland conservation and the roles of the Refuge System.
3.1 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
The following sections describe physical environmental resources that may be affected by the implementation of the CCP. Physical characteristics include physiography, geography, soils, water resources, climate, and the effects of global warming.
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve’s hilly terrain is a prominent fixture on the south shore of Devils Lake. Bluemle (1991) indicates that Devils Lake occupies the former valley of the ancestral Cannonball River, and that the large-scale glacial activity that occurred in North Dakota formed the lake and adjacent hills, including Sullys Hill. This part of North Dakota is situated in the drift prairie physiographic region, and Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is specifically included in the end-moraine complex ecoregion. The refuge is considered part of the Devils Lake Wetland Management District Complex, headquartered at Devils Lake, where greater than 250,000 acres of Refuge System lands in northeastern North Dakota are protected and managed.
Global WarMinG
The U.S. Department of the Interior issued an order in January 2001 requiring federal agencies under its direction that have land management responsibilities to consider potential climate change effects as part of long-range planning endeavors. The Department of Energy’s report, “Carbon Sequestration Research and Development,” concluded that ecosystem protection is important to carbon sequestration and may reduce or prevent loss of carbon currently stored in the terrestrial biosphere. The report defines carbon sequestration as “the capture and secure storage of carbon that would otherwise be emitted to or remain in the atmosphere.”
The increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) within the earth’s atmosphere has been linked to the gradual rise in surface temperature commonly referred to as “global warming.” In relation to comprehensive conservation planning for Refuge System units, carbon sequestration constitutes to be the primary climate-related effect considered in planning.
Vegetated land is a tremendous factor in carbon sequestration. Large, naturally occurring communities of plants and animals that occupy major habitats—grasslands, forests, wetlands, tundra, and desert—are effective both in preventing carbon emission and in acting as biological “scrubbers” of atmospheric CO2. One Service activity in particular—prescribed fire—releases CO2, directly to the atmosphere from the biomass consumed during combustion. However, there is no net loss of carbon because new vegetation quickly germinates and sprouts to replace the burned-up biomass. This vegetation sequesters approximately an equal amount of carbon as is lost to the air (Dai et al. 2006).
Several other effects of climate change may need to be considered in the future:
Habitat available in lakes and streams for QQcold-water fish such as trout and salmon could be reduced.
Forests may change, with some plant species QQshifting their range northward or dying out and other trees moving in to take their place.
Ducks and other waterfowl could lose breeding QQhabitat because of stronger and more frequent droughts.
Changes in the timing of migration and nesting QQcould put some birds out of synchronization with the life cycles of their prey.
CCCCCCC
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve has a continental climate characterized by relatively warm short summers, long cold winters, and rapidly changing weather patterns. January is the coldest month, with an average mean temperature of -6°Fahrenheit (F), while July is the warmest, averaging 81°F. The average growing season varies from 98 to 106 days.
The average high temperature for the year is 49°F with the average low being 28°F. The average daily summer temperature ranges from 5°F to a high of Chapter 3 — Refuge Resources and Description 23
81°F with 10.8 days above 90°F. The average winter temperatures range from -6°F to a high of 34°F, with 189 days below freezing (32°F or below). High winds are prevalent all year and can create extreme wind chills.
Average annual precipitation is 17.5 inches. Average snowfall is 35.7 inches per year, with the greatest amount normally received during December. In the winter, snow and high winds can bring frequent blizzard conditions to the area. The frost-free season generally runs from May 20 to September 15.
PHysioGraPHy, GeoGraPHy, and soils
The Devils Lake basin is a distinguishing feature of the drift prairie physiographic region, and according to Bluemle (1991) is one of the largest and best-defined glacially excavated depressions in central North America. By most accounts, it is considered an internally drained basin that spans an area of around 3,810 square miles. When water levels rise to 1,446.5 feet above mean sea level (amsl), they overflow southeastward into the Stump Lake system. In the event that the combined waters of Devils Lake and Stump Lake rise to approximately 1,459 feet amsl, the southern moraines are breached and waters overflow into the Sheyenne River. Since 1993, Devils Lake has risen 25.5 feet in elevation, and the volume of water has quadrupled to a current acreage of 134,000 acres (U.S. Geological Service 2007).
In geological terms, Sullys Hill is considered an ice-thrust landform, consisting of a discrete hill of glacial deposits and Cretaceous shale down glacier from the Devils Lake basin. This landform was likely created as a result of the last known glacier, which occurred 12,000 years ago, and is known as the Late Wisconsinan Glacier. This moved over the Spiritwood aquifer, underlying the current day Sullys Hill/Devils Lake thrust complex, and pressurized the water with its tremendous weight. As a result, a large block containing brecciated shale and deformed glacial sediment was shoved up (creating Sullys Hill), and a lake-filled depression (now Devils Lake basin) formed in the area where the block was removed (Bluemle 1991). Bluemle (1991) indicates that the total relief between the bottom of Devils Lake to the adjacent ice-thrust Cretaceous blocks exceeds 650 feet.
The soils identified in Benson County are believed to be formed from glacial material derived from pre-glacial granite, gneiss, sandstone, shale, limestone, and basalt (Strum et al. 1977). Soils that underlie the refuge are those typical of deep, rolling, well-drained soils on glacial till plains and moraines. The ridge tops and surrounding slopes of the refuge support hardwood trees and typically have a thin topsoil layer. Available water capacity in these areas may be high and rapid runoff and water erosion regularly occurs. Other hardwood vegetated areas of the refuge are associated with alluvial soils present at the base of slopes and are often present in coulees (a valley or drainage landform such as a pond or creek) that were formed by glaciation and erosion. Also prominent across these soils are thick layers of organic material. The latter is a direct result of plant material breakdown that occurs with high soil moisture content and humidity. This decomposition is supplemented by the continual erosion of uphill slopes which produces a layering affect of soil and organic matter.
The prairie areas of the refuge typically contain deep undulating to hilly, well-drained, medium-textured soils formed in loam glacial till. Map units included for these soils possess slow permeability, with high available water capacity and rapid runoff potential (Strum et al. 1977). These prairie areas are located in the noncontiguous portions of the refuge and in scattered areas throughout the woodland portions of the refuge.
Water resources
Portions of the Devils Lake basin also are included within the boundary of the Sullys Hill National Game Preserve. Devils Lake is primarily an internally drained basin that has been rising rapidly since a historical low around 1940. Lake levels in 1992 were approximately 1,423 feet, while current levels hover around 1,446 feet, and even reached 1,449 in 2006. Recent records and even prehistoric estimations indicate that the water levels in Devils Lake have fluctuated significantly, usually owing to the dynamic climate of the region. A primary factor in the most recent rise that started in 1993 was the above-normal precipitation that has continued for more than a decade. Unfortunately, because of the significant loss of wetlands in the upper basin, the capacity to store water has been reduced. This flooding has impacted tens of thousands of acres of the Devils Lake Basin, including towns, communities, roads, and agricultural land. The high water levels in recent years preempted the relocation of multiple refuge buildings.
In addition, the refuge is located within the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States. The scouring and shearing action of glaciers or the collapse of ice blocks left to melt after the glaciers retreated formed shallow basins across the landscape, known today as prairie potholes (Kantrud et al. 1989). These potholes encompass myriad small wetlands ranging from wet meadows and shallow ponds to saline lakes, marshes, and fens. It is estimated that, in the late 1700s, between 7 and 8 million acres of wetlands existed in North Dakota and South Dakota combined (Dahl 1990). There are approximately 30 prairie pothole wetlands across Sullys Hill National Game Preserve. Water quality, air quality, and water rights are not major issues at the refuge.24 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
3.2 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
The following sections describe the biological resources that may be impacted by the implementation of the CCP. Biological characteristics include vegetation communities, birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and amphibians.
The Sullys Hill National Game Preserve landscape is distinguished by the prominence of native hardwood forest habitat interspersed with pockets of mixed-grass prairie and associated wetlands (see figure 6, management units map). The refuge supports a diversity of wildlife, including naturally occurring species such as migratory birds, as well as reintroduced species including bison, Rocky Mountain elk, and white-tailed deer. The climax forest on Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is dominated by American elm and basswood, while cooler, dry areas and north-facing slopes are covered with bur oak and green ash. The mixed-grass prairie areas support species typical of this prairie type, including porcupine grass species and even big bluestem species.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
This section describes the three vegetation communities present at Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, namely woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands. Spatial distributions of these habitats are shown on a map (see figure 7, vegetative communities map).
Woodlands
Although the mixed-grass prairie is typically considered the climax vegetation of the northern Great Plains (Clements and Shelford 1939), native woodlands occur where moisture and soil regimes provide necessary support (Hopkins 1984), and where protection (such as lakes and rivers) from fires would have existed. Stewart (1975) indicated that only about 2% of North Dakota is forest habitat. The majority of this was in the Turtle Mountains, Killdeer Mountains, Pembina Hills, and the Devils Lake area, as well as along major rivers and associated tributaries (Haugen et al. 2004). The Pembina Hills in northeastern North Dakota and the Turtle Mountains in north-central North Dakota are considered the two major deciduous forest ecosystems in the state (Faanes and Andrew 1983). Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is also part of this unique habitat across the state with its nearly 700 acres of native deciduous forest. The refuge was likely protected by the nearby river valleys and Devils Lake basin and therefore did not endure frequent fires as did the surrounding grasslands. In addition, Heidt (1977) indicates that differences in soil parent material at the refuge also played a role in supporting the occurrence of woody vegetation. Severson and Sieg (2006) indicate that possible tree species in the Devils Lake area from 1797–1871 were quaking aspen, white oak, black oak, bur oak, ash, elm, linden, and boxelder. The big game forest, lower forest, and south forest are native woodlands with mixed deciduous hardwood trees. Predominant woodland species across the refuge include:
bur oakQQ
American elmQQ
boxelderQQ
American basswoodQQ
green ashQQ
cottonwood aspenQQ
chokecherryQQ
paper birchQQ
hawthornQQ
wild plumQQ
western snowberry QQ
There are stands of hardwood trees within the big game forest that are located on the ridge tops and surrounding slopes. Throughout this CCP, these areas are referred to as oak-dominated areas. Overstory species in these areas are bur oak and green ash, and possibly an occasional American elm or American basswood. The predominant understory species is chokecherry, while western snowberry is the primary shrub species. The predominant herbaceous species covering the forest floor are sedge species, Virginia wildrye, and smooth brome. Throughout the big game forest are hardwood trees found on the bottom and side slopes of ravines and adjacent overflow sites. Throughout this CCP, these areas are referred to as basswood-dominated areas. Overstory species in these areas are American basswood, bur oak, green ash, boxelder, and an occasional American elm. The most prevalent understory species are overwhelmingly chokecherry, intermixed with American basswood, American elm, and boxelder. Western snowberry is the major shrub species, and forest floor cover mainly consists of sedge species. The primary management activity implemented throughout this forest is ungulate grazing, with infrequent fire and occasional selective harvesting activities.
Similar species exist in the lower and south forests, which are not accessible to the ungulates in the big game forest. For oak-dominated areas, the bur oak and green ash are the most prevalent overstory species, mixed with a few American basswood and boxelder trees. Dominant understory species are bur oak, green ash, basswood, and chokecherry. Shrub species also occur in these areas, including western snowberry and Juneberry. In the basswood-dominated hardwood forest areas, the dominant overstory species are green ash, American elm, and basswood, intermixed with other species such as white birch, bur oak, and aspen. The two dominant species in the understory are green ash Chapter 3 — Refuge Resources and Description 25
Map title: Map title:26 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
and chokecherry. Other species that occur in the understory are bur oak, American elm, and aspen. Western snowberry is the primary shrub species; however, a few Juneberry shrubs also occur. Forbs also flourish in the understory, including species such as wild sarsaparilla, poison ivy, meadow rue, cow parsnip, golden alexander, and even a few unique orchids. Past management in these forests was primarily idleness, with an occasional fire and minor selective harvesting activities.
Grasslands
Grassland acreage lost in North Dakota since settlement is estimated at upwards of 70% (Conner et al. 2001). More vividly stated, <1% of the original eastern tall-grass prairie and about 32% of the mixed-grass prairie remain in North Dakota (Samson and Knopf 1994, Samson et al. 1998). Grasslands throughout Sullys Hill National Game Preserve are situated in the mixed-grass prairie of the drift prairie physiographic region; however, the tall-grass prairie can be found just east of the refuge boundary. Plants of the refuge’s prairie are characterized by the warm-season grasses of the short-grass prairie to the west and the tall-, cool- and warm-season grasses to the east. This ecotonal mixing from the west and east causes the mixed-grass prairie to possess more plant species than other types of prairies, including short-, intermediate-, and tall-grass species (Samson et al. 1998).
Vegetation composition at the regional and local levels was determined by several interrelated factors, including elevation, topography, climate, soil characteristics, herbivory, and fire (Coupland 1950, Hanson and Whitman 1938). Based on the locality of the refuge, local vegetative associations would have been more mesic (adapted to an environment having a balanced supply of moisture) than areas to the west. The drift prairie physiographic region of North Dakota is classified in the wheatgrass—bluestem—needlegrass category. Species characteristic of this region include slender wheatgrass, little bluestem, fringed sage, white sage, white prairie aster, side-oat grama, blue grama, purple coneflower, prairie Junegrass, blazing star species, silver-leaf scurf-pea, prairie rose, goldenrod species, needle and thread grass, and green needlegrass (Kuchler 1964). With influence from the adjacent tall-grass prairie, many notable grasses from this grassland type are present, including big bluestem, Indiangrass, and switchgrass.
Prairie grasslands function similar to a living organism by responding to activities within the ecosystem. They evolved with natural disturbances such as fire and herbivore grazing, and changes or interruptions in these processes, coupled with variations in climate, alter species composition. The prairie forbs and grasses have developed biological adaptations that enable them to thrive with herbivore grazing. Manske (2000) states that grazing pressures actually increased grassland expansion through coevolution with mammals. The evidence of fire as a historical natural disturbance suggests that native people used fire in hunting, and often natural fires occurred with lightning strikes. Fire continues to serve as a valuable tool to rejuvenate the growth of native plants and reduce woody and exotic plant invasion. Another significant change after burning is the increase in the number of plant species, which likely attracts several species of indigenous wildlife as vegetation structure (height, density) is diversified and the range of potential food resources is increased. Several sources indicate that native grasslands devoid of grazing and fire deteriorate quickly (Anderson et al. 1970, Kirsch and Kruse 1973, Schacht and Stubbendieck 1985).
Across North Dakota, these natural disturbance regimes are necessary to sustain ecosystems, but are mostly absent due to human interventions that modified the physical and biotic conditions of the landscape (Hobbs and Huenneke 1992). Domestic cattle replaced native grazers such as the American bison and prairie dog, which exhibit different grazing behaviors and affect vegetation differently (Schwartz and Ellis 1981). Uncontrolled fires were another natural process that maintained the biotic integrity of prairie grasslands, but are not currently a regular part of sustaining the ecosystem. Even though native remnants remain in the mixed-grass prairies, most tracks of land are extremely degraded (Johnson and Igl 2001). Rather than a diverse and varying habitat structure across the landscape, the current patches of grassland are relatively simple and uniform, and not necessarily advantageous to the indigenous wildlife that evolved within this ecosystem.
Grasslands across Sullys Hill National Game Preserve cover 580 acres, including 252 acres of native sod and 328 acres of old cropland. For the purpose of this CCP, native sod is defined as grassland that has never been broken by mechanical means (that is, plowed). Conversely, old cropland areas were previously cultivated and reseeded to smooth brome and alfalfa for the purpose of ungulate forage. The distinction between grassland types is critical because the system potential (for example, what plants will be favored or discouraged under the given environmental conditions) and associated management options (the use of mechanical disturbances) differ between lands that have and have not been previously plowed. The big game prairie is native sod managed by the grazing of Rocky Mountain elk and bison since 1917 and 1918, respectively. These areas of native sod are isolated patches embedded within the big game forest of the refuge. According to the refuge’s “Fenced Animal Management Plan” (Veikley 1984), the elk population ranges from 15–20 animals in the winter to 20–25 animals in the summer. Similarly, the bison population ranges from 25–30 in the winter and 30–40 in the summer. Grazing by these animals has been the primary management for these native sod areas in the big game prairie. Although invaded by smooth Chapter 3 — Refuge Resources and Description 27
brome and Kentucky bluegrass, these areas support several native grasses such as western wheatgrass, bearded wheatgrass, green needlegrass, and big bluestem, along with several native forbs including prairie smoke, goldenrod, white sage, and scarlet gaura.
Another tract of native sod associated with Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is the south prairie (see figure 6, management units map). Historically, this area was under a management regime of idleness except for sporadic wildland fires, primarily caused by arson. In the past few years, prescribed fire has been consistently used in an attempt to reduce the smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass, and woody species present. Baseline data collected in 2007 using the belt-transect method (Grant et al. 2004) indicates that current vegetative composition includes 31.4% smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass groupings, nearly 7% silverberry and western snowberry groupings, and slightly more than 61% native grass and forb groupings. The primary native grass identified across this field is porcupine grass, as well as plains muhly, bearded wheatgrass, upland sedges, and big bluestem. Also prevalent are a diversity of forbs, notably wood lily, pasqueflower, prairie smoke, blanket flower, black-eyed Susan, northern bedstraw, goldenrod, and many more. The plant association sheet used for the baseline data is included in appendix F. The 328 acres of old cropland that occur at the refuge have been historically hayed annually as winter forage for the ungulates in the big game forest and prairie units. Dominant plant species in these fields are smooth brome and alfalfa. These areas were last seeded to these introduced species more than 15 years ago.
Wetlands
Wetlands are areas where saturation with water is the dominant factor determining the nature of soil development and the types of plant and animal communities living in the soil and on its surface (Cowardin et al. 1979). Wetlands are extremely productive and important to both migratory birds and other resident wildlife. They serve as breeding and nesting habitat for migratory birds and as wintering habitat for many species of resident wildlife. Humans also benefit from wetlands because these habitats improve water quality and quantity, reduce the effects of flooding, and provide areas for recreation. Wetlands associated with the refuge are located in the Prairie Pothole Region. They are characterized by numerous depressions that are relatively shallow and dominated by emergent plants. These are referred to as palustrine wetlands, and specifically in North Dakota, these wetlands occupy the millions of shallow basins that resulted from glacial scouring and the melting of buried blocks of glacial ice (Kantrud 1983).
The refuge is located within the Devils Lake Basin and bordered by Devils Lake, proper. Unlike the other wetlands across the refuge, Devils Lake is a lacustrine wetland, meaning it typically includes large areas of open water with active, wave-formed shorelines and no persistent emergent vegetation in the central or deepest zones (Kantrud 1983). With the current record-high water levels of Devils Lake, over 200 acres of the refuge are underwater as of the writing of this document.
Finally, several freshwater springs occur throughout the refuge with moderate out-flows. One spring was developed for use as a permanent watering site for big game in 1940, but is no longer functional for this purpose. These springs are perhaps an option for wildlife watering in the future.
Wildlife
Birds
Although prairie woodlands occupy only about 1% of the northern Great Plains (Girard et al.1989), their significance to the natural resources is disproportionate (Rumble and Gobeille 1998). These woodlands contribute to local and regional avian diversity (Knopf and Samson 1994) and serve as important breeding and migratory habitat (Moore et al. 1995, Rodenhouse et al. 1995). The forested areas of the refuge likely provide habitat for forest species (such as red-eyed vireo, rose-breasted grosbeak, veery, and ovenbird) that have shown regional or continental population declines. Collected baseline data identified 184 bird species across the prairie, woodland, and wetland communities of the refuge (see appendix F). However, considering these varying habitats, it is estimated that up to 270 species may use the refuge for both breeding and as a stopover site. Several of the species that use the woodlands are considered forest-interior breeding birds and require large unfragmented blocks of forested habitat, which the refuge provides. A few birds characteristic of this habitat include ovenbird, pileated woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, black and white warbler, veery, and red-eyed vireo. The red-eyed vireo, yellow warbler, common yellowthroat, eastern wood peewee, ovenbird, and least flycatcher are the most frequently detected woodland species recorded during refuge baseline data collections. In addition, bald eagles frequent the refuge as a staging area during the spring and fall migration and typically use the edge of Devils Lake that borders the eastern section of the lower forest.
The grasslands of the refuge likely provide limited habitat for grassland-dependent birds, especially those species with high area sensitivity. The largest contiguous block of grassland habitat is currently the south prairie, at 150 acres in size, with other blocks throughout the refuge ranging from 1–15 acres. These latter areas are buffered by the woodlands that typically surround the grasslands throughout the refuge. Bird species characteristic 28 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
of the contemporary mixed-grass prairie of the drift prairie region of North Dakota are the Savannah sparrow, clay-colored sparrow, and bobolink. Based on baseline data collected throughout the grasslands of the refuge, the most frequently detected grassland birds are the bobolink, grasshopper sparrow, and clay-colored sparrow.
The wetlands of the refuge support several species of waterfowl as well as other wetland-dependent birds. Canada geese, mallards, wood ducks, blue-winged teal, hooded mergansers, northern shovelers, and gadwalls are all considered abundant or common at the refuge during the breeding season (USFWS 2004). Several wading birds also use the refuge wetlands, most commonly the black-crowned night-heron and less commonly the great blue heron. In addition, double-crested cormorants and American white pelicans are considered abundant, especially on the wetlands contiguous with Devils Lake.
Wild turkeys were brought to North Dakota more than a half-century ago through an introduction program spearheaded by the Izaak Walton League (Wilson 2004). At Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, turkeys were first introduced in 1989 and again in 1998. In 1989, 24 Merriam’s turkeys were transferred from J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, and in 1998, 16 eastern turkeys were transplanted from Judson, North Dakota. This species remains a prominent wildlife species in the big game forest of the refuge, with the population averaging 20–50 animals, dependent upon several variables such as climate and sex ratios.
Mammals
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve is prominently known for its resident plains bison and Rocky Mountain elk, the preservation and protection of which is a purpose of the refuge. The following sections describe these and other mammals that use refuge resources.
Bison
In eastern North Dakota, it is hypothesized that bison existed, at one time or another, within every square mile of the eastern part of the state. The examination of journals and diaries of explorers and adventurers to the area indicate that bison, before 1880, were plentiful all the way up the Sheyenne River to Devils Lake. Although considered a creature of the open grasslands, there is evidence that bison used woodland and riparian areas in search of water and shelter from winter storms in the region. It is suggested that bison regularly moved between seasonal ranges, wintering in the aspen parklands or woodland areas and summering on the open prairie (Epp 1988, Moodie and Ray 1976; Morgan 1980). Some theories disagree with the concept that all bison were this migratory, while other sources indicate that some herds migrated and some did not. A synthesis of historical records concludes that bison moved in response to local conditions of forage availability, influenced by weather, fire, and previous grazing. For example, Epp (1988) states that bison would remain in wooded areas for the duration of the year if their needs for forage, water, and shelter were met. Year-to-year variations in environmental conditions, including weather, fires, and human interference, would have driven the migratory behaviors of bison (Severson and Sieg 2006). Considering this information, it is evident that bison were present in the region of Devils Lake and likely would have used woodland habitats at least for protection during winter months, and possibly more frequently on a variable and sporadic basis.
Estimates of the number of North American bison, pre-European settlement, vary significantly, but bison likely occurred in the tens of millions (Shaw 1995). A variety of theories exist as to the reasons for the rapid decline of bison, including the following: the mid-1800s commercial slaughter, American Indian hunting, trade pressures, the introduction of horses to native cultures, the division of the plains by railroads, and finally, newly introduced bovine diseases. Commercial slaughter of bison in the mid-1800s likely played the most significant role in the bison population reduction of the 1800s. Estimates of remaining bison in the late 1800s vary between approximately 600 and 1300. Formation of the American Bison Society in 1905 resulted in congressional establishment of six federally managed public bison conservation herds between 1907 and 1919. Four of these herds are currently managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, while both the Yellowstone and Wind Cave National Park herds, established in 1902 and 1913, are managed by the National Park Service (Boyd 2003, Halbert 2003).
Six bison were introduced into the refuge in October 1918 from the Portland City Park, Portland, Oregon. Herd structure included the herd matriarch and her offspring (two bulls and three cows). Based on historical documentation, it is believed that the herd matriarch was obtained by the Portland City Park from the Conrad herd around 1906 through a trader named B.H. Denison in Ravilli, Montana. In 1932, the first introduction since the establishment of these six occurred with a bull from Wind Cave National Park. Nine other introductions are recorded between 1941 and 1997, including bison from the National Bison Range, Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Since 1980, herd numbers averaged 30 animals at the refuge, with the highest population of 40 occurring in 2006. Recent genetic testing on the herd indicates that there is possibly no hybridization with domestic cattle, making this the only Service herd with such potential based on current methods of testing. In 2006, this herd was transported to Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Valentine, Nebraska, for propagation into a “minimum viable population,” Chapter 3 — Refuge Resources and Description 29
which would include several hundred to a couple thousand animals. Subsequently, seven bison from the National Bison Range in Moiese, Montana were transferred to the refuge to start a new herd. Based on current methods of genetic testing and analysis, these new animals do not possess cattle hybridization and come from a herd that holds more unique alleles (an alternative form of a gene that is one member of a pair) than any other herd across the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Rocky Mountain Elk
Records indicate that elk were also plentiful throughout the region before European settlement. According to Severson and Sieg (2006), they appeared nearly everywhere, specifically in habitats close to woodland cover, including the Red River Valley and its tributaries, such as the James River and Devils Lake. During the 1860s, it is recorded that elk were especially common along the wooded areas of the Sheyenne River and Devils Lake. Based on a review of early documentation of the region, elk were mentioned more frequently than any other animal except bison. Most sources agree that elk did not migrate and likely spent significant amounts of time in the wooded areas rather than in the open grasslands. By the 1880s, they appeared to be extirpated from the region east of the Missouri River (Severson and Sieg 2006).
Refuge records indicate that 15 elk were brought from Yellowstone National Park to the refuge in 1917. Historical data specifies that subsequent introductions of elk did not occur until 1941, when a bull elk was brought in from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Valentine, Nebraska. It appears that approximately five other animals were brought in between 1949 and 1991, mostly bulls from Fort Niobrara. In 1993, three elk (two females and one male) were transferred from Teddy Roosevelt National Park, in Medora, North Dakota, to the refuge. Currently the refuge maintains about 20–25 elk.
White-tailed Deer
Records specify that only a few scattered populations of white-tailed deer occurred in suitable habitat across eastern North Dakota. It is possible that the abundant elk populations may have been a factor in the limited number of deer (Severson and Sieg 2006). According to Roger Johnson, a big game biologist, NDGF, pre-settlement deer populations were notably lower than current day numbers. As an example, currently deer numbers in the area average 2–3 animals per acre. Even 20 years ago, deer populations were less then one animal per acre (Roger Johnson, big game biologist, NDGF, Devils Lake, ND; personal interview, 2007).
Historical data evidences that four white-tailed deer were introduced into the refuge around 1917 from Fargo, North Dakota. Later introductions occurred in 1947 with a buck from the Camp Grafton National Guard campus near Devils Lake, North Dakota, and a local buck from the Devils Lake area in 1952. Populations of deer have ranged from 10–50 animals since introduction, with current numbers around 15–30.
Prairie Dogs
Prairie dogs are native to North Dakota but primarily are found in western expanses of the state. The black-tailed prairie dog was introduced into the refuge in 1974. The current prairie dog town covers about 1.5 acres in the big game forest and prairie and includes several hundred dogs. Prairie dogs can significantly alter habitat and can quickly expand their range if they are not monitored and managed.
Other Mammals
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve also supports several other less conspicuous mammals for which active management is not implemented. Representative species using the refuge include coyote, grey squirrel, red fox, eastern cottontail, badger, beaver, raccoon, striped skunk, fisher, muskrat, fox squirrel, weasel, mink, woodchuck, deer mouse, and meadow vole. Based on the checklist of state mammals (Wiehe and Cassel 1978), it is anticipated that more than 35 mammal species could occur across the refuge. Extremely limited data are available for these mammals in this area of North Dakota and specifically at the refuge. One study was completed in 1979–1980 on fox squirrel activity and time budgets on the refuge (Nelson 1981), and a current study is underway to census fishers across the refuge and in eastern North Dakota.
Insects, Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fish
Inventories of other wildlife, such as invertebrates and reptiles and amphibians, are limited. The only known survey in this category was completed by Royer et al. (1998), who developed a comprehensive butterfly list for the refuge (see appendix F). Throughout the woodland and grassland habitats of the refuge 50 species were identified and it is speculated that up to 19 more species could likely occur. Royer et al. (1998) indicated that there is a remote possibility that a Dakota skipper could occur on the south prairie, perhaps among the purple coneflowers.
Several species of fish also occur at the refuge in areas that interconnect with Devils Lake. Although fish surveys or inventories have not occurred on the refuge, common species present across Devils Lake include walleye, northern pike, yellow perch, white sucker, white bass, and black crappie. 30 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
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3.3 CULTURAL RESOURCES
The following information concerning cultural resources is taken directly from the following document, “Sullys Hill National Game Preserve: 2003 Archaeological Survey and Test Excavations, Benson County, North Dakota” (Jackson et al. 2004).
Human occupation of the northern plains is documented as early as 12,000 years ago, first by American Indians and much later by Euro-Americans. The various human adaptations to the northern plains environment that have taken place over time, in what is North Dakota today, have come in response to basic changes in climate and the movements of people, technology, and ideas. Prehistoric cultural traditions that reflect essential settlement-subsistence patterns and technological complexes have been defined on the basis of archeological investigations at sites in the northern plains, particularly North Dakota (Frison 1991, Gregg 1984, Lehmer 1971, Schneider 1982). Such cultural traditions are generally sequential, but often exhibit some temporal overlap.
The cultural environment of what is now North Dakota is described within the framework of a regional cultural chronology that is continually being expanded and refined as archaeological and historical research produces new information on past human occupation of the area. It is organized into periods that are, for the most part, named for the cultural traditions that dominated those times. Cultural periods also imply differences in certain aspects of material culture, particularly basic technology, as represented by distinctive artifact types and assemblages. The project area is located in the Sheyenne River Study Unit of the “North Dakota Comprehensive Plan for Historic Preservation: Archeological Component” (Haury 1990). The reader is referred to this document for additional information on the cultural-historical setting of the refuge. More detailed information specific to the Devils Lake area is also available in recent archeological reports (Jackson and Toom 2002, Toom et al. 2000). A brief outline of the region’s cultural history of the project area follows.
The regional chronology, as it exists today, is useful for organizing and describing identified cultural manifestations. It is presented within a framework of five basic periods: (1) Paleo-Indian, (2) Plains Archaic, (3) Plains Woodland, (4) Plains Village, and (5) Historic. The names of the first four periods also refer to mainly prehistoric American Indian cultural traditions, with the Plains Village tradition extending into early historical times. The Historic period encompassed that span of time following the decline of the Plains Village tradition and the rise of the Plains Equestrian tradition, as a result of the introduction of the horse and Euro-American manufactured trade goods among native peoples. It subsumed American Indian lifeways during protohistoric and early historic times in the northern plains, from about A.D. 1780–1880 (State Historical Society of North Dakota 1990). Later in the Historic period, at the end of the Plains Equestrian tradition—A.D. 1880, the Euro-American tradition became dominant.
The dominant historical influence in the specific project area was the 1867 establishment of Fort Totten. It served as a military base to control and protect the Sioux residents of the newly formed reservation on the south shore of Devils Lake. Fort Totten functioned as a military fort until 1890, and soon after that the post consolidated with the Catholic mission school and served as an industrial school for the reservation (DeNoyer 1910, Robinson 1966, Wertenberger 1967). The industrial school was closed in 1935 and the post served as a tuberculosis sanitarium until 1939 (Friends of Fort Totten Historic Site, no date). The fort then served as a community school until 1959 and in 1960 it was formally transferred to the State Historical Society of North Dakota as a state historic site. Fort Totten is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the North Dakota State Historic Sites Registry.
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve was originally part of the old military reservation. In 1904 these lands were proclaimed as a national park by President Theodore Roosevelt and removed from military jurisdiction. Congress established the area as a big game preserve in 1914, jointly administered as a national park and game preserve by the Departments of Interior and Agriculture. In 1921, it was also made a bird refuge. The refuge was transferred from the National Park Service to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1931.
The earliest archeological reporting in what is now Sullys Hill National Game Preserve was done by T.H. Lewis in 1886 (Lewis 1898). Contracted by Chapter 3 — Refuge Resources and Description 31
Alfred J. Hill of St. Paul, Lewis conducted “field surveys of rapidly disappearing antiquities” for the privately funded Northwestern Archaeological Survey (Keyes 1928). Three mound sites (32BE1, 32BE2, and 32BE27) within the present-day refuge were originally reported by Lewis. Two of these mound sites (32BE1 and 32BE2) were formally recorded by the Smithsonian Institution River Basin Surveys in 1946 (Mallory 1966). All three mound sites were revisited by a 1989 University of North Dakota (UND) survey crew to document and update information concerning all of the mound sites in North Dakota reported by T.H. Lewis (Haury 1990).
The Irvin Nelson site (32BE208) was originally recorded by Mallory (1966) after prehistoric artifacts and human bone had been found in the yard of the refuge manager’s residence. Before construction of a new headquarters building and maintenance shop at the site location, auger test excavations were conducted by UND in 1979 (Fox 1979). Based on the positive results, a formal test excavation program was recommended. Those investigations were conducted by North Dakota State University (NDSU) personnel in 1980 (Fox 1982). The cultural materials collected from the site are currently being reexamined by UND (Toom 2002).
Archaeological investigations conducted in 1991 by the North Dakota Department of Transportation along Highway 57 resulted in the recordation of two sites (32BE45 and 32BE46) and one site lead (32BEX74) within Sullys Hill National Game Preserve (Christensen 1991, 1992). Only the site lead (32BEX74) is within the project areas reported herein. Lead site 32BEX74 was upgraded to an archaeological site and re-recorded as part of site 32BE126.
In 1997, an emergency dike was slated for construction using fill from two borrow areas within the refuge. The removal of fill from the two borrow areas was carefully monitored, and the area to be impacted by dike construction was inspected for archaeological materials (Kinney 1997). Monitoring was conducted during the stripping operations until the excavators were below potentially culture-bearing strata. No archaeological sites were found during the course of this work.
Service archeologist Rhoda Lewis conducted several cultural resource inventories before refuge improvements during the 1990s (Lewis 1995, 1999a, 1999b, 1999c, 1999d). No archaeological sites were recorded over the course of these surveys. Four proposed project areas at the refuge were inventoried in 2002 by Lewis. The location of a new education and visitor center and an access road from Highway 57 were essentially the same locations as those investigated during the current survey project. The location of a residence and shop that was surveyed at that time is no longer a candidate for construction. Also, the stone pillared entrance gate to the refuge was recorded in 2002 as site 32BE114. It was recommended that subsurface excavations be conducted at the proposed education and visitor center location (Lewis 2002).
3.4 SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS
In addition to refuge status, lands may have additional designations which overlay refuge status.
Wilderness
Although Sullys Hill National Game Preserve reflects some of the qualities desired in wilderness, at 1,675 acres, the refuge does not meet the size criteria for wilderness designation, plus it has several miles of roads and trails within its boundary.
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Sullys Hill National Game Preserve was designated by the state as 1 of only 19 natural areas in North Dakota. Four of these 19 areas are national wildlife refuges, including Sullys Hill National Game Preserve. Areas given this designation have special qualities found only on undeveloped land. These qualities represent glimpses through a window in time on a portion of North Dakota’s presettlement landscape—a “living history.” This designation also signifies the existence of a diverse array of native plants and wildlife that belong together in finely tuned natural communities, places of inherent beauty and interest, outdoor classrooms for teaching life sciences and earth sciences, outdoor laboratories, and benchmarks against which to gauge landscape changes (Umber 1988). The refuge possesses all of these unique qualities.
3.5 VISITOR SERVICES
The Act of March 3, 1931 established recreation as one of the purposes of Sullys Hill National Game Preserve.
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Photograph credit:32 CCP, Sullys Hill National Game Preserve, ND
HuntinG and fisHinG
The legislative purposes for Sullys Hill National Game Preserve do not allow hunting on the refuge. Currently, public fishing is not permitted on the refuge due to a lack of available resources to manage this use and its impacts to the refuge. In addition, the refuge fishery is minimal but is bordered by one of the most popular fishing areas in the state and the nation, Devils Lake. The refuge has used its limited fishery as an education tool to educate youth about the life cycles of fish and fishing techniques.
Wildlife observation and PHotoGraPHy
Sullys Hill National Game Preserve hosts more than 60,000 visitors annually, most of which come to observe and photograph wildlife. The refuge provides outstanding opportunities due to the unique mix of prairie, forest, and wetland habitats that attract
a rich diversity of resident and migratory wildlife. To
accommodate these visitors, the refuge offers a 4-mile
self-guided auto tour that travels down winding forest
roads and eventually breaks into open prairie and savanna areas. Visitors on the auto tour can leave their vehicles to venture onto five observation platforms: the wetland, prairie dog town, Devils Lake vista, nature trail, and Sullys Hill overlooks. While on the auto tour, visitors have the opportunity to view and photograph plains bison, Rocky Mountain elk, white-tailed deer, turkey, and prairie dogs.
The refuge features a mile-long nature trail and 1.6 miles of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. The nature trail observation platform allows visitors to observe a host of resident and migratory wildlife. The forests, interspersed with wetlands, provide opportunity to observe a host of bird species, including numerous warblers, wood ducks, kingfishers, hooded mergansers, and black-crowned night-herons. Birding opportunities are available all year. While warbler numbers peak in the month of May and in late October, bald eagles commonly stage on the refuge in late winter. Hardy species like pileated woodpeckers are also present in the winter.
The fully accessible education and visitor center features a full wall of windows and an outside patio to observe a host of species frequenting the birding garden. Common species include rose-breasted grosbeak, American goldfinch, black-capped chickadee, and hairy woodpecker.
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A 6,000-square foot education and visitor center was constructed in 2004. The center features a waterfowl photo gallery, a Rocky Mountain elk exhibit, and a birding garden. Facilities for learning also include two classrooms with dedicated audiovisual equipment, teaching aids, and instructional materials. This center has quickly become a regional conservation learning center for students and adults within a 90-mile radius of the refuge. Refuge staff, in cooperation with local teachers, provides educational presentations to over 5,000 students and other groups annually. The refuge also has a remote classroom to facilitate field-based learning opportunities. Curren